The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-12 00:00:00

~~; _____
R~`LAI~D.

THE MURDER AT PORTSMOUTH.

APPREHENSION AND EXAMINATION OF
TEIE BROTHER OF THE MURDERED MAN.
PORTSMOUTH, SATURDAY, APRIL le.
This day at three o'clock in the afternoon, being
fixed for the examination of Edwin .Hart, the
brother of the unfortunate man, Daniel Hart, who
was most mysteriously murdered on the night of
Saturday, the 13th of March, the entrance to the
gaol in Penny-street, which is also used before
the
police office, was crowded by persons long
the stated hour, who were anxious to obtain admis-
sion to be present at the proceedings.
Hitherto this murder h been completely
shrouded in mystery, inasmuch as no object for
the commission of the street could be assigned,
being perpetrated at the door of the house
;n the presence of a witness, and no attempt at
roZ.lbery appeared to have been made. The coroner's
investigation tended to throw but little light on
lthe traa2saction, except so far as was obtained from
Mrs- Ilia:, the keeper of the house where tin
deceased lodged as to a description of the person of
the man who committed the murder, and that he
was dressed in a Macintosh coat, and wore a glazed
bat. On Thur.EAsy last Mr. Superintendent Leg-
' Batt, of the Portsinouth Borough Police, received
..etain information which has led to the appre-
heocion of the prisoner on suspicion of the murder,
tio other than the brother of the murdered
being
man.
eomewhAt remarkable fact that the
It is
Admiralty coroner,
prisoner is a clerk, and was employed in the
office of Mr. Swainson, the
in High street, Portsmouth, dna that gentle-
man professionally attended the dOroner's in-
quiry as to the death of Hart, to watch the case
on behalf of the relatives of the deceased.
The peculiar circumstances of the case and the
person now charged with the commission of this
foul deed, have led to an excitement almost with-
out a precedent in this town and neighbourhood.
The Mayor presided, and the bench was filled by
magistrates, amongst whom were the ex-Mayor,
Mr. A. Nance, and Mr. W. B. Carter.
Mr. R. W. Ford, solicitor, appeared for the pro-
secution ; Mr. Field, of Gosport, for the prisoner.
Mr. Ford briefly stated the case which tie should
have to lay before the court against the prisoner
at the bar, and said that it was one of vast import-
ance, not only as regarding the public, but as to
its deep and serious consideration towards the pri-
soner, and most sincerely did he (Mr. Ford) wish
that he might be able to give an answer that would
be satisfactory to the evidence that he should have
to adduce. It would appear that on Thursday last
the superintendent of police (Mr. Leggatt) received
E. communication, and in consequence of he
waited upon the prisoner, and having put some
questions to him, his answers were so unsatisfac-
tory that he felt it to be his duty to take him into
custody on suspicion of having murdered his bro-
ther, and subsequent inquiries led to the discovery
of other circumstances, which would be dttailed to
the bench.
Mr. Superintendent Logga.tt was then called.
Mr. Ford—You are superintendent of the police
of this borough ?
Mr. Leggatt—l am.
Mr. Ford—l believe your attentio been
n has e
called to the circumstances attending a murder cm-
mitted in this town on Saturday night, the 13th of
March 3
Mr. Leggatt—yes, myattention has been drawn
to that unhappy event, and I have for some time
been engaged xn endeavouring to trace the mur-

----,
041-7ORDAT MORNING..
DUBLIN,
SHE FIN.A.LE Or THE C OL:LEOR EMEuTE.
greet Police-court,
The proceedings in Collegei
11111 reported in The Sun of Satu).'deff, s the leading
The Freeman,
topic of this morning's _ papers:
;with commend-
on the part of the police, Euggests,
matter
Able taste, that the whole should termi-
slate at this k:ltage, that bygones Lii ould be by-
gones, and that reconciliation
mutual •
should be the
order of the day. t.. a
1 eof the College cha.
.
capons (the
impress) takes a sira,'lar view of the as. 1
aff ~ but the
writer is laudably nen'ons at the receptio.ll with
which the last act of the drarb;a is likely to be met
At the other side of the channel. )3y way of for. -
stalling the verdict the closing proCeedings are
thus treated
"It was, indeed, quite a scene. The -.BencllA
though unused to the melting mood, was sort.. en'
on this occasion, and a tear stole down the at`"
face of justice. Even the opposing counsel '7l-.8
disarmed, and Mr. M'Donough declared, ' as a gt'
tleman,' that he could not ask another question.
How dramatic I What a fine subject for the nove-
list ! One touch of nature on the' part of the vene-
rable Cole:gel destroyed in a moent the hostility
of the ligitaets ; all was regret, forgiveness, recou-
ciliation, broti:erly kindness, and
dro charity,
e alnsdthe overre
this delightful 5c.,118 tl3
t eccuorllteagine fiell.rost and won?'
no one to dramatize? 5 : ,
It would make a capita'.farce, which, if tolerably
It .
g a run of 100 nights, totally
well acted, vrould hay the
Theatre
Royal. The
eclipsing " Faustus" at
+he accessories the scenic ac-
dramatis persove, - • '
mixture of tragic and
oompaniments, the straugd
thefaction,
and the
comic interest, the rapidity fo,
spirit of the dialog
spot
would be of the most ex-
citing character, and the piece might end with the
apotheosis of Col. Browne, surrounded by a band
of wounded students, cheering and celebrating his
victory. Seriously, we fear this business will make
sis very ridiculous to our neighbours at teattther
side of the Channel. season ill violent, im-
pulsive, impetuneß, pite, changeful,
forgiving people these Irish are ! Donnybrook Fair
has beans bolished, but the humours of Donny-
brook arinherent in the Irish character—wild,
wayward, fickle, loving and hating, joking and fight-
ing shaking hands, and breaking one another's
heads: almost in the same breath, and then `quite
overcome by their feelings,' shaking hands again,
sad perhaps chairing the commander-in-chief of
' the skull-crackers."
Nevertheless, the public are to be still further sur-
feited with this foolish transaction. At the police-
office this morning one of the counsel for the police
intimated that they would proceed with the exami-
nation of witnesses for the purpose of identification;
that they would examine constables who had been
se
injured as well as witnesses to the general ca
among the citizens of Dublin, and conclude with
the evidence of the medical man wko attended the
police.

THE MURDERER LANI.

In accordance with the usual custom in cases of
conviction for murder within the jurisdiction of the
Central Criminal Court, the execution of the above
criminal has been fixed to take place on the first
Monday after the intervention of three Sundays
from the period of the conviction, that being the
26:h instant. As the trial proceeded he lost all the
hardihood that had previously been exhibited by
him, and after sentence of death had been passed,
and he was removed to the 'cell where he will re-
main for the short period allotted to him in this
world, he seemed completely prostrated. In all
cases of capital conviction the culprit undergoes a
strict search in order to discover whether ho has in
hie possession any weapon or instrument by which
he may effect self-destruction, and while he was
undergoing this prceess he burst into a flood of tears,
awl appeared utterly overcome by his feelings. It
was stated iu the report of the trial that the pri-
soner was defended by counsel through the instal-
mentality of Mr. Heath, the Consul-General for
Sardinia. That gentleman was repeatedly in com-
munication with the prisoner before his trial, and
OD several occasions he felt it his duty to warn the
prisoner of the fearful position in which he was
placed, but it would seem that almost up to the
day of the trial, the prisoner professed to entertain
an opinion that he should not be convicted of
murder. The pi isoner, it has already been stated,
is only able to speak fluently his own language,
:he Italian, but he c m converse to a slight extent
iu French. He has not, it appears, ever made
any allusion to the crime for which he is about
to suffer, but from some observations that
have fallen from him at different times
it would appear that the denies having originally
had the intention to destroy the deceased, and that
he merely intended to rob her. It appears ex-
forrernely probab'e that this was so, and that the pri-
soner enuesvoured to render the unhappy woman
insensible by forcible pressure upon the wind-pipe,
and that she made a more violent resistance than
he anticipated, and, being fearful of suffering per-
sonal violence from the parties who were in the
house, he committed the dreadful crime for which
he is to suffer. The prisoner would, in all human
probability, have escaped from this country, as the
vessel in which he had taken his passage would
have sailed direct for her destination in South
America a very few hours after the prisoner was
taken into custody by the officers Iluggett and
Parke, and all clue to him would have been lost,
but for the prompt informaion given to the police
by Kroom, the waiter at the hotel in Finsbury,
where the prisoner was staying' It is understood
that the learned judge who tried the case intends to
make an order that this witness shall receive a re-
ward of 20/. for his praiseworthy conduct, but the
exact sum has not yet been determined upon. On
Saturday afternoon the sheriff., the under-sheriffs,
—4;,,..ry and the governor of Newgate, pro-
ceeded to the cell or te _ _
him of the day that had been fixed for his execution.
He was at the same time told that be might have
the spiritual as istance of any priest he might name,
the prisoner being a Ronehu Catholic, and also that
writing materials would be placed at his disposal in
case he should wish to write to his friends or
make any statement relative to his crime. This
communication was made to him by Mr. Under-
Sheriff Parker, in Italian, and he asked the
prisoner whether he understood it 7 To
this Lani answered, "Si Signore, capisce
bene " (YeP, Sir, I perfectly understand it.)
He was then asked if he wished for anything.
This question brought tears, which be wiped from
his face, and he then said that he hoped the sheriffs
would allow him to have some better food than the
visitingto d that
jutsltiiee
erse,qwuebset
had the control of such matters, and their decision
prisonoul d allowance.b
be
submitted
made known to him without delay. The prieoner
jiteo thees
in London.
does not appear to have any cennections or friends
There are two curious circumstances connected
with the convict which have not been mentioned.
The vessel in which he was to have sailed for South
America had on board a vicious bull, which was to
have been conveyed to Valparaiso. The bull, not
liking his quarter, became violent,
all the securities which interposed between himself
and his fellow passengers. This ucc isioned a delay
of 24 hours. If this singular accident had not cc-
curred the vessel would have been far down the
channel when the officers arrived off Greenhithe,
there being at the time a strong easterly wind
Another fact mentioned in connection with the
the convict is, that when Lani was at the office of
the Messrs. Owden, the owners of the vessel, he
had in his hands a piece of chain, which he threw
in a very skilful manner, previously calling the at-
tention of the clerks to the circumstance, and re-
marking that by such a process he could at once
choke any one ha pleased. This fact taken by it-
self would, of course, be of no importance, but
viewed in connection with the crime for which he
has been convicted, it appears to have some signi-
ficance.

SHOCKING DEATH OF AN ECCENTRICCHARACT ER.

A shocking case of en death of an old and
well-known eccentric character of the town of
Greenwich Miss Maria Suter, of Blissett-street—
was discovered on Monday afternoon last. It ap-
pears that the unfortunate lady, who possessed
ample means of living comfortably, had given way
of late years to so many eccentricities that two of
her relatives (brothers) visited her on Thursday
week at her residence, with the view of obtaining
the opinion of two medical gentlemen as to her con-
dition of mind, and, if necessary, their certificate
to obtain her admittance into some lunatic asylum.
Accordingly Mr. Hollingsworth and Mr. Pink
were consulted, Mr. Hollingsworth first seeing her
and then Mr. Pink, both being together and con-
versing with her. To Mr. Pink she remarked that
she did not know who he was, and on that gentle-
man saying that he knew her and her family, and
that she knew him (telling her his name), her reply
was, "I know no one who is not introduced to
me ; aad as you have not been introduced I don't
know you." This interview with the unfortunate
creature led to the determination on their part to
sign the requisite certificate, in order that she
should be removed as soon as possible to some
place of safety. Living without any domestic ser-
vant, and being particularly sensitive as to any
interference in her mode of living, the intention
of removing her was kept secret, and shortly after-
wards the brothers left, giving her no idea but that
they had paid but a casual visit, and bidding her as
usual an affectionate farewell. An hour afterwards
the old creature Ras seen by a neighbour at the
door, having given twoyouc g women, who had called
upon her, some money. Nothing particular was
thought of this circumstance, as beggars, far and near,
were in the habit of calling upon her, none of whom
ever left without receiving some kind of relief. Tile
- neighbours, at a late hour the same night, heard an
unusual noise made in stirring the fire, but, after
this nothing more was heard or seen of the de-
ceased. On Monday morning the postman knocked
at the door with a letter from her brother, but re-
ceived no answer. This was no unusual circum-
stance, as the deceased was in the habit of retiring
to rest between one and two o'clock in the morn-
, ing, opening her door and entering into conversa-
tion with the policeman on the beat, and not being
seen again until two or three o'clock in the day.
Two or three hours later Police constable Ralph,
engaged in delivering the voting papers for tke
election of guardians, knocked at the door, but
still no answer was returned. About four o'clock
in the afternoon, a brother of the deceased—a gen-
tleman residing at Maidenhead, Berks—called at
her residence, when the house being atilt closed,
• an entrance was eff-acted at the back of the pre-
mises. On proceeding into an up-stairs room a hor-
rible sight presented itself, the place being in a
most filthy dirty state, totally destitute of furni-
ture, and the lifeless body of the deceased being
discovered on a box, and near her head standingla
saucepan covered with a saucer containing coffee in
a decomposed state, showing that her death could
not have been of a violent character, as the lea,t
movement of the body must have caused the sauce-
pan to fall. The deceased had evidentltocki y
nglaid d
how-
own
to rest without undressing, her stook
ever, ,
being partly drawn from her legs to her feet,
and quantities of blood being found upon the floor
immediately beneath her left leg and left hand,
• which were hanging over the end and side of the
box, her right hand beinga firmly clenched and
drawn towards her chest. Oan examination being
=Ate it was only too evident that whilst lying in
this position ithe flesh of the deceased had been
gnawed by mice or other vermin, causing the blood
to flow from the distended parts, whilst the flesh of
the knuckles of the right hand was likewise
gnawed in the same way. By the side of the de-
ceased was also a portion of candle, at which the mice
had also been engaged, and which had bean pro-
perly extinguished; thus favouring the supposition
that the deceased had died in her sleep. The police
authorities were immediately communicated with,
• and on Sergeant Grant, 6R, searching the body,
he discovered three 51. Bank of England notes,
two sovereigns, and some silver and copper money
wrapped in separate pieces of paper, together with
about 30 keys, on her person. On entering the
bedroom of the deceased a like disgusting sight was
witnessed, being in reality the abode of filth and
wretchedness, all sorts of eatables lying strewed
about the floors, the bed and furniture equally
dirty, whilst from the ceiling hung innumerable
cobwebs, and books and papers being covered with
like accumulations. The whole of the house was
entirely destitute of furniture, whilst the front par-
lour sideboards contained cooked and uncooked
meat, bread, vegetable?, and every kind of eatables
mixed together, and in another part of the room
supply of candles. A more
an extraordinary
wretched sight, even in the poorest neighbourhoods,An in nest
it -would be impossible to conceive. q
was held upon the body on Tuesday afternoon,
• before Mr. C. J. Carttar, coroner, at the Mdorden
formal evi
Arms, Brand-street, when merely en.ce,
bearing out the principal of the abov e fa.cts, having
been deposed to, the inquiry was adj _
admit of a post mortem examination being made,
and which, it is believed, will result in the fact
that the deceased had laboured under disease of the
heart sufficient to account for death.--Keittish
Mercury.

derer.
Mr. Ford—ln conseVence of information you
had previously received did you go cn Thursday
last to Mr. Swainson's office, where the prisoner
was employed ?—I did ; it was about 12a1f past 11
o'clock in the morning.
Who did you see there ?—Mr. Swainson and the
prisoner.
What did you say ?—I said to Mr. Hart, " I
have come to talk to you about some information I
have received."
What reply did he make ?—He made some short
reply ; but 1 do not remember what it was. I then
said, I have been informed that you went to a beer-
shop on Sunday morning, the 14th of March, at
about a quarter past 12 o'clock, to which he im-
mediately replied, "I did not." I went on to say,
" The beer-shop is the Portsmouth Arms, in Penny
street:Portsmouth. You had a glass of beer there,
and you had on a Mackintosh coat, and Mrs,
Whiting, the landlady of the house, has told me
so."
What reply did he make ?—He said, "It is a lie.
I was not iu Portsmouth all that night, and I have
not got a Mackintosh coat."
Mr. Leggatt—l told him it was a serious thing,
and asked him to go with me to Mrs. Whiting's
and face re out, but• La anid he would not go. I
remonstrated, and said, "Surely you cton't meae
that ; for I would go to the end of the earth to
prove my innocence of such a charge." He said Le
should be out of the office at twelve o'clock. An
inspector, Daisb, was with me during the conver-
sation, and Mr. Swainson was also there the greater
part of the time. We then left the place, but placed
ourselves in such a situation as to be enabled to
fne when he should leave the place, but up to
half-past twelve o'clock he did not come out.
About that time I saw Mrs. Whiting, the
landlady of the Portsmouth Arms, coming
across High-street, and I went to meet her,
and had some conversation with her, and,
in consequence of what she told me I went back
to Mr. Swainson's office, ac. an by Inspector
Daish and Mrs. Whiting. Mr. Swainson and Harr
were both present. I asked Mrs. Whiting if she
lass knew Hart, and she immediately said
" Yes I
will swear you are the man I served with a gof
ale about a quarter-past 12 on Saturday night, the
13th of March, and you then wore a Macintosh
have
coat." The prisoner—" Nonsense, woman; I
not got a Macintosh, and I was not in Portsmouth
on that night." Mrs. Whiting then said, " I
heard a knock at the door, and I let you in. You
asked me for a glass of ale, and said you were in a
hurry, and you gave me sixpence to pay for it.
There being no light in the bar, I went to the back
room for a candle, to see to give you change. I had
a good look at you, because I suspected you were
a policeman in disguise, and might have come to
entrap me for serving after twelve o'clock. That
is the reason I know you so well." We all came
away, but shortly afterwards I went again to Mr.
Swainson's office, and told Hart that it was a very
unpleasant business, and that he must go before
the magistrates. He again refused to go, but I
told him that I should be most happy if he could
explain away any suspicious circumstances, but I
had a duty to perform, and that he must go. Upon
that he went with me to the police-office, and on
the way denied that he ever wore a Mackintosh
coat in his life. He was taken before the magi-
strates and remanded for eight days. Shortly after-
wards I went, accompanied by al police o mstable,
to the prisoner's house in West-street, arid in a
cupboard in the front lower room a double-barrelled
pistol was found by the police constable, which I
now produce. One bare el appeared to have been
recently discharged, but the other was perfectly
clean. I unscrewed the barrels and found in one
marks of having bsen discharged, but there was
not the slightest smell of gun-powder. A bullet
was found in the body of Daniel Hart, by Dr.
Roper, in making a post mortem examination, and
was produced before the coroner. A. ball of that
weight would precisely fit the chamber of the pistol
produced.
Mr. Field here addressed the bench, and said,
after such meagre evidence as that now adduced, he
thought there wa.s nothing tha.t attached the slightest
suspicion towards the prisoner, and submitted that
he should be at once discharged. At the same
time the prisoner did not shun, but rather required,
the most ample investigation. He did not see
that there were any grounds for remanding him,
and in justice to his character he ought at once to
be discharged. In fact, although the magistrates
might have some hearsay statement, they had no
legal evidence that any murder had even been com-
mitted.
The magistrates retired for a short time, and on
their return said they required tome farther evi-
dence.
Mr. Superintendent Leggatt—When I first saw
Hart at Mr. Swainson's, he said on the night of
the murder ho was at Tonsey's, at Landport, at
half-past eleven o'clock, but I have ascertained
that he left before that.
Mrs. Mary Ann Whiting was the next witness.
She said—l am the wife of Andrew Whiting, who
keeps the Portsmouth Arms beer-sember hop, in
13Penny-
s treet, Portsmouh. I rem the th of
the night on hich Daniel Hart was rriur-
delarerceth: I returned w
borne that night about 20
I noticed the clock when
I got bon©; sot n had taken my bonnet off,
as my husband comp i
mmute3 after 12 o,i'cftl
eorleak..l.ned of my having stopped
e door and on going to
when I heard a knock at th , .
diug on tee pavement in
out so late. I had not been many minutes at home
it I saw the prisoner stan
gfor I am
and said " Serve me as quick as you can,.
L aid me will,
front of the house. He asked me for a less of all,
in a hurry." 1 drew the ale, and ee
light
The
into the bar and gave him 41d. in change.
a sixpence. I fetched a light from the next room
was very near to him,so thatl had agood opportunity
liltewwaosrae aroltacainh
ofseoing his f attires. I took particularnotice of him
taots,hw,
iatnhdaabhraota of
btrhi sameem.
opportunity of suing him, h, as e remained for two or
-three minutes. Whenhe left th h se he turned to
l mhaatde rfi
tai li .1
the left, and then crossed in thee direction of f1.•,,1
I,J--
street. I saw him again in the court duringh the. in-
quest on Daniel Hart, and I knew
cliately. I again saw him at Mr. S 'l2l'
"me-
. wamson soffice,

nut CASE OF THE Ray. T. SMITH.—Mrs. Smith was
liberated on bail on Wednesday, her sureties tieing, we
believe, the brother of h,r hu.band and his cousin, Mr.
Smith, arti,t, tf Gloucester. She visited her unfortu-
nate husband in the prison both on Wednesday and
Thursday. We hear that Mr. Smith bears up manfully
against his mistortones, and hopes thht t;ucces,ful efforts
. will be made to obtain his removal to Australia. Hie I
employment, whtlat at the County Prison, will he either
as a tailor or shoemaker. A petition for the remission
of the sentence is, it is said, being got up in Gloucester.
—B/istol Mercury.
[AIWERTIBENEENT I—fl,illoway'e Ointment and Pills
aie superior Remedies for Btd 14, gs.—Extract,, of a
letter from Mr. Samuel Shannon, baker, Mill-street,
Newtownards :—" To Professor liollowa—y.—Sir,—For
eight ycars I suffered with a bad leg, which confined me
to bed for eight nuonths together ; it was completely
black, and swollen to an enormous size. I consulted at
different times sixteen medical men, but derived no be-
nefit by their treatment.y,
Finall I commenced using
and afterperaeyiring with them
your ointment and
fcr two months, the swelling gradually decreareil, the
blackness disappeared, and I feel as though nothing
bad been the matter with me."—Sold
,a Establislatneby all dealersnito
medicine, and at Professor Holloway
244, 6s.laand,

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY E V EATING, APRIL 12, 1858

1•••••••••••.......11 .................... _
in High-street, -when I went there with Mr. Leg-
whabever that he is thesame man I saw at my house
gatt and Inspector Daish, and I have no doubt
WESTERN CIRCUIT.
on the night of the murder. When I heard him BRISTOL, APRIL 10.
speak at Mr. Swainson's office I at once recognised
his voice as that of the same man I had served with (Before Mr. Justice Crowder and a Special Jury.)
the ale on the night in question. As I was going REMARKABLE CASE.—A LADY WORRIED BY A BEAR.
home on thet night I heard the clock strike 12. I The court was crowded to excess to-day to hear
That was while I wasin High-street. I had never the trial of an action by a young Italian lady, who
seen thitprisoner before. is stated to b 3 of high descent, but who, owing to
Cross-examined by Mr. Field—On the night in
question all he said was to ask me for a glass of ale,
the misfortunes of her family, has lately practised
and I never heard him speak before. Mr. Leggatt, as a teacher at Clifton, to recover compensation for
Inspector Daisb, and Mr. Swainson were present her having b:en worried by a bear.
alien I saw Hart at the office in High-street. I did BESOZZI V. HARRIS.
not notice Mr. Leggatt tap at the door, but some
one told him to come in. I did not then tell Mr. Mr. Prideaux, with whom was Mr. Ellin, ap-
peared for the plaintiff ; Mr. M. Smith, Q.C., and
Leggatt that that was the voice of the wan I served
with the ale. Ido not know whether Mr. Leggatt Mr. Bailey fur the defence.
pointed out Hart to me when he asked me if he was Mr. Prideaux, in stating the case, said—ln Sep-
the man. I have heard that Government has tember au excursion trip was announced by a steam
offered a reward of 1001. to any person who could packet to an island in the Bristol Channel, called
give evidence to convict the murderer of Daniel the Steep Holmes, and Miss Besozzi accordingly,
Hart, but I mentioned what I knew to Mr. Leggatt
before the reward was offered. The man wore a on the 17th September, accompanied by a young
light Macintosh coat, and I looked at him whilst I lady named Payton and three other ladies, took
was takingthe change for the sixpence from the till. places by the packet, on board of which she met a
I noticed him the whole of the time he was at the gentleman named Gully, and his wife and family,
bar, as I had my reasons for doing so. I took par- to whom she had previously been known. The
titular notice of him, because I thought he was a
defendant, Mr. Harris, was the only resident on
policeman in disguise. He was not agitated, and
the Steep Holmes island. He farmed the land there,
had no stick or umbrella. I mentioned these
eircumstances to my lodger before I heard of and occupied a house which he used as au inn.
1 the murder. I mentioned it to the inspector The party landed, Miss Payton and the ladies went
on towards the top of the Holmes, and the plain-
of police, because I thought he was a
policeman. In the week I also told another
tiff and Mr. Gully remained at the house for a few
person. The Macintosh worn by the man minutes whilst he ordered dinner. They were
was not light-coloured, but the materials were oabout to leave to rejoin their friends when Miss
light description, such as are usually wore ty a
Harris, a daughter of defendant, pointed to a door
gentlemen. by which
which was chained to a kennel, struck Misshich to leave the house, when a large ferocious
At this stage the proceedings were adjourned, bear,
and the prisoner remanded toe future day. Besozzi a violent blow on the back with his paw,
which knocked her down on her face, seized her
with his mouth, drew her towards him, and so saon
as he had. got heri within his grasp began to worry
' her with Ins mouth, and passed his fangs through
her person right down to the bone. Miss Besozzi's
sere uns brought to the spot a Mr. Hazard, who
had an unat.rella, and he broke his umbrella to
pieces over the beast, which let go Miss Besozzi,
and Mr. Gully pulled her away. She had to sub-
mit to painful surgical operations ; her nervous
system was completely shaken, and she suffered
from a lameness which it was probable she would

ASSIZE INRELLIGENOZ

POLICE IN.

T.-April 10.

MANSIONAIOUSE.—WdIiam Butler, a cooper
in the service of Messrs. Hills, Underwood and Co.,
distillers of Eastcheap, was brought before the Lord
Mayor, charged with having robbed his employers
of two gallons of gin and Henry Wyer was charged eNomar
with receiving the same, well knowing it to have

been stolen.
Webb, the city detective officer, said—For the Asht
last week I have been watching the premised of the Coven,
prosecutors in Eastcheap. At a quarter past eight (lea
this morning I saw the prisoner Butler ent,r the no.,
warehouse in Eas cheap, and a few minutes after- iCt.r nrandt
wards he opened a door biding to St. Mary-at- Leeds!
Hill. Shortly afterwards he brought the two gal- Leicesl
lon bottle of gin, which I produce, and placed it reolicg
just inside the door. The prisoner Wyer at that Mac'el,
moment came up, took the bottle and carried it
Neatti
xfointo a house where he is employed close by. I `'._l2(l
followed him and asked him what he had got there,
He wanted to know what that was to ma. I asked -
him where he had got it from, and he sad he would
be -- if he would tell me. He had two keys in
his hand, and lie threatened, with a dreadful oath,
that if I did not get out of the warehouse he would
gouge my eyes out with them, and knock my teeth
down my thr.at. A fellow-constable, Moss; then
came up. Wyer refused to go to the station-house.
I fetched a policeman in uniform. Wyer refused
to go with him, and fought and struggled most
violently. He was eventually taktn to the station-
house. I afterwards returned to the prosecutor's
premises, and took Butler into custody. I asked
him if he knew anything about a bottle going out
that morning, and he said he did not. I then
showed him the bottle, and he denied ever having
seen it before. It contained two gallons of gin.
J. Moss, detective officer—l saw Butler open the
warehouse door, pull down the shutters, and look
round as if for the purFose of seeing whether any-
body connected with the establishment was about.
In a few minutes he went to the back part of the
warehouse and got the bottle and placed it just
inside the door. Wyer then came up and carried
it off. After Webb left, Wyor went to a desk, and
took out the pocket book I produce and was about
to lift something out of it. I tried to prevent him
from doing so, and he said, " You had better be
quiet and leave me alone, or else I shall do you a
serious injury." There was a knife close by which
lie attempted to'seize, and he tried t i bite my hand.
I afterwards searched his home, and found a bottle
of gin and a bottle of whisky, I showed him these
at the station, and asked him if he could account
for the posession of them. He replied, "Why,
from the same place as the other, I suppose.
The prisoners, who said they should reserve their
defence, wire fully committed for trial to the
Central Criminal Court. Wyor, who appear° Ito
be suffering from delirum tremens, was allowed to
sit in a chair during the proceedings.

not recover.
Miss Besozzi, the plaintiff, was called, and con-
firmed substantially the statement of her counsel.
Mr. Charles Gully, Miss Payton, and Mr.
Hazard were called in confirmation.
Mr. Greig, surgeon, described the plaintiff's in
juries. Five of the bear's fangs had penetrated,
and the wound was to the bone.
Mr. M. Smith, in addres:;ing the jury for the.
defence, said everybody must lament the severe
misfortune which Miss Besozzi had suffered, but it
would he his duty and that of the jury to discard
all sympathy, and, looking calmly at the circum-
stances of the case, to inquire whether, although
Miss Besozzi had suffered, Mr. Harris was answer-
able. The defendant for whom he appeared was a
person in a very humble station. He paid Mr.
Tyute 601. a-year for the island, which he farmed ;
he eked out a livelihood by fishing, and he had a
very 13?,rd streg4le to provide for himself and family.
Mr. Harris, prior to this occurrence, had every
reason to believe that the bear was a quiet animal.
He had had it far-three s ears, and it had gone
about like a dog, playing with the children, run-
ning in and out of the house, going about the island
with defendant's men,
end behaving in the most
playful and docile manner.
Samuel Baker, a farmer near Newport, deposed
that the bear was imported by his brother, a cap-
tain, and given to his father. It used to run about
the farm, eating with the calves and pigs, and was
always gentle. The children used to ride it, and
cried when it was given to Mr. Harris in exchange
fox a dog. On one occasion it followed witness's
gig to market, five miles and back. The bear came
from Russia.
Mr. Edin—Then it was a rugged Russian bear 'I
Witi.ess (iudiguantly)—No, it was not.
Mr. Ediu—Why, you say he came from Russia.
Witnes3—But he was not a rough 'un. (Laugh-
ter.)
The Judge=—The learned counsel suggests that
he was a ruffian. (Renewed laughter.)
The defendant and his wifo and daughter were
likewise called to speak to the gentle character of
Bruin, who (it was observed by Mr. Prideaux)
must have been " a very gem of a hear." Both
Mrs. Harris and her daughter stated that Miss
Besozzi blamed Mr. Gully for taking her so near
the bear, and said she should not have gone had
she not been told it was blind.
The jury, after a brief consultation, returned. a
var. iiet for the MI.
Mitch surprise wua expressed is eQ,... •
marine s of the award.

CI TY OF LONDON ATESSIONS.

GUILDHALL.—James Julier, the driver, badge
11,907, of a "Favorite" omnibus, belonging to the
London General Omnibus Company, appeared
before Alderman Salouaons, in answer to a summons
charging him with using offensive and insulting
gestures towards the complainant.
Mr. George William Petter said—l had a sum-
mons against the defendant, which was heard
here on Wednesday last, and he was fined 20s. and
costs. On the following morning I was i iding out-
side one of the Saloon omnibuses, and on arriving
at the Nag's Head, at Holloway, the defendant
came up with his omnibus, and, on seeing me, he
stood up on the footb.,iard, turned round, and held
up his whip to,vards me. The defendant, when he
turned round, made some remark to his conductor,
and then passed his hand over his upper lip and
dawn his face iu derision of me on account of
my wearing a moustache, and when near the Angel
at Islington, he raised his hands in a deploring
manlier towards me and said, " Twenty shillings
and costs," in allusion to the fine of the previous
day. A young gentleman on the defendant's om-
nibus, influenced by the defendant's conduct,
applied au epithet to me for which he has since
opologised. At the end of St. Anne's-lane, near
the Post-office, defendant held up his hands in a
most offensive manner, and continued his insulting
conduct until he arrived at Belle Sauvage yard,
where he met another driver, whose attention he
directed to me by the same conduct. During the
journey the defendant and several persons on his
omnibus commenced hissing me in consequence of
what he stated to them.
Cross-examined—l am not in the habit of hailing
passengers for the Saloon omnibus. I may have
hailed a friend whom I may have desired should
ride by my side. I was very indignant, but did not
show it, because I knew my remedy.
Mr. James Austin, ti clerk in the War-office, the
gentleman who lied used the offensive epithets and
afterwaids apologised, and other witness having
been examined,
ready been endorsed, once for tlietine anal 'a
second endorsement would be a very severe punish-
ment, if Mier such conflicting evidence, the magi-
strate thought there was any case made out at all.
Alderman Solomonk said he gave the defendant
the benefit of his good character when he fined him
only 20., but in this case it was not his intention
to inflict any penalty at all. He should exercise
the discretion vested in him under the act of par-
liament, and try the effect of imprisonment with-
out a fine. It lie committed the defendant for a
month it would deprive him of his right of appeal,
which he did not desire, and he should therefore
sentence him to six weeks.' imprisonment in order
that he might appeal if he thought proper ; but in
so doing he would still give him the benefit of his
good character, and not commit him to hard labour.
Mr. Beard immediately gave, notice of appeal,
and the bail having beer' fixed at two sureties of
401. each, and the defen lant's recognisance, 801.,
the required sureties were tendered and accepted.
The appeal is fixed for the July quarter sessions.

The April Quarter Sessions for the City of Lou.
don were held on Saturday at Guildhall, before the
Lord Mayor, the Recorder, and a bench of aldermen.
FRACAS ON THE CORN EXCHANGE.
Mr. Alfred Firminger, merchant, 8, Great Win-
cliester-sttect, surrendered in discharge of his
appeared
Greatred for Tower-street.
w the er-
strPet.
recognisances, to meet a charge of assault upon an
indictment preferred by Mr. W. Muggeridge
(brother of Alderman Sir H. Muggeridge), mer-
chant,
Toti'nFao:kAcitsk'-ibntsioilndinapgs
Defendant pleaded not guilty.
Mr.
prosecu-
tion, and Mr. James for the defence.
Mr. William Muggeridge, upon being sworn, de-
posed that he had known the defendant for some
years, but had not spoken to.him for some little
time previously to the 26th of February, when
defendant spoke to him as he named. on the
Corn Exchange, and asked him if he had ever lent
his (defendant's) brother 5/. 1 Witness replied that
he had as he had done so to prevent his children,
nieces and nephews of defendant, from starving.
Defendant then asked if he had said that he (de-
fendant) had swindled him out of 500/. ? Witness
replied in the negative ; and defendant then asked
him to read a letter, which lie handed to him.
W Es
and turned slid, " What is it all about?" He had no
to go away,
upon which defen-
dant struck him in the face with his open hand, at
the
same time calling him aswindler and a coward,
titen,ea ntiu
im
and afterwards kicked him, upon which witness
gave him into custody of the market beadle.
Mr. James cross-examined the witness at great
length, and elicited from him that he was intimately
connected with all the movetnents of the Firmi neer
family, and knew that one of the defendant's sisters'
had married an officer in the Belgian miletary ser-
vice named. Louis. Mr. James handed up the copy
of a letter, as being the same which defendant had
questioned witness about on the Corn Exchange.
and particularly inquired whether (the letter having
been sent to the colonel of M. Louis's regiment,
Mr. Edward . Firminger) defendant did not espe-
cially call witness's attention to the same passage,
viz. :—" I think I can make you laugh. When
M. Louis got married to my sister, they took apart-
ments, but at the end of a week, not having the
money to pay the rent, they went away in the night,
M. Louis carrying the night-gowo and stockings of
his wife under his arm, and like this they had to beg
money of my mother. The poor woman of whom
they had the apartments had nothing else to depend
upon
d That and she was in the habit of calling M.
thief of a dragoon ) The truth of all this you
can learn by writing to Mr._ Muggetidge, 3,
Tower-street, wer-street, as he told me
a,
and the woman Louis
has been to me about it. It has
also been said that some things were taken away
from the rooms, but this I should not like to say
myself."
Witness did not very clearly remember whet her
defendant had called his attention to this particular
passage of the letter, but ho distinctly disclaimed
all connexion with its authorship.
Two other witnesses were called upon the part of
the prosecution, bothof whom witnessed the assault
but admitted ihat neither the blow nor the kick
was very violent, and that bath scorned to have
been given rather as an insult than with any in-
tent to injure the prosecutor. id the
swirl Mr. James, upon the part of defendant, e
character of defendant's sister and her husband
had been basel and cruelly maligned, and that
defendant havinyg reason to believe, from the l
which had been produced, that prosecutor was the
author of the slander, struck him in a m
excitement, produced by his refusal to ,gise any ex-
f
Planation upon the point. He admit ed that his
client had sc!ed illegally and intemperately,
and Vest i
1.,ef0:0 the Lord Mayor ;--
his willingne.s to apol, a course wh ch
igice
he (Mr. J.ttnes) reffroted i a l been refused by the
other side. Under these circumstances the court,
no doubt, would deal with tee offence as a very
:wine It, d
be no
light one, and not as one which reflected upon defen-
dant's moral cliaracttr.
guilty of the
The said there could
offence char *ed against him, and although he
pleaded excitement in extenuation, it was not to be
forgotten that the Corn Exchauge was not a proper
di-olticbTitleirA itnhes'cilillefelluinclUtp' was
place to ask fer explanations upon private and
family matters.
The jury found the defendant Guilty, and the
court sen teem), him (the outra,ge being a very gross
one) to pay a fine of 201., and 1 o enter into his own
taco,
„,niseriees to keep ttie peace for twelve months,
snd to be imprisoned moil the fine was paid.
The fleecy was paid at once.

WORSHIP•STREET.—A distressed looking
elderiy man, named Robert Lawrence, described as
a jobbing bricklayer, in Collins-street, Homerton,
was charged with having feloniously appropriated a
stamped receipt for the debt and costs in an action
at law, and also with having assaulted and resisted
one of the officers of the Shoreditch County Court
in the execulion of his duty.
The complainant, James Wiley, a bailiff's as-
sistant, stated that on the previous evening he went
to the defendant's house to execute a distress
warrant for the debt and cost iu a couuty-eourt
suit, in which judgment had besan obtained against
him in default of appearance. On communicating
his business to the defendant, he at first exhibited
extreme
indignation and excitement, but subse-
quently he cooled down, and he requested him to
wait tia he procured the money, as he lvid none iu
the house. The defrnlint then went out, but re-
turned soon after, and intimated that he had
borrowed the amount from a friend, who had
generously pawned his watch to raise it, at the same
time asking him to make out a receipt for the debt
and expenses. He had no sooner done so than the
prisoner snatched the paper out of his hand and put
it into his, pocket, with the obervation—" Th
will do ; you can now go." Witness stared at him
in mute astonishment at the cool audacity of the
act, and, before-he recevercd himself, the prisoner
seized him by the shoulder, and exclaiming, " You
had better clear out at once," °jewel him by main
force, and closed the door against hint. Witness
immediately obtained the assistance of a policeman,
with whom he retained to the house, and having
with some difficulty effected an entrance, pri
soner was taken into custody.
In answer to the charge the poisoner admitted
all the facts alleged against him ; but said his wife
had incurred the debt to a
reatl tally-man without hi
hes
knowledge, and he was gy irritated when
discovered that fact.
The magistrate &kid the prisoner had rendered
himself liable by his reckless and inconsiderate con-
duct to be sent for trial upon a charge of felony,
which would probably have resulted in his utter
ruin.; but, under the circumstances, he should
abstain from adopting such a stringent course, and
only punish him for the assault, for which he must
inflict a penalty of 20s.

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