The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-05 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE.

SHOCKING CRUELTY TO A HORSE.—FULL PENALTY IM-
POSED.—John Porter was charged at the instance of Mr.
Love, of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals, with cruelly allowing a horse to be worked in
an unfit state.

George Young, an officer of the Society, said he was in
the Chalk-farm-road when his attention was called to a
horse in a coal-waggon, containing three tons of coals. It
was shivering and working in a very restless manner.
He examined it, and found on lifting up the saddle an ex-
tensive old wound on the off side, and which was discharg-
ing a quantity of humour. The saddle was pressing
into it and was covered with the discharge. It was blow-
ing and panting very much. It was broken-winded and in
great pain, and quite unfit for work. On looking at the
other horse in the waggon, there was found an old raw
wound on the shoulder. The horses belonged to Mr.
Wooley, the contractor, and prisoner, who had charge of
all his horses, said he did not know that the back was quite
so bad. He, however, said he was aware it was hardly fit
kr work.

Defendant said he was not aware that the horse was so
bad.

Mr. Mansfield fined him 40s. and costs, or, in default, to
be imprisoned for one month.

THAMES.
ROBBERY IN THE LONDON Docit. —Frederick Fether-
stone, a labourer, was brought before Mr. Paget, charged
with stealing a pint of red wine and a quart of Barcelona
nuts f rem tho ship John in the London dock.
Edward Ellis, a dock constable, said the prisoner was
leaving the London dock at the principal gateway. Yes-
terday afternoon he looked very bulky. He searched the
prisoner and found under the waistband a square bottle
containing a pint of Tarragona wine, and in his pockets a
quart of Barcelona nuts. He asked the prisoner where he
obtained the property, and be replied that a sailor on
board the ship John gave him the wine and nuts. He
went on board the John, and ascertained that the prisoner
had been at work on board, and was engaged by the
captain for two days. A cask of wine on board had
been pierced and a gallon of wine taken from it. Part of
the cargo of the John consisted of nuts.
The prisoner, in defence, said that a sailor on board the
John gave him the wine and nuts.
Mr. Paget sentenced the prisoner to be imprisoned for
two months and kept to hard labour.
The prisoner implored of the magistrate to inflict a tine
Which he could pay, and not send him to a prison. He had
a wife and large family.
Mr. Paget-- I can't help that. A distinct robbery has
been committed. I cannot doubt it at all. If your story
is true, you must have known that sailors have no right to
give swag property. I have had a great many of these
cases, and I wish it to be known that I shall not inflict
fines for the unlawful possession of property in thr., dock,
for that you are charged with, but commit to prison for a
long terms all offenders, or else commit them for trial.
These petty robberies are very numerous, and in the aggre-
gate much valuable property is taken out of the docks.
The Prisoner—Make me pay a fine, sir.
Mr. Paget—No. I should be wanting in my duty to the
public if I passed over these cases with fines. The sen-
tence is two months' imprisonment and hard labour.

SUICIDE OF A BANK OF ENGLAND CLERK.—
Information has been received at the Bank of
England of the determined suicide of Mr. Needham, one of
principal clerks in the New Three per Cents. Office. The
melancholy occurrence took place on Wednesday at tho
deceased's residene in Stoke Newington. The unhappy
man inflicted a serious wound in his throat. He was at
the Bank in the early part of the week. No cause can be
assigned for the act. An inquest was held yesterday, and
the verdict of the jury was temporary insanity.
CURIOUS TWELFTH-DAY CUSTO3I.—Few Londoners
may be aware that to-morrow, the Feast of the
Epiphany, a curious and unique ceremonial is to be wit-
nessed by any one who will go to the Chapel Royal, St.
James's, at noon—the offering in the Queen's name on the
altar of gold, frankincense, and myrrh—comn.emorative of
a similar offering 1870 years ago by the " wise men of the
East," who thus did homage to the Holy Child of Beth.
lehem.