The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-18 00:00:00

TEE FRAUDULENT BANICERS.

A few months back public attention was called
to a peculiar circumstance connected with the fate
of Strahan and Paul, the bankers. Upon their con-
viction they received the extreme sentence of the
law-14 years penal servitude. An act passed last
session, however, reduced the penalty for similar
offences in all future cases to three years' imprison-
ment. As Strahan and Paul completed this term
at the beginning of last month, it was thought that
for the sake of consistency, their punishment
would then be mitigated. To continue it, in fact,
would be not merely . useless but unwise, since it
could have no effect but to bring the existing law
into disrepute. Society inflicts punishment, first
to warn all people of what they will have to expect ;
secondly, to reform the offender, and deprive
him, meanwhile, of opportunities of repeating
his misdeeds ; and, thirdly, to mark their abhor-
rence of the wrong committed. But we cannot
say, " Look at the example of Strahan and Paul and
the horrors of 14 years' penal servitude." The
Legislature has solemnly declared that for any one
who may imitate their course, three years is the
term to be counted upon. On the question of
reformation it is not to be supposed any good can
arise to two hopelessly broken men who can never
again under any circumstances be in a position
to repeat their malpractices, and who, moreover,
from the first abstained from all attempts to defy
or embarrass their prosecutors. On the third
ground, that of marking our abhorrence of their
acts there is nothing to say, since it is by our
latest and not by our previous laws that that
point must be tested. Whether fourteen years
was in any degree too heavy a punishment is
such cases may well be questioned, but when Par-
liament have pronounced that it is unduly severe,
and that three years is enough, let all alike share
the altered scale. The position of Strahan and
Paul is analogous to that which would be wit-
nessed in the case of an offender upon whom a sen-
tence of death might be carried out, although in
the interval between the conviction and execu-
tion capital punishment had been repealed. It
is the same as if we were now to apprehend
an escaped forger, whose crime was effected 30
years ago, and were to, hang him in accordance with
the statutes of that t•eriod. So plain are these
considerations, that when it was found last
month that on the expiration of three years no
mitigation was announced to Strahan and Paul, a
memorial was prepared on their behalf signed by
the most eminent London houses, and presented to
Mr.lSecretary Walpole. It has received, however,
no attention, and the glaring anomaly is allowed to
continue. Too great disposition is usually- evinced
by all people to pardon, upon sentimental considera-
tions, everybody and everything after the first heat
of anger is passed, and this, probably, is one of the
most singular instances on record where a Govern-
ment has been found willing not simply to repress the
blind impulse of benevolence but to offend logic and
policy rather than act in accordance with it. No ex-
planation is attempted, and all conjectures on the
subject render it more perplexing. It cannot be that
the demeanour of the prisoners has been such as to
affect any consideration that might otherwise have
been shown them: The minds and health of both
are believed to be completely shattered, and they
have attained a period of life at which the operation
of their sentence must under any circumstances be
nearly tantamount to death. It is hard, therefore,
to touch upon their position, because if the refusal
to weigh it is merely the result of some obstinate
prejudice, that prejudice is likely to be rendered
only more bitter by anything that may be publicly
said in condemnation of it. It is even yet possible,
too, that there may have been accidental neglect or
delay. When the case was last alluded to the ex-
pression of opinion was unanimous. Since then it
has taken practical shape in the memorial of the
leading city merchants, and this having apparently
failed nothing more can be done.—Times.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

STEALING LINEN AND ASSAULTS ON THE OFFICERS.—
John Williams and John Bennett, two determined-look-
ing fellows, both known to the police, were charged with
stealing a basket and bag of linen from a laundress's cart,
and assaulting Grant 224 C, and Joy, 338 A, a detective.
From the evidence of Joy, 338 A, a very active detective
officer, it appeared that at 7 on the previous evening he was
at the corner of:Vigo-street, and Regent-street, when he
saw the two prisoners follow a laundress's cart, which
turned into Vigo-street. Ho then saw Williams try to get
the basket off the tail board of the cart, but he did not suc-
ceed in doing so, it being fastened by a rope. The cart,
which was still going on, having stopped, the two prisoners
walked round it once or twice, and then Bennett pulled a
bundle out of a basket, and he (Joy) then seized him, but
as soon as he did so he set to kicking bim on the legs,
hurt him in the lower part of his person, bit
his thumb, and threw him.en his back. On getting up
the prisoner started off, :and on his again coming up with
him he repeated the same violence towards him. On the
way to the station Bennett said " I didn't have the things,
it's only an attempt."

Grant, 224 C, having confirmed the material points in
Joy's evidence, said that on taking Williams into custody
he kicked him violently on the legs, and he had been com-
pelled to go to the divisional surgeon, one of his toes being
put out of joint,,and he could hardly walk to the court.
Ann Burn, laundress, 9, Danvers-street, Chelsea, said
the property was under her charge at the time.
John Elliott, a private of the Ist Life Guards, said as
soon as he knew that Joy was a constable (he was in plain
clothes at the time) he went to his assistance. He saw a
struggle, and Bennett kick at his private parts. He assisted
in taking him to the station.

Mr. Beadon said he should send them for trial, but ai
present remand them.

THAMES.

A RECEIVER IN TROUBLE. WITTI A BAR OF SILVER.—
Christian Freeman, a dirty-looking foreign Jew, aged 54,
who described himself as a painter and glazier, of No. 18,
Buckle-street, Whitechapel, was charged with the unlaw-
ful possession of an ingot of silver, weighing 91 lbs.
Joseph Huggett, a detective police-sergeant of the City
police force, stated that, yesterday afternoon, he met the
prisoner in Buckle-street, Whitechapel, and knowing him
to be a receiver of stolen property, and perceiving something
bulky in one. of his pockets he stopped him and searched
him, and found the ingot of silver, now produced, in his
pocket. It was japanned all over with black japan.
He ( the detective - officer) asked the prisoner where
he obtained the bar of silver, to which he replied
that he met with a man near the London Hospital in the
Whitechapol-road, who asked him to buy the silver bar,
and he did so. He asked the prisoner if he knew the man.
The prisoner said he did not, and that he never saw him
before. He believed the silver was the produce of some
burglary.

The prisoner, who is rather deaf, said he had not heard
what was said, on which Roche, the gaoler, shouted the
evidence in his ears, and the prisoner, in broken English,
repeated what he had said to the officer.

Mr. Yardley—What, is it customary to buy ingots of
silver in the Whitechapel-road P
The Prisoner—Yes, mine worship.
Mr. Yardley—The case is a very suspicious one. You
are remanded until Friday.

STEALING A LOAF OF SUGAR.—Joretniah Driscoll, aged
17, described as a labourer, of No. 2, King John's-court,
Limehouse, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with
stealing a loaf of refined sugar weighing 26 lbs., and value
155., from the shop of Mr. William Stewart, grocer, of No.
5, Robin Hood-lane, Poplar.

Mr. Stewart said the prisoner entered his shop yesterday
afternoon, and took the loaf of sugar from among others, and
walked out of the shop with ft. Ho went after the prisoner
and overtook him 20 yards from the shop with the sugar in
his possession.

The prisoner impudently asserted that a man gave him
the sugar, and asked him to carry it, but on the deposi-
tions being completed, he said he was guilty, and Roche, the
gaoler, said he was an old offender.

Mr. Yardley sentenced the prisoner to three months' im-
prisonment and hard labour.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S-MONDAY.

A large attendance, but the time was principally occu-
pied by a discussion of the probable weights for the Chester
Cup, and the causes which have led to the retrogression of
Ralph° for the Two Thousand. The betting on the Chester
Cup was unimportant, and neither of the favourites were
backed. The Derby quotations show no material change.

TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS.
6to 1 agst Promised Land (offered)
17 to 1 agst Lord of tie Manor (taken)
20 to 1 agst Ralpho (taken)
CHESTER CUP.
50 to 1 agst Longrange (taken)
50 to 1 agst Royal Sovereign (taken)
1000 to 15 agst Prioress (taken) .
1000 to 10 agst Black Tommy (taken)

DEBBY.

12 to 1 agst Promised Land (taken)
100 to 6 agst Electric (offered) •
20 to 1 agst Musjid (offered)
20 to 1 agst Marionette (taken)
20 to 1 agst Cavendish (taken)
20 to 1 agst Merryman (taken)
33 to 1 agst Volcano (taken)

HER MAJESTY'S STAciptouNns.—The gentlemen of this
hunt have invited the veteran huntsman, Mr. Charles
Davis, to a dinner, which will take place at the London
Tavern on Feb. 2. As each gentleman will appear in
hunting costume, the appearance of the guests will present
a novel scene in the City, and ereate'a sensation,