The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 14, 1861

fend her, and it was understood that the defence
was that when she did the act she was insane.
The prisoner, however, refused to alter her plea,
and repeated that she justly deserved death, and
hoped that might be the case.
Mr. Justice Keating inquired whether the sur-
geon of Bristol gaol was present, and, being in-
formed that he was not, his Lordship said he would
adjourn the case till this morning, and directed that
the surgeon should be in attendance.
At the sitting of the Court to-day the prisoner,
when called upon to plead, pleaded "not guilty,"
and the trial proceeded.
It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner
man, living at
had 12 Nwaes.
4tl,aej
owhinf-estorfeeatpßoorristloalb. ousrhineghad
chil-
dren, but six of them had died, and the charge
now made against her was that she had murdered
her youngest child, a little girl three years of age,
by hanging her to a bedstead, on the 26th of May
last. At about half-past 12 o'clock in the day a
neighbour who lived opposite, as she was sitting at
her window, saw the prisoner return home to her
lodging with the little girl, a very nice interesting
child, three years of age. At her door the prisoner
took her child up in her arms and kissed her several
times, and then went into the house. In about 10
minutes she came out of the house alone, and having
locked the door and looked into the window of the
parlour in which she lodged, she went straight to
the Central Police Station at Bristol, and gave her-
self up to a policeman there, saying, " I'm your pri-
soner." The policeman asked " What for ?' and she
replied "For hanging one of my children." The
policeman asked her what made her do that, and
she said, "It is ail through the ill-treatment of my
husband, for the last three years." She then gave
the policeman a key, and said that if he took the
key and would go to No. 4, John-street, he would
find the child. The policeman went as directed,
and found the child in the state described, and im-
mediately sent for medical assistance, but life was
extinct. The policeman stated that the conduct of
the prisoner, when she came to the station, was per-
fectly calm and composed, and that she maintained
the same demeanour when before the coroner, and
she spoke of what she had done as if it had been
some matter of ordinary occurrence. The witness,
Mary Shepherd, who saw the prisoner enter her
house with the child, said she had known her for
thirty years, and had always found her to be
excessively fond of her children, and particularly
of the one whose death was now in question, and
that when she took the child in her arms she
kissed her again and again, and then went into
the house. She also said the prisoner was subject
to epileptic fits, and she always considered her to
be a person of very strange and eccentric habits.
She was of a very religious turn of mind, and
was in the habit of walking about the streets with
a hymn-book, and singing hymnsin a strange man-
ner, and doing various other eccentric acts, which
caused her to be called in the neighbourhood,
" Flighty Mrs. Oliver." She also stated that the
prisoner's husband had treated her very badly for
many years, and shehad often seen her with bruises
and black eyes. When before the coroner the pri-
soner made the following statement :—" I done it,
sir ; I am guilty, entirely through my husband's
ill-conduct to me for the last 16 years. I had three
children born diseased, and one he killed before it
was born. The reason I did it was because I was
weary of my life and had sooner die than live."
Mr. Powell addressed the jury for the prisoner,
and in so doing said there was one melancholy fact
in the case which it was impossible to deny—viz.,
that the prisoner had with her own hands de-
stroyed the life of the little child of whom she was
so fond. The only question would be whether at
the time she did the act she was in her sound mind
and able to distinguish right from wrong. The act
itself, and the conduct of the prisoner, seemed al-
most sufficient to show that she was insane, but he
should call witnesses to show that she had been for
many years subject to epileptic fits, and to ill-treat-
ment from her husband, under which her mind had
at length given way. From the general tendency
df her health, and the disgusting and brutal treat-
ment which she had received, her mind had at last
become affected, and she committed the act in ques-
tion when unable to distinguish right from wrong.
She would have killed her husband, but she did not
think he was fit to die ; she would have killed her-
self, but she knew it was forbidden by God's law ;
but she was weary of her life, and she thought that
by destroying her innocent child her own life would
be taken away by the law, and she would see her
child in another world,
The learned counsel then called several witnesses
in support of this case.

Mr. Phillips, a deacon of the Broadmead Chapel,
at Bristol, stated that the prisoner had been for
many years a member of the Baptist church there,
and he had always considered her to be a very re-
ligious but eccentric person. Her husband also had
been formerly a member, when he was first mar-
ried to the prisoner, but he had for many years
ceased to be so, and had become addicted to habits

of intoxication, and had ill-treated his wife, the
prisoner. The prisoner was at times excessively
religious—so much so that, as deacon, he had to re-
monstrate with her, for at times she would go to
some chapel or another every night in the week.
At other times she would be equally remiss. Her
conduct in this respect had more than once been
the subject of consideration, but he had always ad-
vised that she should be dealt lightly with, in con-
sequence of her known eccentric character. Several
other witnesses were examined, who spoke to the
fact that the prisoner was subject to epileptic fits,
and that she was considered by those who knew
her as a person of eccentric habits and unsound
mind. The surgeon who had seen her in prison
said, from what he saw of her, he could not say
she was of unsound mind, but he thought a person
who was liable to epileptic fits was likely to become
insane, and sometimes that change would take place
rapidly.
The learned Judge summed up, and in the result
the jury acquitted the prisoner on the ground of
insanity.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT-LIVERPOOL, Aug. 13.
THE FORGERIES ON THE LIVERPOOL TRADESMEN'S LOAN

SOCIETY.
(Before Mr. Baron Martin.)
Wm. Seabrook Chalkley, formerly secretary to
the Liverpool Tradesmen's Loan Society, who stood
charged with having committed forgeries on the
society amounting to upwards of £15,000, was
placed in the dock to take his trial on several in-
dictments preferred against him.
For several years the prisoner had occupied a
highly respectable position in Liverpool, and was a
prominent member of the Wesleyan body, and one
of their leading preachers. During the whole of
this period, however, it was subsequently proved
that he had been carrying on a series of forgeries,
and robbing the society to the amount above named.
In January, last year, he absconded, and was not
again heard of until June last, when he was arrested
in Southampton. On examining his papers, it ap-
peared he had been in America during the interval,
and passing under the name of the Rev. W. Cook,
had been received into the Independent body in
New York and Philadelphia, and was a leading
preacher amongst them. One of the letters found
upon him designated him " Our dear brother in
Christ, whose talents recommend him to any com-
munity amongst whom it may be his lot to labour."
Mr. Deighton conducted the prosecution, and
Mr. Pope defended the prisoner.
The first case proceeded with was that of a for-
gery of £2OO in the case of a fictitious loan to a
Miss Dickenson, of Manchester. The circumstances
of the case, as disclosed by the evidence for the pro-
secution, were as follows :—ln the years 1856 and
1857, Miss Dickenson obtained a loan from the
society, for which she deposited some title deeds.
In 1858 the loan was repaid, and the title deeds re-
turned. In June, 1859, the prisoner presented to
the directors a form of application for a loan to
Miss Dickenson of £2OO. The directors accepted
the proposal, and handed to the prisoner a cheque
for £2OO to meet the loan, the prisoner present-
ing a promissory note for the amount, purporting
to be signed by Miss Dickenson, and by her sister
as surety. Miss Dickenson and her sister both de-
nied their alleged signatures, and it was proved
that the document was a forged instrument by the
prisoner.

- --:-
The jury found the prisoner guilty.
The other indictments were not proceeded with.
His lordship sentenced the prisoner to be kept in
penal servitude for 15 years.

his wife, who was standing at the door, and whom
I have known for some years, invited me in.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—What did she say to you ?
Prosecutor (after some hesitation)—She said,
" Frank, will you come up-stairs ?" I did so, and
went into the first floor. _ _

Mr. D'Eyncourt—What happened when you got
there ? Speak up.
Prosecutor—He was not at home when I got up
stairs, and I was just going when he came home,
and as I was coming out of his room he tried to stab
me. He wanted to know my name, and I told him.
He went into his back room, and I went away and
proceeded to the corner of Exmouth•street, when
the prisoner came up to me and stuck a knife into
my head, and the blade broke off. When I was
coming down the stairs at his house he made a
thrust at me with his bayonet. I had been from
his house tenor fifteen minutes before he stabbed me.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—What did he say to you ?
Prosecutor—He wanted me to go down on my
knees and confess, but he would not give me time.
Prisoner—Did you not draw the knife first ?
Prosecutor—No ; I had no knife in my possession.
Mr. D'Eyneourt—Did you know both the accused
and his wife ?
Prosecutor—Yes.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did the prisoner know that
you were in the habit of visiting his wife ?
Prosecutor (hesitating)—No, he did not.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did you know that it was
against his wish that you accepted her invitation ?
Prosecutor (again hesitating)—Yes.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did you know that he would
not approve of your accepting his wife's invitation
to go into the house ?
Prosecutor—Yes. _ _

Mr, D'Eyncourt—You knew that when you went
in ?

Prosecutor—Yes.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—And you wanted to get away
before he got home ?
Prosecutor (again hesitating)—Yes, sir.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—ln fact you have been carrying
on a clandestina correspondence with his wife ?

Prosecutor (after a long pause)—Yes, sir.
Mr. D'Eyncourt (to the surgeon)—ls this man,
the prosecutor, in any danger ?
Mr. Hill, the house surgeon to the Royal Free
Hospital, replied that there was danger, and that
gentleman was accordingly sworn. He said—At
about half-past one o'clock last night the prosecutor
was brought to the Royal Free Hospital suffering
from an extensive incised wound on the right tem-
ple, and which extended through the Lune.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Through the bone ?
The Witness—Yes, through the skull. Immedi-
ately above that wound was a smaller lacerated one.
There was a punctured wound on the right shoulder,
and one just beneath the collar bone, but these last
were superficial. The wound in the head is a very
serious one—it no doubt was caused by the instru-
ment produced. (The hand and blade of the clasp
knife were handed to the worthy magistrate.)
Mr. D'Eyncourt—l suppose there is danger from
the wound ?
Witness—Yes, he will not be out of danger for
ten days or a fortnight at least.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Did the wound bleed much ?
Witness—Not very much. The knife must have
gone in obliquely.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—And he is not out of danger ?
Witness—No, he is not.
Mr. D'Eyncourt (to the prosecutor)—Were all
the wounds inflicted at the one time?
Prosecutor—Yes, at the corner of Exmouth-
street.
Mr. D'Eyncourt (to the prisoner)--Do you wish
to ask the medical gentleman any questions ?
Prisoner—No, sir. But I wish to convey my best
thanks to him and Mr. Popham for their kindness
to me after I was wounded. It may throw some
light on the matter if I state that I used the knife
with my left hand, and I might therefore have cut
my arm and hand myself. I held the knife till the
policeman came.
Mr. Henry Holme Popham, a chemist, said—
The prosecutor was brought to my shop. He was
bleeding profusely from the wound in the head.
There was the blade of the dnife (produced) stuck
firmly in his head. It was more than an inch and
a half in his head.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Could the knife go in so far
without touching the brain ?
Witness—lt went up from the side to the top of
the skull, leaving the brain underneath.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Then the blow must have been
given with much force ?
Witness—Yes, sir. I had to use three pairs of
forceps, while the policeman held him, to draw the
blade of the knife from his skull, and in doing so
one of the forceps was broken. (Great sensation in
court.)
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Then you had to use all your
force to get the knife out ?
Witness—Yes. I had to pull half a dozen times
before I could get the knife out of his head.
Elijah Pembroke—l live at 3, Baker's-row,
Clerkenwell. I was standing at the corner of
Exmouth-street, about 12 o'clock last night, when
I saw the prosecutor stagger, and then I saw a
woman throw the prisoner against some timber. The
prosecutor and prisoner were all over blood, the
latter was bleeding from his band. I saw no other

man there. I did not go near them as I was fright-
ened. Some man came from the railway works and
rendered assistance.
It having been shown that prisoner was taken
into custody by Murphy, 226 G,
Mr. Alexander (the second clerk) asked if the
accused wished to say anything.
Prisoner—Yes. I can throw a light on the whole
matter.
Mr. D'Eyncourt told the prisoner he need not say
anything unless he liked—at all events, until he
had some one to defend him.
Prisoner—l could enter into details, but I shall
not have anyone to defend me. I think it better
that I should explain the case, but I do not wish to
take up the time of the Court. I should wish to
state that I did not disgrace the volunteer cause by
drawing my bayonet. It seems to be the idea, from
the way it has been flourished about here, that I
used it. I had been at drill, but I did not use my
bayonet at all.
The prisoner, who frequently sat down in the
dock, and appeared very sensitle of the serious
nature of the offence with which he was charged,
was then remanded for further evidence.

MARYLEB ONE, CHARGE OF ROBBERY
AGAINST A DESERTER.—George Lemon, was placed
at the bar charged with being a deserter from the'
Royal Artillery, also on suspicion of stealing plate
at Epsom.
Sergeant Simmonds, 20 D, deposed to taking
the priscner into custody on the previous night
in Marylebone-lane. On being charged by
him as being a deserter he said his name was
Davis, and that he belonged to Kingston in
Surrey. On being stripped at the station he was
found to be branded on his side with the letter D.
The sergeant said he was also wanted for a plate
robbery at Epsom.
Prisoner was remanded till Friday in order that
parties at Epsom might be communicated with.
DEATH OF A PRISONER TROUGH POISON.—After
the disposal of the night charges Inspector Gibson,
A division, informed his worship that a woman
named Sarah Garnett had died from the effects of
poison since being locked up on a charge of being
drunk and incapable.
It appeal-s that the female was taken to the sta-
tion at about a quarter past nine on the previous
evening, and after the charge had been entered she
was taken to the cell and locked up. A few
minutes after she was visited by Inspector Gibson,
who found her in an apparently insensible state.
He immediately summoned a doctor who was
promptly on the spot, and restored her to sensi-
bility. Sho was after this at short intervals visited
by the inspector, and at about ten minutes to eleven
he again found her in an insensible state. The
doctor was again summoned and did all that he
consistently could for a person who was supposed
to be labouring under intoxication. The inspector
sent off for her friends, when the daughter came
and said she had been looking for her mother for
more than an hour, and she was afraid that she
had taken poison. Upon this the doctor altered
his means of restoring her to consciousness, and the
stomach pump was applied. All remedies however
proved unavailing, and she died shortly before one
o'clock from the effects of an overdose of laudanum.
Singular to say her daughter admitted that her
mother told her at half-past eight that she had
taken poison and gave her a bottle labelled " lau-
danum," of which she took no notice. The daughter
saw her mother again about half an hour after sit-
ting on a door-step in Northumberland-street,
apparently asleep. Still she took no notice, and
heard or saw no more of her till she was in the
hands of the police. 4

SOUTHWARK.--ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A
FEMALE.—W. Hosford, an ill-looking fellow, de-
scribed in the charge sheet as a labourer, was
brought before Mr. Combe charged with cutting the
throat of Eliza Budd, with intent to murder her.
The prosecutrix, a young woman about 30, whose
throat and face were bandaged up, was assisted into
court and accommodated with a seat. She said—l
am a married woman, but my husband left me two
years ago, and I have since then been living with
the prisoner as his wife. I work a little at cloth
cutting for Mr. Jacobs, and entirely supported the
prisoner. About one o'clock on Sunday morning I
came home. The prisoner was in bed, and I spoke
to him about one of the lodgers, when he jumped
out of bed and exclaimed, "If you don't get out of
the house I'll soon make you." I said I should not
go as it was my home, when the prisoner went to

the bed and took a knife from under his pillow,
when he rushed at me and seized me by the hair
of my head, and at the same time I felt a cut across
my neck, and then I found that my throat was cut.
I fell down, when he made another stab at my neck
and cut me again. I seized hold of him and screamed
out murder until I became insensible from loss of
blood, and when I recovered I was being attended
to by a surgeon.
Mr. Combe—You say you are living with the pri-
soner. What mode has he of gaining a livelihood ?
Prosecutrix—He does nothing at all, sir. He lives
entirely upon my earnings, and when I do not bring
him home money, he illuses me.
Mr. Combe—What sort of a knife did ho cut you
with ?
Prosecutrix—A pocket-knife, sir, so far as I could
see; but I am not certain, as it was done so sudden.
Pether, 98 M, here produced a pocket-knife, the
small blade of which was bloody, and it appeared
to have been recently sharpened.
Prosecutrix—l think that is the knife he took
from under his pillow and cut my throat with.
When he seized hold of the hair of my head I was
endeavouring to get out of the room, when he put
his right hand in front of me and drew the knife
across my throat, saying, " Now, I'll do for you."
Mr. Combe—Has the prisoner been in the habit
of concealing a knife under his pillow ?
Prosecutrix—l never knew him to do so before.
Bernard Connelly, an engineer, said, I lodge in
the same house, and occupy the front parlour. On
Sunday morning, at one o'clock, I was in bed when
I heard a scuffling noise upstairs, and in a few
minutes afterwards a female called out " Murder !"
and then there was a heavy fall. I got out of my bed
and rushed upstairs, and on forcing open the front
door I saw the prisoner making cuts at the female
with a knife. Blood was flowing from a cut across
her throat, and she was holding the prisoner's arm.
I seized hold of him, and after a desperate resist-
ance succeeded in wrenching the knife from him.
While we were struggling together a policeman
came to my assistance, and the prisoner was se-
cured. I handed the knife produced to the constable,
and fetched a doctor to attend to the female.
Mr. Thomas Evans, surgeon, 159, High-street,
Southwark, said—About one o'clock on Sunday
morning I was called to attend a female at No. 1,
Duke-street, Mint. When I entered the first floor
room, I saw the prosecutrix lying insensible on the
bed, with blood flowing from a cut across the neck.
I examined the wound, and found it to be two
inches long, and within the eighth of an inch of
the jugular vein. Fortunately, neither of the main
arteries had been severed, but she had a very
narrow escape from death. Had the cut been
deeper it must have proved fatal.
Mr, Combe—Do you believe that tho wound was
inflicted with the knife produced ?

Dr. Evans—l do, sir.
Mr. Combe—Do you now apprehend any danger
Dr. Evans—No, Sir. I think, with great care,
the prosecutrix may get on very well.
Police-constable Pether, 98 M, said—l was on
duty in the Mint on Sunday morning, about one
o'clock, when I heard screams of " Murder" and
" Police" proceed from No. 1, Duke-street. I ran
towards the spot, and heard a man's voice up-stairs
call out " Shut up the knife." I then entered the
house, and in a room on the first floor I saw the
witness Connelly wrench the knife produced from
the prisoner. It was bloody, and Connelly told me
that the prisoner had just cut his wife's throat. I
saw the female lying on the side of the bed, bleed-
ing from a cut across the front of her neck. I
secured the prisoner, and sent Connelly arid another
man for Dr. Evans, who returned to the house in a

few minutes.
Sergeant Gardner, 25 M, the acting inspector at
Stone s.end police station, said I received charge of
the prisoner at the latter place, and when I read
the charge over to him he said " I did it because she
aggravated me."
This being the whole of the evidence against him,
Mr. Combe cautioned him in the usual manner,
and asked him if he wished to say anything in his
defence ?
Prisoner—No, Sir. I shall reserve my defence
until my trial.
Mr. Combe—Then it is my duty to commit you
for trial for attempt to murder.
The prisoner was then removed by Downe, the
gaoler, under commitment to Newgate for trial at
the next session.
ANOTHER ATTEMPTED MURDER. George
Buckingham, a tinman, was charged with cutting
and wounding Samuel Bacon, with intent to murder
him.
The injured man was not in attendance when the
case was called on, when
Josiah Welsh, 185 M, informed his worship that
he was at the time in the hospital; and he under-
stood that the wound he had received was dangerous.
Mr. Combe asked him whether he knew anything
of the transaction.
Welsh replied that about five o'clock on Saturday
afternoon he was on duty in Newington-causeway,
when he heard cries of " Murder' proceed from
York-street. He crossed over and saw the prisoner
running towards him with a knife in his hand, the
blade of which was bloody. Witness stopped him,
and then he saw the prosecutor led up the street,
when he told witness that the prisoner had stabbed
him on the left side with his clasp knife. They had
had a quarrel in York-street a few minutes previous,
when it wee stated that the prisoner suddenly pulled
out his knife and stabbed him. After the prisoner
was secured, witness took the injured man to Mr.
Townsend's, a surgeon close by, when it was dis-
covered that the prosecutor had received a stab on
the left side. The knife had been prevented from
penetrating the side by striking against the fourth
rib.
Mr. Combe asked whether he knew anything of
the parties.
The constable replied that they were both sus-
picious characters, well known to the police, but the
prisoner was heard to say that he intended to have
murdered the other man.
Mr. Combe remanded him until Monday next.
MORE CUTTING AND WOUNDING.—WaIter Mar-
tin, a costermonger, was charged with cutting and
wounding Catharine Barry.
The prosecutrix, a young woman, whose left eye
was cut, said she was a furrier, and lived in Gravel-
lane. On the previous night, between nine and ten
o'clock, she was standing outside the Brown Bear
public-house, talking to a young man. The prisoner
was near her, opening mussels with a small table
knife. He turned round and abused her, making
use of very bad language, when she told him not to
annoy her. Ho then flourished the knife about, and
said, " I'll stab you in the eye." She told him he
had better not, when he suddenly rushed at her
and cut her on the side of her left eye with the
knife. She raised her hand to save her face, when
he made another plunge at her, but was prevented
by her landlady, who came up at the time and took
the knife from him. The prisoner then made his
escape.
Mr. Combo asked whether her landlady or any
other witness was in court.
She replied in the negative. Although the land-
lady had received a wound on her hand in defend-
ing her, she refused to come forward and give
evidence. She understood that the witnesses were
afraid of the prisoner's companions.
The prisoner here said that it was all false what
the prosecutrix had stated. They were all drunk
together, and she fell against the knife.
Police-constable 169 M said that about 10 o'clock
the prosecutrix came to the station-house bleeding
from a cut near the left eye. She was perfectly,
sober, and related the circumstances to him. Wit-
ness found the prisoner in a public-house a little the
worse for liquor, when he denied having a knife in
his hand, or ever seeing the female.
Mr. Corrie remanded the prisoner for a week,
and granted summonses to the constable to compel
the attendance of the required witnesses.

WESTMINSTER.—MURDEROUS ASSAULTS.—
John Wilson, a tall, powerful fellow, of forbidding
appearance, rendered perfectly hideous by his fea-
tures being and swollen to a most unnatural size,
and besmeared with blood, who keeps a house of ill-
fame in Pond-pl&ce, Chelsea, was charged With a
series of desperate assaults.
Robert M'Kay, 182 B, said that, at a quarter past
10 on the previous night, he was called by defend-
ant's wife to take him into custody for a serious
assault upon her. She was bleeding copiously
from a cut extending right across her face,
which she said he had inflicted with a razor. On
witness approaching defendant he struck him a vio-
lent blow across the head with a poker, and after
a slight struggle repeated the assault with the same
weapon. Witness had followed the defendant into
his house, and the door having been shut by some
of the bad characters in the house, he was deprived
for some time of assistance, during which a most
desperate struggle was going on between him and
defendant. At length the outer door was forced
open by the crowd, and witness, weakened by loss
of blood from his wounds, retired.
Charles Smith, 131 B, continued the narrative of
the defendant's violence. Hearing the defendant
bad escaped into the adjoining house, he followed
him there, and upon entering an upstairs room the
accused aimed a desperate kick at him, and then
proceeded to further violence. Witness struck him
on the head with his truncheon, and they then
closed, and a desperate struggle and fight occurred
between them, in the course of which the defend-
ant behaved in the most ruffianly and cowardly
manner.
Sergeant Morgan, 3 B, said he went to Smith's
assistance at the end of his struggle with the de-
fendant. Defendant struck him a violent blow
on the side of the head, and after a series of assaults
, the accused was dragged out of the house. He re-

sisted all the way to the station, and it required a '
large number of constables to convey him there.
Mr. Dayman said he should commit the defend-
ant for trial, and remanded him until Friday for
the depositions to be prepared.
Bail was refused.
The accused's wife did not exhibit any charge
against him.
John Edwards, described as a hawker, was
charged with robbing William Stone, the waiter at
the Cadogan, Chelsea.
Owing to the influx of persons to view the female
Blondin's performance at Cremorne the Cadogan was
crowded with visitors, and Stone was busily en-
gaged attending to their wants, when he felt a tug
at his waistcoat pocket, where he wore his watch,
attached to a strong silver guard, and missing the
former, saw the prisoner's hand pass from his waist-
coat with something in it. He made a clutch at the
hand, but it was hastily put behind it, and the
watch disappeared.
Prisoner, who refused his address, was remanded.

THE BET2ING IN BRIDE-LANE.

GUILDHALL POLICE-COURT.

The following appeared in a portion of our impression of
yesterday evening :

Thomas Nevcome, Philip Powter, Charles Wales,
Alfred Scarratt, and John Valentine Stanley were sum-
moned before Sir James Duke, at the instance of the City
Solicitor of the City Police, for obstructing one of the high-
ways of the City of London—viz., Bride-lane—and thereby
creating a nuisance. The latter two, Valentine and Stan-
ley, did not answer.
Mr. Metcalfe appeared for the defendants.

Mr. Sleigh said he appeared there that day, instructed by
the City Solicitor, to charge the defendants with obstruct-
ing one of the highways in the City, thereby im-
peding one of the public thoroughfares, and therefore
causing a nuisance. The defendants, in company
with many others, were in the habit of assem-
bling in Bride-lane for the purpose of betting on horse
racing, but the Proceedings were not instituted against
them for carrying on their occupation as betting men, be-
cause this was a free country and any one had the right to
do whatever he pleased providing he did not break the law.
The obstruction would have been the same had the defen-
dants assembled for the purpose of disseminating useful
information on politics, temperance, or religion, therefore,
the profession of the defendants would not act as a
prejudice against them on the present occasion.
The learned gentleman then cited several cases
as precedents, '-'f,and amongst these one of them
by Lord Tenterden, who decided that any person collecting
together a crowd of persons, to the annoyance of his neigh-
bour, was guilty of creating a nuisance. Another instance
of a prosecution for obstructing the highway, was that of a
person named Carlyle, in Fleet-street, in which a convic-
tion took place. He was not instructed to use harsh lan-
guage because the gentlemen summoned chose to engage
in the speculation of horse-racing; they had a perfect right
to enter into any profession they pleased. He would have
rejected any instructions to use language prejudicial to the
defendants as persons of respectability; but the point he had

to submit was that the defendants, by causing a great num-
ber of persons to assemble in Bride-lane, did create a nui-
sance. He therefore on the present occasion proposed to
call for the binding over of the defendants to meet the
charge at the Sessions.
Constable Trim 20, said—On 6th May last I was ap-
pointed to do duty with another constable (Hooper) in
Bride lane. I had done duty there for eight months pre-
vious. I know the whole of the defendants. I first saw
Scarratt in Bride-lane on the 4th of July. On the 6th of
May, at noon, I saw Newcome, Powter, and Wales,
in Bride-lane. There were a great many persons
round each of them. They were all separated
from each other. The lane was occupied from about 10
yards from Fleet-street to the bottom by the defendants and
the persons around them. I have seen as many as 20
persons round each defendant at a time. I have seen as
many as 400 persons in the lane, and I should think there
was that number present on the day I have mentioned.
The defendants were standing there with them betting.
Bets were very often made by parties around them.
Mr. Metcalfe—You heard them ?

Witness—Yes.

Examination continued—They moved on when I told
them, but the crowd followed them. They did not stand
still in opposition to what I said. As the defendants
moved the crowd fd!lowed, but they did not leave the lane.
When they made their entries in their books I saw them
do so sometimes standing and sometimes walking.