The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-22 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESS:InNS, Sept. 21.

(Before Mr. Payne, Deputy Assistant-Judge.)
Mary Denny and Mary Healey were indicted for
from the person of Rosetta Clemmerson a
purse and three half-crowns, her property and
money.
Mr. Daly was for the prosecution; Mr. Dickie
defended the prisoners.
The prosecutrix deposed—l am an unfortunate,
and live at 50, Albert-street, Islington. About 11
o'clock on-the night of the 7th of this month I was
at the Angel, at Islington, and there met the pri-
soners and another woman. They asked me to
treat them to something to drink, as they were very
poor, and we went into the Angel, and I called for
6(1. worth of gin. Healey, as I stood at the counter,
asked me to pour out the gin. I did so, and while
I was-doing it Denny put her hand in my pocket
and took out my purse, which contained three half-
crowns and a sixpence. I took hold of her hand,
and she passed the purse to Healey, who took it,
and. placed it somewhere in the back of her dress.
I, went and shut one door of the public-house, and
some one else did the other. In the meantime my
purse was thrown on the floor. I charged. Henley
with having taken it, and she threatened to knock
my head against the. wall. Denny prevented her
doing so. A policeman came, and I gave them in
charge, but a great mob got round me, and I was
frightened. After Healey was released from the
policeman she made use of most disgusting and
threatening language to me, after which I again
got the constable and gave them in charge. When
I saw the purse on the ground I picked it up, but
the three half-crowns were gone out of it. I can
swear they were in it and safe when Denny put.
her hand in my pocket. I know that because I
Wanted change for one of the half-crowns, and I
was quite sober. I know the prisoners; they are,
like myself, unfortunate. I have been out nine
months.

Mr. Dickie cross-examined the witness, but she
adhered to her statement in amost straightforward
manner.

The evidence of the policeman in the case, 314 N,
so far as he was concerned, fully corroborated that
of the prosecutrix. She gave him the purse when
she had picked it up, and a sixpence was in it.
Mr. Dickie, for the defence, urged that two women
who were of the same class as prosecutrix stated
she was, ought not to be convicted upon her sole
testimony.
The learned judge told the jury it was entirely a
case for them to decide. If they thought the prose-
cutrix had. told the truth, the case was made out;
if they thought she was an untrue witness, of
course they would acquit the prisoners.
The jury found both guilty, and former convic-
tions were proved against them—more against
Healey than the other.

The learned judge said he was quite satisfied
with the verdict, and that the statement of prose-
cutrix was true. He sentenced Healey to four years'
penal servitude, and Denny to 12 months' hard
labour.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Sept. 21.

GUILDHALL—EXAMINATION OF AN ABSCOND-
ING BANKRUPT —Mr. David Hughes, of Gresham-
street, City, of 10, Canonbury-place, slington, and
ofKingsgate Castle Margate, solicitor, was brought
before Alderman Lawrence by Sergeant Brett, of
the City detective force, who apprehended him at
Victoria, in Australia, on a warrant issued from this
court, to answer the charge of feloniously abscond-
ing from his creditors and not surrendering to his
bankruptcy.
Mr. Poland prosecuted, and Mr. MOrgan, of the
firm of Humphreys, Son, and Morgan, conducted
the defence.
The evidence in support of the charge of non-sur-
render was of a purely formal character; but from
the opening statement liy counsel, and circumstances
brought to light from time to time during the 12
months the bankrupt has been aaaaySit appeared
that en July 20, 1858, he absconded from his credi-
tors and fled to Australia, leaving behind him lia-
bilities to the extent of about £150,000 or £200,000
Within a few days after his disappearance a circular
was forwarded to all his clients and creditors stating
he had retired from business in consequence of -ill
health, which induced several to call at the office in
Greshamsstreet, to promote a settlement of their va-
„lions claims, but as he was not to be found, and no
Satisfactory tidings could be obtained about him for
a klkime, application was at length made to the Bank-
ruptcy Court, and in the early part of August,
1858, he was duly adjudged a bankrupt, and on in-
vestigating his, accounts it was ascertained that in
his personal 'expenditure lie had exceeded the
amount al his entire income by no less a sum than
56,000 ; that a further sum of £40,000, consisting
of moneys held in trust fur clients and others, had
bed n misappropriated, and that the total liabilities
considerably exceeded ..£150,000, about £60,000 of
which had bssen incurred in bill transactions, &e.
With regard to bankrupt's estate,it was considered
very insignificant in comparison with the amount
of the • liabilities, it being for the most part mort-
gaged to its full value. These facts being brought
to the knowledge' of the Commissioner in bank-
ruptcy a criminal prosecution was directed, and
in April last a warrant for the bankrupt's ap-
prehension was applied for •at this court and
granted. That warrant was then placed in the
hands of Sergeant Brett, an efficient member of the
detective force, who forthwith proceeded overland
to Australia. Arrived at Victoria he lost no time in
discovering the bankrupt, who was in the comfort-
able occupation of a very pleasant suburban retreat,
but on being informed by Brett that he held a war-
rant for his apprehension, every conceivable ob-
struction was thrown- in the way to prevent him
bringing the,bankrupt back. The cleverest lawyers
in the colony wore engaged on either side to con-
test the legality of the arrest at every point, begin-
ning at the police court, before a bench of magis-
trates, and eventually before the Lord dief
Justice in the Supreme Court of the colony, who
finally settled, every point of law by backing
the warrant. The bankrupt's friends were,
however, determined not to be defeated as
long as there was a chance left, and they
therefore attempted to get him confined in an asylum
as a lunatic, and had it not been for the most un-
wearied vigilance of Brett, and the decision with
which lie acted, the bankrupt would have been
snatched from his hold at the last moment, and
when the object of his journeying many thousands
of miles was all but accomplished. Brett, who re-
turned in the Agincourt sailing vessel, has succeeded
in bringing- his prisoner over, having in the short
space of five months and six days made the circuit
of the world, besides performing the duties upon
which he was sent to the satisfaction of all parties
concerned, exe3pfnz, of course, the bankrupt and
his friends.
Mr. Poland said he only proposed adducing evi-
dence relative to the. offence of non-surrender, and
then to ask for a remand, and on a fixture day he
would bring forward evidence in support of various
charges of fraud against the prisoner. .
Mr. Morgan said he admitted that the bankrupt
was inextricably involved in difficulties at the time
he left this country, but denied most emphatically
that there was a single element of fraud in his con-
duct throughout. That the bankrupt had not the
cdtrage to meet his difficulties was quite true, and
he therefore went to Australia, where his embarrsss-
ments preyed so much on his mind that he was for
a short time placed in an asylum. If, however, lie
had stayed, cr if the assignees had made any at-
tempt to realise the property he had left behind
him, it would have been found that, although the
liabilities were £150,000, the value of the assets was
L'18.6,000.
Mr. Po'sind said all he appEed for now was a re-
mand, and he thought at this early stage of the case
Mr. Morgan's statement was somewhat premature
He hoped, for the sake of the creditor?, the
assets
would turn out to he of that value.
Mr. Morgan said ho mentioned it to show that
nkruptcy when
the prisoner did not contemplate ba
he left this country.
Mr. Poland said, however that mai• be, the bank-
rupt, when he absconded, left behind him' an autho-

city to dispute the adjudication in bankruptcy, and
the amrd. j
Morganudicatio ns Wa ads
he disputed;shou should not
not have made any
remarks at present if Mr. Poland had not opened
the
mera. s ep ao sl a onnde
soafi
df r awu
hd
a.
whatever he had stated in his
opening he would prove on a future occasion. At
the same time, he felt it due to the officer Brett
to
say he had displayed such an extraordinary amount
care in apprehending and retaining the bankrupt in
(1 brought him safely to this country,
custody till h
that he was fairly entitlf.-14 to: the greatest praise.
The bankrupt, Ivho after the •
first five miThtes
appeared very much pained the
Pos-ti';l in ;ill' I
fora week
he found himself, was then renaaLfted.
WORSHIP- STREE"---r..—DARING AND IMPUDENT
ATTEMPT AT ItOnDERY WITII ASSAULT.—John
•
dtriek, 20, thickset, with prominent features, de-
scribed as having neither residence nor occupation,
was charged before Mr. D'Eyncourt with two vio-
lent assaults.
Mr. Henry Adams, a young and slightly-framed
person, carrying on the business of a pawnbroker in
Wentworth-street, Spitalfields, said—Last evening
I accompanied my wife, who is in extremely deli-
cate health, to the residence of her medical
ant, and while passing along Crown-strew -s rend-
on our return, she stopped to mar--
rectly this was effected, she .e a Fin
Di
lavin Purchase.
ing £8 in gold and
the prisonel:, silver a urse *early 30x, 30s. in in her hand,
to meet a coat on one arm, appeared
and struck her a violent blow with his
List. I put up my hand and asked what he meant
by such a cowardly act, and then he seized me by
the collar of my coat with both hands, shaking me as
an angry boy would a kitten, at the same time assail-
ing me in the grossest language, and threatening to
give me in charge as a pickpocket, and asserting my
wife was aknown prostitute. At the instant the first
assault was committed I suspected a robbery was
contemplated, and therefore got possession of the
purse and money from my wife's hand. I further
believe that the prisoner was surrounded by
ccomplices among the mob that quickly
assembled, and I am a pretty good judge cf
bad characters from carrying on business in the
locality mentioned. Ultimately I gave the prisoner
in charge of a constable whose presence was obtained
by a paid messenger, and I was compelled to seek
safety in a cab from many of the crowd, who even
then followed a considerable distance. •
Mrs. Susannah Adams—l am suffering from a
diseased chest. After making the purchase allilded
to by my husband, I had scarcely passed two steps
when I received a blow in my bosom prom the pri-
soner•that turned me half rol..nd, and I nearly
fainted from the effects of The prisoner then
assaulted my husbank and abused us both, after
which he'wanted me to take his arm, and told me
not to take any notice of "that man" (Mr. Adams).
Mr. Aaron Smith, a tradesman in Moor-fields,
stated that he did not witness the attack upon the
'lady, but that he-saw every succeeding act of the
prisoner's, which, together with his language, was
of the most infamous kind. When remonstrated
with and told that such conduct was disgraceful
and unlike an Englishman, the scoundrel wanted
to fight the prosecutor, and Would have struck him
had he not been prevented.
Police-constable 132 G, who took the charge, said
that he hoard the prisoner, who was a little in
liquor, use most scurrilous language to Mr. and
Mrs. Adams, at the corner of Chiswell-street.
Mr. D'Eyncourt questioned this officer as to his
knowledge of the prisoner and any of the mob, but
it appeared that he was a " young hand."
A 425 deposed to the prisoner being a, companion
of daring thieves, known as the "Golden-lane gang."
The coat alluded to was very old, and as usual, when
to be "worked," was without pockets, yet affording
free access' for the hand through the packet-hole.
Railway or horse rugs were frequently used for the
same purpose, according to the garb of the
" operator."

Prisoner—All the statements about me are false,
and as to the coat, why, it certainly is a little worse
for wear.

Mr. D'Eyncourt—Fortunately for you it cannot
he proved that you were acting in complicity, or
I should certainly have sent this case for a jury to
deal with. I suspect your intention was to rob
Mrs. Adams of her purse, which in all probability
had been seen in her hand while she was paying
for the purchase spoken of.

Prisoner—V)h, dear no; nothing of the kind.
Mr. D'Eyneourt—l believe so, and that you
dealt the lady a blow in the hope that she would
be unable, from the effect of it, to,retain possession
of the money,_

PrisonerZ:Nothing of the kind, I assure you.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—l order you to pay £5 for each
assault that you have committed.
Prisoner—Nothing of the kind.
Mr. D'Evncourt—Failing in that, you will go to
prison with hard labour for four months.