The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-26 00:00:00

THAMES.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE.—DISPUTED POSSESSION.—
A woman named Johnson, the wife of a man who is the
proprietor of an exhibition opposite Limehouse Church,
came before Mr. Yardley with a poor boy about 14 years of
age, in most wretched plight, without shirt, shoes, or
stockings, and with his nakedness scarcely concealed by a
few old rags. In this state, said Mrs. Johnson, the poor lad
has been turned out of house and home; he has been ill
used, and half-starved, and now he is glad, poor fellow, to
come back to us again.
Mr. Yardley asked for an explanation of the woman's
statement, and it was stated that a few months since Mrs.
Walker, a poor Irishwoman, living in Rotherhithe, claimed
the boy as her son, and said he had been stolen from her in
Kent, when he was an infant, and sold by the person who
stole him to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson for 30s. and a pot of
beer. It was also alleged that Johnson had made a profit-
able speculation of the boy, and exhibited him throughout
the country as a tumbler. An old woman named Mason,
living in Maidstone, claimed the boy as her grandson, and
said he had been stolen from his mother, since dead, when
he was three or four years of age, in the neighbourhood of
Rochester. Johnson, who always behaved well to the boy,
and gave him plenty of food, said he had had possession of
the boy many years, and claimed the right to retain him.
The Walkers produced a certificated copy of the register of
baptism of the boy at the Roman Catholic Church, Dock-
head, and their claims to the parentage appeared so irre-
sistible that on the boy declaring a preference for Mrs.
Walker, she was allowed to have the custody of
him. It was at the same time represented that Mrs.
Walker was a noisy, drunken, and dissipated character,
and Mr. Yardley exhorted her to look well after the boy,
and directed that the police should occasionally look after
her, and ascertain whether the boy was properly clothed
and fed. _ _

Mr. Yardley said there was a great alteration in the boy

for the worse.

Mrs. Johnson, who really displayed some interest in the
boy's welfare, said she was .pained to see the child in the
state he was in, and that she and her husband always
treated him well.

Mr. Yardley said it was never alleged that Johnson

ill-treated the boy, but that they came into possession of
him in a surreptitious manner. He asked the boy if he
wished to remain at the Johnson's.

The boy said he did, and that they always treated him
well.

Mr. Yardley said the boy on a former occasion, amidst
the several claimants, gave the preference to Mrs. Walker,
and it was evident he had made a very bad selection. The
boy might remain with the Johnsons if he pleased, and as
a tumbler, acrobat, or whatever he might be called, he
would have his liberty. A roving life had its charms. In
Johnson's profession fame and profit might be achieved.
He was sorry Mrs. Walker ever had charge of the lad, for
she had grossly neglected the trust reposed in her.
The boy then left the court with Mrs. Johnson ap-
parently overjoyed at the prospect of resuming his former
profession. He is an intelligent good looking boy, with an
unmistakeable Kentish face.

THIS DAYS MARKETS.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD RACES.-THURSDAY.

The Trial Stakes of 5 sovs each, with 40 added, for 2-yr-
olds and upwards. The winner to be sold for £500; if
not to be sold, 91b extra. One mile. (5 subs.)
Mr. Hare's Misty Morn, 4 yrs, 9st 21b (inc. 91b extra)
(Wells) 1
Mr. S. Williams's Hop Merchant, 3 yrs, 7st 41b (Hibberd) 2
Mr. T. Stevens's Ardour, 3 yrs, 7st 41b (Custance) 3

Brother to Wentworth and Waterford also ran.
Betting—Even on Ardour, and 7 to 4 agst Misty Morn.
Won by two lengths; bad third ; the other two beaten off.
The Headington Hill Stakes of 50 sovs, added to a Sweep-
stakes of 6 says each, for 2-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 71b ;

fillies, fst 41b. Winners extra. T.Y.C. Straight half

mile. 13 subs.
Mr. Seymour's Fravola, Bst 9lb (including 51b extra)
(Custance) 1
Mr. Merry's Lady Falconer, Bst lllb (inc. 71b extra)
(Plumb) 2
Mr. Moseley's Diamond, Bst 71b (W. White) 3
The following also ran :—Hartley Wintney, Maid of Or-
leans, Glendinning, and Philomel.
Betting-5 to 4 agst Lady Falconer, 4to 1 each agst
Fravola and Diamond, 5 to 1 agst Hartley Wintney (offd).
Won by three lengths ; bad third.
The Port Meadow Stakes of 40 sovs added to a Sweepstakes
of 5 sovs each, 2 ft. Winners extra. One mile. 14
subs.

Mr. Saxon's Queen Bess, 6 yrs, Est 81b
Mr. Hare's Misty Morn, 9st 131 b (inc. 51b ex ).. (Wells)
Mr. T. Parr's Cynthia, 3 yrs, Est 121 b (inc. 51b ex.)(Bray)

Betting-6 to 4 agst Cynthia, 2to 1 agst Misty Morn, 5
to 2 agst Queen Bess. Won by a length and a half, a head
between the second and third.

The Oxfordshire Stakes of 100 sovs added to a Handicap
Sweepstakes of 20 sovs each, 10 ft, and 5 only if declared,

&c. The second to save his stake. Winners extra. Two

miles. 32 subs, 21 of whom declared.
Mr. S. Jacobs's Eltham Beauty, 3 yrs, Gst 71b (in. 51b ex.)
(Edwards) 1
Mr. Saxon's Princess Royal, 4 yrs, 7st 131b(L. Snowden) 2
Mr. Angell's The Greek, 3 yrs, 7st 41b (Ducker) 3
The following also ran :—The Woman in Black, York,
colt by the Flying Dutchman out of Gala, and Accurate.

Betting-5 to 4 agst Eltham Beauty, sto 2 agst York, 4
to 1 agst Princess Royal, 6to 1 agst Woman in Black. The
favourite took the lead soon after entering the straight, and
won by five lengths, the others pulling up as they passed
the post. _ _ _

Selling Stakes of 25 sous, added to a Sweepstakes of 5 sous
each ; for 3-yr-olds and upwards. Three-quarters of a

mile, straight. 3 subs.
Mr. Blanton's Arminius, 3 yrs (130), sst 31b (Page) 1
Mr. Murrell's Saunterer, 6 yrs (X 150), Bst 81b(W. White) 2
No betting. Arminius made all the running, and won
by six lengths. The winner was bought in for 34 guineas.
The City Members' Plate of 50 sovs, added to a sweep-
stakes of 5 sovs each. Three quarters of a mile, straight.
Mr. Hare's Little Gerard, by The Emperor, aged, 9st
(Wells) 1
Mr. T. Hughes's Rosina, 3 yrs, 6st 41b (Bray) 2
Mr. Blanton's Neophyte, 3 yrs, 7st (Edwards) 3
Betting-3 to 1 agst Little Gerard, 4 to 1 each agst
Vigo and Neophyte, 6 to 1 each agst Maud and Rosina.
Won cleverly by half a length ; bad third, nothing else
near. Maud, who jumped round as the flag fell, walked in
last.