The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-23 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT.—(T)iiB Day.)

OLD COURT.

The September sessions of the Central Criminal Court
commenced this morning before the Lord Mayor, Aldermen
Sir J. Duk Sir F. G. Moon, the Recorder, the Sheriffs,
and Under Sheriffs.
The Recorder, in charging the grand jury, said he was
sorry to say that although the number of the prisoners for
trial was not more numerous than might have been ex-
pected, yet many of the charges were of a most serious
nature, and would call for the greatest consideration. There
were no less than three charges of wilful murder, three of
manslaughter, several others in which considerable vio-.
lence had been used, one with stabbing with intent to
commit murder, which still remained a capital offence, and
two charges of rape. The first case to which he would
refer was that against a person named William
Cogan, who was charged with the wilful murder of his wife.
The prisoner and his wife, it appeared,, when sober, lived
peaceably together, but wben intoxicated they were in the
habit of quarrelling, and the evidence showed that it
was during one of these unfortunate differences that the
alleged offence was committed. Having related the cir-
cumstances connected with the case, which have already
appeared, the Recorder remarked that the prisoner alleged
that his wife,' after cutting his throat, had committed
suicide. There were no persons present when the
offence was committed, so they would have to
say whether there was sufficient pr evidence for fur-
ther inquiry against the accused, when he would
have 'the opportunity of fully entering into all the
particulars of the case. If they should be of that opinion
they would return a true bill against him. The next
charge of murder was that against a man named Murphy,
and he was also oharged with the murder of his wife—the
circumstances being somewhat similar to those in the case
he had just referred to. The parties when sober lived
peaceably together, but when drunk they also were in the
habit of quarrelling. The evidence, however, in this case
differed from the other, as there was amongst the witnesses
a person who saw the act committed. This witness stated
that he by accident went into the house where the two
people were quarrelling, and was induced to look through
an aperture in the door of the apartment, when he saw a
man stab a woman, and from certain circumstances there
could be no doubt that the prisoner was in the house at the
time, and it would be for them to say whether there was
sufficient evidence to place him on his trial for the offence.
The third charge of murder was that against a seaman
name Spiller. The evidence in that case would have also
to be fully considered by them, but it appeared to be such
as to call for no further remarks from him, as they would
find it would present no difficulty to them in the discharge
of their duty. The charges of manslaughter were pre-
ferred against Benjamin Martin and William Willsey.
In the latter case death had been occasioned by the
deceased interfering to prevent a quarrel between the pri-
soner and his wife. If the evidence bore out the charge,
then it would become their duty to return a true bill
against him. A woman, named Harris, was charged with
causing the death of het child by wilful neglect, and if it
appeared so by the evidence then the woman became amenable
to the law, for a parent was clearly responsible for the death
of the child under such circumstances. The evidence in
the charge of rape against Henry Hearne was rather pecu-
liar. The person upon whom the offence was alleged to
have been committed was a married woman, the wife of a
policeman. During the night, while the husband of the
prosecutrix was on duty, the prisoner entered her apart-
ment and got into the bed, she not being aware of the cir-
cumstance until it was almost too late. Immediately upon
making the discovery the proseeutrix raised an alarm, and
the prisoner was taken into custody and committed for trial
for the offence. The defence set up was that the woman
laboured under a peculiar delusion, and that in fact the
offence had not been committed. He merely mentioned this
circumstance, in order that the jury might be enabled to
observe the demeanour of the prosecutrix while she was
giving her evidence. There was also, he regretted to say,
among the remaining charges one of those which had been so
frequent of late--namely, a charge of fraudulent bankruptcy,
and it was of the greatest importance to a commercial
country that all such acts, if clearly proved, should be
severely punished. With respect to the other charges
they were not of a nature to call for any special remark, as
they were of the ordinary description and would not offer
any difficulty in their disposal.
EMBEZZLEMENT.

William Balmano surrendered to an indictment charging
him with embezzling certain moneys the property of his
employers, Messrs. Turner and Preston.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Turner, the prosecutor, said his firm carried on busi-
ness as attorneys, and the prisoner entered their service
a short time ago as clerk. His duty, amongst other things,
consisted in taking out writs and other legal documents,
for which money had to be taken from the office. After
he had been but a few days in their employ it was disco-
vered that several sums of money had been entered as ex-
pended, but it was afterwards found out that documents
for which they were charged had never been taken out, and
that £l3 had been abstracted in the manner described.
The prisoner was called upon to account for the false
entries, when he said that he had lost money out of
his pocket, and he was afraid to make the circumstances
known, as it might lead to his dismissal. The salary the
prisoner received was £l3O per annum.
Other witnesses having been examined,
Mr. Sleigh made a very strong appeal to the jury on be-
half of the prisoner, urgin:, upou them that it had not been
proved that the prisoner's deficiency had not been caused
through the accidental loss of the money.
The jury, after half-an-hour's deliberation, returned a
verdict of guilty.

The Recorder—Mr. Turner, have you found out any other
deficiencies ?
Mr. Turner—Yes, my lord, about £l7.
The Recorder—And that was taken, I have been in-
formed, two days after the prisoner had entered your ser-
vice ? Do you know where he had been previously elm=
ployed ?

Mr. Turner—Yes, my lord. I believe there was some
dispute there about his accounts, but as the prisoner
explained it in some way I thought ho would act honestly
for the future.

The Clerk asked the prisoner whether he had anything to
say in mitigation of his sentence ?

Prisoner—l merely wish to say I have already suffered
five weeks' imprisonment.

The Recorder—lt matters very little how many weeks
you have already been in prison, as the charge you have
been convicted of is most disgraceful. The prosecutor, in
order to give you an opportunity of amending your character,
took you into his service, well knowing that some irregu
larities had been discovered in your accounts in your previ-
ous employment, and, in order to place you above tempta-
tion, gave you the very excellent salary of £l3O per
annum. Notwithstanding this, the second day you
were in his service }on commenced robbing them, and
that in a manner which to them, as attorneys, might
have been attended with very serious consequences. It
was your duty to see that some legal requirements were
complied with, and in order that such might be done,
money, the property of your employer, had to be paid; but
instead of acting as an honest man would have done, you
appropriated the money to your own private purposes, and
thus defrauded your employers. The sentence of the Court
upon you is that you be kept in penal servitude for the
space of three years.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

A BUILDER CHARGED WITH RECEIVING STOLEN
PROPERTY.—Henry Matthews, of 59, Warren-street,
builder, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt, with receiving
a quantity of lime, well knowing it to be stolen.
Mr. George Lewis appeared for the prosecution, and said
the thief had been taken into custody, and to Marylebone,
as his only object was to have the prisoner remanded; and
that either the prisoner might be brought to this court,
and have the charge against the prisoner heard before one
magistrate, or the prisoner Matthews taken to Marylebone.
It was then argued that the case should bo heard before
Mr. Tyrwhitt.

Mr. Lewis then said the prosecutors were in a largo way
of business, keeping several men and carts, and that one of
their men, now in custody, went to the prisoner's place in
the Euston-road, and left a quantity of lime.
Mr. James Hon, of Murston, said he carried on business
as a lime dealer, and had a carman in his employ of the
name of Carey. On Friday, the 20th of this month, he had
a quantity of lime to deliver, but none at the prisoner's.
Carey had been in his employ about three years.
Mr. Lewis said that was all the evidence he wished to
offer that day.
Some discussion then ensued between Mr. Lewis and Mr.
Edward Lewis, of Great Marlborough-street, and it was
arranged that the prisoner Carey should be brought to this
court on Wednesday, bail being taken for Mr. Matthews to
appear on that day.
EMBEZZLEMENT.—Charles F. Price, porter, in the em-
ploy of Mr. Bobbol, leather-dealer, of Oxford-street, was
charged with embezzling money received on account of his
employer.
He was remanded, ono eve being proved against him.

The Daublctdet of Copenhagen says :—" It is very
true, as stated by soma journals, that King Frederic VII.
has no personal heir any more than Prince Ferdinand, who
is the nearest successor to the throne, b it Prince Christian
of Denmark, who, by the treaty of London of the Bth May,
1852, has been recognised by Europe as the heir presump-
tive to the crown of Denmark, has, by his marriage with the
Prific,ess Louisa of Hesse, numerous descendants. In addi-

tion to three sons, the eldest of whom is 18 years of age,
and the youngest three, Prince Christian has three
daughters, the eldest of whom, the Princess Alexandra, was
born on the lst.Dacember, 1844, and is now nearly 17."
A new agency is brought forward in the adver-
tising columns of the Morning Post. It is as follows :
" The widow of an English nobleman would be willing to
introduce into the best society a young lady of fortune, who
from her own station would be unable to move in the higher
circles unless under the chaperonage of one in high position."