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

`F RE SVN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 1,7 SW.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.

(Sittings at Nisi Prins, before Lord Chief Baron Pollock
and a Common Jury.)
CROXON V. MOSS.

This is an action of trover to recover £4,000, trust money
vested in debenture mortgages, on the stock of the North
Eastern Railway Company, in 1857, and transferred to the
North Western Railway Company. The point in conten-
tion is whether the trust money can be traced and reco-
vered.

The &fondant contends that the debenture bonds were
negotiable instruments, and as such duly negotiated at his
bank, and therefore plaintiff is not entitled to recover.

The Solicitor-General (Sir R. Keating) appears for the
plaintiff; Sir Fitzroy Kelly, Q.C., represents the de-
fendant.

The plaintiff called witnesses to prove the negotiation o,
the debenture at the bank of the defendant, Miss and Corn.
piny. The bond was due the day previous to its being dis-
counted.

Sir Fitzroy Kelly, Q.C., then addressed the jury for the
defendant, and contended that the debenture was duly
negotiated, and that the plaintiff had no claim whatever
against the defendant.

The Lord Chief Baron--The liability is a question of
law ; that must be left to the Court.

Witnesses were called to prove that Davis had no direc-
tion or authority to receive the money, but as it was pay-
able in London they advanced the money. Mr. Moss was
present. Telegraph notice was given. There is no differ-
once between a Liverpool Bank and any other.
The Lord Chief Baron said it appeared to him that
Davis had no authority to receive the money. It was not
payable to the bearer, and he had no right to do with it as he
pleased. His lordship directed the jury to find a verdict
for the plaintiff, subject to the question of law reserved for
the Court.

The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for £3,376.

CRIMINAL COURT.-(TRIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.

(Bofore Baron Bramwell.)

THE ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT AT WANDSWORTH

The Rev. llenry John Hatch was indicted for indocefitly
assaulting two children, of the respective ages of 11 and 8
years, named Mary and Lucy Plummer.
Mr. Metcalfe and Mr. Cooper appeared for the prosecution;
Sergeant Ballantine and Mr. Robinson defended the pri-
soner.

The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
It will be recollected that the prisoner was formerly
chaplain at the Wandsworth House of Correction, and his
wife kept a seminary for young ladies at Wandsworth, and
the two children were sent there to be educated. Very
shortly after the little girls arrived they stated that Mr.
Hatch commenced a series of indecent assaults, which con-
tinued for some time, until at last it came to the knowledge
of the parents of the children, whom they immediately re-
moved, and the present proceedings were instituted.
_ _

The eldest girl was than sworn. She appeared in a very
nervous state, and was crying nearly all the time under
examination. She said—My name is Mary Eugenia Plum-
mer. The witness, in answer to questions, then proceeded
to describe prisoner's conduct, consisting of exposure and
forcing her to place her hand on his person, and stated that
it was repeated on other subsequent occasions, at one time
coming to her bed, and at another taking her into his bed.
She remembered there being a party. The party were in
one room and he was in his bedroom. She was passing
through his room to go down stairs, and he said he would
toll her a story. She sat on his knee. He again behaved
indecently. Lucy was on the other knee. He did so to
her as well.

' Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—l had boon
at a boarding school before I went to Mr. Hatch's. It was
at Miss Gray's, at Bath. I was taken away because the
air did not suit my health. There were six or seven other
children. I only remained six weeks. I returned home,
and remained there till July. I had been to another school
at Bath, and I remained two years. This school was at
the top of the hill, the other was at the bottom. I don't
know if any complaint was made of me ; I never heard that
there was.

Lucy Agusta Plummer, aged eight years, said—l recol-
lect going to Mr. Hatch's. I slept in the next room to his.
My sister slept in the next room to mine. I recollect Mr.
Hatch coming to my bed in his night shirt.
The child then gave the same account of the proceedings
as her elder sister.

The following gentlemen were called, and gave the pri-
soner the highest character for morality :—The Rev. W.
T. Bullock, chaplain of Guy's Hospital; Captain Bridge,
St. James's-square ; Mrs. Bridge, wife of Captain Bridge ;
Mr. E. Wyse, of Ryde, Isle of Wight; the Rev. Dr.
Booth, rector of Stowe, who had for some time the
charge of the parish of Wandsworth; Mr. C. Nelson
Wilkinson, resident surgeon of Wandsworth House of
Correction ; the Rev. 11. Dupuis, vicar of Richmond (of
whom Mr. Hatch was a pupil 25 years ago at Eton, and to
whom he had been known since) ; Mr. Annesley, solici-
tor ; Captain Penrhyn, a Surrey county magistrate ;
Mr. Briscoe, M.P. for West Surrey, and a
magistrate ; the Reverend the Incumbent of King-
ston-vale; and the Rev. Joseph, Gegg, assistant chaplain
at Wandsworth Gaol.

Sergeant Ballantine said he had a large number of other
gentlemen who were willing to be examined as to character,
but it would be unnt cossary to call them.
Baron Bramwell summed up, and the jury retired at 10
minutes past four, and returned into court at five minutes
to five with a verdict of guilty.

The learned judge sentenced him to two years' imprison-
ment with hard labour for each offence, the second two
years to commence after the expiration of the first.
The prisoner protested that the children had told abo-
minable lies. He said he knew the time would come when
God would prove his innocence. He was then removed.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)
TUB ASSAULT ON THE BRIGHTON AND SOUTII.COAST

RAILWAY.

Mr. Jacob French, who was yesterday found guilty of a
common assault on Miss Astell, was this morning called
upon to surrender to his bail and come up for sentence.
The Recorder, after making a few remarks upon the evi-
dence, sentenced him to one month's imprisonment.