The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-12 00:00:00

EPSOM RACES.

'MILTON, Tuesday.—The fol'ovvicg bores left beis
this day for Lerv.herhead :—Target, Rose de Florence,
Bird-in-the-Hand, Grmzulus Eeuriene, Hepatica, Four•
l-aved Shauirock, Vanity, Queen Charlotte, Aim, and
Many ieff.

T. x.‘pholite, Longrange, and Warlock are expeet,4
to leave ou Wedne.day Wild day).

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST 7 TVO OFFICERS.-
EXTRAORDINARTMAGISTLRIAL DECISION.

On Monday two officers of the Royal Engineers
at B 1 onipton Barracks, Chatham, named Lieut.
George Mansell Collings, and Lieut. Robt. Hamil-
ton Vetch, were charged before the county magis-
trates at Rochester with hating each presented a
loaded gun at George Edward Osborne, a market
gardener at Gillingham, and threatened to shoot
him.

The statements made by the prosecutor in pre-
fer riug the charge was to the effect that on the pre-
vious Friday afreinoon he saw the two defendants,
each with a gun, in a field through which there
was no thoroughfare. There were two dogs with
them engaged in trading. Prosecutor sent one of
ids men to order them away, on which Lieutenant
Collings aoted in a very disgusting manner, and at
the same time made use of a filthy expression to
him. He then demanded what they meant by
such conduct, when they both became greatly ex-
cited, and flew into a violent passion, asking pro-
secutor what right he had to say anything to them,
and threatened to shoot him if he spoke another
word. They at the same time cocked their guns,
which were capped, and presented them at him,
repeating their threat. Fearing they would carry
their threat into effect, prosecutor called for assist-
ance and gave them into custody, but on the con-
stable attempting to take them they knocked hint
down, and were so violent that another police-
constable had to be sent for, when they were both
handcuffed and taken to the s•ation-house. _ _

The magistratef,-Witin;i hearing any evidence
in support of the complaint, and without calling
on the accused for any answer to the charge, re-
fused to allow the prosecution to proceed, and de.
clined to entertain the charge against the defen.
dant s for threatening to shoot the prosecutor. The
prosecutor then stated his intention to employ
counsel, and make the charge against the defen-
dants on the next court day, but the magistrates
told him if he did so, they would not entertain it.
The two officers were then charged with assault-
ing the constable who took them into custody whilst
in the execution of his duty. The bench, how-
eveifdeclined to receive this charge also, saying that
as they had refused to allow the charge of attempt-
ing to shoot to be proceeded with, the constable bad
no right to take the accused into custody, and there-
fore had exceeded his duty. Tho two defendants,
who had been seated near the bench, then left the
cow t.

The names of the magistrates on the bench were
the Rev. G. Davieß, J.'S with, Esq., W. M. Smith,
E-q., Aljor 11. Bop, and the Rev. J. J. Marsha.m.
We are ihfornied tile whole matter is to be laid be.
fure the Home Secretory.

Discovrhv OF A ROMAN FORD.—Last week, during
the prigress of the works for the improvement of Upper
Witham, the excavators laid bare the Roman ford on the
rnicdogl
en
bt o N
ridge.
fllotoirsoeribgehdt chains
ofsFo°llBtBbro a tdh ef rBo rma bLi
p,ised of stone, gravel, and concrete, so very hard that al-
though only 20 yards long (the width of tbe river) and ft
in breadth, the men were engaged two days before they
lowered the bed 18 inches. There is every reason to' sup-
pose that the causeway may be found on the lowland
leading from the ford to Bracebridge village. Several ood
tirtdgeitt appear to have been crested over the Wit'ham
at different periods near the present bridge, and be-
tween it and the ford mentioned above a number of
piles were discovered in the excavation. Several spear
heads have also been found—two in beautiful preserva-
oPflidity, of
ttihoins.citTy,htehyeasruerireywoirntothiehpeocesoemsenaioingeoiofnAelrr;
Sewers.
—Lincoln, Notts, and North, Midland .Timcs.