The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-21 00:00:00

THAMES.

A PRECOCIOUS GIRL.--Mary Ann Coltman, a little,
sullen girl, only nine years of age, was brought before Mr.
Selfe, charged with robbing her father, James Coltman, of
several articles of wearing apparel, with which she ab-
sconded from her father's home, in James-street, Bromley.
The prisoner was charged with robbing her father 12 months
ago, and forgiven on account of her tender years. She was
again charged with a similar offence, about seven or eight
weeks after, and then severelyreprimanded bythe magistrate,
and warned that if she did not discontinue her dishonest
practices she would be sent to prison, and afterwards to a
reformatory. She absconded from her home yesterday, with
two capes, a silk scarf, and a brown holland jacket. She
wandered about the street in Poplar, until half-past 2
o'clock this morning, when a policeman questioned her and
passed her on towards her home, until she reached the
corner of Park-street, Bromley, when sho was recognised
by a constable named Major, No. 269 K, who had been
informed of the robbery, and he took her into custody.
Some of the stolen articles had been left by the girl with
her godmother, a cape was left at a house in the East
India-road, and the remainder of the stolen articles were on
her person when she was taken into custody.
James Coltman, the father of the girl, said that he had
provided a good home for his children, at least such a home
as a poor hard-working man could provide. The girl lost
her mother two years ago, and had been for the last titelve
months pursuing her wayward and dishonest practices.
Mr. Selfe said the father of the girl appeared to be a well-
conducted and intelligent man, and asked him if he had ever
sent his girl to school.

Witness—l have, sir. To Mr. Green's school in Poplar,
and if sho had continued to go there, she would have been
a Food girl.
Mr. Solfo—You are an Irishman.
Coltman—Yes, sir.

Mr. Selfe--What religion are you ?
Coltman—l am a Protestant.

Mr. Selfc—l ask you the question because I am
bound to send children of the Protestant religion to a Pro-
testant Reformatory, and children of the Roman Catholic
religion to a Roman Catholic Reformatory. Do you go to
church or chapel ?
Cattman—To a church, sir. I am a member of the
Church of England.

Mr. Selfe—Hays you any objection to pay towards the
maintenance of your daughter if I send her to an Institu-
tion ?

Colman—Nono, sir.

Mr. Selfo sentenced the prisoner to imprisonment for
14 days, with hard labour, and afterwards to be sent to a
Reformatory for Ave years, and made an order on her
father to pay 3s. a woek towards her maintenance.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, FRIDAY MORNING.

THE IRISH JUDICIAL BENCH.
For the 20th time within the last few years the
report is revived that Mr. Justice Perrin, now in
his 76th year, is about to retire from the Court of
Queen's Bench. The rumour is given to-day by
the Morning News, with quite an air, of circum-
stantiality, as follows :
" We are informed on good authority that this
venerable Judge, who during the last few months
has suffered from continued indisposition, will not
again take his seat on the bench. In arranging the
circuits for the ensuing Lent Assizes, the Judges have
substituted Mr. Sergeant Howley for Mr. Justice
Perrin, in consequence of au intimation from the
latter of his inability to leave home. We have rea-
son to believe that the resignation of the learned
Judge, if not already tendered, will be in the hands
of the Government within a brief period. Specu-
lation is, of course, on the qui rive with respect to
the probable successor to the vacant seat in the
Court of Queen's Bench ; but the opinion of the bar
seems to be that either the Solicitor-General or Mr.
Sergeant O'Hagan will be the most likely ap-
pointee." _

_
In the circuit list published this morning, the
going Judges for the north-west circuit are set
down as "the Chief Baron, Justice Perrin, or Ser-
geant Ho wley."