The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-12 00:00:00

After some further evidence,
George Wm. Cullen 'deposed—l am landlord. of
the Duchess of Kent Inn, King-street, in this town.
About noon on Monday last I was standing at my
bar, around which there were some seven or
eight per Sons. Defendant and his cousin came
in with some two or three others,- and called for
a quart of beer, which I served. ' Defendant was
the first person who drank it ; as soon as he had
done so he left the house. About two or three
minutes afterwards I heard a horn blow, and some
person in front of the bar said, " Here comes the
madman." Having my curiosity raised, I went to
the door. I then saw the complainant near the
Elephant and Castle, or thereabouts. I think the
horn must have been blown before he got there.
He was coming at the rate of 12 miles an hour
when I went to the door. There were two carts
standing just below my door laden with beach. The
defendant was drawing his cart into the centre of
the road, and was in the act of passing the foremost
cart, when the complainant drove close up to him
and said, "D— your eyes, get out of the road ;
you have no business here." Defendant replied,
"D— it, I can't ;" upon which complainant
slashed hiS whip and struck defendant's horse,'
which was a very spirited_ one. Defendant was
then holding his horse's head. Complainant drew
upon the footpath and passed the cart, slashing his
whip, and 'struck a lad named Wood; by which
action he knocked off the lad's hat. He was then
going at such a speed that he could not pull up
until he got near the Bell Inn—a considerable dis-
tance. He returned again, and taking up q flint
stone endetivoured to scratch out a name on de-
fendant's cart, after which he went away. There
'were a great number of persons present at the time
it happened. I saw the hat kicked about by several.
persons, but I swear that the defendant never
touched it. There was no time for the defendant
to get by before the complainant was upon him.'
The magistrates retired, and after a short con-
sultation returned, Vdhen Mr. Crofton said—The
question before the court is,—has this hat been
injured, and if so, who has done it ? Now, it has
been proved by the evidence of three witnesses (one
certainly more in favour of the defendant than any
one else) that defendant was seen meddling with
the hat, and the bench are of opinion that he is the
party who damaged the hat, and he must therefore
pay 11s., and the costs, 19s. 6d., or be committed
to the House of Correction for 21 days.
Defendant applied for time, and was allowed
threo-weeks to pay it.
The Rev. G. G. Sieklemore said—Capt. Durant,
now that the case is over, allow me to say a few
words respecting the rapid speed at which you
drive through the town. It behoves every one,
whatever his station in life, to be very careful how
he drives through the narrow streets of a town like
this, in order to prevent accidents to life and limb.
It is but a short time since I myself saw two ladies
nearly knocked down by your servant, who was
riding, and who apparently had not got his horse
under control. Being a magistrate myself, lam
not fond of laying informations, but I asked myself
the question whether I was not wrong in so doing.
Captain Durant—l have driven through the most
crowded places and never yet knocked any one
down.

The Rev. Mr. Sicklemore—l do not doubt your
abilities as a " whip," but I do hope that you will
be very careful.
Captain Durant assured him that he would
check the boy.
We understand that the defendant's neighbours
have commenced a subscription to defray the fine
and costs.—Kentish Gazette.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON AND GREENWICH.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the office, Gresham-house, Old
Broad-street ; Mr. J. Wilson in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN read the statement of accounts,
which showed a balance from the last half-year of
£429. To this was added £22,500, the half-year's
rental of the railway due on the 31st of December
last, £6 transfer fees, and £l4B balance of interest
account, making a total of £23,803. From this sum
was deducted £10,206 for interest on bonds and
preference shares, £7 10s. annuity to J. Nash, £lB7
10s.for stamp and commission on a bond for £50,000,
£396 expenses of management, and £261 income-
tax, leaving a balance of £12,025.
The CHAIRMAN moved a formal resol-tio,n ap-
proving the statement of accounts, and declaring a
dividend for the past half-year on the ordinary
shares of the company of ss. 6d. per share, clear of
income-tax.

The resolution was adopted unanimously.
In reply to a question from Mr. Maclaurin, it
was stated that £50.000 of borrowed money at 4
per cent, per annum became due in the course of the
past half•year, and was repaid by £50,000 obtained
by the directors on bond at 4 per cent, per annum
for 50 years. The saving in interest would be £125
per annum, but the stamps and commission for com-
pleting the transaction amounted to £lB7.
Mr. MACLAURIN thought they might have bor-
rowed the money from their own shareholders at 4
per cent. without the cost of commission.

- The election by the directors of Mr. R. Kynaston
to a seat at the board was confirmed, and having
then retired by rotation, he was unanimously rc-
elected. Mr. J. Pilchard was also re-elected, and
after a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting
separated.