The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-23 00:00:00

Witness had to examine that, and if correct
obtain the sanction of the commissioners, accord-
ing to act of Parliament, and make out dupli-
cates for the collectors, who had no authority
to collect any taxes until they had received
them. The prisoner would no doubt have received
the duplicate in December had not defalcations
been discovered by witness. They amounted in the
whole to £713 6s. 10. A portion was collected by
the prisoner with the old printed receipts, and the
remainder with the new ones for 1857 and 1858.
On the 10th of December last the prisoner was com-
mitted to Horsemonger-lane gaol, by the commis-
sioners, for these defalcations.
In cross-examination by Mr. Thomson, witness
said that the assessment produced was made for
three years, and expired in 1860 ; but although the
prisoner was the assessor, he must be annually re-
appointed as collector. - In June last the prisoner
came to him, and asked for the blank receipt books
for 1857 and 1858. Witness told him it was un-
usual to give the collectors receipt books before the
duplicate of the assessment was delivered. The pri-
soner told him he only wanted them to fill up the
dates, &c., as that would save him time. Witness
handed him the books, telling him not to collect
any taxes with them until he was appointed, or he
would be liable to heavy penalties ; on the 2d Nov.
he believed, and, in fact, he ordered the prisoner to
collect taxes due by Mr. Cogan, a bankrupt, but
that was done under special instructions, as under
such circumstances he could indemnify the prisoner
for not being a properly appointed collector.
Mr. Thomson asked whether the commissioners
had not treated the defalcations in the nature of a
debt ?

Mr. Sells replied that Mr. Burbridge was com-
mitted to the debtors side of Horscmonger-lane
gaol by them until the defalcations were satisfied.
Mr. Thomson inquired whether they had not re-
ceived his balance at his bankers, as well as the
amount realised by the seizure of his property.
Mr. Sells replied that he believed all he had at
his bankers' was £4O. That was given up, and he
had an account of the property realised.
Mx. Hurrell objected to this mode of cross-exa-
mination. All they had to do was his obtaining
divers sums of money without authority.
Other cases of a similar nature were brought for-
ward. Mr. Johnson then summed up the evidence
with great minuteness, and. the jury, after a short
consultation, returned a verdict of acquittal.
Mr. Burbridge was, however, detained at the suit
of the Crown, and was again removed to his old
quarters in Horscmonger-lane gaol.
CONVICTION OF A NOTORIOUS HORSE-STEALER.
Wm. Kelly, '4O, described as a horse dealer, but
well known as connected with a notorious gang of
horse stealers and " coupers," was indicted for admi-
nistering a narcotic drug to Jonathan Fisher, a
greengrocer, of Lewisham, and stealing from him a
horse, value £l3. There were other indictments
against him for obtaining other horses from several
persons by means of false pretences. The particulars
of the case have appeared in our police reports.
The jury found him guilty.
It being proved that he had been previously sen-
tenced to four years' penal servitude for similar
offences, the Court sentenced him to six years'
penal servitude.

MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT CAM

During the past few tays considerable excite•
meat prevailed throughout the districts of Camber-
well and Peckham in, constequence of the discovery
of a man lying in a garden, near two pools of blood,
with his throat cut almost from ear to ear. Mr.
Woodman, the summoning officer, having been ap-
prised of the finding of the body, at once waited
upon Mr. Wm. Carter, the coroner for the Eastern
Division of Surrey, and an inquest was accordingly
opened by that learned gentleman in the vestry
hall of Camberwell parish, when the following evi-
dence was adduced:—
Thomas Conner said that he was 4 dealer in fish,
and resided at No. 6, Zar-street, Deptford. Last
Friday evening he went to supper in Charlotte-
street, New Kent-road. He got there between. 7
and 8 o'clock, and he left the place in from eight to
ten minutes afterwards by a way called Roll's-
road, running parallel with the Rent-road. He
arrived at the toll-bar near the Newington-road,
Rotherhithe, when a man came up and said that
he had heard a groaning noise under the hedge.
In consequence of what he said he went with him a
distance of 20or 30 yards, and he then also heard
the groaning noise spoken of by the man. He
looked through a quickset hedge and saw what ap-
peared to be a white jacket on the ground. The
man who was with him, and whom .he did not
know, said " Let us jump over." Witness got over
the fence, and he saw that the object his atten-
tion had been ealled to was its.irran lying on his
right side, with his head on his right arm, and
blood on his sleeves and jacket lie raised his
head, and found that his throat was cut. He was
then alive, but did not speak in his hearing. He
told the man who had first addressed him to go for
the police and a doctor, and he (witness) remained
with him, as well as a man with a horse and van,
and the deceased was placed in the vehicle, and
removed to Dr. llooper's surgery, but he died in
the course of a few minutes. He looked about but
could find no weapon, and he did not notice any
braise or injury on his person.
Mr. T. Watkins Hooper, surgeon, of No. 1 Maise-
more-place, Park-road, New Peckham, said that
on last Friday, about 20 minutes past 8 o'clock, the
deceased was brought to his surgery, the last wit-
, ness being one of the persons bringing him: He
found him to be alive, but quite pulseless, and his
face blanched. There was blood about his jacket
and shirt, -which had flowed from an incised wound
in the throat. The wound was in length six or
seven inches, which had been done by a sharp in-
strument. There was only one wound, and clean
cut, commencing at the right angle of the right
jaw, extending across the throat above the larynx,
which was exposed, and the pharynx and jugular
vein cut through. The superficial veins were also
divided. The wound itself was mortal, and was
the cause of death. He did not detect any other
injury on his person.
By the Coroner--The situation of the wound was
in such a part that he could have inflicted it him-
self by using a razor or other sharp instrument. He
did not notice any blood on his hands. The wound
was deeper on the right side than on the left, 'which
led him to believe, if done by himself, it must have
been done by the left hand: He was searched in
his preience, and a comb and spectacle case were
found upon him. He thought that he was about
40 years of age. Had there been any resistance on
his part to another, the wound would have had a
more jagged appearance. His inference was from
the appearances that it was an act of his own.
At this part of the proceedings the learned Coro-
ner directed the doctor and the .beadle to go and
make a more minute examination of the body by
having it stripped and washed. Whilst that was
being done other witnesses were examined, when
William Tweed said that he was a police-consta-
ble, No. 218 M--on Friday last he was on duty at
20 minutes to 8, and when between the railway
arches and the wooden viaduct of the Bricklayer's
Arms branch, he was met by a man, who said that
some other man had cut his throat, and was taken
in a van to Mr. Hooper's. lie went to that gentle-
man's and found the man dead. After a short time
he met a man named Carpenter, and borrowing a light
they went into a piece of garden land on the right
hand side of the New-road from the Kent-road, and
on proceeding along the side of the fence, 20 or 30
yards in the direction of Rotherhithe, he found a
black cloth cap on the bank of the hedgerow, and
within 9 inches thereof was a pool of blood. About
three feet onwards was another pool of blood, and
within a foot of that lie found a razor, which' he
produced. It was open, and had blood on it. It
had a black handle, but no name or initials except
that of the maker. It was six feet from the cap,
and near to the place where he got over he found a
leathern apron carelessly rolled
ulo nearly new,
and such as coopers or smiths wear.
Edwin Kent, a fireman on board the Antagonist
steamboat, proved hearing the groaning proceeding
from the ground on the left hand side of the road.
He got upon the rail, but net seeing any one, he
waited till he heard footsteps. A person (the first
witness) came up,
and he made known to him what
he had heard. They got over and found a man,
who appeared weak, and he went for a policeman,
and on getting one, and returning to the place, he
met a van, and understanding that the man was
therein, he went to the surgeon's. He did not meet
any one near.
By the Coroner—Ile had no recollection of see-
ing any female pass
passing up or down the ground as
he proceeded. He
was at the time going up to the Lyndhurst-road,
Peckham. He did not hear any noise of persons
before he heard the
groans.

Mr. Hooper,
he had made a further examination of the deceased.
upon re-entering the court, said that
There were no mark 4 of violence on the body ex-
cept the throat. He found a tattooed mark of
T k 8., born May 28, 1802," encircled in a mar-
ginal line in the shape of a heart. The left hand
appeared to be much more hardened than the right,
as if he was left-handed. On his pocket handker-
chief, which was of cotton material, with puce or
lavender colour.
figured border, was a figure of 6
and the word Cullen," and under that two figures
of 6. He had on moleskin trousers, an under flan-
nel shirt, a blue slop shirt, flannel jacket, and cross-
barred neckerchief, white cotton stockings, blucher
boots, and a pair of new cottua braces.
At this.stage of the i)roceedings the inquiry was
adjourned till next -week, in consequence of the
want of identity and for furtlwr evide4,*