The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-13 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COUaT.—(This Day.)

OLD COURT.
(Blare Mr. B-.ron Martin.)
CHARGE OF SCUTTLING A SHIP.
William Lakey, seaman, late master of the Clipper,
was indicted for feloniously scuttling a ship, with a
view to defraud the insurers of the vessel.

Mr. Wilde, Q C., with Mr. Bodkin, appeared for the
prosecution, and Mr. Sergeant Ballantine defended the
prisoner.

Mr. Foster, an insurance broker, proved that the
Clipper was insured for 8001., and the prisoner's effects
also for 1501. The ship was lost afterwards, and a claim
was made.

Mr. John Lacey, the owner of the ship, said she was
valued at 1,2001. at Lloyds, and cost in reality in build-
ing 1,9001. The prisoner had a hundred pound share in
the vessel, He had known the prisoner 30 years.
Witnesses having been examined to prove the striking
of the vessel off Dungeness,

Captain Nett, R.N., said—l am an agent for Lloyd's
at Deal. On the 26th of March operations were com-
menced to raise the Clipper. On the 27th she was got
up and brought ashore. The first thing discovered was,
the ballast port was open. In ordinary circumstances
it is closed. We then found a hole in the starboard
quarter. It was a large one, about two inches wide.
It had been cut with a ohisel or some sharp instrument.
The hole was immediately under the captain's cabin.
On removing the ballast, which had shifted, two auger
holes were discovered. After the holes were stopped
the vessel made no water.

A shipwright, named Sedgwick, confirmed Captain
Nott's statement.

A witness named PaHatt, proved finding an auger on
board, which exactly fitted the holes in the ship's
bottom.

Mrs. Caroline Laxton, the wife of the mate of the
Clipper, said—ln consequence of certain circumstances
she met the prisoner at the London-bridge station with
a cart, and there received a number cf boxes and other
things his property. They were taken to her home. In
a short time afterwards the prisoner came to her house,
and told her to burn all the boxes and tear up all books
bearing his Dame. He took away a chronometer. Wit-
ness refused to do as the prisoner desired, as questions
might be welted about the books belonging to the ship.
John Chesney, cook on board the Clipper, said the
prisoner was master of the vessel. When she got to
Dungenfss Point, having had to put back on the voyages
the prisoner went down below and bored a hole in the
ship's side with an auger. He (witness) also bored a
hole. The water then came in, and we returned to the
cabin. The ship became very full cf water, and the
prisoner then suggested, as no port could be reached,
,hat the vessel should be abandoned, as she, being
leaky, might prove a coffin for the whole of the crew.
He assisted the prisoner to knock out the ballast port
of the ship.

In cross-examination the witness said the ship wag
made water-tight before she left port. As she was out-
ward bound she had to call at Newport for coals. The
vessel leaked before we started. When we got as far an
the Isle of Wight the wind blew strong from the W.S.W.
The crew got tired of pumping, and we put back to
to Dungeness. The men kept pumping all night. The
pumps acted well. Eventually the ship sank in three
fathcms water.

Johd Manhood, the mate of the clipper, said he volt*
to the prisoner about the ship letting in 60 much water,
and he said the best thing to do was to scuttle her and
let her go, for if she was t, go into dock the bill for
repairs would be more than she was worth, and it would
be the ruin of him. He heard the orders given to
knock out the ballast port, and it was knocked out. •
The else for the prosecution having closed,
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine made a very powerful appeal
to the jury on behalf of the prisoner, and contended that
he might have committed an error of judgment, but he
denied that he was influenced by any wicked or Imhof°
ful motive.

A number of witnesses were called who gave the Pri•
eoner the highest character for honesty and integrity.
The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sea'
tenced to eight years' penal servitude.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)
Patrick O'Brien, an inspector of police, was indicted
for stealing two pieces of bacon, the property of PIIA
Page, a cheesewonger, residing in Westbourne-grove'
road.

Mr. Metcalfe appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
Gifford defended the prisoner
Mr. Metcalfe having stated the case against the pri-
soner, called

Wm. Rutnmins, who said I am in the employ of ND.'
Page, a cheesemonger, in Westbourne-grove-road. Oa
the msreing of the day in question I placed a quantitl
of bacon, in pieces, on the board in front of the shoP
window, and in a short time afterwards I missed a piece
of about three pounds—it was cut from the shoulder.
Mr. Page said—l keep a shop in the Westbourns•
grove-road. It is a corner shop, one side is in West'
bourne-grove-road and the other in Monmouth-read.
Galway-road is in an opposite direction.
Sarah Wright—l am a married woman and I reside
at 45, Weatbourne-grove road, it is the next house to the
prosecutors. I have known the prisoner, by sight (vat
for some time. On the 19th of April I saw the prisoner
in his inspector's uniform pass our shop door twice wit'
his arms quite full. He went to Mr. Page's shop, whielli
he passed and, having crossed the Monmouth-rosao,
he re-crossed the road, and I then saw him takea'soiece el
bacon from the window and place it under the skirt of
his frock coat. He went towards the Galway road, an
a
in a few minutes he returned with a bundle under hie
arm. He stood five or six minutes before gr.
Page's shop again and then he took another piee
bacon, which he covered with the bundle, and walks°
away towards the Galwaay-road. I afterwards went to
Mr. Page and told him of the circumstances by direction
of my husband. A constable happened to be passing et
the time, and Mr. Page told him he bad been robbsee
The first piece I saw the prisoner take was a square
piece, and the second was a long fat piece. I though'
at first, it was merely a joke the first time, but shortly
after the second piece was stolen. I ran to Mr. rage:
and told him of the circumstance. I was standing ey
our shop door, so I had a complete view of all that tools
place.
Cross-examined by Mr. Gifford—The prisoner passed
me in all five times. I saw my husband after lOW
him take the first piece, but he thought it was morel/
a joke, and said he wanted to bring it back. I did
not see Mr. Page come outside the shop between the
first and second taking. I saw his wife. I saw Mr. Page
come out before the offence was committed. I saw the
policeman to whom Mr. Page spoke before I ran
across the road to inform him of the robbery. My
husband was never fined for assaulting the polices
but he ha's been fined five shillings for something
connected with the police and a drunken man. The
magistrate told my husband he could indict the police'
wan for perjury if he could procure any witnesses to
prove that he had spoken falsely. I was standing at the
shop door with my baby. For a short time we kept
marine-store shop but it was never searched by the
police.
Re-examined by Mr. Metcalfe—The shop was Defer
searched by the police. We Rover had the slightest
complaint laid against us by the police. The reason
did not go over to Mr. Pegs until 20 minutes elapae4
was because I thought Inspector O'Brien would bring
the bacoe back.
Henry Palmer-el am in the service of Mr. Tanner Wh:
' keeps a shop exactly opposite Mr. Page's. It was °lit 10
duty to keep a watch outside my master's shop. On the
evening of the robbery I saw Inspector O'Brien
our shop, be went to the opposite corner of the MonneoTo
road, next to Mr. Page's shop, he stood there lof
mieutes, then in passing the shop he tea a Pieloct
bacon and pat it under the skirt of his coat, lie wary
towards the Galway-road. I had occasion to go in out
mater's shop to serve some customers, but I caw°, 003
again shortly after, and I then saw O'Brien returningir,„
tee Galway-road on Page's side of the way and hsvroge
stood a few minutes he re-crossed the road and in pas
the shop again he took a second piece of bacon. 1,1,11,160
nothing more. He had nothing with him the first I'o'4o
I saw him, but on the beconu occasion he hada buors,
under his arm. He wore his inspector's uniform.
Wright came over and told me about the circusost'
after tee piece was taken. .t the
Crosseexernined—l did rot say anything ahou
robbery until after Mrs. Wright spoke about it.
prisoner has never threatened to chastise me.
returned a
The Recorder having summed up, the jury
veidiet of nut gu lty.

THE FACTORY OMNIBUS. —The largest omuibes,l:
France is to be found in the small town a Cavailj:-
(Vaucluse), and the origin of it is somewhat thatsiogu
the proprietor of an extensive silk-spinning mill in of
place employs about 80 women or young girl'', In°Bttb
whom belong to the surrounding villages, and are juv-;
habit of i pending the Sunday with their families. '-0
that purpose, they were accu4omed to start on the.
SAturd.ty evening and walk distances varying
to twelve miles, and return on the Sunday evening ra°,ii
fatigued than by a long day'e work. In order to rern.eult
that inconvenience, their employer had this nibli
°ltr the
,the!; and can contain about 60
constructed, which bas two rows of seats, one 01-- the
WthheporeV°
'nill lb sloed on Saturday evening, four strong
eveulog, tber
from three
‘re attached to it, and it conveysPasthseeDger.
respective villages, and on Sunday evening procee II
cciloct mid bring them back. females, od te