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

TUE::SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 29, 1.859.

THE FIRE IN WESTMINSTER.

Yesterday Mr. Bedford, coroner for the city ofl
Westminster, and a highly respectable jury, held an
inquest at the Guildhall on the bodies of Henry
John Billson, Sarah Billson, 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, having been sworn, went with the
coroner to view the bodies, which were lying 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 Billson, 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
having 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 the
escape had been got throrugh. The ladder was
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 trtie 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 laader 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. here was a good supply
of water. He assisted in saving the woman and
child who were rescued nrom the flames. The
file 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 sh.o 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 call 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 to:? 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
tire for the purpose of drying. She 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 hoard after going to bed and having
fallen asleep was the breaking of glass. She imme-
diately ran upstairs and examined Mrs. Chapine.n's
door. She met her at the door, and said that she
thought the house was on fire, as it was full of
sm Ai-Q. She did not see any flame. She left her
mistress and went to Mr. Book's lumber-room, at
the top of the house, and opened the window and
got out. She had previously seen Miss Chapman
in her bedroom. Hearing violent screaming, she
nulled back, but the smoke was so great that she
was forced to get out of th e window again, and
from a small parapet she jumped down on the roof
of a stable in Mr. Serjeant Wran gham's yard
where she believed she remained upwards of
three-quarters of an hour, when she was released

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 fire. On looking out of his window, he could see
dawn the area of Mr. Hook's house, and he saw
flames coming tip 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 raisethe 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 so, 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, said, 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 add efficient condition or often under the
care of competent persons. Whenever that was the
case lie 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 ono, 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. Ho saw a woman pull aside the kit-
chen window after the light had gone gradually
away. Ho had tried the door of the house, and
it might be that she was looking out to see who
was there. Afterwards he mat 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 Little
George-street. Witness then proceeded to de-
scribe the attempts that were ineffectually made to
render the fire-:.3scape available, in the same manner
as they had been spoken to by some of the preced-
ing witnesses.
The inquiry was then adjourned till this day.

THE TRAGEDY NEAR NOTTINGRAM.

A brief outline of the murder of George Clark at
Lenton, near Nottingham, appeared in The 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,
mid were overtaken by two men—Herbert and.
Alfred Slack. The two latter without provoca-
tion commenced an assault. The elder black, 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
10s. 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 Lenten, the elder Slack called his
brother a little back, and whispered something to
him, but witness could not underetend what tran-
spired between then. 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 eoming 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 ho 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 he 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 he dropped down by some palings,
and exclaimed, "Pm 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 tiara witness was knocked down
to the time doceiteed was stabbed. The two men
went away directly ; they did not stop to render 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 wilful
murder. Mr. Brown appeared for the prisoners,
and asked to have a private interview with their.
The Bench, however, would only consent to an in-
terview in the presence of Superintendent I3ale-
thorpe. lie again pressed for a stricter private
interview, hut the 13ench ireniscd it. Mr. Coroner
Swann made application to the
,Bench for the. two
T)risoners to he present at the adjourned inquest on
.I,'rida•c. 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, Bart., of Balcaskie, the successful can-
didate at the recent election of rector :—" I beg to thank
tho students for the honour they have conferred upon me
by appointing me Rector *the University, which I accept
with pleasure."

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—Dec. 28

WESTMINSTER.--UNPROVOKED AND CRUEL
ASSAULT.—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 out of
a public-house in an infuriated state of drunken-
ness, rushed towards 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-house.

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 " ho had never served in the army, ma-
rines, ordnance, militia, or navy, or her Majesty's
Indian forces."

The case was prosecuted by Lieut. Windowe,
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 MARINE-
STortE 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 Rotherhithe.

Mr. Wontner appeared for the prosecution, and
Mr. Biuns 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 following day,"and in answer to ques-
tions put to him, the prisoner at first said he pur-
chased the sacks of two young women, and then of
a woman and a man, whom ho 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 said that as the prisoner was not known
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 £5 or imprisonment for
two months with hard labour.
The fine was paid.

LAMBETH.-INDECENT ASSAULT.—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 bim and ran down stairs into
the parlour. The defendant came downstairs 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 thin, and asked whether he should come
again on that evening at eight or on the following
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 heir] .• aware of your seeing it.
Defendant—Oh, but you certainly showed it to
me ; and I said—" It is old enough for your sister .4
Miss Smith—l repeat that I did not show it ti
you.
Defendant—Did you not open the front door
me, and bow me out, as a respectable person oug
to be ?

Miss Smith—l did nct open the door to you if
all. You opened it yourself, and went away.
The brother-in-law of the last witness gave e),
roborative evidence, and said the moment ho cue
home Miss Smith informed him of what had hi e
pened. A
The defendant cross-examined this gentlemae ;
n
the most impudent manner; commencing by sali„'g
he very much doubted whether he was tomarril
the lady with whom he lived ; and made some
justifiable remarks on the respectability of hiselln-
meter. The defendant also denied the chargs
to and
said it was nothing more than a conspiracy
de-
stroy his peace of mind, and disturb him si this
festive period of the year.
Mr. Elliott observed that it was impossii
doubt the perfect truth of the complainant's le to
sale to
or the fact of his having committed
e as-
sault complained of, and he must therefore Pay a
penalty of 205., or twenty days.
The defendant, who is not wholly unkli
this court, refusing to pay the penalty, was wn at
locked
up.
EXTORTIONATE CHARGES AT GREEN-YARDS.
Mr. Mansfield, a cab-owner, complained ofD'•—
ex-
tortionate charge of 13s. 6d., made for his an d
cab being taken to the green-yard for a fottse an
The foreman of the yard attended, and end, hours.
to justify the charge by the production oft'avenr°d
placard, purporting to have been issue] printed
the
Commissioners of Police, but which api eby
have emanated from Bermondsey Paving eared to
oard.
Mr. Elliott observed that the charge t
13s. 6d.
was perfectly monstrous. He said tht
abundant, and ordered the green-yard Os. was
per to re-
fund Ss. 6d., which order the foreman
should
be complied with.
THE POOR-BOX—The acknowledgmei
of ''' ro
'""
for the poor-box from M. S. was requee
ed.

SOUTHWARK.—COMMITTAL OF .4A ~,
STEALEIL— °Hannah Lyons, a respect, .le-looking
OLD POT-
old woman, was charged with stealii_g two pint
pewter pots and a quart pot, the ra of Mr.
p
Sambrook, the lamllord of the Brie-ktj_rers ertY:
s
3 ' Arms
Tavern, Old Kcnt•road. _ _ _

Mr. J. T. Sambrook, son of the lati
had known, the prisoner some time i lord, said he
and had always believed her to be a customer,
working female. On the previous i honest, hard
into the house and entered the publi ht she came
8 o'clock witness received such infcl.°°lll* About
duccd him to watch her, and as q Illation as in-
leavt the house he stepped her and e was about to
she had under her shawl. She klkiked her what
what do you mean P" He told her tlaid,
pops under her shawl, when she a " Nothing ;
t she had some
out, but he seized hold of her antempted to rush
until a constable came up, and ke tr and held her
custody. The constable took fro en
a pint pot, which he identified at gave her into
her a quart and
ports'. his father's pro-
Bratley, 291 M, said he was filed by last wit-
ness to take the prisoner into eu
shawl and took from her the -
ttl}tly. He lifted her
After he had locked her up he NV ° pots produced.
in the Bermondsey New-road, :at to her lodgings
pint pot marked " W. 5.," wiiild found another
been stolen from Mr. SF: . ' !I. he believed had
in the Dover-road. cchley'i the Swan Tavern,
In answer to the charge, the
too respectable to steal pots, soner said she was
beer in them, and meant to g...„,she had them with
Doran, 280 M, said the iQlthem back.
4" kr 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,
B ayswater.
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 time
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-
eused 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 he 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 rustling 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 hose 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
vas ill and could not work by another man, who
it. The horse had beep treated well while he had
had it, but he denied that there was any sore on
the back the day befope.

Mr. Ingham vas ofp
inion the sore was of long
.io--
standing, and inflicted a penalty of 10s., and said
the horse would be detained for the money.

WANDSWOR7a._STannING A RATE COL-
LECTOR.—PhiIip 41exander Mair, a native of Bel-
gium, residing in Spencer-street, Battersea, was
placed in the dock before Mr. Ingham charged with
stabbing Mr. Charles Thomas Jones, one of the rate
collectors of Battersea.
he solicitor, of Battersea, attended
Mr. Reynolds t
to
ease on behalf of the prisoner.
Iwnasptcehao the
Inspector
ovelass handed his worship a medical
certificate stating that the complainant was unable
to attend float the injuries he had received.
Mr. Inghak inquired if there was any witness
who saw the occurrence.
Inspector tovelass said no person witnessed it.
Sergeant Ifeyro, 16 V, said that on Tuesday
night, in
consequence of information he had re-
caved, he 'Rent in search of the prisoner, and at
first he could not find him. Ultimately he saw
his house, and upon telling him he was
charged with stabbing Mr. Jones with some sharp
instrument he replied that he assaulted him first.
hinlne near
He also sad that he went to Mr. Jones's house, that
he had sure wine with him, and they had a dispute
about sot eggs. Mrs; Jones wanted to know the
price, anclhe (the prisoner) said his price was half
baeadds:tzherg
n kisses. The prisoner afterwards said it
w
h jealousy. Witness saw Mr. Jones in
an-dollie was suffering from a wound in the back
of the htkci and from another in the nape of the
neck. our of his fingers on the left hand were cut,
and alsoone of the fingers on the other hand.
In aalWer to questions from Mr. Reynolds, the
witnes„ssaid the prisoner did not offer to run away.
1-I!,,i.hau,niarks about the head and face.
11r• bgham asked Mr. Reynolds if he had any
bail,
week.
al he intended to remand the prisoner for a
Mir' the able to produce bail.
21'e nrisoner was accordingly remanded, but was
locket 'up, as the bail were not present.
;RING HIGHWAY ROBBERY .—THE INQUIRY
DODGE, Joseph Offley, a respectably-dressed
”utit was brought before Mr. Ingham, on remand,
lchat 'tea. with stealing a purse containing money, be-
on
ging to Clara Patey, a servant out of place, lodg-
di in North-row, Park-lane, Hyde-park.
It appeared in evidence, that about one o'clock
°a Monday afternoon, the 19th inst., the prosecutrix
NViB returning from the house of the Rev. Mr. Bow-
9,t', where she had been applying for a cook's ser-
N, and was unsuccessful, when she was accosted
7 the' prisoner, who was dressed in a large cloth
'ape, and he asked her to direct him to Clapham-
'Daimon. She told him she was a stranger to the
neighbourhood, but that she thought whore they
Vere 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
Ir 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 h'ar dress. She
immediately put her hand in her pocket and missed
her purse, which contained a sovereign, some silver,
and other articles. She communicated her loss to a
gentleman who was passing, which the prisoner
overheard, and he instantly made off as fast as he
possibly could. Ile was chased for a considerable
distance, and he was ultimately stopped in the
Wandsworth-road by a constable who met him as
he was running. The prisoner at first said he
was running to his aunt's to dinner, in the
Wandsworth-road, but afterwards stated that it
was untrue, and that he lived in Granby-street,
NVatorloo-road. He asked the constable how he
could disgrace an honest gentleman of his charac-
ter by taking him into custody, and offered him his
watch and chain if he would release him. The purse
was afterwards found in a garden, but a sovereign
and a ring were missing.
Inspector Abrook handed in a long list of con-
victions against the prisoner, and two constables
present proved several of hem 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 he 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.