The Sun.
London, England, 1835-10-21 00:00:00

STATE OF PRISONS AND PRISONERS.

The Chaplain of the county gaol in his report stated that
the number of prisoners in the gaol had lately greatly in-
crew eel, and he could only attribute it to the vast increase
Of population and want of employment, and the consequent
idleness of the poorer classes.
The Chaplain of the House of Correction at Brixton
reported in favour of the system of solitary confinement,
which he said tended to produce seriousness and self-exami-
nation among the prisoners, and preserved them from the
moral taint which intercourse with the prison inmates must
create, The Chaplain also reported that there was a great
want of some place to which the most hopeful and friend-
less prisoners might be sent as a shelter on leaving the pri-
son, and where the seeds of repentance might be encouraged.
Mr. JEFFERY, in -reference to the latter part of the Re-
port, said, not many years ago a charity was established,
called the Surrey Asylum, to afford that assistance to pri-
soners which was now desired. It was carried on some
years, but for want of encouragement was discontinued.
There was, he believed, a fend now in the hands of the
Clerk of the Peace which had accumulated several years.
It was received from Government under the name of Jus-
tices' wages. There was some difficulty to know in what
manner this money should be appropriated, but he knew
of no better mode of applying it than to the particular ob-
ject which the Chaplain had so forcibly alluded to. If
the Magistrates had no objection to this arrangement, he
would suggest that certain sums should be placed in the
hinds of the Visiting Justices of Brixton and Guildford, to
be applied to such cases as might be considered deserving
of it.

The Worthy Magistrate's proposition appeared to give
very great satisfaction to the Court.
Lord ARDEN inquired what sum of money the Clerk of
the Peace had now in his hands on account of the Justices'
wages? •
Mr. LAWSON said that the amount now in his hands
was between 2001. and 300/.

Mr. JEFFERY moved that a Committee be appointed to
consider of the best means of appropriating the fund for
the benefit of the prisoners on leaving the prisons.
The motion was agreed to, and the Committee appointed.
A Report was given in of the condition of the House of
Correction at Kingston, stating that only sixteen prisoners
were confined there.

Mr. CRAWFORD, M.P., adverted to an application' made
to the Court to increase 'the accommodation of the Go-
vernor and turnkey, and observed that, as there appeared to
be so little want of that prison, he should object to one
shilling being expended upon it.
After some discussion, a motion was agreed to, that a
Committee should be appointed to inquire if any further
accommodation was required in the prison.
The Court, after disposing of some other unimportant
business, adjourned.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

GUILDHALL.

It cannot be too widely known that, where persons en-
trust bills of exchange, for the purpose of being discounted,
to other parties, they put themselves out of the protection
of the law, against the embezzlement and misappropriation
of the proceeds, if they do not take a receipt in exchange
for the bills, certifying for what purpose -the bills are de-
livered, and when, and to whom, the proceeds are to be
paid, and when, and to whom, the bills are to be returned,
if not discounted. It is a misdemeanor in au agent to em-
bezzle money or securities entrusted to him only where
there shall be given to him any direction in writing to apply
such money, or any part thereof, or the proceeds, or any
part of the proceeds, of such security, for any purpose
specified in such direction. (7 and 8 Geo. IV., cap. 29,
sec. 49.) The di)ection must be prepared by the oWner
of the bills, and the agent write beneath it, " Received the
above."

A widow applied to Mr. Alderman PIRIE for a warrant
to apprehend a gentleman who walks on the Royal Ex-
change, for defrauding her of her acceptance for 1001. She
said the gentleman, who was almost a stranger, told her be
could accommodate her with a loan, if it would be of any
service, and she accepted his kindness. He told her she
must let him draw on her at three months for 1001., and
she accordingly accepted it, and he was to get it discounted,
and receive a commission for his trouble. She had applied
repeatedly, but could get no money. The only answer she
could get was, that he considered himself entitled to 101.,
and that he had parted with the bill to somebody for that
amount. She had not given a direction in writing to him
to discount the bill.
Mr. Alderman PIRIE Ifts afraid he could not assist her
as a Magistrate, but he knew the gentleman, and hoped
that he should be able to rectify the business by writing
to him.
Two tradesmen complained of being tricked out of an
acceptance by another tradesman, who called on one of
them, and said he was going to a discounter with several
bills, and, as he wanted two or three good ones to pass off
the rest, he should be very happy to assist the complainant
if he had any bills to discount. The complainant said lie
had no bills just then, but a fi iend had one, which he would
fetch for him. lie entrusted him with the bill for a large
sum, and was now told that it had passed through two- or
three hands, and was detained by the last hand for some
claim lie had on the party who brought it to him, so that
the bill was put into circulation without any value having
been obtained for it by his friend.
As no direction had been given with the bill, according to
law, the Magistrate was unable to help the parties.