The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-29 00:00:00

TRE7SIJN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING; DECEMBER 29, 1859.

THE FIRE IN WESTMINSTER.

Yesterday Mr. Bedford, coroner for the city of
Westminster, and a highly respectable jury, held an
inquest at the Guildhall on the bodies of Henry
John Billson, Sarah Bitlson, Eliza Chapman, and
Clarissa Chapman, whose several deaths had been
occasioned by. the breaking out of a fire early on
Friday morning last, at the premises of Mr. A. C.
Hook, land surveyor, situate in Little George-street,
in the rear of and adjoining to No. 13 A, Great
George-street.
Mr. Rogers, vestry clerk of the united parishes
of St. Margaret and St. John ; Mr. White, of the
County Fire-office; Mr. Hayes, of the Royal In-
surance Company; Mr. Havard, inspector of the
Fire Escape Society ; Mr. Braidwood, superin-
tendent of the Fire Brigade ; and Inspector Butt,
of the A division, were present to watch the pro-
ceedings on behalf of the various interests which
they respectively represented.
The jury, havinc, been sworn, went with the
coroner to view th:bodies, which were lyiuts in the
dead-house in Christchurch churchyard, Broadway.
On their return, _ _

Jesse Nye was called and examined. He said
he was clerk to Messrs. Hallett and Co., of No. 6,
Little George-street, opposite the house burnt down.
He knew all the deceased persons by name. Henry
John Billson was about twenty months old. Sarah
Billson was three years old. They were the child-
ren of Mr. Henry Billion, who was an articled clerk.
Eliza Chapman (mother of Mrs. Billson), was a
widow, and about 53 years of age. Clarissa Chap-
man, her daughter, was 18 years of age. They all
lived in the house where the fire occurred. A little
past two o'clock on Friday morning he awoke,
and saw from his window the reflection of a
fire in the kitchen of Mr. Hook's house. He
hastened downstairs, and ran to call a fire
escape. There was a bar across Little George-
street, which would prevent an easy access by that
way for the fire escape, and he assisted in re-
moving it. The escape ladder was then, by the
assistance of a policeman, put up against the second
floor window. Some of the windows were broken.

Charles Nye, also living at No. 6, Little George-
street, clerk to Messrs. Coutts and Co., said that
havin; been on a visit to his sister, he was coming
home early on Friday morning, when he heard loud
screams proceeding from 13a, Great George-street.
He went towards the house, and found the front
door open. He drew up the spring of the inside
door and immediately saw a flame of light cross
the passage. He ran towards the Broad Sanctuary,
and assisted in bringing up the fire-escape to the
bar in Little George-street, and while going a few
steps to get the key of the bar he saw that tk
escape had been got through. The ladder wTs
placed against the centre window of the second
floor of the burning house. The rope which was
used for the purpose of raising the additional ladder,
so as to reach the third floor, was let loose, but in
attempting to work it the upper end of the ladder,
on being drawn out from the side of the fire-escape,
came in contact with the house No. 6. on the oppo-
site side of Little George-street. Efforts were then
made to turn the escape ladder on one side, so as to
admit of the additional length being raised, but in
doing so the lever by some accident became broken-.
The man who had charge of the ladder then went
up the short part of it, but on reaching the second
floor staircase window a dense mass of smoke met
him in the face, and he could not proceed any fur-
ther. The escape was then put aside. The fire
engines reached the spot about twenty minutes or
half an hour afterwards. There was a good supply
of water. He assisted in saving the woman and
child who were rescued from the flames. The
fire escape man appeared to be perfectly capable of
performing his duty. He did not believe that any
delay occurred on the part of any one throughout
the proceedings. He believed the fire originated on
the basement of the building. The street was wide
enough to have allowed the ladder to be raised to
the third floor if the breakage of the lever had not
occurred. There was a great deal of wainscoting
about the premises, and the staircase ran up to the
centre of the building, so that a fire might be burn-
ing a long time before it would be discovered.
Sarah Ann Gadd said she was servant to Mrs.
Chapman. She went to bed on Thursday night at
half-past 11 o'clock. Her bedroom was on the se-
cond floor front. She left all the family up, con-
sisting of Mrs. Billson, Mrs. Chapman, and Miss
Chapman—the children, the little girl and little
boy were in bed—and also Mr. Billson, who did
not sleep in the house. Mrs. aid Miss Chapman and
the children slept on the top floor. She had taken
her supper in the kitchen by herself, and when she
went to bed there was a very large fire in the grate.
The family had been washing, and her mistress had
placed the clothes on the backs of chairs near the
fire for the purpose of drying. Sho knew that it
was her mistress's intention that they should re-
main there to dry. The family were usually up
late. They occupied a sort of kitchen parlour, a
passage only dividing it from the kitchen. The
first thing she heard after going to bed and having
fallen asleep was the breaking of glass. She imme-
diately ran upstairs and examined Mrs. Chapman's
door. She met her at the door, and said that she
thought the house was on fire, as it was full of
smoke. She did not see any flame. She left her
mistress and went to Mr. Hook's lumber-room, at
the tsp of the house, and opened the window and
got out. She had previously seen Miss Chapman
in her bedroom. Hearing violent screaming, she
turned back, but the smoke was so great that she
was forced to get out of the window again, and
from a small parapet she jumped down on the roof
of a stable in Mr. Serjcant AVran ghara's yard
where she believed she remained upwards of
three-quarters of an hour, when she was released
by Serjeant Wrangham's female servant. She did
not know whether any person fastened the front
door or not after Mr. Billson had left the house for
the nieht, as she had gone to bed before he left.

James G. Fleming, engireer of the Fire Brigade
at the Chandos station, said he was called to the
fire on Friday morning, and on arriving at it he
found the house on fire from basement to top. The
escape was there, but it had been removed a little
way down the street. He got the fire-engine to
work, and on going to Sergeant AVrangliam's house
he saw the last witness on the roof of the stable.
lie sent assistance, and she was released from her
perilous position. Between 8 and 9 o'clock in the
morning, when the fire had been put out, he got on
the roof the adjoining house to obtain access to the
the third floor of the building which had been on
fire, and there he discovered two bodies. They
were lying within three feet of the centre front
window. They were the bodies of a woman and of
a little boy. He wrapped them up in a blanket and
sheet, and got them on to the roof. He could form
no opinion as to the origin of the fire.
Wm. Woods, of Pool-place, Tothill-fields, car-
penter, said that on Saturday afternoon he was sent
by his master, Mr. Higgs, to put up a hoarding in
Little George-street, and that after searching for
some time he discovered among the rubbish on the
basement flow the body of a child very muck
charred, and after making a further search he found
the body of a woman. This was about 5 o'clock.
An old man named Webley proved the removal
of the bodies to the dead-house.

Mr. E. Higgs, 8, Dartmouth-street, said he was a
builder, and that he had been requested by Mr.
Hook to examine the premises, and to enclose them.
His man Woods did so, and found the bodies as had
stated in his evidence. On inspecting the premises
himself he found in the kitchen fireplace one iron
hanging on the front of the grate, another on the
hob, and a third within the fender. The kitchen was
divided from the adjoining room by a wooden parti-
tion only. There was very little damage indeed done
in the parlour kitchen. The whole of the staircase
from top to bottom was woodwork, and was entirely
destroyed. There was a trapdoor on the third floor
landing and a ladder, but any man might have
got out without requiring steps at all. There was
also good exit from the back of the home. The
kitchen had a stone floor, and there was a proper
fender at the fireplace. There was nothing to jus-
tify him in asserting positively that the fire took
place in the kitchen, but there was every probability
that it did.

James Parish, of the A division, said that about
half-past 2 o'clock on Friday morning he was com-
ing down Great George-street, and while passing
Little George-street he heard a cracking of glass.
The sound came from Little George-street. Reran
towards the house No. 13a, and found it to be on
fire in the kitchen. He immediately raised an alarm,
and after three or four hard knocks at the door he
heard some terrible screaming in the house. He
then sprang his rattle and called for assistance, and
seeing a man coming from the Sanctuary he asked
him to fetch the fire-escape. This occupied only
eight or nine minutes. He then returned to the
house which was on fire, and heard some person in-
side unbolting it. A woman looked out and asked
what was the matter. lie told her the house was
on fire, that she must come out directly and not stay
for anything. She would not come out, but turned
back again and left the door partly open, without
saying anything. The sergeant of the division then
came up end sent for the engine at the Chandos
station, .He remained at the door, and after a
tfihwlttes.
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fall.

Mr, Lavies, surgeon, said he had visited the dead-

house, and had viewed the bodies lying there. One
was that of a middle-aged woman, but her remains
had been reduced to a mere trunk. The next was
the body of a young woman of about 19 or 20 years
of age. It was very much charred. There were
also the bodies of two children, one a girl about
four years old, and the other a boy, apparently
about two years old. They were all completely
charred. He attended Mrs. Billson professionally.
She was the daughter of Mrs. Chapman, and the
mother of the two children. She was greatly dis-
tressed in mind, and would not be able to attend
and give her evidence in less time than a week. She
had told him that she left her mother downstairs
in the kitchen when she herself went up to bed.
Mr. Tebbut, the landlord of the Green Man, op-
posite to No. 13a, Little George-street, described
what he called the "blundering" manner in which
the man who had charge of the fire-escape attempted
to raise it against the third floor window. He did
not think the lever was broken when the ladder
was first partially put up. The man did not ap-
pear to be any the worse for liquor.
William J. Brown, a news-vender, living at No.
4, Little George-street, said he was aroused out of
his sleep by the police, and was told that there was
a flue. On looking out of his window, he could see
down the area of Mr. Hook's house, and he saw
flames coming up from the kitchen area. This
witness also spoke as to the unsuccessful attempt to
raise the fire escape to the third floor.

The Secretary of the Fire Escape Society here
produced a model of the fire-escape, and ex-
plained how it happened that the upper ladder
could not be raised after the escape had been brought
into the narrow part of the street, within the
bar which has been so often mentioned. The only
blame that could possibly attach to the fire-escape
man was, that he did not raise the ladder before he
got into the narrow, part of Little George-street.
The man had always been very steady, and witness
had never had any reason to find fault with him
since he had been in the society's service.
Henry Beard, 12 A, sergeant, was next examined
and gave a minute statement of the exertions he
made, after Parish had made to him his report, to
obtain the services of the engines from the different
stations of the Fire Brigade. He despatched men
in cabs to the Chandos station, the Lambeth station
and to the Horseferry-road station, but he ad-
mitted he did :not send for the parish engine,
although it was under the care of a very competent
person, who lived a few doors up Tothill-street,
and the engine itself was at St. Margaret's Church
which was not 300 yards distant.
Mr. Rogers, the vestry clerk, very closely ex-
amined the witnesses connected with the police on
this point, observing that the authorities of the
parish of St. Margaret did not complain of the
police sending to the Fire Brigade station for en-
gines, but they did consider it open to censure that
they should have omitted to send for the parish
engines, which were close at hand.

Inspector Butt said that this very question had
recently been brought before the Commissioner of
Police by the Fire Escape Society. That body wished
the commissioner to lay down a rule requiring the
police to send for the nearest engine, but he refused
to do PO, and said he would leave it to the discre-
tion of the police themselves to act under
the circumstances according to the best of
their judgment. He considered that the course
pursued by Parish and Sergeant Beard was the
proper one to have been adopted. He denied that
any prejudice existed against calling for the parish
engines, but it must be obvious to every one that
the Fire Brigade stations having men always on the
spot ready for any emergency, and who were con-
stantly employed in working fire-engines, were to
be preferred to the parish, the engines of which
were comparatively seldom employed.
Mr. Braidwood, Superintendent of the Fire Bri-
gade, maid, from the evidence he had heard that day
he had not the slightest doubt that the fire origi-
nated in the kitchen. Perhaps if an engine had
been on the spot immediately the alarm was given
and under the management of a competent person,
the fire might have been put out. He agreed with
Inspector Butt, that parish engines were seldom in
a good and efficient condition or often under the
care of competent persons. Whenever that was the
case he knew there existed no feeling on the part
of the police against sending for the parish engines.
William Crow, of Tothill-street, said he was a
constable, and had had the care of the fire engine
belonging to the parish of St. Margaret for seven
years ; that he had on all occasions been engaged
at fires occurring in Westminster until this one, and
he mentioned several fires for attending which he
had received rewards. He had invariably been
called on by the B division, but he did not recollect
any instance in which he had been called upon by
the A division.

Frederick Michell, 70 B, said the fire happened
on his beat, and that at about half-past 1 o'clock on
Friday he saw a light in the kitchen as that of a
candle, which he observed gradually disappeared.
There was no appearance at that time of any light
from a fire. He saw a woman pull aside the kit-
chen window after the light had gone gradually
away. He had tried the door of the house, and
it might be that she was looking out to see who
was there. Afterwards he mot a man in the
course of his beat who told him he was going for
the fire-escape, as a fire had broken out in Lttle
George-street. Witness then proceeded to de-
scribe the attempts that were ineffectually made to
render the fire-escape available, in the same manner
as they had been spoken to by some of the preced-
ing witnesses.

'The inquiry was thon adjourned till this day.

TIIE TRAGEDY NEAR NOTTINGII.42II.

I A brief outline of the murder of George Clark at
Lenton, near Nottingham, appeared in Tice Sun
yesterday (Wednesday). The full particulars of this
horrible event transpired at the coroner's inquisi-
tion held upon the body on Tuesday evening. It
appeared from the evidence of William Weston
that he and the deceased were walking across Not-
tingham-park on Monday night, about 11 o'clock,
and ware overtaken by two men—Herbert and
Alfred Slack. The two latter without provoca-
tion commenced an assault. The elder Slack, who
was the taller of the two, pushed witness down.
Witness did not know then who the men were.
After the assault Slack said he would give witness
108. to make it up, and hoped from that time they
would become friends. The taller of the two men
took witness's arm, and they both walked across the
park together. Deceased walked by witness's side
in company with the other man, and they all went
pleasantly together. They had no angry words.
When they got to Mr. Bertram's shop, in the vil-
lage of New Lenton, the elder Slack called his
brother a little back, and uhispered something to
him, but witness could not understand what tran-
spired between them. Witness and the deceased
stood still while they whispered, and afterwards
Slack took his arm again, and the younger brother
ran first. When they arrived at Mr. Henson's shop
witness observed the younger Slack coming towards
them. The two Slacks lived in the village, and
witness supposed he was returning from home.
Witness saw nothing in his hand at that time.
When the younger brother came up the elder Slack
drew his arm out of witness's, and said he was
going to pay witness the 10s. He then knocked '
witness down with his fist and kicked him several
times while on the ground. The deceased came to
pick up witness. Neither witness nor the deceased
had during the time struck any blow. While de-
ceased was picking witness up the former was
stabbed by the tall man. Witness could not see
with what instrument the wound was inflicted, as
it was dark and foggy. While the deceased was
stooping down the tall man took a dagger in his
hand, and struck the deceased with it. Deceased
was at witness's head, raising him: up at the time.
He could hardly say which hand the weapon was
in, but ho believed it was in the right hand. The
deceased received the blow in his left breast. Wit-
ness was picked up by a woman, and then for
the first time he saw blood. After deceased had
been stabbed ho dropped down by some palings,
and exclaimed, " I'm done, I'm done!" He stood
up two or three seconds, staggered back, and then
fell. He never spoke afterwards. It was not five
minutes from the time witness was knocked down
to the time deceased was stabbed. The two men
went away directly; they did not stop to renal- any
assistance whatever. Several people came up after-
wards; and the deceased was taken home on a chair,
bleeding profusely at the time. Witness would
swear that during the whole of the time neither he
nor the deceased gave any provocation. After the
examination of other witnesses the inquiry was ad-
journed until Friday morning. The greatest ex-
citement prevails in the village, and it was not
deemed-prudent to bring the prisoners publicly to
the inquest. They were taken before the county
magistrates on Wednesday on the charge of
murder. Mr. Brown appeared for the prisoners,
and asked to have a private interview with them.
The Bench, however, would only or.nsent to an in-
terview in the presence of Superintendent , ale-
tl-orpe. Ile again pressed for a stricter private
interview, but the Bench !refused it. Mr. Coroner
Swann made application to the Bench for the two
prisoners to be present at the adjourned inquest on
Friday. This was also declined. They were then
formally remanded until Saturday.

RECTOR OF ST. ANDREW'S UNIVERSITY.—The
following telegraphic message has been received from Sir
Ralph Anstruther, Batt, of Balcaskie, the successful can-
didate at the recent election of rector :—" hog to thank
the students for the honour thvy have conferred upon me
by appointing 'no Rector of the University, which I accept
with pleasure,"

POLICE INTELLIGENCE-Dm 28.

WESTMINSTER.—UNPROVOKED AND CRUEL
AssAtvr.—Terence Leary, a labourer, was charged
with a most unprovoked assault upon Geo. Emery.
The complainant, a respectable-looking man, was
passing through Tothill-street on Tuesday night,
when defendant, who had just been turned oat of
a public-house in an infuriated state of drunken-
ness, rushed yards him. Complainant, alarmed
for his safety, took to flight, but was overtaken by
his opponent, who, seizing complainant's hand,
violently thrust a portion of it into his mouth, and
nearly bit one of his fingers off. Defendant was
then secured, and, after some resistance, conveyed
to the station-louse.
As complainant was suffering very much from
the injury ho had received, defendant was remanded
till Saturday.
MILITARY DESERTION AND FRAUDULENT EN-
LISTMENT.—Thomas Williams was charged with
the two-fold offences of desertion from the 23d Foot
and fraudulent re-enlistment into the 3d Foot.
He was apprehended upon the first charge, and,
the necessary form being gone through to sub-
stantiate the charge, was recognised as having
fraudulently re-enlisted into the regiment above-
named last Saturday, when in answer to a question
from Henry Norwood, of the recruiting staff, from
whom he received the enlistment money, he de-
clared that " he had never served in the army, ma-
rines, ordnance, militia, or navy, or her Majesty's
Indian forces."

The case was prosecuted by Lieut. Windowo,
adjutant of the London Recruiting Staff; and the
prisoner, who made no defence was committed for
trial for the fraud, and, after the expiration of his
punishment for that offence at the hands of the
civil power, is amenable to the military authorities
for the desertion.

GREENWICH.—CONVICTION OF A MARIN E-
STonE DEALER.--William Young, a marine-store
dealer, of Swan-lane, Rotherhithe, was charged on
remand with being in possession of a quantity of
sacks, the property of Messrs. Levy and Co., sack
merchants, of Rothethithe.
Mr. Wontner appeared for the prosecution, and
Mr. Binns for the prisoner.
It appeared that a few weeks since the prosecu-
tors purchased a large quantity of sacks at a pub-
lic sale at the Commercial Docks' being the entire
accumulation of such property belonging to the
Assam Tea Company, and bearing the marks of the
company and different ships. The prisoner occu-
pied a house between two warehouses of the prose-
cutors, and his premises being searched ix respect
of some stolen metal, by police-constable 225 M,
that officer discovered the sacks in question. In-
spector Reding, M division, called upon the pri-
soner on the folowing day, and in answer to ques-
tions put to him, the prisoner at first paid he pur-
chased the sacks of two young women, and then of
a woman and a man, whom he did not know, on
which he was taken into custody, the property be-
ing identified by prosecutors' foreman.
Mr. Binns urged in behalf of the prisoner that he
had only been in the business a few weeks, and that
for 25 years he had been in the service of! the West
India Dock Company, and had borne a good cha-
racter.

Mr. Traill sail that as the prisoner was not know'
to the police, he should not send the present case to
the sessions for trial. The prisoner must, however,
have known from the marks on the sacks, that no
man or woman offering them for sale could have
come by them honestly, and he should therefore
impose the full penalty of Lo or imprisonment for
two months with hard labour.
The fine was paid.

AM BETH.—INDECENT ASSATJLT.—James Bur-
den, a carpenter by trade, but who keeps a furniture
shop at 1, Robert-street, North Brixton, appeared
before Mr. Elliott to answer to a summons, charg-
ing him with assaulting Miss Matilda Smith, a
young lady living with her sister and brother-in-
law, in the same neighbourhood.
The complainant, an exceedingly pretty and
modest looking young woman, deposed that on
Tuesday, the 20th inst., the defendant called, in
the absence from home of her sister and brother-in-
law, to repair some blinds in the drawing-room,
and she showed him up stairs. On entering the
drawing-room the defendant drew a chair, and got
on it to reach the window-blind, while the witness
was in the act of removing some articles from the
mantel-piece. Among these articles was a photo-
graphic likeness of herself, and upon seeing it the
defendant remarked that if intended for her it was
much too old, and more like her sister than her.
He then jumped off from the chair, caught her
round the waist, and endeavoured to throw her
down, but she struggled violently with him, tore
herself away from him and ran down stairs into
the parlour. The defendant came down stairs some
time after and went into the kitchen, where he re-
mained for some time. Aware that there were some
silver spoons and other property strewn about the
kitchen, and not knowing what could be his motive
for stopping there so long, she left the parlour and
proceeded towards the kitchen, where she found
the defendant, but kept at a proper distance from
him. He then told her he could not finish the
blinds then, and asked whether he should tome
again on that evening at eight or on the fenowing
morning. Aware that her brother and sister would
be home before eight o'clock she told him to come
at that hour. He then made use of offensive and
disgusting language, and frequently repeated the
expression, " Then at that hour you will be quite
prepared for me, miss." He then left the house,
saying he should be back at eight. On their arrival
home she informed her brother-in-law and sister of
the defendant's conduct, and by their advice had
taken out the summons against him.
Defendant—Now, miss, did you not show me the
picture, and ask me if it was not a good likeness ?
Miss Smith—Certainly not. You made the re-
mark without my being aware of your seeing it.
Defendant—Oh, but you certainly showed it to
me ; and I said—" It is old enough for your sister."
Miss Smith—l repeat that I did not show it to
you.

Defendant—Did you not open the front door to
me, and bow me out, as a respectable person ought
to be P

Miss Smith—l did nGt open the door to you at
all. You opened it yourself, and went away.
The brother-in-law of the last witness gave cor-
roborative evidence, and said the moment ho came
home Miss Smith informed him of what had hap-
pened.
The defendant cross-examined this gentleman in
the most impudent manner; commencing by saying
he very much doubted whether he was married to
the lady with whom he lived ; and made some un-
justifiable remarks on the respectability of his cha-
racter. The defendant also denied the charge, and
said it was nothing more than a conspiracy to de-
stroy his peace of mind, and disturb him at this
festive period of the year.
Mr. Elliott observed that it was impossible to
doubt the perfect truth of the complainant's state-
ment, or the fact of his having committed the as-
sault complained of, and he must therefore pay a
penalty of 205., or twenty days.
The defendant, who is not wholly unknown at
this court, refusing to pay the penalty, was locked
up.

EXTORTIONATE CHARGES AT GREEN-TARDS.—•
Mr. Mansfield, a cab-owner, complained of an ex-
tortionate charge of 13s. 6d., made for his horse and
cab being taken to the green-yard for a few hours.
The foreman of the yard attended, and endeavoured
to justify the charge by the production of a printed
placard, purporting to have been issued by the
Counnissioners of Police, but which appeared to
have emanated from Bermondsey Paving Board.
Mr. Elliott observed that the charge of 13s, 6d.
was perfectly monstrous. He said that 6s, was
abundant, and ordered the green-yard keeper to re-
fund Ss. Gd., which order the foreman said should
be complied with.
'TIE 160011.-Box—The acknowledgment of £2 108.
for the poor-box from M. S. was requested.

SOUTHWARK.—COMMITTAL OF AN OLD POT-
sTEALER.—•IIannah Lyons, a respeetablo-looking
old woman, was charged with stealing two pint
pewter pots and a quart pot, the property of Mr.
Sambrook, the landlord of the Bricklayers's Arms
Tavern, Old Kent•road. _ _ _

Mr. J. T. Sambrook, on of the landlord, said ho
had known the prisoner some time as a customer,
and had always believed her to be an honest, hard
working female. On the previous night she came
into the house and entered the public-room. About
3 o'clock witness received such information as in-
duced him to watch her, and as she was about to
leave the ;louse he stopped her and asked her what
she ;ma under her shawl. She said, " Nothing
'what do you mean ?" He told her that she had come
pots under her shawl, when she attempted to rush
out, but he seized hold of her arms and held her
until a constable came up, and he then gave her into
custody. The constable took from her a quart and
a pint pot, which he identified rs his father's pro-
perty.
Braticy, 291 M, said he was called by last wit-
ness to take the prisoner into custody. He lifted her
shawl and took from her the two pots produced.
After he had locked her up he went to her lodgings
in the Bermondsey New-road, and found another
pint pot marked " W. 5.," which he believed had
been st-den from Mr. Spcechley's, the Swan Tavern,
in the Dover-road.

In answer to the charge, the prisoner said the was
too respectable to steal pots. She had them with
beer in them, and meant to give them back.
. Doran, 280 M, said the prisoner was an old pot-

stealer. In June, 1857, she was sentenced to two
months at this court for pot stealing.
The magistrate said there could be no doubt that
she was a systematic pot-stealer, therefore he should
commit her for trial.

HAMMERSMITH.—A young woman, named
Lucy Handiside, was brought before Mr. Ingham,
charged with robbing her master, Mr. J. H. Great-
head, a merchant, residing at 48, Inverness-terrace,
Bayswater.
It appeared from the evidence of the prosecutor
and Police constable Smith, of the D division, that
the prisoner had been in the service of Mr. Great-
head between five and six weeks, and some tune
between Sunday night and Monday morning last
she absconded from the house, taking with her a
great many things belonging to the inmates. In
consequence of information Smith received he went
yesterday morning to Kentish-town, and stopped
her as she was walking along the Crofton-road.
She at first denied ever having lived at Bayswater,
but she afterwards stated that she had, and then
took him to No. 10, Ferdinand-street, and in a back
room on the ground floor he discovered some of the
stolen property, consisting of a cape belonging to
Mrs. Greathead, a shirt, two towels, 11 pocket
handkerchiefs with Mr. Greathead's name upon
them, two holland jackets, &c. Two scarfs and a
pencil-case belonging to the prosecutor were found
upon her by the female searcher. The prisoner ac-
oused the cook in prosecutor's house with having
assisted her out with her box on Monday morning,
and also to obtain a cab.

The prosecutor stated that the property produced
was worth about £5, but there were several other
things they had not been able to find.
Mr. Ingham remanded her for a week.

A SHOCKING BAD CAB HORSE.—John Stoney, a
cab-driver, was charged with cruelty to a horse.
Police-constable Hamson said that about two
o'clock that morning ho was on duty in High•street,
Kensington, when he saw the prisoner driving a
horse and cab. He was beating the
.poor animal,
which appeared in a very low condition, with a
whip handle. The horse could scarcely get along,
and at last it made a dead. stop. Upon examining
it witness found a large running wound on the
back, apparently of long standing.
Mr. Ingham left the bench to examine the horse.
It had a large frame, but was a complete skeleton,
and was in a miserable condition.

The prisoner said he had just set down a fare and
was returning, and could not get the horse out of a
walk, which he supposed arose from. weakness.
Mr. Ingham said the horse required a good deal of
oats rather than the whip handle.
Joseph Pocock, of the City-road, said the cab be-
longed to him, but the horse had been lent to him
by another man, who was ill and could not work
it. The horse had been treated well while he had
had it, but he denied that there was any sore on
the back the day before.
Mr. Ingham was of opinion the sore was of long
standing, and inflicted a penalty of 10s., and said
the horse would be detained for the money.

WANDSWORTH.—STABBING A RATE COL-
LECTOR.—PhiIip Alexander Mair, a native of Bel-
gium, residingin Spencer-street, Battersea, was
placed in the deck before Mr. Ingham charged with
stabbing Mr. Charles Thomas Jones, one of the rate
collectors of Battersea.

Mr. Reynolds, the solicitor, of Battersea, attended
to watch the case on behalf of the prisoner.
Inspector Lovelass handed his worship a medical
certificate stating that the complainant was unable
to attend from the injuries he had received.
Mr. Ingham inquired if there was any witness
who saw the occurrence.
Inspector Lovelass said no person witnessed it.
Sergeant Heyret 16 V, said that on Tuesday
night, in consequence of information he had re-
ceived, he went hi search of the prisoner, and at
first he could not find him. Ultimately he saw
him near his house, and upon telling him he was
charged with stabbing- Mr. Jones with some sharp
instrument, he replied that he assaulted him first.
He also said that he went to Mr. Jones's house, that
he had some -wine with him, and they had a dispute
about some eggs. Mrs; Jones wanted to know the
price, and he (the prisoner) said his price was half
a dozen kisses. The prisoner afterwards said it
was through jealousy. Witness saw Mr. Jones in
bed, and he was suffering from a wound in the back
of the head, and from another in the nape of the
neck. Four of his fingers on the left hand were cut,
and also one of the fingers on the other hand.
In answer to questions from Mr. Reynolds, the
witness said the prisoner did not offer to run away.
He had marks about the head and face.
Mr. Ingham asked Mr. Reynolds if he had any
bail, as he intended to remand the prisoner for a
week.
Mr. Reynolds said his client was a ratepayer, and
would be able to produce bail.
The prisoner was accordingly remanded, but was
locked up, as the bail were not present.
DARING IIIGIIWAY RUBBERY.—THE INQUIRY
DODGE.
Joseph Offley, a respectably-dressed
youth, was brought before Mr. Ingham, on remand,
charged with stealing a purse containing money, be-
longing to Clara Patey, a servant out of place, lodg-
ing in North-row, Park-lane, Hyde-park.
It appeared in evidence, that about one o'clock
on Monday afternoon, the 19th inst., the prosecutrix
was returning from the house of the Rev. Mr. Bow-
yer, where she had been applying for a cook's ser-
vice, and was unsuccessful, when she was accosted
by the prisoner,
who was dressed in a largo cloth
cape, and he asked her to direct him to Clapham-
common. She told him she was a stranger to the
neighbourhood, but that she thought where they
were was the common. That answer did not appear
to satisfy the young gentleman, for he then wished
to be informed the way to Clapham-road, where the
" buses" started. He pressed rudely against her, and
she became quite alarmed. She again told him
she was a stranger to the place and could not direct
him. He then wanted to know where he could obtain
a cab, and once more she told him she was unable to
give him the required information. He at last
seemed satisfied, and was turning to -walk away,
when she
felt a suspicious tug at her dress. She
immediately put her hand in her pocket and missed
her purse, which contained a sovereigd her loss to a
n, some silver,
and other articles. She communicate
gentleman
who was passing, which the prisoner
overheard, and he instantly made off as fast as
possibly could. He was chased for a considerable
distance, e
and he was ultimately stopped in the h
hle
Wandsworth-road by a constable who met him as
he was running.
The prisoner at first said he
was running to his aunts to dinner, in the
Wandsworth-road, but afterwards stated that it
Waterloo_road. He asked the constable how he
was untrue, and that he lived in Granby-street,
could dis
ter by taking him into custody. and offered him his
grace an honest gentleman of his charac-
watch
and a ring-
and chain if he would release him. The purse
was afterwards found in a garden, but a sovereign
were missing.
Inspector Abrook handed in a long list of con-
victions against the prisoner,
and two constables
present proved several of them at Lambeth and
Southwark Police-courts under the Vagrant Act.
Mr. Neale, who appeared for the prisoner, ap-
plied
to his worship to deal summarily with the
case.

Mr. Bingham said ho had no discretion in cases
where there had been a former conviction. The Go-
vernment had issued directions for such cases to be
committed for trial, and therefore he had no alter-
native.
The prisoner was then fully committed for trial.

. LIVERPOOL, Wednesday.—The screw steamer
liu!lgarian sailed to-day for Portland with the Canadian and
United States' mails and about GO passenget s. On Saturday
next the Cunard steamship Europa will be despatched for
Boston
with the mails for the United States and North
America. Letters will be received at the pDst-office on that
day until 10 15 a.m., and via Queenstown till 9 30 p.m.
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AQUATICS.

SCULLERS' RACE FOR £4O.

We some few weeks ago informed our readers that a
match had been mada between Thomas Tagg, of Moulsey,
and Philip Parker, of Kingston, and that it was to come off
on Wednesday, Dec. 28, from the Ono Tree, at Ham (nearly
a mile below Kingston-bridge), to Hampton Court-bridge,
for £l5 (open for £25) aside. We were at that time in error
in stating that it was Thomas 'Tagg, jun., who was to row,
for we since find that it was the elder Tagg, who is above
40 years of age. He has been, consequently, many years
on the river ; and, besides rowing for Doggett's coat and
badge, and having been engaged in many other races, he has
beaten William Smith, of Kingston, John Platt, of Twick-
enham, and Squires, of Kingston, twice. His opponent is
much younger, not above 24 or 25; consequently the
chances were greatly in favour of a young and strong than
against an opponent 16 or 17 years his senior, and theet-lds
were on him for that reason, and not because he had won
any races, for we believe his only performances are rowing
twice for the Leander coat and badge and being unsuccess-
ful. The stakes had been raised £5, so that they rowed for
£2O a side yesterday—the fairness of the weather bringing
very many people to witness the race. George Hammerton
of Teddington, was umpire for Parker; Kilfayle, of Mous-
ley, for Tagg ; and James Messenger, of Teddington, ex. -
champion
i
champion of the Thames, was referee. Both men were n
excellent condition, and went to their posts shortly after
two o'clock. Parker won the toss and took the Middlesex
side, and Tagg, besides having the longest side of the river
before him, had the greater part of the wind against him.
Parker, therefore, took the lead, and inch by inch increased
it till, although Tagg rowed very pluckily astern, he ulti-
mately won the race by several lengths.