The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-16 00:00:00

POLIO.

INTELLIGENCE June 15.

MANSION-HOUSE.—M.Edwardßoussell (said

,o be an officer in the French_ army) was charged

upon the information of John J. Dean, an officer of
Customs, with being concerned in importing certain
restricted goods, to wit, three gallons of spirits,
contrary to the 232 d section of the Customs Conso-
lidation Act, 1853, whereby he had rendered him-
self liable to a penalty of £lOO, for which the Com-
missioners of Customs had elected to sue.
The defendant, through an interpreter, pleaded
not guilty.
Mr. Cumberland, solicitor, said he appeared on
behalf of the Commissioners f Customs in the case,
which was rather an exceptional one. It seemed
that on the 7th inst. a free entry was passed at the
Custom-house by Messrs. Carey and Sons, Mark -lane,
agents, on behalf of the consignees, Messrs. Acheson
and Co., 27, Queen-street, City. The article was
passed for a cask of cider, containing about 20 gal-
lons, and as having arrived in the Lord John Rus-
sell, a steamer tradinc, between Dunkirk and the

port of London. The cask of cider was landed at
Brewer's-quay on the following day, when Mr.
Dean, the Customs officer on duty, as usual in such
cases, examined the cask, and on introducing an
instrument, called a " spit," into the cask, it en-
countered some obstruction, and at the same time a
strong smell of spirits arose from the cask. Mr.
Dean, in consequence of this, had the contents run
off into another cask, and removed the head of the
cider cask, when he discovered a 'piece of canvas
nailed inside, between which and the head itself,
were confined four large bladders, each capable of
containing a gallon. Three of the bladders were
then full of spirits, but the fourth was empty, hav-
ing been perforated by the spit, so that its contents
had escaped and mixed with the cider. Mr. Dean
at once communicated with Messrs. Carey, or rather
with their clerk, Mr. Ward, who had passed the
entry at the Custom House, and who attended at the
wharf. He could, however, give no explanation ;
but subsequently he brought the defendant there,
who had given to him the bill of lading on the pre-
vious day, and the letter of advice for the goods,
endorsing the bill of lading, " Acheson and Co."
On that endorsement Messrs. Carey had acted.
The defendant, when Mr. Ward went to him,
acknowledged that he had endorsed the bill of lading
without the consent of Messrs. Acheson, and he
added a further endorsement that the cask was to be
delivered to him at his address, 34, Redcross-street,
Borough. Mr. Ward then told him what the
Custom-house officer had discovered, and he then
professed to know nothing at all about it, and ex-
pressed his astonishment at the discovery. It was,
however, quite clear that the cask was sent from
Dunkirk by the instructions of M. Roussell ; that
the bill of lading was endorsed " Acheson and Co."
without their authority, according to his own con-
fession; and that it was by his instructions to be
sent to his private address. He (Mr. Cumberland)
would prove these facts by evidence, and there
could then be no doubt that the defendant had
been concerned in importing three gallons of re-
stricted spirits, contrary to the Customs Act, and
that he was therefore liable to the penalty.
The Lord Mayor—ls there any proof of his guilty
knowledge ?
Mr. Cumberland—We have no actual proof of
that, but we do not think that necessary to the
proceedings.
The Lord Mayor—You do what no other persons
do.

Mr. Cumberland—We are compelled to do it.
Smugglers are very sharp in these days, my lord.
Witnesses -were then called in support of Mr.
Cumberland's statement, and it was also shown
that the spirit was merely " common spirit," with
no particular name, and considerably below proof,
its value being lOs , and the amount of duty to
which it was liable £1 2s. 6d. ; but at the same
time it was admitted that he had endorsed the names
of " Acheson and Co." at the request of Messrs.
Carey's clerk, and without any fraudulent inten-
tion.

The evidence having been interpreted to the de-
fendant, the Lord Mayor desired the interpreter to
ask him what he had to say to the charge.
Interpreter—He says he had no knowledge of
any spirits being in the cask. He has been three
months in England, and has been in the habit of
going frequently to the Custom-house, and that it
is quite impossible he could have been so foolish as
to be concerned in this affair in any way.
The Lord Mayor—Tell him that the law regards
him as being cognisant of the fact.
Interpreter—He says it was not spirit that is
drinkable at all.
The Lord Mayor—No ; nor is it imported for the,
purpose of being drunk.
Interpreter—e wishes to know, then, why
there is a duty on it.
Mr. Cumberland—There is a duty on all spirits.
Interpreter—He denies that he had any know-
ledge in any way of spirits being in the cask.
The Lord Mayor—Tell him that that does not
avail him in such a case as this, and that all I can
do is to mitigate thepenalty to the smallest amount.
Interpreter—He says he wishes Mr. Ward would
speak for him.
Mr. Ward (clerk to Messrs. Carey), said he had
only a business knowledge of the defendant, who,
however, from the fact of his having had to manage
some small transactions with hire, seemed to regard
him as a friend. He might, however, express his
belief that the defendant had no guilty knowledge
of the spirit being in the cask of cider, which he
believed had been sent to him as a'present by some
friends in France. As to the spirit, it was of a kind
used by the French peasantry for cooking purposes
in the absence of coal, and no doubt the defendant's
friends thought they would send him some of that
as well, and so they secreted it in the cider.
Mr. Cumberland—There can be no doubt that
the cask was sent over by his own instructions.
The Lord Mayor—lf not it would not avail him.
All that I can do is to mitigate the penalty to the
lowest amount, and he must pay a fine of £25, or
go to prison for six months ; but he can, if he
pleases, memorialise the Commissioners of Customs
for a further mitigation.
Mr. Ward—When can he memorialise ?
The Lord Mayor—lmmediately. To-morrow, if
you like.
' • Mr. Cumberland—And if they do memorialise,
am I at liberty to communicate to the commissioners
your lordship's impression that the facts of the case
are such as not to warrant any further mitigation ?
The Lord Mayor—Certainly.
The defendant was then removed in custody.

GUILDHALL. —THE BRIDE-LANE NUISANCE.
—Mathew Collinson, a respectably-dressed middle-
aged man, described as a boot-maker, of 26, Hall-
place,Paddington, was brought up before Alderman
Humpbery on the following charge :
Benjamin Kirby said he was passing the end of
Fleet. street, next Farringdon-street, on Tuesday
afternoon, when he saw the defendant knock the
complainant down. He saw the complainant go
into an insurance-office to pay some money, and had
not seen him since. That was all he knew of the
transaction.
Alderman Humphery—Do you wish to ask this
witness any questions?
Defendant—None, sir.
Alderman Humphery—He says he saw you
knock the man down.

Defendant—That is quite true, sir. I did knock
him down.

Alderman Humphery—What is the prosecutor ?
Defendant—We are both betting men.
Officer—The prosecutor is not here, sir. His
name is Joseph Meacher, and he described himself
as a gentleman, living in Bridgewater-square. The
defendant ran into the Bell public-house, in Fleet-
street, and I took him into custody just as he was
going off in a Hansom cab. I found on him between
£4O and £5O in notes and gold, and three betting-
books.

Inspector Shelford—l had been watching Bride-
lane all that day, and had occasion to caution the
defendant earlier in the morning against obstruct-
ing the thoroughfare. I was also informed he had
assaulted other persons previously.
Alderman Humphery—What races are there on
now ?

Inspector Shelford—The Ascot races, and these
books are made up to those races.
Alderman Humphery—What have you to say to
this charge ?
Defendant—This Mr. Meacher came up and
demanded £3 of me. I told him I did not owe him
any money, and he then said that I owed some to
a friend of his, and seized hold of me. I pushed
him away, and after a struggle and two
rounds, I knocked him down. or three
Alderman Humphery—The grand point is to
prevent the assemblage of persons in large numbers
in the public thoroughfares, in order that no ob•
struction may arise.
Defendant—l will take care, sir, to cause no ob-
struction. When the inspector cautioned me, I
thanked him, and moved away.
Alderman Humphery—Well, it is, perhaps, for-
tunate that the prosecutor does not appear, at any
rate you will have the benefit of his absence. You
arc now discharged,
and I recommendr
tyhoeufutotukreee.p
clear of Bride-lane and its vicinity for
Dischargi,d accordingly.

STRAN GE ACCIDENT. --On Tuesday morning,
while a number of slaters were at work
abotuhtesirtoo; colfock,
a foundry which is in course of erection in
on the
Glasgow, the property of W. Laidlaw and Sons,
the roof suddenly gave way, precipitating the workmen to
the ground. One of them, named James Stark, was taken
up dead, and another, Andrew WLean, wasso severely in-
'tired that Dr. Burns ordered his removal to the Royal
ilnfitmary. Fortunately, none of the others sustained very
serious hurt,—North Zritifh jiou,