The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-20 00:00:00

LEEDS, MAY 19.

STOCK EXCHANGE. - North Westerns, Si. 03. 63.
Leeds, 102 ll—Sheffields, 43—Craven Moor, 9—Grand
Trunk of Canada, 16i—Yorkshire Banks, 19i—Midlands,
83A.

The Catalan General Insurance Company, formed at
Barcelona in 1846, have established a branch for mari-
time risks in London, Mr. G. C. Rew being appointed
their agent.
CONVERSION OP IRON INTO STEEL.—The Abbe Pau-
vert, a French clergyman and Chevalier of the Legion of
Honour, has, it is said, at length solved the problem of
converting English iron into steel. M. Mesuli, acting
on behalf of the abbe, has made experiments in the dock-
yard, Woolwich, during the last week, by authority of
the Government and in the presence of the principal
officers of the Engineer department and other official
personages. He has succeeded in proving to their satis-
faction that he can produce steel of very superior qual-
ity from the most ordinary cast and puddle(l iron, and
pieces of iron in any state, at an extraordinary reduction
in price. M. Pauvert has secured his invention by a
patent from the British Government. The articles of
newly invented steel tested at the dockyard were clipping
tools, chisels, taps, dies, and other instruments in gene-
ral use in factories. The conversion of the metal does
not require the slightest ehange in the arrangements of
the melting furnace, the system being composed of
chemical operations alone. A favourable report was on
Friday for warded to the Admiralty, in consequence of
which it is expected that the steel will be employed in
many of the ordinary purposes for which iron is now
used, such as piston-rods, springs, &c.
PEACE SOCIETY.—The annual meeting of this society
was held last evening in Finsbury Chapel, Mr. Charles
Hind ley, M.P., in the chair. The abstract of the re
port, read by the Rev. Henry Richarcls, the secretary,
commenced by regretting that after the conclusion of
the war with Russia there should have been hostilities
with Persia and China, and fears of outbreaks of Italy
and America. Lectures had been Own and public
meetings held during the past year for the benefit of the
society in London and its suburbs, and in most of the
principal towns in England, Wales, and Scotland. Up•
wards of 000,000 publications, advocating peace prin-
ciples, had been in circulation during tl ,e past year ;
and pamphlets, circulars, bills, and plice,rds, showing
the horrors of war and the blessings of peacf, had also
been circulated during the recent election in the diffvrent
shires and boroughs by a separate orgariisation, formed
for electoral purposes, for which funds ha d been expressly
raised. 'The present position of the p mace cause was a
source of sorrow and regret to the committee, it being
believed by them that a warlike and unchristian spirit
was abroad, but at the same time it was believed that
the cause muse finally triumph, and wai 's cease from one
end of the world to the other. Th e official account
showed the total income for the past y ear to have been
1,538/. is., and the total expenditure 1,2101. 18s. Id.•
leaving a balauoe fp favour of the society of 3171,
2s. lid.

speCtor Webb having produced a document, =-
stamped, it was true, but that was not material,
which clearly showed that not Mr. Thorpe, but
another person, was the owner and occupier of the
office. He contended unless there was positive
proof—negative or circumstantial proof would not
do—of Mr. Thorpe being the owner or occupier of
the house, that no conviction could take place under
the act. With respect to the betting-books and
betting-cards found on the premises, they were old
documents relating to races years ago, and bad been
overlooked by the police in the seizure they made
some time ago, on which occasion Mr. Thorpe was
convicted. Then, as respected the testimony of the
police, that could not be relied upon—it was neces-
sarily tainted—the police having been made wit-
nesses essentially for the purpose of procuring a
conviction. If spies were permitted to go into a man's
house to procure evideuce, under a highly penal
statute, -hen no man's person or property was
safe. He would not allude to the hardship of se-
lecting Mr. Thorpe, and allowing others, moving
in a higher grade, to go scot free; but he would
say that it would be not only wrong, but danger-
ous, to convict any man on the unsupported evi-
dence of witnesses whom he must regard as spies.
li
Mr. Beadon—l am not sorry that I gave time
for ?further inquiry. I did so at the time reluct-
antly, because I did not see that anything could
come from an adjournment, but now I do not re-
gret having acceded to the request for further time.
No answer has been made to the case, which stands
precisely as it did on the first occasion. The way
the case comes before me is this :—The defendant
Thorpe is summoned, under the third section of
the Betting House Act, for keeping a house for
purposes ofbetting, he being the occupier of the
house. The proof of this being a betting-office,
and the defendant Thorpe the occupier, rests, first,
on the evidence of Inspector Webb, who states that
from a house opposite, or thereabouts, he saw not
betting, but the defendant Thorpe open the door
from the inside at ten o'clock in the morning, and
that during the day a large number ::of persons
went in and out of the house. Then comes the
evidence of police-constable Draper, and I am not
astonis@ed at the attacks that have been levelled
at the police ; for on their testimony the proof
rests of whether this house was used fQr the pur-
pose of betting or not. It has been agreed that
nothing should be said against the superintendent,
who was only carrying out the orders of his supe-
riors, but the same observations apply with equal
force to the constables, who were acting under the
express orders of their superintendent, the instruc-
tions police-constable Draper said he received being
those that he was to go to the defendant's house,
see what took place, and report accordingly. No
doubt the constable was aware of the character of
the house, there having been a previous conviction
of Thorpe. The constable says his orders were to
see what was taking place ; if anything connected
with belting occurred to report what ho saw, with
the view to future steps. The constable swore that
he saw parties eater the house, that he heard one
person ask the odds on Leamington, that the
defendant Thorpe stated what odds he would
give, that the person put down a sovereign, and
that Thorpe entered s, mething in a book which he
took from his pocket. Without saying, what I
certainly do not intend to say, that the police have
come here wilfully and abominably to perjure them-
selves can I doubt what I am to do ?, lam in no
difficulty on that point. The police have done
what they were toll to do, and they appear to have
representd faithfully what they saw and heard.
Some remarks have been made about no betting-
books having been found, or only old books relat-
ting to old races. But it must be recollected that
the defendant Thorpe, who had been seen making
bets, made his escape when the police entered his
house, and no doubt carried away the betting-book.
The real question is not whether bets were made,
but whether such things were not going on as
would constitute a the place a betting office within
the meaning of the act. The police say they heard
the odds named on horses. Now can any one in
their senses who heard the evidence on the first oc-
casion venture to assert, unless be was prepared to
say that the police had wilfully perjured themselves,
that the house was not opened for purposes of bet-
ting, and that bets were going on ? I cannot see
anything to the contrary. The next question to
determine is this—is the defendant Thorpe, aye or
no, the occupier of the house, and it was that point
which decided me in agreeing to an adjournment,
at a time when I had in my hand an unstamped
agreement, which professed to show that the house
had been let to a person named Costellano. Now
the defendant might have called Costellano to say
"I am the occupier of the house, and in possession,
and if Mr. Thorpe is making bets he is doing so on
his own account, and has no business to do so."
But no one has ,been called, and not a word has
been said to that effect. This document, then, I
look upon as one of the worst features of the case.
The document is evidently spurious, and it was
intended it should be found to show that Thorpe
was not the occupier of the house. But not only
was Thorpe there, but his wife was there also
taking money. The document was put where it
was found for the purpose of deceiving. lam of
opinion that Thorpe was the owner and occupier of
the house, holding it for the purposes of bettine.,
notwithstanding the conviction that has already
taken place before me. As far as the question of
conviction is concerned I have no difficulty or hesi-
tation in convicting. I have previously stated that
as long as the law remains as it is I, will carry it
out, and as a magistrate I will not shrink from my
duty, however painful that duty.may be. I
and no
convicted the defendant heavily before n
effect has been produced. The books founda_ 1854
by the
police, though bearing the dates 1858 and
relate to races in 1857.
Feeling, therefore, as I do,
that the defendant Thorpe will n
by the infliction of a fine, it is
hmymo to two months'it take warning
intention not to
inflict a fine, but to sentence
hard labour.
be quite overcome by
Mr. Thorpe appeared to
this sentence.
Mr. Abrahams gave notice of appeal, and applied
for bail.
reed to acce t bail the defendant
Mr. Beadon agr ,
in
3001., and two sureties in 1501. each.
An application was afterwards made to Mr. Bea-
don to alter his sentence. Mr. Thorpe was ready
mid in addition to make a hand-
to pay any fine'
some donation to the poor-box.
Mr. Beadon said, high or low, rich or poor, he
was determined to carry out the law, quite irre-
spective of parties. He could not alter his judg-
ment.

This statement called forth applause in court.
Bail was tendered and accepted, and the defend-
ant left the court.

MULTIPLICITY OF SUDDEN DEATHS IN THE METROPO-
Ll3.—Yeeterday Mr. W. Baker, the coroner, held seve-
ral inquests at the eastern parts of the metropolis re-
specting the deaths of persons who died very suddenly.
The chief portio❑ of the cases were taken in the districts
cf St. Mary, Whitechapel, St. George's-in-the-East, St.
Matthew, Bethnal-green, St. Leonard, Shoreditcb, St.
Dunstan, Stepney, and St. John, Wapping. The came
coroner also received information of other sudden deaths
which were alleged to have been accelerated from the
kuddon chance of the weather.

James Hathwell, 22, Highbury-terrace, said thtit
he attended a meeting at the house of the Rev.
Mr. Hambleton on Wednesday last. He saw the
deceased there, and also after the meeting, at go
minutes to 9 o'clock, when she was going to the
City-road. Witness's friend said that that was not
the way to her home. She wag hi his present
about five minutes, and he saw no one join her.
Having seen her at "class," he took no particular
notice of her beyond remembering that she was pre-
paring for confirmation.
By the Coroner—He knew nothing of deceased
beyond being a class-mate for confirmation.
The mistress of the deceased stated that she never
stopped out of a night, and never went out without
her sanction.
John Hambleton said that he was a clerk in holy
orders, and minister of the chapel of ease at
Isling-
ton. He had been preparing young females and
males for confirmation by the bishop on the 15th of
-June next. H. had 50 candidates to exanine.
young men were in one room with open folding-
doors, and the females in' another, and he sat be-
tween them. W tress noticed that deceased took
an interest in reading the Scriptures. She appeared
perfectly sane and collected.
Mr. W. French Wagstaffe, surgeon, of Walcot-
place, said be had never seen the deceased until he
had received his orders to make an autopsy of the
body. He examined the body externally is the
first instance, and found no injury to account for
death. Upon opening the body he found the vis-
cera of the chest healthy, and also the lungs, which
were congested with dark blood, hardly coagulated.
The heart was empty, and there was nothing to
lead him to suppose that she had been garotted and
thrown into the water, or that her virtue was
tainted.
The mother of the girl said that she lived at No.
4, Angel-court, Strand, and that she saw her
daughter alive about a fortnight ago, when she
came home on a visit, with the consent of her mis-
tress. She had been in her situation seven months,
and was very comfortable, and bore a most excel-
lent character both as a moral and industrious
person.
Thos. Hart, of Tower-street, proved finding the
body on Thursday last, in the Thames, off the Bel-
videre-road, which he handed over to police-con-
stable Cannon, No. 69 I division.
It was further proved that deceased, when she
left, had a bible and 14d. in her possession, but
when she was found she had only a halfpenny in
her pocket.
The learned Coroner remarked upon the extra-
ordinary nature of the case, and, in order to leave
it still in the hands of the police, recommended the
jury to return an open verdict, which they accord-
ingly did, and the proceedings terminated.