The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-27 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE-( THIS DAY).

COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE.
(Before Sir Cresswell Cresswe]l, Mr. Justice Wightman,
and Mr. Justice Williams.)

SREDDEN AND SDEDDEN V. PATRICK AND THE ATTORNEY-

GENERAL.

Mr. Collier, Q.C., resumed his argument in reply for the
petitioner. The learned counsel produced two letters,
dated in May and December, 1799, by Mr. W. Fawcet to
Mr. Shedden, showing the claims against the estate. He
contended that the letter of 12th November and the bond
not produced—proved to have been in possession of either
party—would support a strong presumption arising against
that party. He proceeded to read and comment on several
of the letters produced, to show that the petitioners had
made out their claims, and said the petitioner, Mr. Shedden,
had been all over the world and shipwrecked twice, and it
was not possible for him to produce all the letters that he
received, whereas the defendant, Patrick, was a man of
business, and kept all the letters that he received from, and
copies cf all the letters which he had sent to, the petitioner ;
and, therefore, if any important letters were not produced,
the non-production was more the fault of Mr. Patrick than
Mr. Shedden. The learned gentleman having concluded
his address,

The Court gave judgment at great length, dismissing
he plaintiff's petition, that they had failed in making out
:heir case, and expressed their opinion as to the genuine-
ness of the letter of the 12th November, 1798.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Evans.)
IN RE PICKFORD.

The bankrupt, described as of Fenchurch-street, mer-
chant, came up for his certificate. The accounts, com-
mencing January, 1857, and ending in September last,
show that Thomas Pickford introduced a capital of £1,700.
The gross profit is £9,100 ; trade charges, .C 10,600 ; losses,
£2,360. Drawings—W. Pickford, £3,200; T. Pickford,
£1,500. The expected total debts and liabilities are returned
at £16,340 ; assets, £3,500.
Notice of opposition had been entered, but as the parties
did not attend, the commissioners granted a second class
certificate.

CRIMINAL COURT.-(TIIIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
EMBEZZLEMENT.

Rowland Mucklestone, 32, agent, was indicted for em-
bezzling and stealing the sum of £5, the money of his mas-
ter, William Onion. There was also another detainer
against the prisoner, viz., that he being the bailee of the
sum of £94 10s., the property of William Onion, did con-
vert the same to his own use.

This case, the evidence in which is totally devoid of pub-
lic interest, occupied the court the whole of the day.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Common Sergeant.)
UTTERING COUNTERFEIT COIN.
Ann Flaherty, alias Fogerty, alias Sullivan, was indicted
for uttering counterfeit coin.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
From the evidence it appeared that the prisoner in Octo-
ber last met a little girl in one of the low streets in West-
minster, and asked her to go and fetch her half a quartern
of flour, to pay for which she gave her a counterfeit shil-
ling. The baker discovered the coin was bad, and on ques-
tioning the child she pointed out the prisoner as the per-
son who gave her the bad shilling.
The little girl Caroline Watts, about 10 years of age, in
a very clear manner identified the prisoner as the person
who gave her the counterfeit coin. A former conviction
for a similar offence was also put in.
The Common Sergeant said the offence with which the
prisoner was charged had in her case now become felony,
as she had previously been convicted of uttering counterfeit
coin. The case was somewhat peculiar, as the prisoner
had availed herself of an innocent agent—viz., Caroline
Watts—in committing the offence ; but that circumstance
did not alter the crime, as she was as guilty as if she had
uttered the coin.
The jury, without hesitation, found the prisoner guilty.
The Common Sergeant asked what was known of the
prisoner ?
The Solicitor for the prosecution said she had not only
been in prison for nine months for a similar offence as the
present, but was in March last indicted for the felony, but
on that occasion she worked upon the feelings of the jury,
and succeeded in getting acquitted. The_ detective officer
of the Mint well knew the woman.
Brennan, the officer, said he was well acquainted with
the prisoner. She was a well known successful utterer of
bad coins, and was the companion of the most noted
" smashers" in the metropolis. She was one of those who
worked what was called the " mug dodge."
The Common Sergeant—What's that.
Brennan—The prisoner goes out of a morning and under-
neath her shawl carries a mug. W hen she meets a
respectable little child she persuades it to go into the
nearest public-house to get some beer, to pay for which a
bad shilling or half-crown is given. This system is re-
markably successful, as the publicans are in the majority
of instances thrown off their guard, as the children are
generally those of customers at the house. When they
can't find a strange child to come the " dodge" with, they
send their own children, who are trained up to cry well
and loudly if anything should be discovered.
The Common Sergeant, addressing the prisoner—l told
you the last time I saw you, when I sent you to prison for
the misdemeanour of uttering counterfeit coin, that if you
came before me I would send you away for a term of years,
as you were then known to be a tystematic utterer of coun-
terfeit coin. You are a most dangerous person, as you
seem to be entirely indifferent to the injury you are inflict-
ing upon young children. lam determined you shall not
repeat the offence for some time, and the sentence of the
Court is, that you be kept in penal servitude for five years.
John Barter was convicted of having in his possession a
mould for manufacturing counterfeit coin. He was sen-
tenced to four years' penal servitude.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE--(TRIS DAY.)

MARLBOROUGH STREET.

DARING THIEVES—ROBBING A GENTLEMAN.---Three
determined-looking females, well known to the police,
named Elizabeth Hagan, Mary Ann Brown, and Catharine
Hawkins, were charged with stealing from the person of
Mr. Elisha Bastable, of Belgrove House, Landport, a gold
watch, of the value of £l6.
Sergeant Silverton said the prosecutor was not then in
attendance. He had called at the station just before the
prisDners were brought from Vine-street, but at that time
nothing had been heard of his watch, and he believed he
had gone home under the impression that his watch was
lost.

Leach, C Division, being sworn, said that at three that
morning he heard a cry of " Police," and saw Hagan run-
ning along Marylebone-street, followed• by a gentleman,
who gave the name of Bastable. He joined in the pursuit ,
and followed her through Air-street into the Quadrant.
He asked the gentleman what was the matter, and he said
Hagan had his watch, and on his (Leach) stopping her, he
gave her into custody. He afterwards took the other two,
and the gentleman said Brown was the one who took the
watch and then gave it to Hagan, and that he thought she
had dropped it in Air-street. It was afterwards found near
where the gentleman pointed out.
Sarah Chanton, a servant at No. 7, Air-street, proved
finding the watch in the area of the house that naurning•
and giving it to the police.
Hawkins here exclaimed, "I'm as innocent as a new..
born babe.
Mr. Beam said he should remand them all for a week.