The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-17 00:00:00

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MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

STEALING A FOWL—A MORNING'S AMUSEMENT.—
Kate White and Catherine Johnson, two smartly-dressed
girls, were charged with having in their possession a large
and venerable live cock, supposed to be stolen.
The case created a good deal of merriment, the constable
who stood in the box with the bird having some trouble to
keep it quiet.

Robinson, 151 E, said that about seven that morning he
was in Hetford-street, Fitzroy-market, when he saw the
prisoners go up to where a group of fowls were collected,
and, after some difficulty, White seized a large Cochin
China cock and put it under her shawl, and go as far as
Howland-street with it. He went after her and asked
White what she had got under her shawl, when she replied
" Nothing," but the very moment the cock set up a crow
as if to contradict her. She then said it was her own, and
that she was going to take it home, but believing it belonged
to Mr. Hewitt, residing in the street, he took them back to
the shop, where it was identified.
In answer to the charge Kate said she had, of course,
been out with her companion enjoying themselves, and
coming home they thought to have a lark, so she suggested
that she should try and catch one of the fowls, and after
some trouble she succeeded in getting hold of the cock.
(Laughter.)

The constable said the girl at the time was pinching its
beak. (Laughter.)
Kate said that was only because it made such a noise.
She could, however, assure his worship it was only a joke.
It was no use to her.

Mr. Bingham said he supposed not to eat. He was not,
however, satisfied that it was only a joke, and should order
them to pay 10s. each for the unlawful possession.

THAMES.

FRAUD ON RECRUITING SERGEANTS.—WiIIiam Shep-
herd, alias Charles Roots, alias George Roots, a tall young
man, was charged with obtaining ls. from William Lloyd,
and Is. 6cl. from Charles Berry, by means of false and
fraudulent pretences.

Lloyd is a sergeant in the Royal Marines and said, Yes-
terday morning the prisoner came to me on Tower-hill,
and said he wanted to enlist. I asked him his name and
address, to which he replied George Roots, No. 10, Ber-
mondsey-street. I enlisted him, and gave him a shilling,
and took him to Westminster. The prisoner also said he
was not married. I asked him if he had ever served in the
army, navy, Royal Marines, the forces of the East India
Company, her Majesty's naval coast volunteers, or the
militia, to the whole of which he answered in the negative.
He was examined by the doctor, passed his examination,
and I left him with another sergeant.
Charles Berry, a sergeant in the Royal Marines, said the
prisoner was left with him, and he took him and gave him

18. 6d., and directed him to bring back 2d., the 18. 4d. being
his day's pay. The prisoner did not return with the change,
and when ho inquired for him he ascertained that he had
absconded. He went to Hungerford-market, and found
the prisoner on board a penny steam-boat on his way to
London-bridge. 'He told the prisoner that he ought to be
ashamed of himself, and that he had made the poor re-
cruits pay 3d. for his dinner, and then ran away. The pri-
soner then led him a dance all over the Borough, and could
not find out his houso. He then took the prisoner
to the station-house adjoining the Southwark Police-
court, and the prisoner again said his name was Charles
Roots, and that he lived at No. 10, Bermondsoy-street.
The inspector of police said, " I know you don't live there,"
and the prisoner then said his real name was Shepherd, and
that he lived at No. 1, Park-striet, Bow. No Park-street
could be found in Bow, but an Upper Park-street was dis-
covered in Bromley, and the prisoner's wife was found at
No. 5, and she handed to him a parchment certificate of her
husband's discharge from the Land Transport Corps on the
7th August, 1856.

The discharge was put in, and the prisoner, on being
called upon for his defence, said he was out of work, and
imposed upon the two sergeants to obtain a few shillings to
procure food.
Mr. Paynter said the prisoner had told a great many
falsehoods. He sentenced him to be imprisoned and kept
to hard labour for six weeks.

A report continues to be circulated in Paris, that
Prince Napoleon will shortly. replace Prince Jerome, as
President of the Court of Ministers, or will be consiituted
Vice-President.

THE METROPOLITAN BOROUGHS COMMITTEE.—
The adjourned meeting of the electors for !the discussion of
the scheme of the Metropolitan Boroughs Committee for
obtaining seven additional members for Marylebone, and
for dividing this and the other metropolitan boroughs into
smaller constituencies, will take place this evening at half-
past seven o'clock.
CAPTURE OF A SHARK IN THE TYNE.—On
Tuesday afternoon, about two o'clock, a young shark was
caught in the Tyne, at Jarrow, by Mr. David Campbell,
blacksmith of Jarrow. The receding tide had left the shark
in the bight of the slake, and after lying there for three or
four honrs it was discovered nearly dead, and of course an
easy subject for capture. The shark is quite a young one,
measuring nearly five in length.
REGISTRATION or BIRTHS, &C., IN IRELAND.—
Ireland is to receive, at the hands of the present Ministry,
the benefit of a bill for the registration of births, deaths,
and marriages. Power is given to the Ldrd-Lieutenant of
Ireland to form new districts, to appoint registrars and
deputy-registrars, and, in a word, to organise all the machi-
nery requisite for the attainment of the important object
contemplated by the bill.
THE DISASTER TO THE CALAIS STEAMER.—The
Board of Trade have ordered a formal investigation, under
the provisiens ofthe Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, into the
circumstances attending the rec9l, casualty to the Royal
Mail steam-packet Prince Vveacriek William, and which is
to be held at the Cnstora Rouse, a‘t Dover, on the 23d
ins' taut.