The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-15 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSION e, Nov. 14.

The November adjourned General Sessions of
the Peace for the County of Middlesex commenced
this morning.
The calendar contains the names of 55 prisoners,
all of whom, except two, are indicted for felony.
The learned Assistant-Judge delivered the charge
to the Grand Jury.
THE QUEEN V. FARINI.—A further application
was made in this case, by Mr. F. H. Lewis, and an
affidavit put in by Mr. Shaen, who conducts the
prosecution for the Associate Institute for the Pro-
tection of Women. The defendant, Pietro Farini,
was indicted for indecent conduct in the presence
of females in the Regent's Park ; but having been
admitted to bail he left this country, and is now
supposed to be at Madrid. The bail prayed for an
enlargement of the recognisances, and it was urged
that they were foreigners, and were ignorant of
the legal consequences of what they did in be-
coming bail.
The Assistant-Judge said that could not be ad-
mitted as a plea in any court of justice. Persons
undertaking to become bail must know the respon-
sibility they assumed, Ultimately the recogni-
sances were enlarged for the next two sessions.
THE STRIKE.—THE QUEEN V. PERHAM.—Mr.
Gordon Allan stated that he had an application to
make on behalf of Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., who
had been specially retained with him to appear for
the appellant, that the Court should appoint an
early day for the hearing of this case. It was an
appeal from a conviction by Mr. Corrie, the police
magistrate, of a workman for using threatening
language, and was a case of great importance. It
was probable, that whatever might be the decision
of the Court, the opinion of a higher sribunal
would be sought ; aud, therefore, it was desirable
that the matter should be immediately investigated
at the sessions. It appeared further, that in giving
his decision the magistrate had stated that he had
been compelled to commit a man to prison for not
supporting his family ; that he could have obtained
work, but had refused to do so. inquiry had been
made as to that committal ; but no precise informa-
tion could be obtained as to the exact circumstances
attending the case. It was the wish, however, of
those by whom he was instructed that it should
not be allowed to become currentthat they accepted
the doctrine of the magistrate that the refusal to
sign the declaration was such a refusal to work as
would justify the imprisonment of the workman.
They were anxious, therefore, that the whole matter
should be as quickly as possible inquired into.
The Assistant-Judge said that the Court would
be willing to oblige the learned counsel, but they
were afraid that the appeal could not be heard at
the present session.
Mr. Allan said that he believed, on looking at the
act of Parliament, the Court would find that they
had jurisdiction.
The Assistant-Judge referred to the act, and said
that was so ; and that the Court would fix Tuesday,
the 22d, for the hearing.
Mr. Poland, who appeared for the respondent,
said that day would be convenient to his client.
Thomas Bowcott, 22, was indicted for feloniously
breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Jane
Frisseder, and stealing therein a cash-box and other
articles, value £5, the property of Wm. Austin.
He pleaded guilty, and several summary convic-
tions were proved against him.
It appeared that he got into the house of the
prosecntrix one morning at seven o'clock, with an-
other man, by means of a false latch-key. They
had packed up a large bundle of things in the par-
lour ready for removal, when they were disturbed
and made off, but the prisoner was captured.
The Assistant-Judge said he might be doing
wrong, but he would give the prisoner one more
chance in this country, but if he ever came there
again the sentence would be one of penal servitude
for a long term of years. The prisoner was sen-
tenced to hard labour for one year.
-N% m. Peake, 41, clerk, was convicted, upon his
own confession, of embezzling money to the amount
of £2 10s. 3d., received on account of his employers,
Messrs. Gardener and Co., lamp manufacturers, of
the Strand.
Mr. Poland appeared for the prosecution.
Mr. Metcalfe, on behalf of the prisoner, addressed
the Court is mitigation of punishment, and said his
client had hitherto borne an unexceptionable cha-
racter, and had been well recommended to the pro-
secutors from the Great Northern Railway, where
he had been employed. •
The Assistant-Judge sentenced the prisoner to
three months' hard labour.
Thomas Hirons, 21, was indicted for stealing a
portmanteau, containing an apparatus for taking
photographic portraits, clothing, &c., value £22,
the property of the Rev. Wm. Laing, from a truck
on the London and North-Western Railway, and a
carpet bag and other articles, the property of John
Ogilby, from Luckett's Coffee-house, Bishop's-road,
Paddington. Charles Knapp, 40, a general dealer,
in Praed-street, Paddington, was indicted for felo-
niously receiving part of the same with a guilty
knowledge.
Hirons pleaded guilty. C
Mr. Metcalfe prosecuted for the London and
North-Western Railway Company. Mr. Sleigh de-
fended Knapp.
The portmanteauwas stolen from a train in which
aD
passenger to St. Alban's.
division, traced out the the
Sergeant prosecutor
pri-
soner Hirons as the thief, and found that some of
the contents of the box, which was found in the
room he lodged in, had purchased by Knapp
for almost next to nothing—particularly a valuable
photographic lens and some slides.
Mr. Sleigh addressed the jury for Knapp, urging
that the evidence did not make out a receipt with
felonious knowledge, and ealled witnesses to cha-
racter, among them Mr. T. Cottetell, the magistrate,
who said he hail known him for 30 years.
The jury acquitted Knapp, buttitggested that his
lordship should administer to him- a sharp caution
as to his dealings in future.
The learned Judge said the suggestion was one
in which he not only concurred, but he should have
cautioned the prisoner had not the same occurred
to the minds of the jury. The prisoner must take
care how he received things in future, or he might
not be so fortunate as on this occasion.
Against Hirons there were two former convic-
tions upon the record ; and a third case of robbing
at a hotel at Padlington, where he took up his
abode for a night for the purpose of carrying off
some jewellery, but only got a top coat, was proved
by the officer.
The Court sentenced him to three years' penal
servitude.
A tall, determined, and savage-looking fellow,
named Newman, was indicted for robbing a boy
of 2cd., and assaulting him and putting him in
bodily Aar, &c. The prosecutor stated that he was
in the tap-room of the White Lion public-house,
Edgware-road, when the prisoner, who had about
fifteen others with him, put him on the table, tied
his legs, and held one hand over his mouth,
obsesretsys ehdep,
roaunt
away,
alyi a
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ene
nhgo
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his
and with the other took 2,1 d., all he
pri-
soner amongst a number of others, he picked him cut
and gave him in aharge. He was sure he was the
man, and there could be no doubt from his appear-
ance. This evidence was given in a clear, concise,
and straightforward manner by the boy.
The prisoner slid the case was u lie; and why
did not the boy go and tell the landlord; and was it
likely he would do such a thing before 15 others,
and if he did, why were not some of them called ?
The jury acquitted the prisoner on the ground
that the boy's evidence was not corroborated.
The Assistant-Judge--Juries should really pay
due regard to evidence. Unless that poor boy has
made a false charge altogether, this case was
proved, and he gave his evidence in an intelligen
manner.
Foreman—He was not corroborated.

The Assistant-Judge—Notco;;;l7o7;ted ! If it
were necessary for a witness to be corroborated in
every case. any one of you might be attacked, and
knocked down and robbed on the public highway,
by a desperate ruffian, who then is to be let loose
again, because your evidence is without corrobora-
tion, hough you are sure of the person, and no one
but your assailant and yourself being present when
the crime is committed. I believe the boy.
Foreman—He might have complained to the
landlord at the time, but did not, it appears.
Tne Assistant-Judge—He might have done so,
but how can we tell what state of mind that child
was in after he had had this outrage committed
upon him in the presence of 15 men, not one of whom
interfered on his behalf. The first time he saw the
prisoner afterwards he gave him in charge, and the
prisoner admits he was there, and not one of the 15
came to say he did not do it. But it was for you to
decide, gentlemen.

A list of the convictions was then put in.
A Constable—ln 1853, on one of those convic-
tions the prison& was sentenced to 10 years' trans-
portation, and he is now on ticket-of-leave. Four
years of his term are unexpired, and he is the con-
stant associate of burglars.
The Assistant-Judge--Then I shall order him to
be detained, in order that lie may have his licence
revoked, and be remitted to serve out the remainder
of that sentence.

The prisoner, whose conduct below had been bad
in the extreme, was then removed.
John Maitland, 27, a gentlemanly-10016n,,

whose appearance was calculated to throw any one
off their guard, was convicted on five distinct charges
of robbing ready-furnished lodgings.
The Court sentenced him to 18 months' hard
labour.