The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-29 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

(Sittings at Nisi Prius at Guildhall, before Mr.
Justice Williams and a Common Jury.)
CONQUEST V. LINDFIELD.
Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Brandt were counsel for
the plaintiff ; and Mr. Serjeant Shee and Mr. Mere-
wether appaared for the defendant.
This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a
builder, in Islington, to recover damages from the
defendant, who is the landlord of the " Royal
Mail," in Upper-street, Islington, for slanderous
words spoken by him on the 4th of November last.
The nature of the case will appear by the evidence
of the plaintiff.

Cornelius Conquest, examined by Mr. Brandt—
I am a builder in Islington, and the plaintiff in
this action. On the 4th of November last I went,
after my day's work was over, to play at bagatelle
at the Royal Mail, with a friend, Matthew Head.
We had soma grog. Head chalked up the glasses
we had. They were four in number. When we
wished to pay the boy said we had drunk six. We
refused to pay. The defendant then came up, and
used very violent and disgusting language. I said,
"Good God, Lindfield, one would think you came
from a b-- house, instead of being a Christian."
He threatened to pitch me out of the winclos. We
then got cool, and gradually went downstairs. I
then put down half-a-crown, and said, " What you
conscientiously charge take out of that." The
defendant then used more gross language,
and gave utterance to the following words
" D-- y our eyes, you era a thief—a b— thief ;
you have been a thief for 14 years ; you keep
not only one b-- house, but two. (This was
the slander complainel of, but the remainder of the
expressions used by the defendant are unfit for
'publication.)
Cross-examined by Sergeant Shoe--We had a
supper since this occurred. Perhaps it was a re-
conciliation supper, but on conditions.

Mr. Hawkin-s--A supper without prejudice.
(Laughter.)

Witness—l was in the chair. I was put into it.
Johnson was vice-president. It was not moved
and carried that there was a better way of settling
the case than the Court of Common Pleas." We
did not drink " Confusion to the Common Pleas."
There was no confusion to the Common Pleas.
We had tripe and trimmings for supper. Cow's
belly, you know. iNly health was drunk. That
was after the tripe. Linfield proposed it, and said
he was glad we were friencl,z, and hoped we should
remain friends, that I was a good fellow, and that
he was very s ntry he had hurt my feelings. I
returned thanks in the usual way, and said what
people do on such occasions. I said, however, "It
is all very well giving me tripe, but I must have a
written apology."
By the Judge—l wanted an apology in the papers
—the Times, the Advertiser, and the Dispatch. It
he had said he was mad or drunk I should have
been satisfied. I think I deserved an apology.
(Laughter.)
Matthew Head, examined by Mr. Hawkins—l
am a nurseryman, and. was present at the Royal
Mail on this occasion. The defendant used very
harsh language, and came at th plaintiff to throw
him out of the window. He was big enough to
knock him into the next world. This witness then
proved the uttering of a portion of the slander, and
added, " I think it is a pity that this case should
go on ; they are blth of them too respectable to be
brought into the Common Pleas." (Laughter.)
. _

OrC;ss-examined—Wh Lt the defendant said was
not " if I keep one, I don't keep two brothels."
Mr. Serjeant Shoe having addressed the jury for
the defendant in an eloquent and humorous speech,
and

The learned Judge having carefully summed up
The jury returned a verdict for the defendant.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-April 28.

MANSION-HOUSE.—The Rev. George Rad-
cliffe, aged 55, Rector of St. Edmund's, Salisbury,
was brought up on remand, charged with having
feloniously made a transfer of certain stock and
annuities on the 30th of July last, to wit, 1,0281.
6s. 31. Three per Cent. Consols, with intent to
defraud the governor and company of the Bank cf
England, he not being the true owner of the said
stock and annuities. •

Mr. Freshaeld appeared for the prosecution, and
Mr. Won.ttler for theprismer.

The prisoner was first brought up on Saturday
last, when it appeared from the opening statement
of Mr. Froshfi,ld that he had been for some years
joint trustee under a marriag3 settlement between
Mr. Isaac Flower, cf Salisbury, and Miss Mar-
guerita Cooper, with Mr. Robert Raxworthy, and
that he had by the aid of f ,rgal certificates of the
death of that gent:Limn succeeded in selling out a
sum of 1,028?. 6s. 3,1. Three per Cents., which
stood in their joint names at the bank, and had
applied the proceeds to his own use. In support of
the prosecution on that occasion some evidence was
given to prove the sale of a transfer of the stock by
the prisoner, and also to prove that there were no
such persons as those who purported to certify the
death and identity of Mr. Raxworthy, living at the
place where the " deceased" was alleged to have
been buried.
Mr. FreshfiAd, sen., said Mr. Raxworthy was in
court, and quite prepared to prove that he was not
dead, and that the transfer had not been authorised
by him.
Mr. R. Raxworthy—l am a farmer, living near
Blandford, Dorset. I was a trustee wider the
marriage settlement of Mr. and Mrs. Flower, and
am so to this day. I was joint transfer with Mr.
Radcliffe for a sum of 1,028/. 6:i. 3d. stock standing
in our joint names. The dividends on that stock
were received by power of attorney, and accounted
for to Mr. Flower, through Everard's Bank, at Loth-
bury. I never authorised the prisoner to sell that
stock, and was not personally acquainted with him,
and had never seen him till the 17th April, when
came to me. He said ha c tme about the stock
that h-rd been sold out by mistake for a poison
named Richards, who was deceased ; that the
bankers had made a mistake, and thought I was
the person deceased. He also said I need take no
trouble about it, or go to town, as the dividends
would he all right ou the next dividend-day. I
have not seen him since tilt to-day.
Cross.-examined by Mr. Wow ner—l knew the
prisoner's family were very respectable. He d,d
not say the stock should be replaced immediately,
but he said it should be made all right. I have
ascertained that since that interval the stock has
been replaced in the same names. He always re-
ceived the dividends, I never interfered with
them. Ido not know that the deed constituting
him a trustee has not been properly executed.
The prisoner, who reserved his defence, was then
committed for trial, and the witnesses were bound
over to appear against him at the Old Bailey.

GUILDHALL. —George Barrow, the senior part-
ner in the firm of Barrow and Hamond, wholesale
stationers, of 72, Basinghall-street, was charged
with forging and uttering two bills of exchange for
451. and 381. 10s. 4d., with intent to defraud the
Union Bank of London.

It wi►l be remembered that the prisoner's part
ner was charged with the same offence at this couri
on Tue:day last.

Sergeant Spittle, a detective officer, said about
half-past seven o'clock on Tuesday evening he ap-
prehended the prisoner Fit the Chalk-farm railway
station. He_told him be was charged with forging
and uttering two bills of exchange with intent to
defraud the Union Bank of London. The prisoner
asked upon whose authority he was apprehended,
and upon being told that it was upon the authority
of the Union Bank he made no further remark.
At the police station he asked if he could be allowed
to make any statement, and when informed that
whatever he said would be used in evidence against
him he declined saying anything.
Sergeant Brett said, when he showed the pri-
soner the two bills in question, he merely asked to
see the backs of the bills, but he did not say any-
thing.
Alderman Phillips said there was sufficient to
justify him in remanding the prisoner until Mon-
day next, so that the two partners might be brought
up together.
Remanded accordingly.
Jaines-Palrner, alias Torn Lane, was brought up,
charge,' with stealing a horse and chaise aid suit
of livery, value 701., the property of Mr. William
Blew June of Kilburn Priory.
The prosecutor said that on the 16th of April
last he was proceeding through Fleet-street, when
he saw a gentleman whom he supposed to have been
abroad, and being desirous of ascertaining where
he lived,. he called the prisoner and desired him to
trace the gentleman home, and then go to him at a
place named in Regent-street. The prisoner did
so, and the prosecutor put him into a cab, and
having his own chaise re tdy he drove down, f d-
lowed by the prisoner, to Hunter-street, Bruns
wick-square, where he discharged the cab, and loft
his own horse and chaise in the prisoner's care while
he went into the house which the prisoner had
traced the gent!ernan to. He had not been there
long when, happening to look out at the window,
he found his horse and chaise and the prisoner had
vanished. On making inquiries in the neighbour-
hood he found his horse and chaise in a 'nee s iu
Henrietta-street, but the prisoner bad decamps d
with a new suit of livery which was in the chaise.

On the following morning he was riding outside an
omnibus When he saw the prisoner emerging from
Field-laue, and gave him into custody.
The coat was found in the possession of a woman
who lived with the prisoner, and the rest of the
suit of livery was traced to a pawnbroker's shop.
The prisoner was remanded, in order that the
woman might be brought up with him.
Alderman Phillips, at the conclusion of the night
charges, said—l have received a letter which I
think of so much importance to the public, that,
without any comments, I will at once hand it over
to the reporters of the press. It is written to a
gentleman of the highest respectability, but as there
are ladies in court I will not read it aloud, but let
it speak fcr itself through the medium of the public
press.

The following is a copy of the letter, with the
exception of the names and addresses, which, for
obvious reasons, we withhold for the present :
" beg permission to inform you that I am
in the occasional habit of makingpecuniary advances
to ladies, and that at the present time I have some
eligible investments to offer, which, besides yiel•.-
iug a most remunerative rate of interest, will, in
all probability, place other advantages at your dis-
posal. Further particulars may be obtained on
application to me, between the hours of eleven and.
four or by appointment.—l have the honour to he,
sir, your most obedient servant, Sic."

WORSHIP-STREET.—JuIes Evions, a short
thick-set person of gentlemanly exterior, and de-
scribed as a native of France, was charged before
Mr. • D'Eyncourt with violently assaulting Wil-
liam Hughes, a cab driver, badge 3,715.
From the evidence of complainant it appeared
that he was in the employ of Mr. Grove, landlord
of the Spread Eagle tavern, in Kingsland-road, and
an extensive cab proprietor. On the previous
evening defendant entered the house and took re-
freshment, but immediately became very excited,
and insulted every one near him. Mr. Grove de-
sired Hughes to interfere, but the latter had scarcely
done so when defendant seized the thumb of the
cabman's left hand between his teeth, and bit it
completely through the thick fleshy part, nor
would he lose his hold for several minutes.
"In fact," said complainant, "he was like a bull
dog. I could not induce him to release my thumb
which is now extremely painful. After a policeman
was called in, and I got away, I went to a sur-
geon, and he burnt out the injured part, but I have
net had any sleep the whole night."
Mr. D'Eyncourt—l see the defendant has a
severe black eye. Did you inflict that blow as a
chastisement ?

Complainant—No, sir ; his eye was in that state
when he entered the house ; but I should like to
have blackened both his eyes, and would if the con-
stable had allowed me. 1 would sooner have
"lynch law" on him now than any other.
A tradesman, named May, described the French-
man's conduct as more resembling that of a wild
bear than a human being, and proved that no insult
or interference was offered to him previous to his
becoming disorderly.
Mr. D'Eyncourt fined the offender 20s. for the
assault and 30s. costs, the latter to be given to the
cabman.
The fine was paid together with costs.