The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-04 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIuENCE—June 3.

GUILDHALL.—Thos. Chas. Peprill was charged
with assaulting his master. Mr. Beard appeared
for the complainant.
Mr. Smith, a whip and walking-stick maker, of
Beech-street, Barbican, who appeared with his
eye bandaged up, said—The prisoner is my ap-
prentice.
Mr. Martin (the chief clerk) asked the prisoner
if he had been at the court early in the morning
applying for a summons against his master ?
Prisoner—. Yes, sir ; I wanted a summons against
my master for assaulting me, and I was told to come
again later in the day.
Mr. Martin—And did this complaint of your
master arise since you were here ?
Prisoner—Yes, sir. _ .

Mr. Smith—The prisoner neglected his work in
the morning, and when he returned from this court
he complained that he had not had his breakfast.
I told him to leave the warehouse and go to his
work, and on his refusing I placed my hand on his
arras to push him out, when he seized me by the
throat and struck me with a brick in the eye. This
is the fourth time he has been guilty of similar
conduct.

Prisoner—He has kept me, sir, since Wednesday
without food, and all I have had has been about
twopennyworth of bread and cheese which he
offered me yesterday for dinner, but I refused it,
and he offered it to me again last night, and I
thought better of it and took it. He struck me last
night, and I came here this morning for a summons
for it. He has had nine apprentices, and they have
all inn away because he half-starves and ill-treats
them ; and he declares he will make me serve my
time in a prison or compel me to enlist for a soldier.
Alderman Challis—ls it true that you deprive
your apprentices of their proper food ?
Mr. Smith—My foreman will be able to inform
you, sir, of everything connected with this matter.
Alderman Challis—Do you keep them without
food ?

Mr. Smith—lf the apprentices are not up early
enough in the morning, we make it a rule to keep
them without breakfast, or if they misconduct
themselves.
Alderman Challis—You must not take the law
into your own hands, but, if they misconduct them-
selves, bring them before a magistrate. You have
no right to deprive youths of their proper food.
Mr. Smith—lt is the only way we have of
punishing them; but I will consent to cancel the
indentures if you will bind him down not to work
in the same trade.

Alderman Challis—l cannot do anything of the
kind.

Prisoner—That is what he wants, sir. He
knows that I have been with him two years, and
that no journeyman can teach me any more. He
takes parish apprentices for the sake of the pre-
mium, and when he has got the money tries all he
can to get rid of them.
Mr. Beard, for the complainant, submitted that,
even supposing the prisoner's complaint had any
foundation, no matter what Mr. Smith's conduct
might have been, it would not justify such an
assault.

Alderman Challis—Certainly not ; and I there-
fore fine the prisoner 20s. for the assault, or 7 days'
imprisonment ; but at the same time I shall grant
the prisoner a summons against his master, when,
if Mr. Smith objects to cancel his indentures, I can
cancel them without his consent.

BOW-STREET.—William Sloper, a respectably
dressed young man, was charged with firing a
pistol at himself at the Holborn Casino, on Thurs-
day night.
Charles Lowther stated that he was the gasfitter
at the establishment now known as the National
Assembly-rooms, in Holborn. He was there on
Thursday evening about half-past 11, when some
alarm was occasioned by the report of firearms. He
hastened to the quarter from which the noise
proceeded, and there saw the prisoner lying on the
ground. A pistol, recently discharged, was lying
near him, and there was a burn or singe on the
front of his shirt and flannel-shirt, as if caused by
the bullet or wadding. It was soon found, however,
that the prisoner was not wounded. He was given
into custody.
Inspector Searle, the officer on duty at the rooms,
said that the prisoner was evidently the worse for
drink. If a bullet had been ever placed in the pistol
it must have dropped out before the discharge took
place. The prisoner said nothing to the charge
except that he was depressed in spirits.
The prisoner now made a similar defence, adding
that he had been drinking too much, and hardly
knew what he was doing.
Mr. Jardine said it was very strange that he
should be going about with a loaded pistol in his
pocket, and some inquiry into his character must
be made.

The prisoner was accordingly remanded for a
week.

A gentleman waited upon Mr. Jardine during
the afternoon and left 3s. for the poor-box, stating
that he had picked up the money in an omnibus,
and had found no claimant for it.

MARYLEBONE.—A distressed-looking woman,
named Mary Jones, aged 40, and who had on
neither shoes nor stockings, was charged, at the
instance of Sir R. W. Carden, with begging.

Complainant, who resides at No. 64, Wimp°le-
street, Cavendish-square, stated that on the same
morning, at half-past 10 o'clock, the prisoner was
in the middle of the street singing to excite com-
passion. He spoke to her and told her if she was
in distress she had. better go into the workhouse,
to which she replied that she had a great dread of
it, and he then thought it his duty to give her into
custody, and have her brought to this court.
Mr. Long—l can't understand what for. Was
she doing anything more than singing ?
Sir R. W. Carden—l saw her pick up money, and
therefore gave her in charge for begging.
Mr, Long—Did you see or hear her beg of any-
one ?

Sir R. W. Garden—l can't say that I did, but I
consider that there are ways of begging without
persons actually asking for money.
Mr. Long (to prisoner)—What do you say to
this ?

Prisoner--Please, sir, I was singing, and that's
all. A gentleman threw me two farthings, and I
went to pick them up. s
Mr. Long—l shall let you go now, but if you go
about begging and are brought here again you will
be sent to the House of Correction.

SOUTHWARK.—WiIIiam Pryme, of the 81st
Regiment, just returned from India, was charged
with unlawfully jumping
ing out of a carriage on the
South Eastern
mifiirlwoemsa-
an hour
hoiuler.the train was going
office of Mr. Rees, the
company's solicitor, attended to prosecute.
at
'Jr. the rateßo bin ofs
03n0,
George Cox, a guard in the company's service,
said he had charge of the train, which left at a
r
pisoner was a second-class passenger, and
quarter to nine on the
Previous
ger, morning.when The
the train left the Erith station he saw him in
the
carriage and the door was closed. When they had
got about 600 yards from Erith, and the train was
going between 30 and 40 miles an hour, witness
saw one of the carriage-doors open, and perceived
the prisoner sprawling on the side of the line close
to the metals, and it was a miracle he was not
smashed to pieces.
The guard of the next train said that when he
stopped at Erith, the station-master banded the
prisoner to him, telling him to take him to the
superintendent's office at London-bridge, as lie had
jumped off the previous train while going at 30
miles an hour.
Mr. Robinson informed his worship that he
understood that the prisoner was on furlough, and
that he had been frolicking, as he had with him a
bottle half full of whisky, and ho was half drunk
when given into custody.
The prisoner said he had been in the army 19
years, and had recently returned from India. lle
had a furlough for two months to visit his friends,
and when he got into the train he put his furlough
in his cap. As soon as he left Erith the latter fell
off his head on the side of the rails, when he foolishly
opened the door and jumped out after it. He was
extremely sorry for having done so, and could
assure his worship that it had considerably shaken
him.

Mr. Burcham told him that as he was an old
soldier, and had served his country in India for
some years, he did not feel inclined to punish him
with any kind of severity ; but he must punish him