The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-11 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENOL—(This Day.)

lIILA.RY TERM.

To-day being the first day of Hilary Term, the
learnel Judges, Queen's counsel, ani leading members
of the bar, attended the Lord Charcellcr's levee at his
lordship's residence in Upper Brook-street. Mr. Ser-
geant Byles, the newly-appointed Judge of the Common
Pleas, in the room of Mr. Justice Cresswell, appointed
to the New Court of Probate, was present, and received
the congratulations of his friends on his elevation to
the Bench. The learned gentlemas appointment has
given general satisfaction to the msmbers of the bar, as
well as every one connected officially with the Court of
Common Pleas.

Two features of unusual interest arise in connection
with the proceedings of the present term. The first is
that of the opening of the new Court of Probate, and the
.Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Court. The working
of the latter will, no doubt, create mush interest and
attention, and be watched with great anxiety. These
Courts, presided over by Mr. Justice Cresawell, will hold
their sittings in the Lords Justices' Court, Westminster
Hall, and will be open to the public the same as the
other courts. The final arrangements for their
coming into active operation this day have been
completed, but it is not expected that any causes can
be proceeded with for a few days, in order that the
necessary notices and forms may be complied with,
required by the rules of practice adopted for the guid-
ance of suitors. The Bishop of Oxford still continues
his opposition to the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes
Court. From an official letter addressed to the surro-
gates of the Consistory Courtever the Bishop of Oxford's
diocese, his lordship propoEeo to set the authority of the
Court over the civil law of divorce, by directing that
they do not grant a license for marriage to any
person who has obtained a decree for a dissolution
of marriage under the provisions of the act, if the hus-
band or wife (as the case may be) of such divorced
person be still alive.
The other feature of interest in connection with the
term is the trial of the Royal British Bank Directors, at
Guildhall, the first day of the after term sittings. A
proceeding that has engrossed public attention for a
considerable period and a natural anxiety manifests itself
in many quarters whether the law really will be able to
meet this case, or the trials after all turn out a delusion.
At the termination of the Lord Chancellor's levee, the
learned judges proceeded in state to Westminster, and
commenced the business of the term by swearing in the
new judge. A large number of persons, considering the
state of the weather, had assembled to witness the
interesting ceremony.

CITY SHERIFFS' COURT.
(Before Mr. Prendergast, Q.C.)
SENDING ANONYMOUS LETTERS TO HIS HONOUR.

On taking his seat upon the bench, his Honour said
that he had lately received a great many anonymous
letters from a person who had been committed to prison
from this court upon a judgment summons. These
letters were most abusive, and accused his Honour of
sending the " innocent to prison," and letting the
"guilty go free." One of the letters received this (Mon-
day) morning was written upon the back of a blank
form from the office of the Treasury of Customs, and
from that his Honour drew his own conclusions.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
CAPTAIN ACKERLET AGAIN.—John May, 17, was
placed at the bar, Wore Mr. Beadon, charged with
picking the pocket of Captain Ackerley.
Charles Cole, 317 A, a detective officer, said on
Saturday night he was standing at the corner of
Princes-street, Leicester-square, when he saw the
prisoner following the captain, and put his hand into his
pocket and draw out about six inches of a white pocket
handkerchief. Prisoner then turned round, and seeing
he was noticed, put the handkerchief back into the
pocket. He then took hint into custody. The prisoner
was well known, and had been before convicted.
Police-constable Gordon said he knew hint to be a
thief.

Cap►tain Ackerley said he wished to ask the magis-
trate whether the officer had any right to take the boy
into custody. He was in plain clothes ?
Mr. Beadon—Yes. He does duty in plain clothes.
Capt. Ackerley (in a stentorian tone of voice) said he
was certain the boy did not intend to pick his pocket.
It was an impossibility. His pockets were deep ones,
and very low. The officer had no authority for taking
the boy. He did not show his staff, which he ought to
have done, and was liable to 51. for not doing so, by the
10th Geo. INT. Would the magistrate ask the boy
whether he had a stepfather, a sister, and a brother I
Mr. Beadon said he would de so, and the prisoner, in
answer to Mr. Beadon'g questions, said he had.
Captain Ackerley said the officer called himself a de-
tective. The act 10 Geo. IV. said the officer should
show his staff. He had not done so. The officer struck
the boy. He did not know that he was in the commis-
sion of the peace as well as the magistrate. When he
told the inspector of the officer's conduct he took no
notice. If the boy brought an action against the officer
he would support him. Those things should be laid
before the legislature. He thought prevention better
than cure. If his worship thought proper to commit
the boy, he might. The constable bad taken the boy to
elevate himself. The constable struck the boy
which he had no right to do. He had no doubt if he had
a staff he had a right to do so, bat not without. These
things should be laid before the Government. The boy
should be admonished and not punished.
The captain here went on in such an excited manner
that Mr. Leadley, the clerk, was compelled to request
him to desist, but the captain replied that he would only
talk to the magistrate.
Mr. Beadon asked the officer whether he had struck
the boy, as he had no right to do so ?
The ( fficer (Cole) said he certainly had given the boy
a slight knock because he called him a liar.
The captain here a.ain went on in such an excited
manner that Mr. Beadbon told him he certainly must be
quiet.

_
Mr. Beadon said he should commit the prisoner for
one mouth, cautioning the constable not to strike
anybody again.

ALLICGETI CRUELTY THAMESON BOARD A
DUTCH
Mr. Charles Moerchin, a foreigner, of the Circus,
!fglinocries, who has frequently acted as an interpreter
in this court, applied to Mr. Selfe to take his declara-
tion of the oath of fidelity of a translation of depositions
under the following circumstances:—
A few days since a German named Borman came
before Mr. Yardley and said that his son Henry Borman
had been treated with great cruelty on board a Dutch
ship, sailing under the Dutch flag between London and
the West Indies, and that death was the result of such
treatment. Mr. Yardley at once stopped the applicant,
' and said he had no jurisdic ion over offences committed
on board foreign
ships on the high seas. The father
afterwards waited on the inspector of police at the H
division station-house, and they referred him to the
Dutch consul, who immediately
directed an inquiry,
and Dr. Moerchin took down the statements of the
crew, who stated that Captain Wilphoorsb, the master
of the ship Johanna Jacob, bad beaten and kicked the
boy repeatedly while he had' Dutch wooden shoes on,
and was guilty of other acts of cruelty. The boy died
on the voyage, and his death was believed to have been
cause] by the ill usage. The voyage was from London
to Nioara, in the West Indies and back to London.
Dr. Moerchin said he had 'made a translation of the
Dutch mariners' depositions into English, and he wished
to declare the translation was a correct one.
Mr. Selfe asked the object of making the proposed
declaration.
Dr. Maerchin said, for the. satisfaction of the Dutch
Consul, who intended to take further proceedings in the
matter directly he
was assured the depositions were
correctly translated.
Mr. Selfe said the object of the Dutch Consul was
highly praiseworthy, but he (Mr. Selfe) would not sign
the papers before him or take the declaration of the
foreigners. There was no law to justify him in doing
so. He would only take declarations in certain cases
pointed out by the law. He was therefore under the
necessity of refusing the application.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL, GRAY'S-INN-ROAD .—The
number of patients relieved at this hospital during the
week ending the 9th of January is 2,584, of which 598
were new cases.

••
GREAT NORTHERN HOSPITAL KINGIII-OROSEL—Num-
-1,234. Total from the let of January,
elnBdsi7, gto
ber of registered attendances of patients for the week
date, 70,659._
ending
this

THE ELECTION FOR THE BOROUGH OP REIGATIL—Ten
gentlemen have already appeared, or stated their inten-
tion to do so—viz., the Hon. John Monson, son of
LoPork; Mr. W. A. Wilkinson,
x.td p .el Sir Henry Rawlinson,
Lambeth
a director of the East India ComPany who was brought
forward during the last election ; Mr. Russell Gurney,
e Monson,[o of Gat t ;
o nc:olan
Q C., Recorder of the City of London ; Mr. Ralph
Walters, a director of the Eastern Counties Railway;
Mr. Edwin Chadwick, late one of the Poor-law Com-
missioners ; Mr. Campbell, Mr. Carling, and Mr.
Frederick Doulton, of Dulwich ; and Colonel Parratt.
It is stated by some who profess to have a knowledge
on the matter that one or two other candidates may
also appear.
EXTENSIVE CONFLAGRATION IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.—
The most destructive fire that has ever taken place in
South Australia occurred on the 9th of November at
i
Port Adelaide. It broke out n the shop of Mr. Soarfe,
ironmonger, North Parade, about 8 o'clock, and speedily
spread till the entire block of shops and houses, wooden
and brick, extending from Blackley's Port Hotel to
'Corner's the st
chemi, and backward as far as Nile-street,
was consumed. The buildings destroyed comprise three
hotels, 12 shops (drapers, ironmongers, and general
dealer.), one bank (branch of the Union), 16 cottages,
two stables, and various outbuildings. The total loss
is estimated by the South Australian Register at
100,0001., and by the Adelaide Zmes at 250,000/.—the
greater portion uninsured. No life was lost nor serious
hurt suffered by anyone. The fire-engines were of no
use at all in checking the fire ; the little water that
could be got was wasted by leaky hose.—.4weredran.
and New Zealand agate.