The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, T U.E SDAY EVE IN G, FEBRUARY F 26, 1861.

BRITISH POSSESSIONS.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Mahomet :Ali Khan was indicted for unlawfully in-
flicting a wound upon himself with intent to destroy life.

It will be recollected that the prisoner some time ago
attempted to commit suicide in the House of Lords, and
that the offence with which he stood charged on the present
occasion was committed near the carriage in which ber
Majesty rode on the occasion of her opening Parliament on
the sth of the present month. The prisoner attempted to
throw a petition into the royal carriage, but was prevented
doing so by the police, and then he instantly attempted to
stab himself with an old knife, which was in such a state
as to inflict a very deadly wound. The instrument was
knocked from the hand of the prisoner, and he was taken
into custody. _ _

On:the prisoner being placed in the bar, he bowed to the
judge and jury, and then handed in a long written state-
ment of the alleged wrongs he had suffered in consequence
of his claims for payment for services being disregarded by
the late native authorities at Bombay.
The Recorder asked if there was anybody in court who
knew anything about the prisoner.
Colonel Hughes, the Governor of the Home or Refuge
for destitute East Indians, said he merely knew the prisoner
as having been at the Home. He had no doubt the pri-
soner was in the full possession of all his faculties.
The Recorder, in addressing the jury, said the fact that
the prisoner was in a sane state of mind made the ease of
his intention to commit suicide most inexplicable. One
could understand such a circumstance if the person doing
so was of unsound mind. It might be that, labouring
under the impression that a great wrong had been inflicted
on him, he might have attempted to destroy himself for the
purpose of creating a sympathy in his behalf. However,
it was undoubtedly an offence in any person to destroy life,
and it would be for them to say whether he was guilty or
net.

The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, intimating
that they wished the judge to inform him that it was an
offence to attempt to destroy his life.
The Recorder said the prisoner was well aware of that,
as he had already been in custody for the same offence.

11111 W,

Mr. Sleigh—You are not a London manager ?
Witness—l wish I was.

THE THEATRES V. THE MUSIC-HALLS.

LAMBETH POLICE COURT—(THIS DAY).
The summons taken out on the application of Benjamin
Webster, Esq., lessee of the Theatre Royal Adelphi, against
Mr. Charles Morton, proprietor of the Canterbury-hall, for
illegally representing " stage plays," was heard this day at
the Lambeth Police-court, before Mr. Elliott, the presiding
magistrate.

The court was crowded with professionals, amongst
whom were W. Batty, Esq., of Astley's Amphitheatre,
Mr. Shepherd, of the Surrey, Mr. Towers, of the Victoria,
Arr. Swanborough, of the Strand, Mr. Wigan, of the St.
James's, Mr. Creswick, of the Surrey, and Mr. Nelson Lee,
of the City of London Theatre.

Mr. Cole said he appeared there to support a summons
which had been taken out by Mr. Benjamin Webster, the
lessee of the Theatre Royal Adelphi, against Mr. Charles
Morton, a very respectable gentleman, who was the pro-
prietor of the Canterbury-hall, for an infringement of the 6
and 7 Vic., cap. 68, which was an act regulating theatres,
and was passed in the year 1843. Since that act had passed
the Legislature Mr. Morton had erected the Canterbury-
hall, to which 113 had also added a picture gallery. The
great success attending the establishing of music halls had
led to the erection of them in nearly every street in the me-
tropolis. In thesa places the proprietors, not content with
complying with the provisions of their music licences, had
permitted all the usual accompaniments of a theatrical re-
presentation to be used in their establishments. They had
scenery, dresses, and—

Mr. Stanley wished that Mr. Cole would confino himself
to the Canterbury-hall, and not mix it up with other places
of entertainment.

Mr. Cole said he had described the music halls gene-
rally. In the present proceedings, although by appeal-
ing as a principal, Mr. Webster was merely the re-
presentative of the London managers, and the summons
had been taken out after a meeting of those gentlemen had
been held, at which it was resolved, as Mr. Webster was
one of the oldest and most successful members of that body,
he should represent them on the present occasion. There
was no vindictive feeling intended to Mr. Morton, but as
that gentleman was looked upon as the leviathan of music-
halls, or, in fact, the originator of that species of enter-
tainments, it was thought that he would be the most proper
person to proceed against. The infringement he complained
of was the representation of a pantomime, which was most
extensively advertised, entitled " The Enchanted Hash,"
and he could not entertain the slightest doubt, after the
evidence had been heard, that it would be considered to be
"a stage play" within the meaning of the act, and there-
fore he had rendered himself liable to the fines which the
act gave the magistrate the power of inflicting. Mr. Cole
than read nearly the whole of the "Enchanted Hash,"
which created the greatest laughter in court, and then called
the following evidence :

Mr. C. J. James said—l am lessee of the Queen's
Theatre, Tottenham-court. road. I have been lessee for
twenty years, and have produced pantomimes every year.
On the 19th of February I went •to the Canterbury-hall in
company with Mr. Smith of the Adelphi and another gentle-
man. I sat in the balcony, and saw there was a raised plat-
form. I purchased a book of the pantomime as I went
in, and prompted as the performance took place. I
found there was a slight alteration, but nothing important
was omitted. I should not call it a duologue, but a pan-
tomime. I cannot say whether one or twelve persons
were engaged in its representation, the changes were so
excellently done. I never saw more than two persons on
the stage at once. I saw the two usual pantomime demons
and the fairies. Although I could not admire the beauty
of the ladies, they wore the usual short skirts of the ladies
of the ballet. The demons had large masks on, and in faet
all the accompaniments of a pantomime. I recollect seeing
the trick of the mutton pie ; it changed to " pussy pie,"
and kittens were taken out of it. I considered it an excel-
lent bit of stage business, as it is so well done. I should
have liked it in my pantomime; it was so capitally done.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sleigh, counsel for Mr. Morton
—I speak as a lessee, not as an author. I don't know
when the present proceedings were commenced. I received
a note to attend a meeting of the lessees, and it was decided
that Mr. Morton should be the first person proceeded
against. I consider Mr. and Mrs. German Reed's enter-
tainment decidedly dramatic. That entertainment would
have been proceeded against, but Mr. Morton was pre-
ferred. I have never been to Evans'. Indeed I have never
been in any of the music halls, with the exception of the
Canterbury. I have read the " Hash" attentively. I
cannot tell what is the plot ; I don't think there is any.
Mr. Sleigh—lf this is a pantomime, it must have a plot.
What is the plot ?

Witness—There may be a plot, but I cannot see it.
Mr. Sleigh—That is scarcely a candid answer. Come,
tell what is the plot.

Witness—l cannot say there is one at all. It is very
slight. I cannot tell the magistrate what the plot of " The
Enchanted Hash" is.

Mr. Sleigh—You have said a pantomime must have a
plot. Is there a plot in the " Enchanted Hash ?"
Witness—l cannot say there is. I don't consider the
sprites a theatrical performance, as there is no business.
The Canterbury is admirably conducted as a place of pub-
lic entertainment.

Re-examined—l consider what I saw was in fact a pan-

Mr. John Johnstone—l have written pantomimes. I
went to the Canterbury on the 19th of February. I saw
the "Enchanted Hash." I consider it decidedly a drama-
tic performance. I think there was the usual kind of plot.
You have the two lovers iaterrupted by demons ; the fairies
protect the lovers, and, then, after some mishaps, they are
changed into the usual pantomimic characters. It was
most admirably done.

Cross-examined—l went to the Canterbury-hall entirely
to witness the performance, and, if necessary, of becoming
a witness in this case.

Mr. Sleigh—l have heard that London managers express
a wish quite the contrary. (Laughter.)
Mr. Cole—That is in consequence of your halls.
(Laughter.)

Mr. Sleigh—lt is because they cannot make good hauls
hemselves. (Laughter.)

Cross-examination of witness continued—l consider a
plot to be a necessity in a pantomime, and I consider the
" Enchanted Hash" to be J. perfect pantomime. I think
the last act of the Christy's Minstrels entertainment is
dramatic.

Mr. William Smith—l am acting manager of the Adel-
phi. I went with the previous witness to the Canterbury-
hall on the 19th of February. I saw an entertainment
which I consider, without doubt, a dramatic performance.
The characters were harlequin, clown, pantaloon, and
columbine. The columbine had a nice dress on, but the
legs did not look well. (Laughter.)

Cross-examined—There was as much plot in the Can-
terbury pantomime as in any of the London theatres this
last season. I have not played in a piece with two charac •
ters ; but I have done so :with three during Passion week.
I have never been to a theatre. I am too glad to get a holi-
day. I have seen a pantomime performed without scenery
in a circus at Hereford. I have seen another at the Crystal
Palace. I have never seen one so performed in London.
I did not see scenery at Mr. Morton's ; but I saw properties.
I have been to Evans's. I have never heard any dialogues
there. I have only been once during the last few years.
Re-examined—l have seen a piece called " Two in the
Morning." It is acted by two persons with the usual
scenery.
Mr. Nelson Lee (lessee of the City of London Theatre)—
I have not seen the piece, but I have looked at the
book, and I consider it a good pantomime to all intents and
purposes.
Cross examined—My definition of a play is a dialogue
between two persons on a stage. I did not consider Mr.
Liston's performance a dramatic one. I have never seen a
pantomime performed in a London theatre without scenery.
I consider Mr. and Mrs. Paul's, and Mr. and Mrs. German
Reed's entertainment dramatic. I know Mr. and Mrs.
George. They performed at my theatre in a Lenten enter-
tainment. I sent my bill to the Lord Chancellor, and he
permitted me :to give the performance. I did not tell the
Lord Chancellor Mr. and Mrs. George's entertainment was
dramatic. Ido not know whether it was so or not. I never
saw them act. I heard they were clever, and I engaged
them to give half an hour's entertainment. I recollect the
Crystal Palace entertainment last year. It was got up
under my own direction. I never had any performance at
that place which could be called dramatic. I got up the
Shadow Pantomime. It had no scenery.
Mr. Cole—That is the case your worship.
Mr. Sleigh then addressed the magistrates for his client,
and dwelt very strongly upon the proceedings, which he
characterised as a dramatic uombination to ruin a gentle-
man who had been a successful caterer for the public enter-
tainment. He should ask the magistrates for an adjourn-
ment, in order that he might produce evidence to meet the
case that had been got up and concocted in a green-room
of a theatre. He should be able to produce the most unpre-
judiced persons, whose opinion certainly would be opposed
to that of the witnesses who had given their evidence that
day.
Mr. Elliott said it appeared to him that the case would
not rest upon his decision, as he knew very little about it.
He would, therefore, adjourn the further hearing until
Monday next.

The Select Committee on the Red Sea Telegraph
Company sat this morning. Mr. Stephenson, of
the Treasury, was examined for two hours, and
established on the most direct evidence the uncon-
ditional character of the guarantee, together with
the fact that the prospectus containing the state-
ment that the shareholders could under no circum-
stances receive less than a dividend of 41 per cent. for 50
years was submitted to and approved by the Lords Com-
missioners of her Majesty's. Treasury. Still, in the face of
these circumstances, the committee determiaed to protract
their inquiries and to adjourn till Thursday, the Govern-
ment meanwhile, to the disgrace of all concerned, continu-
ing under default.

FATE OF A FEMALE GAMBLER.—A letter from
Frankfort, of the 19th inst., says:—" The day before yes-
terday an English lady, who had resided at Homburg for
some time, and had been a constant visitor to the gambling
saloons, where by degrees she had lost almost all her pro-
perty, left the town and went to the village of Kirdorf,
about three miles distant. She ascended the tower of
the new church there, and, having first tied her legs to-
gether, threw herself from the tower to the earth, a dis-
tance of about 100 feet. When picked up she was still
living, but was conveyed to the hospital at Homburg in
an exceedingly deplorable condition."