The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-03 00:00:00

THAMES.

A DRUNKEN WA:TCRMAN.—James Taylor, a watchman
hi the employ of the London Dock Company, was brought
before Mr. Selfe, charged with having possession of a tube
for the purpose of abstracting wino from casks in violation
of the police act.
Edward Ellis, a gatekeeper, in the service of the Dock
Company, stated that he missed the prisoner from his beat
in the Dock at nine o'clock last night, and could not find
him until ten, when he discovered him seated on a cask of
port wine, among thousands of others, on ono of the quays.
The prisoner was fast asleep and very drunk, and he had
some difficulty in arousing him. He conveyed the prisoner
to the dock watch-house, and on the way there Taylor
threw away a tube, and was about to send a gimlet after
it, but was prevented doing so. The tube was recovered.
It smelt strongly of port wine and had been recently
used.

The prisoner in defence said he had the misfortune of
having a very bad wife, who beat him and scratched his
face yesterday afternoon. He came to that court for
redress, and got drinking heavily at the public-house oppo-
site. When he went upon duty he was very sleepy and much
fatigued, and he sat upon a cask of wine and fell asleep.
He used the tube for the purpose of smoking tobacco. The
gimblet had been in his pocket a fortnight. Ile drank no
wino at all ; it was the beer he drank opposite the court
that caused him to fall asleep.
Rudkins, a dock constable, said the tube was wet and
stained with port wine when the prisoner was brought to
the watch-house.
Mr. Selfe—The tube has never been used for.snaeking,
but for drinking. Was there any deficiency of wine in the
cask on which the prisoner was seated ?
Rudkins—Yes, sir ; there was a deficiency of three pinta.
The prisoner was formerly a constable in the Metropolitan
police force.
Mr. Selfe—Yes ; I have known him some tithe, and I ant
afraid he is going to the bad. He will lose his situation I
suftPakc.ins—Certainly, sir; the Dock Company will: never
employ him again.
Mr. Selfc said he had power to send the prisoner to gaol
for ene month, but as he would lose his situation ho should
fine him 10s. only, and not send him to prison upon this
occasion.
The penalty was paid.

THE STRANDING OF TILE JUBILEE.—The
report of Mr. Traill, police magistrate, and Captain Farris,
nautical assessor, relative to the loss, of the ship Jubilee, of
761 tons bur then Captain John Douglas, master, about half-
a-mile to the northward of Berck lighthouse, on the French
coast, with a cargo of *silk and tea valued at £250,000, was
yesterday issued from the Board of Trade. The worthy
magistrate, after going through the evidence, expressed his
opinion that the loss of the ship was owing to the default of
Capt;ain John Douglas, the master ; first, in not verifying the
ships position upon finding the variance between the 9b•
servation and the reckoning by account, and in not making
for the English coast before dark, or laying' a course cor-
responding to the true position of the ship at noon; and,
again, in not making free of the lead when the two lights
on the port bow were observed, whereby he might have
discovered his error, whilst it was not too late to be repaired.
Captain Harris having concurred in the above report, the
Board of Trade have cancelled the certificate of service of
Captain Douglas, allowing him, after the lapse of twelve
months, to appear before the Local Marine Board
and pass
an examination fora certificate of competency.