The Sun.
London, England, 1835-08-06 00:00:00

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT.

James Callow, a schoolmaster, late of Camberwell, applied
to be discharged. His application was supported by Mr.
CoottE. This was a case of peculiar hardship. The insol-
vent had been inmate of Horscmonger-lane gaol for some
time, at the suit of a creditor named Murray, who had charged
him in execution. He had an antipathy to becoming an ap-
plicant to this Court for relief, and negotiations took place
with his creditors to effect a settlement. It was stated that
Murray had exerted himself to arrange matters, and, after he
had proceeded some way, insisted that he should be paid in
full. The insolvent refused to accede to the proposition, and
last night Murray lodged the discharge at the prison, and the
insolvent was requested to leave. He did so ; but now pre-
sented himself to be discharged under the Act.
Mr. Commissioner Law had no jurisdiction, and ordered
the petition to be dismissed.
It was stated that officers were ready to arrest the insolvent
as soon as the Court had decided the point. He had been
two months in prison, incurred some expense, and took " no-
thing by his motion."

ASSIZE IN TELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT, LEWES, Aua 5.

The business commenced this morning at eight o'clock.
John Sporshott, labourer, nineteen years of age, was in.
dieted for having, on the 9th of July, at the parish of Mid.
levant, committed a nameless offence.
The evidence was of so horrible and disgusting a nature
that the whole Court were shocked at such horrible depravity.
The jury, with little hesitation, found him Guilty, and his
Lordship proceeded to pass sentence of death. His Lordship
in the whole course of his life had never met with such a horri-
ble and depraved case, and it was impossible for him to hold
out any hopes of mercy. Sentence was then passed in the
usual manner.
The prisoner left the dock apparently unconscious of his
awful situation.

Richard Shepherd, a footman, who was convicted yesterday
of three burglaries, was called up for judgment. The Learned
Judge having put on the black cap, observed that evidence had
been disclose against the prisoner, which, in the course of a
long life, he hardly remembered to have seen equalled. He
appeared to have taken advantage of the knowledge of the
premises of an old master, and of his knowledge of the
country, to commit robberies in the most frequent and mon-
strous manner; for on the 21st of March he had taken lodg-
ings near his old master's house, went to bed in the morning,
and in the evening had risen to go out on a system of depreda-
tion. He had committed one burglary that night, another on
the night of the 22d, another on the night of the 23d, and ano-
ther on the night of the 24th. Thus he had committed four
burglaries in four successive nights ; but fortunately he had
been apprehended in London, where he had gone with his
plunder. His Lordship then passed sentence of death, holding
out no hopes of mercy, and exhorting the prisoner to prepare
for that death which most certainly awaited him.
The prisoner appeared much affected, and was supported out
of Court.

Edmund Bacon, aged 33, labourer, was indicted for having
on the night of the 2d of July, at East Wettering, feloniously
set fire to a certain barn and other buildings, the property of
John Ide. _

The prisoner said nothing in his defence.
The Learned JUDGE having minutely summed up the evi-
dence, the Jury returned a verdict of Acquittal.
His LORDSHIP observed to the prisoner, that if his conscience
went along with the verdict he was glad of it. If not, he
begged him to go home, fall down on his knees, and pray to
God that he might never be guilty of such an act again.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT—WARnucr, AUG. 4.
The Commission was opened for this county yesterday by
Sir STEPHEN GASELEE, who arrived from Coventry about
five in the afternoon. The calendar is rather light, the num-
bers being fifty-eight. There are twenty-two causes for trial,
which is about the usual average ; one is a Special Jury.
EDWARDS V. JAY.

This was an action to recover the value of a horse, alleged
to have been lost through the negligent and unskilful' conduct
of the defendant.

The Learned JUDGE having slimmed up, the Jury found a
verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 301. ; costs 40s.

The distress in Mayo is greater than we here in
England can imagine, The people are literally dying for want
of food. Th© mums in the Irish papers are truly horrifying.

POLICE IN TELLIGEN CE.

GUILDHALL.

Yesterday a respectable-looking young man, named Charles
Marsh, was brought up in the custody of Lock, the Smith-
field officer, charged with embezzling 51. 10s., which he had
received by virtue of his employment as a clerk to Mr. Duf-
field, of the Carriage Repository, Aldersgate•street.
Mr. Duffield took the prisoner into his service about
Christmas, from motives of respect to his connexions as well
as compassion to him, he being out of employ, and on the 23d
of June he absconded. He was sent on that day to Mr. Miles,
of Bridge House-place, Newington, to receive Si. lOs., and
he heard no more of him till the 30th of July, when he re-
ceived a letter from the prisoner, accounting for his absence
in a way which he could not give any credit to ; and, on Tues-
day evening, the, prisoner came into his shop, to offer further
assurances and explanations of his tale, but complainant at
once gave him into custody. Mr. Miles was in attendance to
prove the payment of the Si. 10s. to the prisoner. The letter
he received ran as follows :
" My dear Mr. D., if such I may be allowed to call you—
and I do flatter myself, if your patience will permit you to
peruse these few lines, my conduct will not be so much cen-
sured—l thank God lam once more permitted to see the
light of Heaven, for that blessing I have been deprived of
for how long a period I can scarcely tell. Now, then, I will
describe the particulars of this unfortunate transaction :

" As you are well aware, on the evening I left you I was to
call on Mr. Chambers, and to fill up my time first to call on
Mr. Miles. I received the amount, deducting Is. for stamp.
'As I was proceeding from thence towards the King's Bench, I
met a servant of ours, who used to live with us in the Park,
but who is now compelled to walk the streets. After a little
conversation she asked me to follow her to her lodging, but I
told her I was not then prepared. She, however, insisted I
should go home, and I unsuspiciously followed her, flattering
myself that I was too wide awake. I followed her through
innumerable courts and alleys, and at last reached a small but
smart-looking house. I entered, and found everything neat
and apparently respectable. She took a shilling from her
pocket and desired the girl to bring in some rum, and looking
to me said, ' To-morrow, when you call on me, I shall give
you my address; you will repay this.'
" She then had occasion to go out of the room, and I took
the opportunity of placing your money in my watch-pocket,
knowing it would be safe there. Presently she returned, and
I partook of half a glass full of rum. I refused to take off my
clothes, and you may guess what followed.
"It was then about eight o'clock, and getting dark. I felt
rather sleepy. I endeavoured to rouse myself from a lethargy,
but a violent sickness came on, and I suppose I fainted, for,
when I awoke, I found myself in a dark damp cellar, far from
the noise of any earthly being. I groped about, thinking to
find a door, but I could not; and I hallooed as loud as I pos-
sibly could, but nothing, save the dreary walls, seemed to an-
swer my entreaties.

" After some time I fell asleep from exhaustion, and when
I awoke (Oh I shall ever I forget the horrors of that mo-
ment) I found by the side of the stool I had to sit on some
bread and porter, or I suppose it was porter, for I was afraid
to taste it.

" To describe my harrowed feelings would be utterly im-
possible, expecting every moment to be murdered, or that I
should be starved. But I lifted up my prayers to God, and
He, who has always heard me in the time of trouble, forsook
me not in the hour of need ; for he instilled within me that
inward consolation which supported me through all my
troubles.

" The cravings of hunger I was obliged to satisfy with the
bread that was placed before me by some unknown hand du.
ring my sleep, days and nights, or nights rather, for I never
saw the least glimmer of light the whole time I was there.

" At last, when I had given myself up, and fully expecting
every moment to be my last, owing to a raging fever brought
on by my anxiety, I heard a noise of whispering, when two
men descended from a trap-door in the ceiling, and calling
me by name promised if I would be silent they would lead
me out, but if I made a noise they would cut my throat. I
consented. They bandaged my eyes, and pulled me up by
ropes, and having walked me about for four hours, they left
me. I found myself, on uncovering my eyes, on Vauxhall
Bridge, and it was then dark night. This was nine or ten
days ago, ever since which the canopy of Heaven has been
my covering, and the charitable stranger has been my friend.
Now I have told you the truth, and nothing but the truth, as
I hope to see the light of another day.
" July 30."
Mr. Miles proved the payment to the prisoner on the 23d
of June.

Mr. Alderman HARMER asked the prisoner what he had to
say to the charge of absconding with the money ? The pri-
soner seriously asserted that the account he had given was the
truth.

Mr. Alderman HARMER said it was impossible to be gulled
with such a story. Who was the young woman ? Prisoner
did not know where to find her. He had tried.
Mr. Alderman HARMER said if his eyes were blindfold when
he came out they were not when he went in, and he must say
whereabout tha house stood ? Prisoner really could not tell,
she led him through so many courts and alleys.
Mr. Duffield remarked that the tale was badly got up, as it
represented that it was dark by eight o'clock in the evening on
the 231 of June, to say nothing of his living four weeks in
the dungeon on bread alone.

Mr. Alderman llArimEtt was very sorry for the prisoner's
mother, whom he happened to know ; but he must commit him
for trial.—The prisoner was committed to Newgatc.

MARYLEBONE.

John Orchard, a respectable-looking young man, the son
of a fruit salesman in Covent-garden market, was yesterday
placed at the bar, before Mr. RAWLINSON, charged with at-
tempting to obtain the sum of 161. I4s. from Mr. Alderman
Semple, timber-merchant, Newman-street, Middlesex Hospi-
tal, by means of a forged bill of acceptance.
The prisoner, who, by the advice of his solicitor, (Mr.
Humphreys), said nothing, was fully committed to Newgate
for trial.