The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-18 00:00:00

SHERIFFS' COURT.

SCANDALOUS OUTRAGE UPON A CRILD.-ALTON V. SMITH.
This was an action brought by Elizabeth Smith, a minor,
through her next friend, to recover £1 damages for a most
scandalous outrage. Plaintiff's mother appeared with
plaintiff, a child about nine years of age, and stated that on
the 26th of April she sent her child out with her little
brother and sister. They all went into Salisbury-square,
and when outside the door of Mr. Lloyd's printing-office the
little boy's jacket came off, The child stooped to pick it up, but
a voice desired her to go away. The child replied that she
should go as soon as she had picked up the jacket, and as
she rose her head up, as it came upon a level with the key-
hole, a stick was pushed through by the defendant, which
severely injured her eye. The poor child suffered most
severely, and is still subject to the greatest pain.
Defendant (who is a machine boy) said it was not wil-
fully done. It arose entirely through accident. A lot of
children were always playing outside the printing house,
and putting saw-dust, tobacco-pipes, and herring-bones
through the keyhole. On the day in question he pushed
the piece of stick through the keyhole, he would admit, but
with no intention of injuring the child.
His Honour—What does the child say ?
Plaintiff (who was not sworn) said that she was outside
the door and saw defendant through the keyhole. He told
her to go away, and she said she should as soon as she had
picked up her brother's jacket. As soon as her eye was upon
a level with the keyhole he poked the stick produced
through (an awkward looking instrument) and it struck
her in the eyo. He laughed at her.
His Honour—lt is a scandalous outrage, and if anybody
had seen you and given you into custody you would have
been most severely punished. You were once a child
yourself, and I dare say a great deal of trouble. You must
learn to control yourself, and should have pushed the
things out of the keyhole in such a manner that no one
could suffer. You get off most cheaply for £l, which you
must pay, with costs.

Defendant—l have only Bs. a week. How can I pay £1 P
His Honour—l cannot help it. You must pay it. It is
a scandalous case.

PRICE V. ARNOLD.

This was an action to recover a sum of money for some
wine sold and delivered,

Mr. Buchanan appeared for defendant, and said that
defendant had had the wine, but the fact was that he ordered
it under the impression that it was from a debtor. A per-
son named Tudor used to keep the wine rooms, and defen-
dant, who is a tailor, had a claim against him. He called
one day and" said to the person at the rooms, " Tell Mr.
Tudor to send me some wine," mentioning the quantity.
Mr. Buchanan—So your honour sees, we thought we had
Tudor's wine.

His Honour—Well, but you had Price's, and must pay.
Verdict for plaintiff.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

MANSION-HOUSE.

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE.—A debtor, at present con-
fined in the Queen's Bench Prison, was brought up in
custody of one of the prison officers and placed in the dock,
charged upon a warrant with robbing his late employer
Mr. Humphreys, jun., appeared for the prosecution, and
Mr. Lewis, of Ely-place, for the prisoner.
The prosecutor, Mr. Buonaventura De Quatro, is a
cigar and tobacco manufacturer, of No. 10, St. Swithin's-
lane, and he charged the prisoner with stealing 66 lbs. of
cigars.

The case was proceeding when we went to press.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

AUDACIOUS ROBBERY.—William Lee, a young man, was
charged with the following audacious robbery in a dwell-
ing-house :

From the evidence it appeared that a litttle after seven
o'clock a constable named Syland had his attention called
to the prisoner and another man, the prisoner at the time
carrying a bundle and the other a box. He went after them,
and just as he was near the prisoner he turned round and
dropped the bundle and made off. The constable, however,
pursued him, and on seizing him near the University Col-
lege he threw at him a chain ornament, which missed him,
but was broken into pieces. On asking him where he got
the bundle, he said he picked it up on a door step. He took
him into custody, the other man having escaped, and on
searching him found on him a box of lucifers and a wax
taper. _ _ _

Miss Harriet Elliott, of 6, Hampstead-street, Fitzroy-
square, said that while in bed at six that morning she was
awoke by hearing the rustling of a silk dress in her sitting
room, and on jumping out of bed she saw the prisoner
crawling on his hands and knees towards the room door.
She said, " Who's there P" and the prisoner replied, " It's
all right, Miss." She rang the bell for her landlord, and
she heard the prisoner shut the street door after him. On
examining the place she missed some moire antique dresses,
a desk, and other articles, of the value of about £3O, a 1
some china ornaments. There were no marks of violence
on the door.

, The prisoner put some questions to the last witness, but
the only effect they had was to strengthen the ease against
him.

The prisoner, in answer to Mr. Bingham, said he would
reserve his defence, and was committed for trial.

THE AUTHOR AND THE ORGAN ORINDERS.—Pietri
Elvandi, an Italian, residing at Saffron-hill, a locality where
organ grinders " most do congregate," was charged with
annoying Mr. Charles W. Day, author and artist, of 62,
New Bond-street, who has on several occasions had to
complain of the annoyance he was subjected to by the com-
panions of the prisoner.

From the evidence of Mr. Day, who, besides having the
usual cares and anxieties attendant on his profession as aa
artist and author, is in a delicate state of health, it ap-
peared that for some time he had been greatly annoyed by
organ grinders, and on the previous day the prisoner began
playing in front of his house and refused to desist notwith-
standing he told him in Italian to do so. He then went
for a constable, and as soon as one appeared in sight he
walked off.

Mr. Bingham said he thought they knew how much he
liked quietness, and that they communicated with one
another with the view of driving him out of his senses.
Mr. Day said he was determined they should not.
The organ-grinder said a boy told him to play.
Mr. Bingham said that might be, but the order to ge
prevailed over that to play, and with the view of protecting
Mr. Day he should fine them on every occasion 10s. or
seven days.