The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-28 00:00:00

the prisoners, James Smith, was whistling and
making improper noises, and upon my speaking to
him his manner was anything but respectful. Did
not hear him incite the other prisoners to mis-
behave as well. Did not observe any of the pri-
soners, either by voice or sight, on the lower deck
when the drum beat to quarters.
By the prisoner Smith—When I ordered you at
the dockyard gates to cease whistling you answered
without saying " Sir." You kept your hands in
your trousers, and when I told you I should report
you when I got on board you said to me, " I dare
say you will."
George Hoad—On the 12th inst. was a prisoner
in irons on board the Princess Royal, in the fore
cockpit. Saw James Smith, one of the prisoners,
come down during the disturbance on the lower
deck, but cannot say when he went up again, as
the lights were put out. A mob came down, and
myself and five other prisoners were released from
irons, but I cannot say who broke the lock. My-
self and the other prisoners remained in the cock-
pit until the officers came down after the disturb-
ance. Saw the prisoner James Smith put out one
light ; it was banging on the port side of the sail
room. There were five lights there at the time, and
they were put out down the fore scuttle. The two
sentries were there at the time, and tried to pre-
vent the lights being put out. Did not recognise
any other of the prisoners as being in the fore cock-
pit. Was invited by the rioters to escape from the
sentry's charge.
Samuel Hunt—Was ship's corporal of the Princess
Royal. At the time of the riot recognised the voice
of Randle, one of the prisoners. He was shouting,
" Hang on and keep the down." Did not see
Randle when he made use of this language, but
could not be mistaken in his voice, as he heard him
three or four times. The sentries on the main deck
also recognised it, for they said, " That is Harry
Randle's voice."

Thos. Scandrup, sergeant, Royal Marines—Was
on the ship's lower deck when the disturbance took
place, and went on the orlop deck and remained
with the sentry and others there. The men on the
lower deck ordered the lights to be put out. After
that armed themselves with the cutlasses thrown by
the men down the hatchway. Recognised no one
at the time, but afterwards recognised Harvey, one
of the prisoners ; he spoke in an excited manner, as
though he was joining in the riot.
By the prisoner Harvey—Recognised your voice
from its peculiarity ; every man in the ship would
know it from any other.
John M'Donald, Royal Marine—Was sentry at
the gun-room door at the time of the riot among
the crew. The light was knocked out by the
rioters—pelted out with basins and plates. I could
not see who the rioters were, but could hear them.
Heard them call out " Put out the light." Heard
one of the prisoners, Earley, say, "Now for the
-- gun room door." Went forward with Lieu-
tenant Pratten, and:saw the prisoner Thurley, who
went by the name of " Chelsea" in the ship, with a
basin and plate in his hands, his hands held behind
him, Afterwards saw Captain Farquhar, of her
Majesty's ship Victory, on the main deck, who said
he was sent there by the Admiral to inquire into
the disturbance. Thurley said, " I wish to come
up and speak to you, sir," to which Captain Farqu-
har replied, " Come up, there's a good man, and
spaak to me." After that a great number of the
men followed him up, and when no more came up
Captain Farquhar went below himself, and I fol-
lowed him. Found there was no light, and asked
one of the men to pass down a light, which he did;
everything was then quiet again, and witness re-
turned to his post at the gunroom door.
It being now past 5 p.m. the Court adjourned
until 9 a.m. this day. The second Court will try
Samuel Orr, 0.5., on charges of assault and mutin-
ous conduct ; the third will be for the trial of James
Griffiths, 0.5., on a charge of mutinous conduct.
The fourth Court will be for the trial of 110 other
seamen on a general charge of " mutinous conduct ;"
and the fifth for the trial of William Barry, a sea-
man, for violent and mutinous conduct. The last
trial will not take place until a medical officer has
certified to Barry's fitness, he having received an
injury on his leg, from which he is still suffering.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE, Nov. 26.

WESTMINSTER. THE EXTRAORDINARY
CHARGE OF ADULTERY AND ROBBERY.—EmiIio
Ponti, a young Italian, underwent another length-
ened examination, charged with stealing a quantity
of valuable property belonging to Thomas Pithers,
of 19, Stanley-street, Brompton (not Stanley-street,
Pimlico, as previously stattd), with whose wife he
had eloped.
The details of the case have before appeared.
Ponti locked Pithers up for a month for threaten-
ing him, and din:lng his incarceration cohabited
with Me wife, When Pithers was released he
found that his wife and property had left his house,
and both. were found in an apartment occupied
by Ponti, and it was urged for the prosecution
that prisoner was guilty of stealing the goods taken
a'a,ay. The answer to this was that the law did
not protect a man who suffered his wife to indulge
in infamous practices ; that the property taken
away was personally the wife's, and the wages of
promiscuous adultery ; and further, that Ponti was
no party to the removal.
Two more witnesses having been examined by
Mr. Smythe for the prosecution, who proved that
Ponti had said he would do all he could to get Mrs.
Pithers away from her home, and that she had run
away from him on two or three occasions, as he was
in the habit of ill-treating her, the important testi-
mony of Mrs. Pithers was taken by Mr. W. B.
Davies, for the defence, and was as follows :
Mary, Pithers (sworn)—l am the wife of the pro-
secutor in this case, to whom I was married on the
last day of May, 1855. I have lived at 10, York-
place, Vauxhall-road. I first became acquainted
with Pithers a year before I was married. I was a
housemaid and he was a serving-man in a family.
I went to York-place in 1857. We did not live
together for a long time. He knew I saw gentlemen
before I was married. I saw other gentlemen be-
sides Ponti, at York-place, while my husband slept
in another room. Sometimes he slept with me. He
never did any work while I was in that house. I
saw other gentlemen before Ponti came, and my
husband never used to say anything so long as they
gave me money, even if it was only 55., but if they
gave me none he would make a disturbance. On
any occasion when gentlemen came in he would go
out of the room and run down stairs. The gentle-
men gave me money, clothes, rings, brooches, and
other things. A gold chain was bought out of a
£5 note given me by a gentleman, and my hus-
band went with me to purchase it. I used to give
my husband the money; he would take it from
me as soon as the gentlemen were gone. On the
sth of April, 1857, I was dressing in my room
to go out, when my husband came to me and
said, " There's a gentleman looking up, he's
quite a gentleman, let him in." The servant
let him in, and my husband ran down into the
kitchen. It was Ponti; he gave me a sovereign
directly he crme in, and gave the servant half-a-crown
to go and fetch some pale ale. He stayed an hoar,
and then went away. While he was in the house I
went down stairs and gave my husband the sove-
reign. Ponti said he wanted to take apartments—
had I any I could let him have ? I said he might
have the drawing-room floor if he liked. I asked
my husband, when he was gone, whether he would
let him come, and he was quite agreeable. He came
on the following Tuesday, bringing his luggage with
him ; no terms were made about payment. fle did
not know that I was married. He did not know it
for three months afterwards. I never told him. He
gave me £3 to pay the rent. He paid for my dinner,
and for months afterwards I had poultry, fish, fruit,
and other delicacies sent from the City by him. I
gave my husband the £3 directly after I received
it, and I told him where I got it from. Ponti has
given me notes and a great many sovereigns, and
while he gave me money, my husband said he might
come as often as he pleased ; as long as people gave
me money he never said anything, and if Ponti was
giving me money now, Pithers would not bring this
charge against him. The whole of the time Ponti
was with me my husband was in the same house.
Ponti gave aie the greater part of the money I re-
ceived. When I told Ponti I was a married woman
he said I ought to have told him that before, as I
had kept him from his friends, and now he could not
go back; that was true. He wanted to go a week
before, and I would not let him. I cried, I begged
and prayed of him not to go--not to leave me, for my
husband ill-treated me so I could not live with him.
When I left York-place I went to 5, Boyle-street. I
went alone, but Pithers used to come and see me,
and I wrote to him and sent him money. I saw
gentlemen there ; my husband was aware of it.
Gentlemen came while my husband was there, and
he waited outside. When he came in I gave
him some money. Shortly afterwards Pithers
took me away to 11, Bel rave-street South. He
gave his name " Thomas" there, and represented me
as " Mrs. Hill." He had told me I might take any
name I liked. He did not want the people at the
house to know he was my husband, as he was afraid
they would not let me see gentlemen if they knew
that. He used to be there all day, and once he
opened the door himself to a gentleman. The
gentleman gave me money, and Pithers came in
when he was gone. My husband used to have all
the money. He would not let Ponti see me, be-
cause
Ponti would not give me money for my bus.
band. I went from there with Pithers to 19,
Stanley-street, Brompton. All men might come to
see me who would give me money. My husband
used to go out with me, and he would come down
the area steps quietly, so that if I had gentlemen
With me they should not hear him. He never asked