The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-13 00:00:00

THAMES.

KILLING A CAT.—A poor and neatly clad Irishwoman
came before Ifri Selfe to complain of a neighbour, who had
killed her cat under circumstances of atrocious cruelty.
Her cat happened to jump out of the window on one of her
neighbour's children, and the mother of the child laid wait
for the cat and broke its back. She then continued beat-
ing it at intervals during the whole of yesterday. The
animal was lingering all day, and was dreadfully mutilated.
It died in the evening.,

Mr. Selfe—You can have a summons against the party
for cruelty to an animal.
The applicant—And my neighbour struck me.
Mr. Selfe—Then you may take out a summons against
your neighbour for assaulting you.

PLAYING AT BATTLEDORE AND SHUTTLECOCK WITH
THE Poon BY PARISHES.—An aged and somewhat garru-
lous little woman came before Mr. Selfe and made a long
and somewhat rambling statement relating to her family,
and her husband, who had been a householder in Lime-
house 11 years ; and, as far as could be 'understood, at last
was admitted into Ratcliff Workhouse. At last Mr. Selfe
desired the poor woman to state what grievance she com-
plained of, and she stated that she fell into poverty and
became chargeable to the Poplar Union, and was passed to
her husband's native parish in Devonshire.
Mr Selfe—When were you passed ?
The applicant—About seven weeks ago.
Mr. Selfe—What is the name of the parish ?
The old woman replied Kingsber or Kingsbury ; on
which a gentleman in court said the applicant no doubt
meant Kingsbiidge, near Plymouth.
The applicant—lt is a few miles from Plymouth.
Mr. Selfe—How did you get back to London ?
The applicant—The gentleman at Kingsbury, or what-
ever the name of the place is, sent me back apt said it was
not my parish.
Mr. Selfe—And what do you want me to do in the
matter ?

The applicant—l want you to•find out my parish.
Mr. Selfe said he could not do that, but he had only
this to say, if the Devonshire parish officers had sent the
woman back from Kingsbridgo, if that was the name of
the place, without appealing to the Quarter Sessions, and
quashing the order of removal signed by a Middlesex magi-
strate they had done that which was illegal, and were liable,
on conviction, to a severe penalty. He had hoped that the
system of playing at battledore and shuttlecock with the
poor of England had long since been discontinued. If the
Devonshire parish officers had dared to send the woman
back to London before the order. of removal was quashed,
they ought to be punished. He could not interfere in the
matter, and he would advise the poor woman to wait upon
the clerk or relieving officers of the Poplar Union without
delay.
The poor woman then left the court.

Mn. J. TOWNSEND, M.P., ON TIIE STAGE.-
Mr. Townsend, M.P. for Greenwich, made his first appear-
ance as an actor at Rochester Theatre, on Thursday night
last, in the character of the Duke of Gloster, in " Richard
the Third." The theatre, long before the rising of the cur-
tain, was crowded in every part, and among the audience
were a number of the hon. gentleman's constituents. On
Mr. Townsend making his appearance on the stage he was
vociferously cheered by the audience; which he acknowledged
by repeated bows. At the close of the performance Mr.
Townsend was called before- the curtain, when it was
expected that he would have addressed the audience, wrio
appeared desirous that he should do so ; he, however,
merely bowed his acknowledgments 'and retired. Mr.
Townsend is announced to appear at Rochester, on Tues-
day, in the character of " Othello."