The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-31 00:00:00

POLIC-' INfI PT.T.TOPII7I-7;!, Oat. '2o_

GUILDHALL.—EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE.—
On Saturday last, a matter occurred at this court,
our report of which, for obvious reasons, we re-
served, in which Mr. John Tallis, the well-known
publisher and newspaper proprietor, who was
placed in the felons' dock, was charged with steal-
ing a cash box, containing £4O, the alleged pro-
perty of Mr. Joseph Bruton, a licensed victualler,
of Clerkenwell.
The circumstances of the case were so peculiar,
and. so very important, affecting as they did the
reputation of highly respectable parties, that we
give the report of both days' proceedings in extenso;
Mr. Harrison attended for Mr. Tallis at the first
hearing on Saturday last, when
Mr. Bruton was examined, and said he had
known Mr. Tanis about five years. Mr. Tallis had
just passed through the Bankruptcy Court, and re-
ceived his certificate on Thursday last. He had
nothing to do with witness's business, at 12, Crane-
court, Fleet-street, which was that of a printer.
Witness charged him with going to his counting-
house that morning, and taking away his cash-box
by force, having previously turned witness's clerks
out of the office. The keys of the safe were gone,
as well as the cash-box. He did not know why Mr.
Tallis came there. He had forbid him the premises,
although he had until a few days ago been in the habit
of visiting the office daily. Mr. Tallis had no busi-
ness there, and had no specific employment. He
had disputed possession of the business, but it be-
longed to witness, as well as the premises, and
every pennyworth of property in them. He (wit-
ness) held the lease for 40 years of the premises at
£25 a year. He did not know that Mr. Tallis
claimed the property. Witness was a printer, and
the business was his, and carried on in his name.
He sent £4O to the office that morning to pay the
wages with, and afterwards received information
from his clerks (who were not then in court) that
Mr. Tanis had taken the money. He did not know
where the cash-box and money was.
Cross•exasained—His name was not on the pre-
mises. The name of the " London and Provincial
Newspaper Company" was up, but there was no
longer any such company in existence. He (wit-
ners) was "a publican, carrying on business in
Exmouth-street,Clerkenwell, and in other parts of
1 London, but not a printer. He knew defendant had
been the proprietor of the Illustrated News of the
World, and that he had subsequently carried on
the business of a printer at 12, Crane-court, Fleet-
street, where he printed for the London and Pro-
vincial Newspaper Company. His creditors,
however, took possession of all his property and
would not allow him to continue the printing for
that company, that is, they would not carry on the
business. After assigning everything to his credi-
tors he he did not apply to witness for advances to
buy type and materials for the business. Witness
bought the type, paid for it by a cheque for £5O,
which he gave to Mr. Tallis to pay away, and the
rest was paid in bills. Mr. Appleby, a relative of
Mr. Tallis, acted throughout in making the neces-
sary purchases for re-establishing the business. He
(witness) had never advanced more than £1 or £2
to Mr. Tallis, and then only to meet his personal
expenditure. Mr. Tallis had often deposited pro-
perty with him to be taken care of, but never as
security for money advanced. The business was at
10, Crane-court, when witness took to it, but he had
since taken No. 12 as well. One of his clerks was
his own nephew, and the other the nephew of Mr.
Tallis. He would swear the cash-box was his pro-
perty and not Mr. Tallis's. Mr. Tallis had access
to the safe, as he had never 'forbidden him being
there until within the last few days. There was
another safe on the premises, but he did not know
if the cash-box or money were in it, because Mr.
Tallis had locked it and taken away the key. Mr.
Tullis was not in any way connected with or inte-
rested in the business, nor had he been engaged in
it since his bankruptcy, in April last.
This being the evidence Mr. Bruton was prepared
with,
Mr. Harrison said the fact was, Mr. Bruton
was a creditor of Mr. Tallis, who claimed the
wholo of the business and property at 12, Crane-
court. Pending the granting of his certificate he
wished to re-commence business, and Mr. Bruton
business was carriede
made advances to enable him to do so, but for
the protection of th
wished to assume' property so purchased, the :
the management
obtained his certificate,
his own name, Mr.
when Mr. Tallis
business, determined not Bruton
charge. It was a question upon the dispute which had
h on. in Mr. Bruton's name,. and
Ermtanagemept and control in
ereise to the present
finding it a profitable
giovepert.with it, and hence
p.ute. of right,
and the magistrate therefore had jurisdiction ;
in addition to which, there was evidence before
the Court that a cash-bog had been taken away, as