The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-25 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—Tan. 24.

LAMBETH.— EXTRAORDINARY CASE—LIABI-
LITY OF A HUSBAND TO SUPPORT THE ILLEGITI-
MATE CHILDREN OF HIS WIFE.—Mr. Geo. O'Brien,
a gentleman, who formerly lived in Albany-road,
and who then carried on the business of a brewer
in an extensive way in Camberwell, attended a
eecond time to answer a summons taken out against
him by the board of guardians of the parish of
Camberwell to show cause why an order should not
be made to compel him to pay for the maintenance
of two children, the illegitimate offspring of his
wife before her marriage with him. It appeared
that about seven years ago Mr. O'Brien married
an actress of some fame, and considerable personal
attractions, and who was considered a lady of re-
putatien and character, and the issue of the mar-
riage was two children, at present living. Some
time after the marriage Mrs. O'Brien had two
children and a young woman of 13 or 14 years of
age introduced to the house, and these she repre-
sented to her husband to be the children of her
sister, and her husband, believing them to be so,
allowed them to remain under his roof. A
change in his circumstances and other causes led
Mr. O'Brien to live away from his wife, but at
the same time he allowed her 15s. a week for her
support and that of his two children, and this con-
tinued until 12 months ago, At that time a letter
was received by Mr. Sedgeley, oao of the parish
officers, calling his attention to the destitute condi-
tion of some children at a certain house in the
pariah, and on going there four children were found
in the (plias, nearly naked, and in a most neglected,
wretched state, and they were at once removed to
the workhouse. The mother, who gave the name of
Moore, and the young woman who she represented
as her sister, were apprehended and examined at this
court on a charge of wilful neglect of the children,
and' in the course of the investigation the true his-
tory came out, namely, that the young woman and
two elder children were the illegitimate offspring
of Mrs. Moore, as she called herself, before marriage.
After several examinations the, mother and daugh-
ter were discharged, and on the facts of the case
reaching the earn of Mr. O'Brien, he at once had
his two children removed to the care of a proper
person, and has since supported them. The other
two remained in the workhouse, and an application
had been made to Mr. O'Brien to pay for their
maintenance, but he positively refused to subscribe
a single penny for their support; and a summons
was applied for and obtained against him. This
summons came on for hearing a fortnight ago, when
the defendant's attorney (Mr. Neale) took excep-
tion to his client's liability, on the ground that there
was no legal evidence before the Court to show that
the children were the illegitimate offspring of Mrs.
O'Brien. All the officer could say was, that Mrs.
O'Brien herself had said so ; but this was no proof,
as she had told her husband that the children be-
longed to her sister, and therefore no reliance was
to be placed on her word. He (Mr. Neale) con-
tended that there should be legal proof of the ille-
gitimacy of the children before his client could be I
called on to maintain them. •
Oa the application of Mr. Sedgeley, the parish ,
officer, the ease wag adjourned for a fortnight, to
afford time to find out Mrs. O'Brien to give
the necessary evidence, and the parties again ap-
peared before the lion. G. C. Norton.
Mr. edgoley informed his worship that he had,
since the former day, made every exertion to find
Mrs. O'Brien, but without success, and therefore he
had no further evidence to offer in the ease.
Mr. Neale again urged the former objection, and
Mr. Norton adulated that further vrouf ITO#B

necessary before he could make an order on the
defendant, and dismissed the summons.

SOUTH WA lIK.---HORRIBLE CRUELTY TO
CHILDREN BY THEIR FATHER.-Wm. Dearmer, a
powerful-looking man, formerly in the M division
of police, but at present employed as a carman by
Messrs. Pickford and Co., was brought up for fur-
ther examination charged with cruelly beating and
keeping without food his two children, Edward
Dearmer, 14, and Sarah Dcarmer, 11 years of age,
but who did not appear to be more than eight and
five respectively. The poor children, when brought
into the court, excited the commiseration of every
one present. They were covered only in part with
rags, exposing their nudity and large wounds and
bruises. The boy, who was rather intelligent, told
his worship that his mother died in 1851, and his
father got married again a few years ago. They
now lived in Union-street, Borough-road; and after
his father was dismissed the police force he got a
situation at Messrs. Pickford's. lle generally went
out at six o'clock in the morning, when they were
locked up in a room and supplied with bread
soaked in water for breakfast, dinner and tea ; but
on Sundays they had a little rice boiled in water.
The little fellow said he had.almost forgotten the
taste of meat, as he had had none since his mother's
death. They were washed about twice a month,
and 'never had any underclothing. They
slept in the passage on a piece of old carpet,
and had an old shirt and two sacks to cover them.
On being questioned by the magistrate, the lad
said that they got out of the rooms sometimes and
went to. the lodgers downstairs, who gave them
bread. When their father came home he ordered
them upstairs, and to strip, when he beat them un-
mercifully with a heavy cart-whip.
The magistrate remanded the prisoner, so that
some communication could be made with the parish
authorities, who, in such a brutal case, ought t o
prosecute.

Mr. Jay, one of the relieving officers of St.
George's, Southwark, now attended, and said that
he had seen the children, and a worse sight he
never saw. He should lay all the particulars before
the Board of Guardians that evening, and he had no
doubt they would prosecute.
The prisoner was accordingly remanded until
Tuesday next.

HAMMERSMITH.—CONVICTION OF A VOLUN-
TEER MESS MASTER UNDER THE EXCISE LAWS.
—Mr. Charles Frederick Biglin, the mess master of
the [South Middlesex Rifle Volunteers, appeared
before Mr. Dayman to answer an information at the
instance of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue,
for selling beer and spirits, by retail, without a
licence, whereby he had incurred penalties amount-
ing to £l2O.

Mr. Dwilly appeared in support of the inf.,- rma-
tion, and Mr. J. Bird attended for the der
end 'ant.
Mr. Dwilly said the information - "" three
counts, one for retailing beer, contained
which the defend-
ant was liable to a penalt-
wines and spirits. *La of 120 and for selline
enalty bein £5O in eachg
'.
case, The de
.endan t ypesided at Begaufort House,
_ N"th :end, Fulham, which was the head. quarters of
Lae South Middlesex Volunteers, and in consequence
of complaints, from persons in the district of wines,
spirits, &c., being retailed there without a licence,
an officer was sent to Beaufort House for the pur-
pose of ascertaining the fact.
Mr. Henry Best, an officer of Excise, stated that,
on the Bth of Nov., last, he went to Beaufort House.
There was a' concert on behalf of an institution
in the neighbourhood. He had previously pur-
chased a ticket in Hammersmith, and with it he was
admitted. There was a great number of persons,
and people were turned away. In the course of the
evening he went into a lower room, where refresh-
ments were being served. He purchased a pint of
ale which was served by a waiter, and he paid 4d.
He afterwards had some sherry, for which he paid
Bd., and it was served by the defendant. He also
had a glass of brandy, and he paid 3d. for it.
In cross-examination by Mr. Bird, the witness
said he was not asked upon entering if he was a
member of the volunteers. A volunteer was stand-
ing there. He did not observe any notice inside
that none but members of the corps would be served
with liquors. The defendant was sitting behind
the bar.

Mr. W. Jones, the supervisor of Excise for Ham-
mersmith, was called to prove that Beaufort House
was not licensed. He also stated that Mr. Best
went to the concert by his directions, and a day or
two afterwards he (witness) called at Beaufort
House and told defendant that he had been retail-
ing wines, spirits, and beer, and he at once admitted
that he had. The defendant further told him that
he came into Beaufort House with the express
understanding that he should have a licence, and
that he had both spent and lost money upon the
place.
Mr. Bird, in defence, stated that the South Mid-
dlesex Volunteers had formed a club at Beaufort
House, and directions were given not to serve any
persons who were not members. The defendant
had no recollection of serving the witness, there-
fore he must submit to be fined, and he would
have to make a representation to the board for
mitigation.
Mr. I)ayman inquired the position Qf the case
'4f thP witness had been a member of the rifle com-
pany.
Mr. Bird said in that case the Excise could not
have laid the information.

Mr. Dwilly differed with the learned gentleman.
Mr. Bird contended that as the defendant was
only the servant of the club, therefore the informa-
tion could not have been laid.

Mr. Dwilly said the defendant was the seller
and kept the profits, therefore he was liable.
Mr. Dayman then convicted the defendant, and
mitigated the penalties to one-fourth, namely,
£5 for the beer, and £l2 Ns. in each of the other
counts.