The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-09 00:00:00

CLERKENWELL.—CAPTINIE OF ONE OP THE
ESCAPED CONVICTS FROM THE NEW MODEL PRISON.
—Henry Mitchell, aged 23, a short, thick-set, powerful.
looking fellow, described in the police-sheet as a brick-
layer, of No. 4, Brill-row, Somers-town, was placed at
the bar before Mr. Currie, charged with being an es-
caped convict, and illegally at large, before the expira-
tion of his term of imprisonment.
It will be remembered that the prisoner made his es-
cape in company with another convict, a shoemaker,
rained Henry Simpson, from the New Model Prison,
about three or four weeks since. The prisoners' escape
caused a great deal of excitement, it being alin,:st unpa-
ralleled, and beyond all previous prison breaking. It
appears that the two prisoners had been for some time
isicsrceiated in the gaol, Simpson—who is described as
a labourer, 21 years of age, 5 feet 5 inches high, fresh
complexion, brown ba'r, hazel eyes, and stoutly made—
' having been convicted on the 26th of November last, at
the Cmtral Criminal Court, of burgltry, and sentenced
to 14 years' traesportation, having been before convicted
of feleny in Surrey, and sentenced to 10 years' transpor-
tation, while the prisoner Mitchell, who was convicted
at the same sessions for a like offence, was sentenced to
four years' penal servitude. They were two daring elm-
racters, and one, it was stated at the time, was a rela-
tive of the notorious Hackett, who escaped from the
same place several years since. When the prisoners were
in Horsernonger-lane Gaol, a female was apprehended
and convicted for conveying to them a file and other ar-
ticles necessary for the picking of locks, inside of a half-
quartern loaf, and the prison authorities were told to keep
a sharp look on them. On the night of thel9th of March
they were safely locked up in their cell, and to get
out they had to pick one of the patent locks which fas-
tened the cell door. On the following morning an alarm
was raised, and, on subsequent search being made, it
seems that the prisoners walked along the passage,
where they found an iron trap door, weighing three hun-
dred weight, which they must have forced up, and got
upon the roof of a low building, having picked several
locks on their way. From thence they scaled a lofty
wall, by the aid of a ladder made of wax-ends, which
brought them to the roof of the prison ; for they de-
scended and ascended at least six times before they could
have reached the outside of the gaol. Tars matter was
placed in the hands of Sergeant Whicher, of the detec-
tive force, and he, after watching for some time, suc-
ceeded, after great difficulty, in apprehending the pri-
soner. Mitchell stated that after he and his companion
escaped, they walked in their prison dress as far as Cam-
berwell, passing several of the metropolitan police, be-
tore they entered any house, thus showing the necessity
of the police being made aware of the different styles of
dress worn by the different prisoners. He also stated
that, in making their escape, they once or twice ran
great risk of losing their lives.
The prisoner, who had nothing to say in his defence,
was remanded for a week.

SOUTHWARK CONVICTION OT A COMMERCIAL
TRAVELLER FOR ASSAULTING HIS WIFE.—A. gentle.
manly-looking and well-dressed young man, named
William Thompson, described in the charge-sheet as a
commercial traveller, residing at No. 8, Inman's•build-
ings, Wellington-street, Southwark, was brought befall
Mr. Combe, charged with committing a violent assault
on Harriet Ann Thompson, his wife.
The complainant, a very respectable female, who ex-
hibited a cut on the nose, with some reluctance gave the
following evidence :—She stated, in a low voice, that
she had been married to the prisoner about two years,
and that he was a commercial traveller, but recently
had done nothing, but was supported by her, out
of an excellent business, which she carried on
without his assistance. On the previous night,
about eleven o'clock, he went to bed, and believing
him to be unwell, the asked him whether she should
prepare him something nice for supper. He replied that
he should like some tea and ham and eggs. She accord-
ingly provided these things for him, and carried them
to his bedside, when he jumped out of bed, and threw
them down the stairs. She was exceedingly frightened
at his conduct, and ran away from him, but he pursued
her, and struck her several times on the face, inflicting
the wound on her nose.

Mr. Combe asked her whether that was done with any
instrument ?

tah:‘statishenuese, and, on a o
used n nothing butc i
cries brought e
rle)lid
tgabfistlellr
enteringe
the house, she gave him into custody.
Cenehe—Were you quite sober at the time ?
ituess replied that she was, and she never drank
anything intoxicating. Her husband know that to be
a feet-.
The prisoner, who during the examination covered his
face with his handkerchief, here exclaimed that his head
was very bad when he went to bed, and he slid not waut
to be troubled. His wife came up and teased him. She
also struck him in the face, causing blood to flow.
The complainant positively denied his assertions.
was continually in the habit of ill-using her, although.
she provided him with every comfort. She had several
times obtained summonses against him at that court,
but she never attended before to support her complaint,.
Ever since they had been married her husband had done
no work, but he lived entirely upon her labo9r. She
had actually been in the habit of supplying him with
his meals in bed, and in return he knocked and kicked
her about dreadfully.
The prisoner, in a violent manner, said that his wife
struck him, and he showed her the blood, when he
meetly gave her a push.
The wife, bunting into tears, said she never touched
him. In fact, he took up the knife and fork and
threatened to run me through, but I pushed them away.
Mr. Combo asked her what he said to her at that
time
Witness replied, that he called her a --, and said
"I'll do for you.
'
Mr. Combo said that was quite enough. There could
be no doubt he was a brutal lazy fellow, and he should
commit him to the House cf Correction for three months,
w"th bard labour, and at the expiration of that term of
itnprisontuout he must find two sureties to keep the
pence for six months, or remain in gaol.
The prisoner, who was with some difficulty removed
by the gaoler, hoped his worship would not commit him
to prison, as it would be the death of him. He implored
his wife to with!raw the charge, promising never to ill
use le r again.
Mr. Cawbe told him that the sentence was passed on
him, and it was lenient c.anpared with his brutal con-
duct, towards his wife, who, fortunately, could do better
without him.