The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-03 00:00:00

LAMBETII.

NUMEROUS ROBBERIES OF WATCHES.--A woman
named Sophie Weeks was placed at the bar before Mr.
Broughton, charged with having been concerned with two
men not in custody in attempting to pick the pocket of a
lady.
Mr. Woatner attended for the prisoner.

Sergeant Potter, 16 D, deposed that on Saturday after-
noon last, while in Southwick-crescent, Paddington, he saw
the prisoner walking arm in arm with a man ; another man
was walking at a short distance behind. In Upper South-
wick-street the prisoner and the man who wis with her
accosted a lady, of whom they had no doubt been
asking their way to a certain place, and she was pointing
with her hand towards Praed-street. Witness asked
the lady if she had lost anything, and she replied
that she had not. They went into Cambridge-street, where
they met another lady into whose pocket witness saw pri-
soner put her hand. The prisoner and her two male com-
panions, upon observing that he (witness) bad kept a watch
npon their movements, made off as fast as they could, and
in the course of their progress one of the men threw some-
thing into a garden. The men got clear off, but the pri-
soner, who had got into a Hansom cab, in which she was
about to be driven away, was captured by witness and
conveyed to the station-house.
In reply to the magistrate, Potter said that neither of the
ladies was present.
Mr. Broughton--Do you know anything of the prisoner ?
Witness—l do not myself, but I believe she is well known
to Crocker, of the C division, who was here this morning,
but was obliged to leave. Witness added that a number of
robberies had lately been committed in the Paddington dis-
trict, the articles stolen being principally purses and watches,
by parties who had stopped ladies and elderly gentlemen
under pretence of being informed as to their right road to a
particular spot.
Inspector Mackerell stated that owing to many recent
cases of plunder the witness Potter had been ordered to keep
watch in plain clothes.
The prisoner was remanded for further inquiry respecting
her.

SOUTH WARK.—TuE OLD INDIAN SOLDIER AGAIN.
—After the usual night charges had been disposed of, John
Lawton, the old soldier, attended before Mr. Combe ac-.
cording to promise, with the view of explaining his conduct
and contradicting the statements which had recently ap-
peared in the newspapers. He informed his worship that
he left a letter on Saturday for his perusal, the contents of
which would clearly show that he was neither an " impos-
tor" nor " cheat." _ _ _

Mr: Combe him be had carefully perused the letter
in question, and he must publicly say that he saw nothing ,
in it to alter his opinion, that he was an impostor as well
as a cheat." He clearly obtained 6s. from Mr. Edward, his
chief clerk, under the pretence of going to Hull. He, how-
ever, did not go ; consequently that was an imposition.
Lawton endeavoured to explain that circumstance by say-
ing, that the reason he did not leave London then was the
accounts which he saw in the newspapers on Thursday
morning. He considered that they were injurious to him
as an old soldier who had served his country, and that his
character required to be vindicated.
Mr. Combe asked him what he had to say about obtaining
10s. front the Hon. Mr. Norton at Lambeth Police-court
only a few days before ?
He replied that be did not beg that to be sent to Hull.
He was in great distress at the time, and actually starving.
He told Mr. Norton so, and the whole of his history.
Miller, 118 L, an officer attached to Lambeth Police-
court, said he was present when Lawton made his applica-
tion to the Hon. Mr. Norton, and at his request he made
inquiries about his services in the army. They turned out
to be quite correct, and Mr. Norton gave him (Lawton)
10s. out.of the poor-box to enable him to go to Hull.
Mr. Combe asked Lawton what he had to say to that ?
He replied that be expended the money to purchase food,
therefore he could not go to Hull.
Mr. Combe told him that his conduct was very suspicious,
and, so far as he could see, looked very much like a fraud.
He came before him with a very plausible tale ; and regard-
ing his services in the army, and his character during that
time, no doubt he had told the truth. But latterly he had
grossly imposed upon the poor-boxes of several of the
metropolitan police courts. He told his tale to the magis-
trates, and then asked for the means to be sent to Hull.
Three times had he imposed upon the Lord Mayor, and he
most undoubtedly had imposed upon the poor-boxes of the
Lambeth and this police court.
Lawton did not consider it any imposition. He was in
distress, and in want of common necessaries. If his worship
wished he could send to Chelsea Hospital, and ascertain
that he was entitled to enter that institution on his arriving
at 50 years of age. What was he to do until then ?
Mr. Combe told him he must not impose upon the poor-
boxes at the police courts. When before him on Wednes-
day last he said that he had taught drilling at schools near
Hull, and that he had come up to London to seek a Go-
vernment situation; "and failing in that he wanted the
means to return to Hull, where he had friends. The chief
clerk provided him with those means, but he did not go to
Hull. Did not that look like fraud ?
Lawton observed that his clothes were in such a deplorable
state that he felt ashamed to go to Hull.
Mr. Combe told him that was an idle excuse. lie never
mentioned that when he made the application. When the
money was given to him at Lambeth and that police court
he promised to go by the boat to Hull immediately. In-
stead of that, he remained in London—most likely for the
purpose of further imposition, but that was put a stop to
by the press. He had received several sums of money
from benevolent individuals for his use, but he should not
hand it to him, or encourage such a system of fraud. If
he liked he might go and tell his tale to the officers whose
names be had mentioned in his letter, and see whether they
would assist him, as he would have nothing further to do
with him.

Lawton asked his worship to read his letter. That set
forth his character and showed he was not an impostor.
Mr. Combe again told him he had carefully read his letter,
and there was nothing in that to excuse him from commit-
ting the frauds he had upon the poor boxes. He might
thank himself lucky that he was not sent to prison ; there-
fore the sooner he went about his business the better.
Mr. Combe then requested our reporter to announce in
the Morning Post that the benevolent individuals who had
sent money to this court for Lawton might have the same
returned to them on application to the chief clerk, or if they
pleased it might be deposited in the poor-box, and distri-
buted to the many deserving poor who were constantly
asking for assistance.
CRUEL CASE OF WIFE BEATING.— Charles Cooling,
a cab-driver, was brought before Mr. Combe charged with
cruelly beating Rebecca Cooling, his wife.
The latter, who had a severe cut on the side of the right
temple near the eye, and who exhibited several bruises on
her arms, stated that she had been married to the prisoner
14 years. He had formerly been a cab-master and driver,
but latterly his habits had become so depraved through
drunkenness that he had lost his license, and now he hung
about the cab-stands;and did nothing to contribute towards
her support. He was frequently in the habit of ill-using
her, and a day or two ago he came home and knocked her
about with the handle of a whip. He then cut her face and
injured her arms, and she believed he would nearly have
murdered her had not a constable came in and took the
whip handle from him.
Police-constable 177 produced the whip, the handle of
which was covered with blood. He further added
that the prosecutrix was so unwell after the assault was
committed as not to be able to attend and give her evidence
when the prisoner was first brought up for examination. ;
Mr. Combe asked the prisoner what he bad to say in an-
swer to the charge ?
He replied that he had been drinking at the time, and
when he got home she aggravated him. He was, however,
very sorry for his conduct.
Mr. Combe told him he was a cowardly, brutal fellow, and
he should sentence him to six months' hard labour.

THE LATE CALAMITOUS TaHnEF
inspectorßE
FIRE AT
Dodd,
WORK FACTORIES.—Mr.
William
F.
of police, applied for four summonses, by direction of Capt.
Labalmondiere, the assistant commissioner of police, against
the owners of the houses Nos. 1 and 2, Charles-street, and
3 and 4, Elizabeth-place, Westminster-road, parish of St.
George-the-Martyr, and calling on them to show cause why
they neglected to take down the walls of these respective
buildings or structures, they having been duly certified to
be in a dangerous state by a competent surveyor, and notice
of the same having been given to them.
The buildings in question are the ruins of the houses at
which the late calamitous explosion of fireworks took place,
and the usual certificates of a surveyor, under the dangerous
structures clause in the Metropolitan Building Act, repre-
senting the ruins to be in a dangerous state, having been
put in, the summonses, as requested, were at once granted.
\Vito PLUCKED TILE FLOWERS?—James Cottcrell, a
constable belonging to the P division of police, No. 402,
was brought up in custody and placed at the bar, on a
charge of plucking flowers in the garden and pleasure
grounds of a gentleman at Brixton.
Mr. Lund, the superintendent of the division, represented
the prisoner as the worst man under his charge, and said
that for the 10 months he had been in the force there were
nine reports against him, and it was his impression the pre-
sent was not the first offence of the kind of which he had
been guilty.
The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge, and Mr. Nor-

on observed that, in consideration of his being discharge'
from the force, his sentence would be more lenient than bit!
offence deserved. He then fined the prisoner ss. or 10 days'
imprisonment.

MURDEROUS ASSAULTS UPON CAPTAINS OF
SHIPS.—Adam Young, John Ray, and Jas. Augustus
Samuels, American uegroes, and lately seamen on board
the American ship Satellite from Calcutta, were brought
before Mr. Yardley charged with committing a savage and
unprovoked assault on Capt. Samuel Annis, the master of
the ship.
On Saturday the prosecutor appeared at this court as se
defendant. He was summoned by 11 of his crew, all men 0,
colour, for their wages earned at sea, and Mr. Fletcher im-
mediately pleaded on his behalf that the ship Satellite ives
an American one, and that the magistrate had no jurisdic-
tion. A certificate from Mr. Campbell, the United States
Consul, stating that the Satellite belonged to the port of
Rochland, in the State of Maine, was put in, and the magis-
trate at once decided that he had no jurisdiction in the
matter, and dismissed the summonses. Capt. Annis left the
court, and was fiercely attacked by the prisoners and others.
He returned into court guarded by a strong posse of police)
with his face battered, his eyes blackened, and blood stream-
ing from his nose and mouth. The excitement was verY
great, and although an application was made to hear the
case instanter, Mr. Yardley refused, and said the case must
be heard when the parties cooled down, and adjourned the
hearing.
Mr. Fletcher detailed the particulars of the outrage which
was committed within the precincts of the court on as
American gentleman who had been summoned to the court.
He (Mr. Fletcher) was an eye-witness of the outrage, which
was one of the most barbarous he had ever heard of. He vves
quite sure that when the magistrate had received the evi-
dence he would impose a severe penalty.
Capt. Annis said that directly he left the court on Satur-
day, and was making his way towards the office of Mr'
Fletcher, he was attacked by the defendants, who begs°
yelling and hooting. He was thrown into the middle of
the road, kicked, and knocked down. He got up and Ives
knocked down again. A man named Fraser, one of those
who took out summonses, was the first that struck him'
He was repeatedly struck and kicked on the head, back,
and face, and should have been murdered if it had not been
for the police. He lost a good deal of blood.
In answer to questions by Mr. Yardley, the witness said
all his crew were black men, except two. He heard
Samuels say " - you, I'll have your heart's bload,,, The
ship was under seizure on a bottomry bond, and be could
not pay the wages or get any money.
Robert Wittleton, a police-constable, No. 152 IC, ee
officer of the court, witnessed the outrage. There was el
black man on one side and one on the other beating and
kicking the captain, who called uut murder. He seize('
Young, and held him fast by the neck. Young said, " Let
me go, you -." Witness said, " No, you are on English
ground now, and I don't let you go until a magistrate de-
cides upon the case."

Several other witnesses deposed to the violence inflicted
by Young and Samuels, but no one saw Ray strike or kick
the captain. He was seen among the crowd of coloured
men following the captain, and close to him when he was
ill-used, but it could not be sworn he actually kicked or
struck the captain.
Mr. Yardley ordered Ray to be discharged.
Mr. Charles Young, in defence, said he could not denY
the assault, and he could only plead in exoneration of the
prisoners, that they were very much excited at the shameful
deductions made by the captain in the accounts rendered
of wages due to the seamen who had navigated the ship to
this port, and could not obtain a farthing.
Mr. Yardley said the captain had not been asked a single,
question in cross-examination relating to deductions, and
it was exceedingly unfair to make such statements without
giving the prosecutor an opportunity of contradicting it.
Mr. Young—lt is in my instructions, and the accounts,
partly printed and partly written, prove it. There is 14s.
charged to each man for shipping and unshipping.
Mr. Yardley—Then you should have questioned the
captain about those matters.
Mr. Young said although the affray might be considered
brutal among Englishmen who fought with the weapons
which nature gave them, it was customary in America for
men to kick each other, and use knuckle-dusters made of,
brass, and other weapons. In America this affair would Rot
be considered exceptionable, for" booting," as it was called,
was a favourite pastime there, and Americans did not use
their bare fists as Englishmen did.
Mr. Yardley said there was no palliation or excuse for tills
outrage, which was surrounded with circumstances of great
aggravation. The captain appeared in that court to answet
could
summonses issued against him, and he., told him he could'
not decide the case. The legal adviser of the prisoners 00"
their shipmates made no resistance at all to the decision'
It might be a hardship on the seamen not to get their
wages, but the captain had no power to pay them with
out the order of the persons who had seized the sbll'
The defendants must act in obedience with the English laws
while they were in this country. It was a grave offence ipso.'
civilised country for a man seeking justice in a properly CO":
stituted court to be insulted and ill used. A man leaving 0;
courts of j ustice must be protected, whatever his rank wig
be. The prisoners had not only committed a most brute
outrage, but had also been guilty of a contempt of Nul,
He was very sorry to hear the remarks which had fallen
e,.
from Mr. Young about American brutality as compared 0°
English brutality. We had no business to exalt ourselves
at the expense of other nations. The Americans were a_
civilised as the English. It was all nonsense to say there
was any palliation in the case. A most gross, improper'brutal, and savage assault had been committed on CaP
Annis. He fined the prisoners each, and in default of
payment two months' imprisonment.
Mr. Yardley also issued warrants against two other We„
named Fraser and Sydem who were concerned in the out'
rage, and said if 1.-uy other men committed an assault ma'
the captain, he would send them before a jury for trial, an
if found guilty they would be sentenced to a long term °
imprisonment.
ANOTHER AND SIMILAR AFFAlR.—Michael
an Irishman, aged 21, Emmanuel Peana, 25,
Lawren
Cornelius, 21, and Richard Crosby, 21, the three 19sl'
foreigners and men of colour, were brought before 31;
Yardley, charged with assaulting Capt. Henry M`Neil, the
master of the British ship Henrietta.
The prosecutor in this case WB3 summoned to this co„rt
--A
on Saturday by these seamen for wages, and it appeared
that the ship had been on a whaling voyage, and
5001
from London on the 10th of May, 1856, that the origbia
master, Capt. Holmes, committed suicide, that the ship Put
into St. Helena, where 15 men deserted, and were se";
.a
tented to three months' imprisonment and hard labour,";
that 15 others were shipped as substitutes. After various
adventures the ship put into Ternate, a Dutch settleineoci
where the captain was compelled to enter into a see°
agreement to pay the men monthly wages.
Mr. Yardley decided that as the seamen had entered ittit,oe
a written contract to go out upon the "lay" or share in
profits of the adventure, the custom in South Sea whau°,l
voyages, the second agreement entered into at Ternate W"
null and void, and dismissed the summons.
Mr. Cox, solicitor for the captain, promised that, al though
the whale fishing bad not been very successful, the erT,,
would be liberally dealt with by the owner at the pay tabfe
Mr. Joseph Smith, solicitor, said he appeared for "
seamen on the application for their wages, but did not eill;
pear for them now, and would not countenance attacks
suitors as they were leaving the court.
Capt. M‘Neil said that directly he left the court on Satur-
day afternoon he was followed by the prisoners and others,
who abused him in a most gross manner. Ryan struck bin/
first on the face with his fist. The man Peana seized 'Pi!:
by the neck and compressed it, and left marks upon bit
throat, and Cornelius and Crosby tucked up their slur
sleeves and beat him. The police came up and interfered,
and took the prisoners into custody.
In answer to questions by Mr. Yardley, Capt. M'Neil said-rs
The whole of the crew will be paid their shares of the Prof'o
of the adventure. Some fish had been caught. The voyag
on the whole had been unfortunate. I have not bee„
addicted to habits of intemperance, or afflicted with
tremens. There was no inquiry into my conduct before 01281
local marine board, and no intention of proceeding ageia
me.

Mr. Yardley—Certain insinuations having been throv!°
out against the captain, I have given him an opportuoll
of contradicting them upon oath.
Capt. beg leave to say that the men will
paid all that is due to them in a day or two.
Mr. William M`Neil, brother of the last-named &Wel
confirmed his statement, and said he seized Ryan and be
l
him down until a policeman arrived.
Mr. Yardley—This is a very serious offence, but not (I"ite
so bad as the last case I heard. Really it is new that par
i
going out of this court are to be assaulted by unsuccessr
suitors, and it must be put a stop to. It is a most abou11;
able proceeding, and I hope never to hear of such a tbit
again. I fine Ryan £3, or three weeks' imprisonmeL)
Peana 405., or 14 days' imprisonment; and the others
each, or eight days' imprisonment.
The crew of the American ship were actuated by such
hostile feelings against their captain that Inspector Alliser,t
of the K division, and a strong force of police had to esc"
him to a place of safety.

Yesterday the full Board of Admiralty landed at tbie,
King's-stairs, Portsmouth Dockyard, at half-past elene
o'clock, when the men belonging to the dockyard vibe
mustered before their lordships. They went out of
yard for the remainder of the day. Their lordships' stay I"
the yard was very short. Qp
A POACHER SHOT BY A GAMEKEEPER.-- r
Thursday morning, between one and two o'clock, three o_,
four men got within the boundaries of Witton Park, the se 0j
of Mr. Joseph Fielden. about a mile from Blackburn, age
were busy setting nets, when they were pounced upon Jci
three gamekeepers. The men immediately made off, 024
one of the gamekeepers, named John Lane, fired and so".,
one of the men, named Peter Lister, wounding him Ver/i
severely in the hips and back part of the thighs. Lister 0,
taken to a beershop and attended by a surgeon, who 0'
extracted from his person a number of shot. He still lies
there in a precarious condition. The gamekeeper, J°l3ll
,
Lane, has been taken into custody, and will be brought
fore the magistrates.