The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 10, 1866.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT—This Day.

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Mellor.) \
THE RUSSIAN ROUBLE NOTE FORGERY.

Philip Brann was indicted for feloniously and,
without authority of the Russian Government,
engraving and making documents purporting to be
five rouble notes, being equal to about 12s. 6cl.
English. The prisoner, it will be recollected, was
tried with Holchester, Beyer, Berens, Davis, and
Silvermann, who were indicted for forging such
notes, and that the five prisoners above-named were
con ficted, but Bran) was acquitted. He was, how-
ever, detained on other indictments, and one of
these was preferred against him this morning.
Sergeant Ballantine, for the prosecution, said
the offence in the case before the court was a
simple one, as the prisoner had never denied his con-
nection with the five men who had been convicted.
He also admitted having engraved the plate, but
urged that he had no guilty intention, arid that he,
like Liban, who was the principal witness on the oc-
casion of the first trial, was acting in the interest of
the Russian Government in bringing the guilty
parties to justice.
The question submitted by the prosecution to the
jury was whether the prisoner engraved the plates
in complicity with the men found guilty last session,
or whether he was acting in such a manner as to
further the ends of justice.
Liban, Inspector 1. hompson, and Sergeant Mul-
vany repeated the evidence given at the former
trial, as far as it affected the prisoner, the effect of
which was to show that ho constantly acted with
the other men.

Inspector Hamilton, however, in his evidence,
said the prisoner came to him at the City police-
station, and told him certain matters relative to
steps that were going on with respect to the forgery
of the note, and said that he told him to go on with
his inquiries, and that the City police would give
him every assistance in bringing the forgers to
justice.

A witness from the office of the Russian Consu-
late also gave evidence that the prisoner came there
and made certain communications, and that he was
directed to proceed with his exertions. He knew
that the practice of the Consulate was only to
reward parties where their exertions were crowned
with success.

The learned Judge thought that the evidence
against the prisoner, as it at present stood, was in-
sufficient to convict the prisoner, because it was clear
he had been to the Russian Consulate, and that he
had been referred by the authorities there to the
police, and that more than a year ago he had gone
to the City detectives and made them acquainted
with the matter.

Mr. GIFFARD said that if there was any doubt in
his lordship's mind, he had no desire to press the
case against the prisoner further.
A verdict of acquittal was then returned.
SHOOTING WITH INTENT TO MURDER.

William Shirley, lampmaker, was indicted for
feloniously shooting at Henry Hus, with intent to
murder him. There were other counts against the
prisoner.

The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
It will be recollected the prosecutor was a lamp-
maker living in Roupell-street, Lambeth, and that
the prisoner was formerly an apprentice of his. On
the 2d of December last year he proceeded to the
factory, and had an interview with Mr. Hus, and a
somewhat lengthy conversation ensued, the prisoner
claiming a written certificate of character and dis-
charge. Mr. Hus refused to do anything beyond
giving him a character in the usual manner, and
words then ensued, the prisoner telling Mr. Hus
that had he been apprenticed to any other man he
(prisoner) would have been a good mechanic instead
of a sailor. The conversation ended, and as the
prisoner was leaving a shot was fired, which
took effect on the person of Mr. Hus. A
struggle ensued, and the pistol, a revolver, was again
discharged, the shot taking effect in Mr. Hus's
hand. The prisoner was also shot during the affray,
and when assistance arrived the prisoner said that
he was the party aggrieved. The pistol, however,
was taken from the prisoner's hand, and Mr. Huis
stated that it belonged to him, and had been missing
from his factory since last August, at which time
the prisoner was working for Mr. Hum.
The prosecutor, in his evidence, said the prisoner
had ten years ago been his apprentice, and had since
that time occasionally worked up to about 18 months
ago. On the 2d of December last year the prisoner
called and told him he was about to enter the em-
ployment of a railway, and he wanted a written cha-
racter. He said he would give him a character in the
usual manner, but that he would not write it. He
further told him that if it was true that he was about
to enter the service of a railway company he (pro-
secutor) would be furnished with a printed form to
fill up. He (witness) then went to wash his hands
preparatory to leaving the premises, hen the pri-
soner followed him, and began talking angrily, say-
ing that had he been apprenticed to any other man
but a foreigner he would have been a good mechanic
instead of a man to a great extent destitute of a
trade. He again asked hiin to give him a written
character, but h e refused, and as he was leaving the
factory the prisoner shot him in the neck. He called
the prisoner by his name, and said " William, what
are you doing ?" The prisoner then fired another shot,
which did not take effect, and then he closed with him
to get possession of the revolver, when the prisoner
discharged the pistol again and the shot took effect
in his hand. He continued to struggle with the
prisoner until he got the pistol out of his hand ; at
this time both were on the ground. When he got
the pistol he (prosecutor) discharged it twice at the
prisoner in self-defence, the struggle, however,
continuing all the time. He (prosecutor) dropped
the pistol on the ground which the prisoner picked
up, and the next circumstance he recollected was
seeing the prisoner in company with a lot of other
persons. He gave the prisoner in charge for at-
tempting to murder him, and on looking at the
pistol he discovered it to be a revolver which had
been taken away from the factory by some person
in August last. The prisoner was in his employ
when the pistol was missed.
Cross-examined by Mr. Metcalf—He told the
prisoner that the pistol had been stolen, and he
(witness) accused a person named Ch adder of having
taken it. He had been onterms of intimacy with the
sister of the prisoner. He had been very intimate with
her, but he did not know she had complained of his
cruelty. He knew the girl had been to the doctor
for an injury to her wrist, but he was not the cause
of it. He never took up a soldering iron and
threatened to kill the prisoner with it. He had
never on any occasion threatened to shoot a
policeman. He had resided in Princes - street,
Stamford - street, previous to going to Roupell-
street. He left there in consequence of a fire con-
suming his place. He was insured in the West-
minster Fire-office, and got £5OO as the amount
of the policy. He had never quarrelled with
the prisoner in consequence of his threatening
to go to the fire-office to tell them about
the fire. He had never threatened to shoot the
prisoner's sister. He had never struggled with her.
He might have pushed her, but he never treated her
cruelly. She said he was a bad temper, but he did
not think he was. The pistol was loaded with ball
when it was lost. He kept it for the protection of
his premises.

(We shall give the conclusion in a later edition.)

THE FAMILIES OF THE FENIAN CONVICTS.—Mrs.
Stephens, wife of the escaped head centre, has given
a number of articles of ladies' ornamental attire to be
raffled for, in aid of the wives and families of the Fenian
convicts, and the sale of the tickets for the " drawing"
throughout all parts of the country has attracted some
attention. It is supposed that the further circulation of
these lottery tickets (which are in themselves illegal, irre-
spective of any political significance they may be supposed
to possess) will be prevented.

A. SAILOR'S LEAP FROM A TRAIN.—On Monday a
sailor named Williams was charged before the Liverpool
county magistrates with an infraction of the bye-laws, by
leaping from a railway train, on the Liverpool and Garston
line, on Saturday evening. The train was going at full
speed towards Garston, when Williams, who was intoxi-
cated, in spite of the opposition and eforts of some pas-
sengers, opened the carriage door and jumped out. It was
dark, and no one could tell what became of him, but when
the train arrived at Garston a messenger was despatched
along the line, and Williams was discovered lying in a
ditch at the bottom of the embankment. Not a bone was
broken, and he had not even been bruised. Ho was fined
20s. and costs,

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

A FORGIVING WIFE.-Mr. Charles John Martin, a master
plumber and glazier, of No. 33 A, Dean-street, Soho, was
brought before Mr. Tyrwhitt, on a warrant, by O'Shaugh-
nessy, one of the warrant officers, charged with assaulting
his wife, Louisa Martin, a certified accoucheuse.
Mr. E. D. Lewis, of Great Marlborough-street, appeared
for the complainant, and stated that the parties had been
married a number of years, but for some time past the de-
fendant had given way to habits of dissipation, and had
frequently assaulted the complainant. On the previous
night he came home in a state of intoxication, and as soon
as he entered the house he seized the complainant by the
hair, scratched her throat, struck her in the face—the re-
sult of the blows being apparent, she having a pair of black
eyes—and also kicked her in the lower part of her person.
lie should call the complainant, and, after hearing her evi-
dence, should ask his worship to deal with the case as
one coming under the Aggravated Assaults Act.
The complainant, whose countenance was much dis-
figured by a pair of bad black eyes, then gave evidence
fully bearing out Mr. Lewis's statement., and said that in
consequence of the scenes of violence which took place she
had a daughter, about 14 years of age, lying very ill. She
wanted nothing from her• husband, as she -was able to
maintain herself by her profession, but peace.

The defendant said his wife first assaulted him.

Mr. Tyrwhitt committed the defendant for 21 days, at
the same time remarking that the defendant's conduct was
very cruel.
The complainant appealed to the magistrate to impose a
fine, offering at the same time to pay it.
Mr. Tyrwhitt said he had no doubt if he imposed a fine
the complainant would distress herself to pay it, and he
therefore would not alter his decision.

MARKETS—This Day.

MARK-LANE.

Fresh up to our market, to-day, the arrivals of wheat
were but moderate. The trade for all qualities ruled heavy,
and the business done was at quite Monday's decline in the
quotations.
The market was moderately supplied with foreign
wheat. The demand for .01 descriptions was somewhat
restricted, yet prices ruled stationary.
Floating cargoes of grain were in but moderate demand,
at late rates.

Barley was in fair supply, and heavy request, on former
terms.
Malt sold slowly, at late rates.
Oats were in very moderate supply, and the trade ruled
firm, with a slight upward tendency in prices.
Beans were dull, at fully Monday's decline in the quota-
tions.

Peas were in slow request, at the recent fall in their
value.
In flour sales progressed slowly, on former terms.
SHIP ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
English and Scotch 720 1110 2,350 690
high — 120 --
Foreign 1420 320 1,440 110 sks.
brls.

COMPARATIVE QUANTITIES AND PRICES OF GRAIN.
For the week ending Jan. IFor the corresponding week
6, 1865. last year.
Qrs. Aver. Qrs. Aver.
Wheat 49,310-46 s 3d Wheat 63,80G-38s 2d
Barley ..... ....60,005-32s 9d Barley 64,062-27 s 10d
Oats

BOROUGH HOP.
The demand is chiefly for retail parcels, at stationary

The Murderer Southey.

MAIDSTONE, Tuesday.
To-day, at a numerously attended general session
meeting of the county magistrates, held at the
sessions-house, a letter was read from Mr. Omerod,
praying for an investigation into Southey's state of
mind. The Rev. Shirley Woolmer also had an in-
terview with the magistrates, who consented that
Southey should be examined by Dr. Kirkman, sur-
geon to the Barming Lunatic Asylum. Dr. Kirk-
man was accordingly closeted with Southey this
afternoon for two hours, and the conclusion he came
to was made known to the magistrates. A resolu-
tion was carried that Major Bannister, the governor
of Maidstone Gaol, should proceed with a sealed
packet to the Home Secretary by the first train in
the morning. The contents of the packet, of course,
are unknown ; but it is generally believed that a
respite for a commission of inquiry is asked for.

Messrs. Gold and Son, under the advice of Mr.
E. T. Smith and Mr. R. Blake Steele, who were
Southey's counsel, have filed an affidavit of certain
facts, with a view of inducing the Attorney-General
to issue his fiat for an appeal to the Court for
Crown Cases Reserved, but no reply has been re-
ceived from the Crown-office.

Messrs. Gold and Son have received the follow-
ing reply to a communication of theirs on behalf of
the convict :

"Whitehall, January 8, 1866.

" Gentlemen,—l am directed by Secretary Sir George
Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th
inst., and I am to acquaint you, in reply, that he must de-
cline to hear counsel upon the question of the sanity of
Stephen Forward alias Southey. As to the other point
mentioned by you, I am to state that it cannot be enter-
tained by the Court of Criminal Appeal, unless reserved
by the judge at the trial, who would in that case have
himself respited the execution.—l am, gentlemen, your
obedient servant, "II WADDINGTON.
"Messrs. Gold and Son, solicitors, 1, Serjeant's-inn,
Chancery-lane."