The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-03 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—June 2,

BOW-STREET.—A young man of respectable
appearance, named. William Thomas, evidently a
north countryman, was placed in the dock, charged
with defacing the grand staircase of the British
Museum.

Police-constable A 610 stated that he was on
duty on the entrance hail of the museum at about
4 o'clock that afternoon (Tuesday), when he saw
the defendant cutting or scratching a name upon
the French-polished balustrade of the grand stair-
case with some pointed instrument, which be threw
away on seeing witness approach him. One of the
attendants of the Museum bad also been observing
him.

Jas. Morgan, the attendant referred to, corrobo-
rated the officer's statement, and said that on ex-
amining the flat surface of the bannister, where he
had been thus occupied, he found the name " Ellen
Clare" written in capital letters, with the initials
" W. T." underneath.

Mr. Jardine—lt is really scandalous that our
public institutions, thrown open so liberally for
our enjoyment, should be defaced in this manner
by a set of idlers who must scrawl their silly names
wherever they go ; and as I understand it costs a
sovereign to remove this disfigurement, I shall fine
you a pound, or commit you for a week in default.
The defendant—l am a mason by trade, and have
bad only four days' work since I have been is
London.

Mr. Jardine—Then you should employ your
idle time more creditably.

CLERKENWELL.—John Brett, a broker, re-
siding in Church-way, St. Pancras, was, on remand,
charged with throwing a quantity of vitriol over
Thomas Robinson, of 15, Church-way, St. Pancras,
another broker, whereby his life was placed in im-
minent peril.

Mr. Inspector M'Donald, of the S division, at-
tended to watch the case.

Some evidence has already appeared, as the case
was adjourned for the attendance of the injured
man.

Thomas Robinson said—The first I had an idea
of was on Saturday, the 16th. On the Sunday
morning, about 9 o'clock, I had a bit of a headache.
I sent my boy for a pennyworth of snuff. He had
not been gone a minute before he was set upon by
two boys—one being Mr. Brett's nephew, and the
other his son. I went out to separate them, and
sent my boy about his business. I turned round
and spoke to a neighbour for two or three minutes,
still keeping my eye upon Brett's shop, but could
not see him. As I could not see him I thought
I could venture to pasi. I had had my misgiv-
ings as to the prisoner's intentions for some weeks
past. As I passed the shop he threw something at
me, which I at onca said was vitriol, and the pri-
soner said, " Yes, you old b---, that will warm
you." I was then conveyed to the hospital, where
I have been ever since, but I do not recollect much
about it.

Cross-examined by a solicitor for the defence—l
saw Mrs. Brett, who is far advanced in pregnancy,
trying to separate them. I did not shake her. You
know I would not be guilty of such a thing.
Mr. Thomas Vincent Jackson, house surgeon at
the University College Hospital, was next sworn,
and said,—On Sunday, the 17th of May, I was
called to see the complainant. When I combined
Robinson I found his clothes burnt with sulphuric
acid, as well as the left side of his face and neck.
He was perfectly collapsed, and could not answer
me any questions. I have attended him ever since.
At first he was in great danger, but I am in hopes
th%t he will now recover. His symptoms are now
not dangerous, although a great extent of his face
is burnt.

Police-constable Thomas Turner, 366 S, said,—
on Sunday, the 17th, I was called to Church-way,
Somers-town, to take the prisoner into custody. I
inquired where he wag, and found him in his own
house, upstairs. I took his to the station, and
i heard him repeatedly say, both at the police-station
and on his way there, that he hoped what he had
thrown over Robinson would kill the old b---. I
went to the hospital and got the clothes Robinson
was wearing at the time. They were burnt very,
much with what appears to be vitriol.
Mrs. Eliza Robinson said—l live at 15, New
Church-way. Between 10 and 11 o'clock on Sun-
day, the 17th ult., my husband sent my son for
some snuff. When he passed the prisoner's shop
the son of the prisoner said, "There he goes ; mind
your pockets, Fred." A fight ensued between the
two boys, and my husband separated them. My
husband then went away, and on his return the
prisoner, who was standing at the shop door, threw
a tin pot full of vitriol over my husband's head,
saying, "Take that, you o!d b— ; that will warm
you." My husband at first thought it was water,
but he afterwards said, " Eliza, it is vitriol, take
me to the hospital, lam burning." When the pri-
soner was at the station he said, "I am glad I have
done it, and I hope the old will die." My hus-
band is a broker. The whole of the clothes he had
on were burnt. I was also slightly burnt.
Cross-examined by the solicitor for the defence—.
For the last five or six years the complainant and
the defendant, who are rivals in trade, have conti-
nually quarrelled, and have each been to this court
to complain. On one occasion niy son was charged
with throwing vitriol over the dress of the prisoner's
daughter, and was tried at the Central Criminal
Court and acquitted. I was standing at the door
when thevitriol was thrown, and heard the prisoner
make use of the threats above alluded to.
Mrs. Isabella Mills said, that she resided next
door to the complai▪
nant, where she keeps a ward-
robe shop. She saw the boys fighting, and heard
the prisoner say, when Robinson passed him,
" You —, I will warm you." When she returned
she saw something go over Mr. Robinson, but she
did not know what it was. Some of the stuff went
over her, burnt her gown, and hurt her very much.
Most of the articles hanging in front of her shop
were also covered wi▪ th the vitriol, and were quite
spoilt. One of the lodgers also was burnt by some
of the vitriol going over her.

Mr. Corrie asked the prisoner what he had to say
in answer to the charge ?

The solicitor said, as it was his worship's inten.
tion to commit, he should reserve the defence.
Mr. Corrie then committed the prisoner to New•
gate for trial.

THAMES.—J. Pomeroy, described as a carpen-
ter, aged. 37, H. K. James, widow, 66, who is be-
lieved to be the mother of the last-named prisoner,
E. S. Pomeroy, 37, and H. Pomeroy, 13, were
brought before Mr., Selfe on remand charged with
uttering base coin, and with having instruments
and moulds in their possession for the purpose of
manufacturing base coins
Mr. Pollard, from the office of the Treasury soli-
citor, said this was a case in which. the Crown would
prosecute.

Mr. Selfe said he did not think he should do right
in committing the girl H. Pomeroy. She was very
young, and no doubt acted under the control and
dictation of her parents, or perhaps, was not aware
they were doing wrong. He should therefore dis-
charge her. The other prisoners, H. K. James, J.
Pomeroy, and E. Pomeroy, would be committed
for trial at the next sessions of the Central Crimi-
nal Court.

SOUTHWARIC.—Mr. T. Dupuis, the French
master of Queen Elizabeth's Free Grammar School
situate in the parish of St. Olave's, Southwark,
was summoned before Mr. Combo, for cruelly beat-
ing G. J. Morale, a lad under 12 years of age, one
of the scholars.

Mr. F. W. Arkcoll, of the firm of Jonesand Ark-
coll, solicitors to the scirl, appeared for the de-
fendant.

The complainant, a nice-looking lad, residing
with his mother, a widow, at No. 7, John-street,
Horselydown, said that he had been one of the
scholars of St. Olave's School about two years.
Tho defendant was the French master. Last
Wednesday, the 27th ult., about 12 o'clock, he was
sitting down in his class when another lad made him
laugh. Mr. Dupuis then came towards him with a
cane in his hand, and struckjiim with it Tor 8 times
on the back and loins. He went home about a quar-
ter of an hour afterwards and told his mother, who
examined his person, and the next day came to this
court and obtained a summons.

Mr. Arkcoll said that lie was instructed to say that
the lad was very impudent, and it was necessary to
castigate him to keep up the discipline of the school.
The lad was the cause of his receiving the cuts on
his person by rolling about on the ground. The de-
fendant also was a gentleman of high moral charac-
ter, and well known by the authorities of the school
as kind to the scholars, which could be testified by
the headmaster, the Rev. Mr. Hayman.
The latter gentleman, who wit at the counsel's
table, said he did not witness the flogging or see the
lad afterwards, but he understood that he was very

impudent.
Mr. Combe said the question was whether the lad
was castigated by Mr. Dupuis more than necessary.
The general practice of flogging in schools was to
use moderation, and not proceed to any excess.
Arkcoll observed thvit the lad would not her,

suffered so much had he riot rolled upon theground,
which was his usual practice. . _

Mr. Combe told him he could not expect all boys
to stand quiet while they were being beaten.
The Rev. Mr. Hayman remarked to li;s worship
that if masters of such schools were at fault, it was
the duty of the children or their parents, who had
complaints to make, to apply to the authorities of
the school, so that an investigation might be made
into the whole circumstances, and not take such
proceedings as those now adopted. It was likely to
bring scandal on the school.

Mi. Combo could not hear the rev. gentleman
make such remarks. The law was open to such lads
as to any one else, and his mother had acted rightly
in coming to this court and making complaint.
The Rev. Mr. Hayman did not dispute that, but
had he seen the lad perhaps it might have been pre-
vented. He should have directed the circumstances
to have been investigated by the authorities.
The mother of the lad said she called to see Mr.
Hayman before she came to this court, but she
could not.

Mr. Hayman could explain that. When she called
he was engaged. He had this to say to his Wor-
ship, that if he punished the defendant his charac-
ter would suffer for it.

Mr. Combe could not help that. If it was proved
that the lad had been unnecessarily flogged he must
deal with the case as he should with other assaults.

Mr. Arkcoll submitted to his Worship that there
was no evidence for him to deal with.

Mr. Combo told bim that be must see the boy's
back before he decided that.

The lad was here partially undressed, when marks
of violence were visible on the back of his loins and
across his shoulders, which appeared to have been
inflicted with a cane.

Mr. Combe (to the lad)—Where were you when
you received these cuts ?

Boy—Chiefly on the ground, sir.
Mr. Arkcoll—How old are you ?
Boy—l shall be 12 next August.
The Rev. Mr. Hayman observed that the lad
had stated his age to be a year older.
In answer to Mr. Combo the- lad stated that he
did not laugh or make any ridicule of Mr. Dupuis.
He fell down while he was being flogged, and he
could not help it.
The mother of the lad was next examined. She
said he came home about a quarter past 12 on Wed-
nesday, and told her he 'had been cruelly beaten by
Mr. Dupuis. Witness undressed him, and perceived
six or seven stripes on his back and thighs, which
were quite black. He had been ill before that, and
was compelled to go to bed. On the following
morning she took him to the school but could not
see the head master, and after that she came to this
court. After the summons was served the lad was
dismissed the school.

Mr. Combe asked whether the school was quite
free ?

Mr. Arkcoll replied that it was, but under cer-
tain regulations. The lads were taken in up to 14
years of ago.
Sarah Wellett, sister to the lad's mother, living
at 16, John-street, said she saw him after he came
from school, when his back and thighs were covered
with black stripes.
Mr. Combe asked whether he seemed in much
pain then 7

Witness replied that he did, and being poorly
before that his mother sent him to bed, where he
remained until the following morning..
Mr. Combe asked whether he was so ill as to re-
quire a doctor ?

Witness answered that he was not, but he com-
plained very much about the sores on Lis back and
thighs.

This being the whole of the evidence on the part
of the lad,
Mr. Arkcoll submitted that there was no unne-
cessary castigation.
Mr. Comb() thought otherwise. There were the
marks still on the lad's back, which clearly showed
that some violence had been used which seemed to
him to be unnecessary. He, however, did not feel
justified in giving his opinion in such a case, which
involved the character of the defendant as well as
the school ; therefore he should send it to the ses-
sions. By doing so it would be much better for the
school, especially for such an one, which was so
beneficial to the inhabitants. It was also important
to them that it should be investigated by another
tribunal.

Mr. Arkcoll, on the part of the authorities, re-
quested a full investigation into the whole of the
Circumstances, but he supposed his worship would
liberate Mr. Dupuis on his own recoguisances until
the trial.

Mr. Combo agreed to that, and Mr. Dupuis was
formally committed for trial.

LAMBETH.—James Buckley, a painter, 6 feet
6 inches high, was brought before the Hon. G. C.
Norton for final examination on a charge of com-
mittinc, a murderous assault on a young woman
named Selina Witcher, servant to Mrs. Davis, 11,
Laurie-terrace, St. George's, Southwark.
It will be recollected from the evidence adduced
on the former examinations that on the morning of
that day fortnight the prisoner called at the house
of Mrs. Davis and asked to see that person, and
was told by her servant Selina Witcher, that she
was out, though at the same time she was upstairs.
The prisoner remained for a few minutes in the
kitchen, and then went into the garden, and while
the young woman Witcher was engaged washing
he came behind her and struck her a violent blow
with something hard on the back part of her head.
She screamed out, upon which he exclaimed
'Don't holloa ; I'll not hurt you," and placed his
left hand on her mouth. He then gave her a
second and a third blow, upon which she threw up
her arms to save herself, and caught something
which she believed to be the handle of the hammer
produced, and after a severe struggle she got away
from him. She was taken to the house of a sur-
geon, bleeding profusely from a wound on the
back part of the head, and for several days her
life was in extreme danger. .

The young woman was closely examined by the
magistrate, with the view of eliciting a motive or
malice, but neither the one or the other could be
discovers].

The prisoner, in reply to the charge, said he
belonged to the Crimean Land Transport Corps,
and his health became so impaired while before
Sebastopol that he was confined to his bed all the
way home, and on the arrival of the ship at Ports-
mouth was carried from on board to the hospital.
There he remained a considerable time, and was
at length enabled, though with a shattered frame
and constitution, to come to town and renew his
ti ade, that of painter and glazier. On the Monday
(the day preceding the assault) he bad taken a
contract for some work, and had unfortunately
drunk some spirits, which actually drove him
mad, and he had not the slightest recollection of
what had occurred at the time of his apprehension.
He was exceedingly sorry for what had occurred,
begged forgiveness from the young woman, and
hoped the Court would take a merciful view of his
case.

The prisoner's sister, a respectable woman, corro-
borated much of what he had stated.
Mr. Norton was disposed to believe much of
what the prisoner had said, and that his conduct
was more the result of drink than of premeditated
injury, and therefore he did not see the necesssity
of sending the case before a jury. Yet the prisoner
had committed a most serious assault on the young
woman; and it was almost a mercy he did not kill
her, for, according to the evidence of the surgeon,
it was only the making up of her hair into a round
ball or tuft that saved her. For this assault the
prisoner was accountable, and for it he should com-
mit him to the House of Correction for four months
hard labour.

TM IRISH COURT.—After nearly a month's absence
the Earl of Carlisle returned to Dublin at 10 o'clock on
Saturday night.

(ADVERTIORMENT.I SIGHT AND HEARING. —SPECTACLES.-
POWERFUL TELESCOPES,—OPERA, RACE, AND PERSPECTIVE
GLASSES.—Messrs. S. and B. Solomon, opticians, 39, Alhe.
merle-street, Piccadilly. Observe—opposite the York Hote),
her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for valuable and
extraordinary improvements in the most powerful and bril-
liant Telescopes, Camp, Racecourse, Opera, and Perspective
Glasses, to know the distances. These telescopes possess
such extraordinary power that some, three and a-half inches,
with an extra eye-p!ece will show distinctly Jupiter's moons,
Saturn's ring, and the double stars ; with the same telescope
can be seen a person's countenance three-and-a-half miles dis-
tant, and an object from.l6 to 20 miles. For the wai-tcoat
pocket, and are of larger, and all- sizes, with increasing
powers accordingly. The Royal Exhibition, 1851.—A valu-
able newly-invented very small powerful Waistcoat Pocket
Glass, the size of a walnut, by which a person can be seen
and known one and a half mile distant. They an wer every
purpose on the race-course, and at the Opera Houses,
Country scenery, and ships are clearly seen at 12 to 14 miles.
They are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting,
to sportsmen, geutlernen, gamekeepers, and ton. ists. Opera,
Camp, Perspective, and Racecourse Glasses, with wonderful
powers. —lncalnable preserving Spectacle Lenses of the
greatest transparent power. The great advantage derived
from this invention is, that vision impaired becomes pre-
served and strengthened, and very age i persons are enabled
to employ their sight at the most minute occupation—
can see with these lenses of a much less magnify ing power
—and they do not require the frequent changes to the
dangerous effects of further powerful assistance. Persons
can be suited at the most remote part of the world by send-
ing one of the glasses out of their spectacles in a letter, and
stating the distance from the eye they can read small print
with it, and those rwho have not made use of spectacles by
stating their age. Deafness.—New Div.eva7.—The Or-
ganic Vibrator, an i-xtra-,rdinarily powerful, small newly-
invented instrument for deafness, entirely different from all
others, surpasses anything of the kind that kas been, or pro-
bab'y over can be produced. Being of the same colour a,
the skin, is not perceptible. It enables deaf persons to heat
distinctly at church and at public assemblies; the unpleasant
sensation of singing noises in the ears is entirely 7orno7ed,
and it affords all the assistance that possibly could he desired.
—3l, Alkemarle-street, Piccadilly.—Observe—opposite the
York Hotel, W.

STRATFORD AND IVEST HAM.

- _.,,.-

The promoters of tlte P 1 deo w and Victoria Dock
Mission, feeling that little effective good can be
accomplished in a religious point of view amongst
a population living within such degrading influences
as surround the inhabitants of Halls Ville, hay e
very wisely taken active measures to remedy the
sad state of things existing there. The sanitary and
physical condition of the place has therefore received
their first attention, and our readers will be glad
to hear that on the 19th inst. a deputation, consist•
ing of the Rev. W. B. Marsh, the Rev. Allred W. i
Mason, and Antonio Brady, , waited upon the
Secretary of State for the Home Department, and
presented a petition from the inhabitants of Halls
Ville, the New Town in the swamp surrounding the •
Victoria Docks, praying for immediate sanitary
measures. The deputation was introduced by T.
W. Bramston, Esq., M.P., and R. B. Wingfield,
EQq., M.P., our two county members, both of whom
take a lively interest in the proposed mission, as
very deeply concerning both the social and moral
condition of a large number of their poorer consti-
tuents. Mr. Bramston was already well acquainted
with the horrible state of the district in question ;
and Mr. Wiugfield, being scarcely able to credit tt,e
statements put forth of the filthy state of the place,
took the trouble to go down for the special purpose
of examining it for himself. He was accompanied
in his visit by MesSrs. Marsh and Brady, and spent
the whole of the day in minutely inspecting the
abominations complained of. It need hardly be
stated that he found the reality far worse than the
description. Such a place must be seen to be un-
derstood, for what words can describe the stench
and filth of it 1 They also visited the little school
shed.-4 map of the district was submitted to Sir
George arey, shewing the nature of the swamp in
which Halls Ville and Canning Town are built,
without any attempt at drainage, or any regard to
the health of the inhabitants or the•conveniences
and decencies of life. Theyare towns without drain,
sewers, or roads, being little more than the marsh
soil trodden up, and in wet weather they are
scarcely passable. The whole district is 7 feet be-
low high water mark, the tide of the Thames being
only kept out by the river embankment. The grand
feature, however, of the place, is the open marsh
ditches, which are in, among, around, nay even
in some instances under the very houses. These
ditches are the only receptacles of all the sewage of
the neighbourhood, and in " the whole parish of
West Ham cover an area of upwards of 140 super-
ficial acres ! They are mostly stagnant and filled
with matter of the foulest and most disgusting
description, and form an evaporating surface, the
evil influences of which are felt even in Louden."
Vide Board of Health Report.—" No wonder that
the inhabitants of Hall's Ville should complain of a
high rate of mortality and much sickness !1" The
deaths average five times the proportion of the ad-
joining parishes, and it is surprising that the con-
sequences of such a state of things are not even
more severely felt.—The deputation submitted
to the Home Secretary a report to the General
Board of Health, which was drawn up in 1855 by
A. L. Dickens, Esq., C. E , and remarked that fi.om
the great extension of building and the increase in
noxious trades, the evils then described were now
aggravated to a frightful extent by the accumula-
tions of these two years. The deputation informed
Sir G. Grey that they had presented a similar peti-
tion to the Local Board of Health, formed in cones-
quence of Mr. Dickens' report. The board promise
to do what they can to mitigate the "admitted
frightfully bad state of Hall's Ville ;" but the only
remedial measures which they have the power to
enforce, being in the opinion of the deputation of
little avail to meet the evils complained of, they
entreated Sir G. Grey to cause a Government inspec-
tor to be sent forthwith to report upon the serious
matters adverted to in the petition, which was signed
by the four resident medical practitioners, and by
about 250 inhabitants. Sir G. Grey promised to
refer the whole matter to the General Board of
Health; the deputation thanked the Heme Secretary
for the attention he had kindly bestowed upon the
subject, and withdrew. We propose next week to
give a few extracts from Mr. Dickens' report, that
our readers may judge for themselves of the state
of Hall's Ville, and of the parish of West Ham
generally, of which it forms a part.—Chelmsford
Chronicle, May 29.

From the London Gazette of Last Night

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, MAY 13.

Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold
Drawing-rooms at St. James's Palace, on the following
days, at two o'clock turday, June 5, and Tuesday,
June 23.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, MAY 13.
Notice is hereby given, that her Majesty will hold a
Levee, at St. James's Palace, on Thursday the 18th of
Juno next, at two o'clock.

FOREIGN-OFFICE, JUNE 2.
The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. George B.
Kerferd as Consul at Liverpool for the Republic of Salva-
dor.

WHITEFIALL, JUNE L
The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. George
Hunter to the church and parish of Kirkton, in the pres-
bytery of Jedburgh, and shire of Roxburgh, vacant by the
death of the Rev. Win. Stewart Militia, late Minister
thereof.

WHITEHALL, MAY 9.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed Ezekiel Evans Fear
of Sherborne, in the county of Dorset, Gent., to be a Com
missioner to administer oaths in the High Court of Chan.
cery in England.

WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, JUNE 2.
ROYAL ARTILLERY.

The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets to be Lieute
nants, via.:—

Vincent Frederick Tufnell.
Richard Butler Stoney.
John Henry Blackley.
Robert Carstairs Drysdale.
Henry Williams Dicken.
William Sampson Brown.
Henry John Palliser.
William Taylor Cathcart.
Benjamin John Bonner.
Charles Thornhill.
Charles Eversfield Bethune.
Joseph Egerton Cockburn.
Sidney Parry.
William Price Bowen.
ROYAL ENGINEERS.
Second Captain Robert Dundas Kerr to bo Captain,
vice Freeling, Seconded.

Lieut. LiO'nel Charles Barber to be Second Captain, vice
Kerr.

Second Captain John Yerbury Moggeridge to be Cap
tain, vice Barlow, resigned.
Lieut. George Reid Lempriere to be Second Captain,
vice Moggeridge.

The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets to be Lieuten
wits; viz. :
Frederick W. It. Clements.
Edward Micklem.
Frederick Tynte Warburton.
George Goodall.
Arthur Parnell.
Grant Blunt.
Henry Peaseley L'Estrange St. George.
Dalhousie Holmes Burnes.
Charles Edward Luard.
Bruce Brine.

BREVET.
The dates of promotion of the undermentioned officers,
of the Royal Engineers, to the Brevet rank of Colonel, to
be altered to 28th November, 1854, to place them in their
proper position in the Army, the dates inserted in the
Gazette of 16th March, 1855, having been in error :
Colonel John Isaac Hope.
Colonel Richard Jobn Stotherd.
Colonel Thomas Coryndon Luxmore, retired full pay.
Colonel William Faris, retired full pay.
Colonel Thomas Hare, retired foil pay.