The Sun.
London, England, 1835-05-12 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

Yesterday a person of singular appearance, dressed in a
robe, and wearing his hair long and loose about his shoul-
ders, was brought before Mr. Alderman VENABLES, charged
with causing an obstruction in Smithfield by preaching. He
stated his name to be St. John Enochialt Victoria Nelson,
residing at No. 2, Bennington-place.
Inspector Martin, and a policeman named Burgess,
stated, that he came into Smithfield about half-past one,
and began to preach. His appearance caused from 300 to
400 persons to collect about him, but all went off quietly
for about half an hour. However, he then turned his
course from the prophecies of Johanna Southcott to some
indelicate mysteries about the birth of Shiloh, which so
provoked the laughter and disgust of the hearers that a
complete uproar ensued, and the prisoner, refusing to go
away, was lacked up in the Compter. A gentleman had
his packet picked !n the crowd.
In reply to a question from the MAGISTRATE the officers
stated that three or four missionaries usually preached in
Smithfield on the Sunday, but they were obedient to the
directions of the police, and did not affect singularity, like
the prisoner.
Mr. Alderman VENABLES asked what he had to say to
the complaint?
Prisoner said it was his duty to God and man to preach
in Smithfield, and he was not aware that he took a station
that caused any obstruction. Believing in the visitation of
Johanna. Southcott, and that if it were not generally be-
lieved we should be punished, and that a visitation would
be sent to other lands, he thought he was bound to unde-
ceive
people as to the gross falsehoods that had been pro-
pagated about Johanna. He was till eighteen months
ago a member of the Society of Friends, but going to the
house of a believer in the visitation while at Newcastle he
was himself visited by that extraordinary woman in his bed-
chamber. Two figures, each carrying an infant, appeared,

and one of them etclaimed, "I am Johanna, why dost thou persecute me ?" Now he had not persecuted her, but he—
Mr. Alderman VBNABLES would not listen to the rest
of the vision. He observed it was difficult to say whether
the prisoner Was most wicked or most foolish. He was
not disposed to interfere with preaching in the open air in
suitable places, where the ears of persons might be reached
which would not otherwise be reached at all, and where
the preacher had a sincere intention to do good. It was
difficult to say whether the prisoner was a man or woman
by his, garb ; and nobody would Jelieve that his parents had
christened him by the
names he had given. He consi,
tiered him a r3-ieat, assuming a name, and a dress, and a
• ;
either to live without work, or to flatter nis vanity ;
and he desired him to leave the Cit. with speed, or he
but
would
m
St.
jeie n athtim emprteepden of
tot it.
reply,
Mr. Alderman VENABLES would not hear him, ar.d or-
dered him to go away. .

The prisoner, putting on a high crowned hat with an
enormous brim, walked away, followed by a great number
of persons.

QUEEN-SQUARE.

Margaret Griffiths, a rather interesting-looking young
woman, about 19 years of age, was brought up in custody
before Messrs. WHITE and BuRRELL, the sitting Magis-
trates, charged with an extensive robbery of plate, wearing
apparel, and other valuable articles, the property of indivi-
duals with whom she had lived as servant.

The prisoner was committed for trial.
Another charge of robbery, under similar circumstances,
was then entered against her.—She was fully committed.

HATTON-GARDEN.

Yesterday John Drugg was brought to this office in the
custody of police-constable Passey, 100 E division, charged
by Henry Ward, a youth, with having robbed him of his
watch, chain, and seals, and with threatening his life.
Mr. LAING ordered the prisoner to pay a penalty of 51.
for the assault, in default of which he would be committed
to the House of Correction for two months. He then
ordered the whole of the officers to look well at the prisoner,
in order that they might know him in future. He was then
taken to the House of Correction.