The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-30 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

IMPORTANT TO °Amyl:N.—lt has been decided by Mr.
Mansfield, at the Marylebone Police-court, that the
Metropolitan Streets Act does not enact that the cabman's
fare shall be a shilling for the first mile, and sixpence for
every additional mile ; it really provides that the fare for
two miles, or any distance less than two miles, shall be a
shilling, and for every additional mile beyond that six
pence.

FORGING DIVIDEND WARRANTS.—John Lancaster,
clerk, was finally examined at the Westminster Police-
court on a charge of fraud and forgery. The prisoner was
clerk to one Edmonds, a contractor, who, in 1864, gave
Mr. Joseph Emerton, the contractor, of Chelsea, a bill at
a month for £l4 odd. Edmonds was bankrupt, and
scheduled Emerton for the bill. A dividend of 7s. Bd. in
the pound was declared in 1865, and prisoner was sent to
get it. He defrauded Mr. Emerton of nearly £5 of the
money received, alleging that he had received ls. Bd. in
the pound, instead of 7s. Bd. When another dividend of
ls. sd. was declared this year, he went to the Bankruptcy
Court, forged Emerton's name, and, receiving the dividend,
appropriated it to his own use. Prisoner's defence was
that he did not know how much he received on the first
occasion, it was so long ago ; and with regard to the
econd dividend, he declared that Emerton gave him the
bill, and made him a present of it. He was committed
for trial.

DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO MURDER A FATHER.—A shock-
ing termination to a family quarrel took place at Islington
on Saturday. A respectable shoemaker, named Ballisat,
was sitting down to dinner with his son and daughter and
son-in-law. The two younger men quarrelled, and had
.what in the evidence is called a " tussle." They were
parted, and Ballisat junior (a man of about 38 years of age)
left the room. The remainder of the party then resumed
their seats, but had hardly done so when the accused
returned, seized his father by the head, pulled it over the
chair back, and drew a knife across the throat of the old
man, who fortunately was able to put up his hand and
thus saved his life, as the wound on the throat was slight,
while three of his fingers were nearly cut from the hand.
The prisoner made use of some expressions which appeared
as though what he did was the result of premeditation;
but on being taken into custody he made no defence. He
was remanded.

THE SHROPSHIRE MuRDER.—John Mapp, the man
arrested on a charge of having murdered the girl Lewis
at Longden, near Shrewsbury, was taken before the
magistrates at the county gaol, Shrewsbury, on Saturday,
and was committed for trial.

THE MURDER OF A GAMEKEEPER•—On Saturday, the
two prisoners, James Inwood and William Emerton, who
were apprehended on Christmas Eve on a charge of having
murdered John White, a gamekeeper, in Wavendon
Wood, were taken before the county magistrates at New-
port Pagnell. Emerton was discharged, and, being placed
in the witness-box, gave evidence against Inwood, who
was again remanded.
THE ATTEMPT TO MtIRDER A POLICE CONSTABLE NEAR
PILL.—Two men named Hicks and Bryant have been
arrested and taken before Colonel Burrowes charged with
an attempt to murder Police-constable Ogbourne, near
Pill. It will be remembered that the officer was on duty
early in the morning, and when on the common he heard
sounds proceeding from a farm. He proceeded to the spot
and met two men coming from the rear of the premises,
carrying bags full of poultry which they had stolen. He
challenged them, and one threw down his bag and ran, but
the other stood and pulled from his belt a pair of large
pistols, which he pointed at the officer. Ogbourne rushed
in upon the burglar, hoping to close with and secure him,
but before he could do so the villain firel at him, and the
charge lodged in his abdomen. The would-be murderer
ran off a few yards, returned and levelled the other pistol
at him, and then made off in the direction of the river.
The wounded man with difficulty crawled to the farm and
.roused the inmates. For many days his life was despaired
of, but he has of late somewhat improved. It appears
that some 6f the feathers thrown away by the robbers and
picked up near the place, have been found to fit precisely
some found in Hicks's house. The prisoners wereje-
manded.

CLEANING BOOTS BY MACHINERY.—An Augusta
(Maine) gentleman has recently invented a machine for
dressing and blacking boots, which is operated by foct
power. It is stated that this machine can do the work of
ten men, and will save much labour iu boot and shoo
factories.