The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-03 00:00:00

given by the defendant end his witnesses, amounted to
a breach of the peace. For this breach of the peace he
was immediately given into custody, and brougnt before
the magistrate. Upon the hearing he was remanded
till the next day, when the prosecutor, in addition to
his complaint touching the breach of peace committed
in Hyde-park, contended that the sending of a certain
letter by the defendant to the prosecutor before the
breach of the peace was committed was an offence
under the statute of 6 George IV., c. 129; and if so,
it is undoubtedly by far the most serious and im-
portant circumstance that has been brought to the
notice of the magistrate. It is objected, how-
ever, by the defendant to this part of the
case, that no summons had issued against him, and that
a magistrate bad no jurisdiction over offences under the
statute 3 George IV., c. 129, until a summons has been
issued. It seems to me that the case of " Rex v. Stone,"
1 East, 649, and three others which preceded it, might
be held an answer to this objection. But as it is of great
importance that the charge against the defendant, under
the statute, should be decided ou its own merits, unem-
barrassed by questions about forms or technicalities, I
retrain from expressing any opinion on that charge. Is
it the intention of the prosecutor to apply for a summons?
Mr. Humphreys—Certainly, if the present proceedings
should bo irregular.
Mr. BINGHAM—Then with respect to the breach of the
peace, which was the immediate occasion of the defend-
ant's arrest, it seems to me so subordinate a part or the
whole proceedings, that I shall not err in now ordering
his discharge.
Mr. Rippon, for the defendant, applied for a certificate
of dismissal.
Mr. Beerortam said he would consider the application.
If e. certificate ought to be granted, it could be granted
at any time,
Mr. Rippon applied for an order on the police to re-
store the papers which, he contended, had beenimpro-
perly taken from him.
Mr. BINGHAM could not give any order.
Mr. Humphreys then applied for a summons against
the defendant, which was granted.
SOUTHWARK.
George Bowler, a young man in the employment of
Mr. George Smith, hat and cap manufacturer, of Union
Hall, Union-street, and George' Smith, were placed at the
bar, before Mr. a'Beckett, the former charged with steal-
ing a cash-box from an iron safe, containing documents
and other papers of importance, together with a small
amount in money, and the latter prisoner with being
concerned in the offence.
The complainant stated that Bowler was in his employ,
and knows that he kept a cash-box in an iron safe on the
premises in Union Hall. On Thursday week Bowler
was sent to the iron safe, which is kept under the stair-
case, for the account-books and the cash-box, and after
having brought up the books into the counting-house, he
said that the cash-box was not in the safe. He, howeier,
was not suspected at the time of stealing it, until a kW
days afterwards a number of letters, amounting to forty,
were given to him to post, and instead of paying the
postage, which was given. to him for the purpose, he
kept the money. He then left his employer's pre.
'irises, and as he was suspected of purloining
the cash-box, information was given at the police -
station, and Sergeant Barker, M division, succeeded
in taking him into custody. When taken to the
station-house, Bowler, in reference to the cash•box, said
that he was induced to plunder his employer by his fel-
low-prisoner, who, knowing that he had access to the iron
sate on the premises, urged him to steal the cash-box.
He et first ie fused to listen to such a suggestion, but his
scruples were at length overcome, and on the day men-
tioned, when he was sent to the iron safe for the books,
• he took the opportunity of taking the cash-box, and, as
previously arranged, he handed it over to his associate,
who was waiting on the premises to receive it. Bowler
added that the man who had urged him to the commis-
sion of the offence was then waiting for him at a neigh-
bouring coffee-shop, and thither the sergeant proceeded
and apprehended Smith. The latter prisoner, on that
occasion, when informed of the nature of the charge
against him, anti told that Bowler had confessed to taking
the cash-box, said he was glad of it—that truth was the
best.—and that his being out of employ, and having no
money, was the reason that he became mixed up in the
transaction. •
The complainant said that a day or two previously to
the cash-box being stolen it contained between 2001. and
3001., besides bills of exchange, policies. and other docu-
ments of importance. A few days after it had been
stolen the cash-box was found with the lock wrenched
open, in a ditch, beyond Islington, and it was brought
to him by a policeman of the K division, the bills and
other documents being uninjured.
The prisoners, who declined saying anything in an-
swer to the charge, were committed.
THAMES.
Since the severe weather has set in several applications
for relief have been made at this court, but, owing to
the reduced state of the funds, the magistrates have been
unable to assist the petitioners.
A poor Irish widow, named Cronin, with four healthy-
looking children, who, though poorly, were decently
clad, applied to Mr. Yardley fur assistance under the
following circumstances:—
She said that for some time after her husband's death
the parish authorities of Poplar allowed her four loaves
and 3s. a week, but since April last they had reduced
the allowance to is., and she hoped his Worship would
do something to induce them to revert to the previous
pre ctice.

Mr. YARDLEY—Your children look clean and healthy.
How do you manage to support them? Applicant-13y
breaking stones.
Mr. YARDLEY—AIid what do you earn by that? Ap-
plicant—Last week I only earned 45., your Worship.
Mr. YARDLEY—DO any of your children help you?
Applicant—God help them, no,.Sir. They are too young
oven to look after themselves.
Mr. YARDLEY—WeII, if your story bo true, you are
a surprising woman, and these children, so clean, so
comparatively decent, and so hearty-looking, are a great
credit to you. But what can / do for you, my poor
woman ? Applicant—lf your Worship could get me
back the other 23. a week I could get on' very comfort-
ably, and keep them more creditably.
Mr. YARDLEY—If, as I said before, your statement be
a correct one, the allowance from the parish should be
more liberal. Your appearance, and the clean, healthy
appearance of your children, furnish obvious proofs that
you are a good, careful, industrious mother, and should
be encouraged as such. The very scanty means at my
command at present prevent me from giving you what I
could wish. You may have a 41b. loaf, and if between
this and Christmas the poor-box be replenished, come
here again, and your claim shall not be forgotten. His
Worship then directed Littleton, one of the warrant-
officers, to call upon the parish authorities with respect
to the applicant's case.
The pour woman, who appeared more gratified with
the compliment paid to herself and chiidren than with
the prospect of the renewal of the 2s. a week, thanked
his Worship very gratefully and retired.

THE LATE CHARGE AGAINST A
CLERGYMAN AT BRENTWOOD.

BRENTWOOD, DEC. 2.—lt will be recollected that
the complainant in the above case, Mary Ann Doe,
after absconding from this neighbourhood, when ap-
prehended and brought a second time before the bench
of magistrates told a very different story as to the
offence of which she had previously alleged her master,
the Rev. R. A. Johnstone, to have been guilty—in
fact, contradicted in toto her first deposition. The
magistrates, on dismissing the complaint against Mr.
Johnstone expret.sed their determination of preferring
an indictment for perjury against the girl, and in fur-
therance of this proceeding Mary Ann Doe was ap-
prehended on Thursday last upon a warrant issued on
the information of Superintendent Coulson, the chief
police officer of the district, and conveyed to the police
station in this town. On the following morning she
was brought before the magistrates and formally
charged with the offence. Mr. Rawlings, solicitor,
of Romford, attended on behalf of the prisoner, and it
having been determined to adjourn the case for the
production of further evidence, application was made to
the magistrates to admit the accused to bail. The bench
refused, but appointed the hearing for the next day ;
and a summons having been issued for the attend-
ance of the Rev. I. A. Johnstone, as a witness against
the girl, the proceedings were adjourned over until
Saturday. On Saturday the girl was again brought
up, and Mr. Johnstone, accompanied by his legal ad-
viser, Mr. Shaw, of Billericay, was present. Mr.
Rawlings, the prisoner's solicitor, was prevented
from attending owing to a domestic calamity, but he
sent over one of his clerks to watch the case. In con-
sequence of an expressed desire on the part of the
girl's mother that her daughter should have the ad-
vantage of Mr. Rawlings' advocacy, the case was not
gone into on Saturday, but again adjourned until this
day, when it was arranged that all parties shouldat-
tend. The girl remained in custody at the police-
station, and was not allowed to hold any communica-
tion either with her relatives or her legal adviser.
This morning the magistrates met at half-past nine
o'clock. The Rev. John Pearson presided, and among
the other magistrates present were the Rev. Dr. Ro-
binson, Mr. Tower, Mr. P. Button, Mr. A. Hirst,
and the Rev. John Lewis.

Mr. Rawlings appeared for the accused, and Mr.
Shaw attended to watch the case on behalf of Mr.
Johnstone, who, although in attendance, did not enter
the court.

The proceedings were commenced by Mr. C. C.
Lewis, the clerk of the bench, reading the informa-
tion upon which the accused had been apprehended.
This document ran as follows :

" The information and complaint of Thomas Coul-
son, of Brentwood, in the county of Essex, superin-
tendent of police, laid before us, the undersigned, two
of her Majesty's justices of the peace in and for the
same county, this 28th day of November, 1850, who
on oath saith that on the 24th of October last, at
Brentwood, in the said county, Mary Ann Doe, of
Ingrave, in the said county, single woman, in her
evidence on preferring a certain information before
John Pearson, clerk, and Philip Button, Esq., two of
her Majesty's justices of the peace acting in and for
the said county, against Robert Abercrombie John-
,
stone, clerk, did commit wilful and corrupt perjury.".
As soon as Mr., Lewis d.,fi shed reklipk t4e,
4bove, P,4•361701105t tot >r_ . , :
Mclawiingsi on btht!:t)ll'.Ofrip;'Etactlaed;' ()Iliac*
to t4mtztpeOtl4 of 'Su:Perintendent Coulson to- lays-
an information : of this, character, againstliii:'.:clieut:
He g.rctunded 'obj#ntinnoll:`-thel#4.olAt ,tbitpArtir
injured 'COnliritione lay an information for perjury.
The only exception to this rule was under the 22d of
George IL, which gave power to Judges of assize and
other high legal functionaries to prefer indictments