The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-31 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-( VHS DAY.

SHERIFFS' COURT.

JOASSE v. PALMER.-SINGULAR STRUGGLE FOR A CHILD.

This was an action to recover board and lodging supplied
to defendant's illegitimate child at his request.
Plaintiff stated that she was the child's grandmother.
The defendait was the father, and she had supplied it with
food.

Mr. Beard, for the defendant, cross-examined the plaintiff
as to whether defendant had not often applied for the child?
Plaintiff admitted that it was so, but insisted that she
had a right to keep it.

Mr. Beard then contended that plaintiff, although the
grandmother, had no right to withhold the child from its
father. The fact was defendant had applied over and over
again for his child, and if plaintiff refused to give it up, she
could not recover from defendant for its maintenance.

His Honour was of opinion that plaintiff could not re-
cover. She was bound to give up the child.
Defendant--T can place it with another child of mine,

now grown up.

His Honour (to plaintiff)—You must deliver the child
up. You cannot have any objection. Surely a younger
companion is all the better for it.
Plaintiff-1 don't think so.

His Honour—Very likely, but you aro nonsuited, and
must give up the child.

THE TALE OF A COAT.-REICHART V. SYDNEY.
This was an action to recover a sum of money for a great-
coat supplied to defendant, an attorney's clerk.
Mr. Rea was counsel for the plaintiff, and Mr. Beard
appeared for the defendant.

A set-off had been pleaded, and to oppose plaintiff's claim
it was endeavoured to be shown that defendant had con-
ducted some law business for plaintiff, in return for which
he was to have a coat.

To answer this it was stated that plaintiff had paid for
the work charged by defendant to another solicitor.
Mr. Beard said that defendant had conducted all the) pre-
liminary portion of the business, and after hearing two or
three witnesses,

His Honour said it was clear defendant could not recover
the amount of his set-off, and as plaintiff had agreed to
allow the coat to be worked out he could not succeed. Each
party must pay his own costs.

IMPORTANT TO INSOLVENT DEBTORS.-COTTON V.

GRAVES.

This was an action to recover a sum of money for profes-
onal services rendered, plaintiff being a solicitor. _ _

Mr. Charnock, of King William-street, said there had
been a plea of insolvency entered, and he was in a condition
to prove that the plaintiff had been scheduled.
Mr. Buchanan then handed in an I 0 U for £5, and said
that defendant had not inserted that amount in his schedule,
and contended that not having specifically entered it, he
was still liable.

Mr. Charnock contended that the amount entered fully
covered plaintiff's claim, but

His Honour held that plaintiff must have a verdict upon
the lOU.

SECONDARIES' COURT.
(Before Mr. Potter and a Jury.)

LIBEL-SCANDALOUS AND ABOMINABLE CHARGE-DA-

MAGES £lOO-MASON V. RICHARDSON.

This was a suit of inquiry to assess damages laid at £5OO
in a case of libel of a most scandalous character.

Mr. Cole, instructed by Mr. Jerwood, appeared for the
plaintiff; defendant had suffered judgment to go by default.

After all females had been ordered out of court.

Mr. Cole in opening the case said said that the libel in
question was of a most abominablecharacter, and defendant
had accused plaintiff of an unnatural crime of the most aw-
ful character. Defendant was base and cruel enough to
say that he had seen the plaintiff go into a pig-
stye and, remaining there for an hour and a half, commit
an unnatural offence with a sow. Plaintiff was a farmer
catrying on business in Nottinghamshire, and the slander
had been propagated all over the place in which he dwelt
and carried on business.

Plaintiff's solicitor called upon defendant for a full re-
tractation, instead of getting which defendant jeered and
laughed at him. Defendant was served with a writ, and
had since sold off his property. On the 4th Nov. last he
repeated the slander in most fearful language.
Plaintiff was called, and stated that he knew the defen-
dant, who was a baker. After proving generally the facts
as stated by the learned counsel, and adding that the slander
had done him incalculable injury,
Mr. Cole said this was a wretched and awful charge
against plaintiff, and called upon the jury to enable the
plaintiff to point out to the world how his character had
been relieved of the stigma in a court of justice. _

_ -
The learned Secondary summed up, and the jury found
for plaintiff—damages, £lOO. _

One of the jury asked if plaintiff was a single man?
Plaintiff—Yes.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

DARING ATTEMPT TO STEAL A PHYSICIAN'S GOLD
WATCH.—Charles Stevenson, a tall, determined-looking
-fellow, living in the neighbour. 'good of the Waterloo-road,
vas placed at the bar before M.-. Beadon, charged with at-
tempting to steal a gold watch 'l,, value of £25, the pro-
perty of Dr. John Wells Wainwright, 3, Charlotte-street,
Pimlico, in the following daring manner :
Dr. Wainwright said he was going through Pall-Mall
that morning at a quarter to one, when the prisoner, who
had previously been following him, passed him, and then
turned round in front of him, and he then felt his neck
pulled, and on putting his hand to his watch-pocket in his
waistcoat he found his watch was gone. The prisoner then
started off, and on his running after and taxing him with
having stolen his watch, he denied it. The prosecutor
then put his hand down in front of him, and found that the
watch had been broken from the gold chain, but in conse-
quence of its being also attached by a steel chain the pri •
Boner had been unsuccessful in his attempt.
Brown, 304 A, said he had been watching the prisoner
and another man in the Haymarket, and followed the pri-
soner along Pall-Mall and saw him turn sharp round in
front of the prosecutor, and then run into St. James's-
square. He pursued him, and on coming up with him a
gentleman had hold of him, and on his attempting to take
him into custody the gentleman at first declined to let him

(Brown) do so, thinking, as he was in plain clothes, he was
an accomplice.

Inspector Webb, of the C division, said two counterfeit
coins were found on the prisoner, but the prisoner was nog
known at present.

Fully committed for trial.