The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-28 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY.

OLD CO U
(Before the RECORDER.)
CHARGE ( F RAPE.—Hem y Johnston, 21 years of
age, described as an engineer, but an ill-clothed, dirty
looking man, was placed at the bar on an indictment
charging' him with feloniously and carnally knowing
and abusi❑g Catherine Davis, she being under 10 years
of age.

Platt conducted the case for the prosecution, and
the prisoner was defended by Mr. Ripton.
The evidence, which was of a nature necessarily unfit
for publication, went fully to establish the prisoner's
guilt, and also that he had communicated a loathsome
disease to the poor child, who was only five years
of age.

RIPTON addressed the jury on behalf of the pri-
soner, contending that an injury to the extent spoken to
by the witnesses for the prosecution could not by possi-
bility have been inflicted on a child of such tender years.
The REC aRDER baying summed up,
The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and he was sen-
tenced to be transported for life.

MARLBRO'-STREET.—(THIS DAY.)
ROBBERY AT A LICENSED VICTUALLEICS.—John
Hobbs, John Smith, and George Epps, were placed at the
bar before Mr. Hardwick, tht• former prisoner charged
with robbing his employer, Mr. William Mitchell, land-
lord 4 of the Mason's Arms, Oxford-market, and the two
latter with aiding and assisting him in committing the
same.

The prosecutor stated that the prisoner Hobbs had
been in his service as potwan for more than twelve
months, and the utmost confidence was placed in him.
For the last few months witness had missed at different
times a considerable quantity of money from his till, and
not having the least suspicion that the prisoner
was the thief, he taxed his two sons with taking
the money, which they denied. Witness then
communicated with the police, and, by their
advice, placed several marked pieces of money
in the till. On Sunday morning, having previously ar-
ranged with two of the detective efficera of the E divi
si.on, he let them in about six o'clock and secreted
them in a room overlooking ail the lower part of the
house, and in about an hour after wards the constable
de!ected the n hole of the three prisoners coming from
his bar, and cock theta into cestooy.
Sargent, 65 E, said at six o'cl, ck on Sunday morning
he went in compiny wiih Sergeant Smith to the pro-
secutor's house, and secreted the mbeivus in au empty
room overlooking the bar and the lower part of the
home. Shortly after seven o'clock the prisoner Smith
came down stairs followed by Hobbs and the other
pristmer, end otter going into the tap-room, Hobbs
went to the bar-door and unlocked it by means of a key,
which he took from hi, pocket. He then culled to the
other prisoners to come to him, and witness saw him
draw a pot of a;e and land it to the prisoner
who took it into the tAp-room. The prisoner then
passed a bottle of ginger-beer to Epps, who also lett
the bar. Witness then saw the prisoner Hobbs go to
a drawer and take out a quantity of cigars and tobacco,
which he put into his picket He then heard the pri-
soner rattle about the money in the till, and as ho was
leaving the bar witness penned upon him, and took him
into custody. The other two prisoners were taken in
charge by Sergeant Smith. On searching Hobbs wit-
ness found three shillings, all marked money,
a quantity of cigars, and about twenty screws of
tobacco in his pockets, and en subsequently searching
his box he found 2/. 15s, in gold and silver, a cigar-
case full of cigars, and several bottles of spirits; the
marked ruone) and the other property was identified by
the prosecutor as having been taken from the bar. Wit-
ness then conveyed him to the station.
Sergeant Smith proved taking charge of the prisoners
Smith and Epps in the tap-room. He found Smith with
a pot of ale and Epps with a bottle of ginger-beer, which
they were in the act of drinking.
The prisoner Hobbs, in defence, said he was very sorry
for what he had done. The other prisoners denied all
knowledge of the transaction.
Mr. HARDWICK committed them for trial.

DARING BURGLARY AND ATTEMPT TO
MURDER A POLICEMAN.—(THIS DAY)
This morning, about half-past 3 o'clock, as police-
constable Goodwin, S 58, was on duty in the Chalcott-
road, near Primrose-hill, he observed a man, who on
coming up to him (the constable) asked the way to
Gloucester-road. Goodwin told him that he was walk-
ing away from it. Ile then tithed the man what he had
in his hand, seeing that he was carrying a bag which
appeared to contain a heavy bulk. He replied that it
was his own property, and that he had worked for
it. Goodwin remarked that he did not believe
him, and that he must go to the station-
house. The man walked a short distance, when
he suddenly inflicted a wound with a knife upon the po-
liceman's ince, which caused the blood to flow. Goodwin
grasped hold of the fellow, who attempted to stab him
in the abdomen, but was prevented. They struggled
and fell; while down he stabbed the policeman twice in
the face. They got up, and a desperate struggle again
ensued, the policeman being nearly exhausted from loss
of blood and over-exertion. He called out loudly for
assistance, upon which two of the policemen on
the North-Western line went to him, when by
their united assistance the man was taken to
the station-house in Albany-street, where he
gave the name of Williams. In searching him
was found 251. in silver and copper, consisting of crowns,
hal'-crowns, shillings, &c. Inquiries were instituted,
when it was discovered that the money was the property
of Mr. G. Seeton, landlord of the Dublin Castle, Park-
street. Camden-town, who had deposited the money in
a cupboard in the bar parlour and in the till. It is sup-
posed that the thief must have concealed himself in the
taproom. The knife (a table-knife) with which he
stabbed Goodwin was Mr. Seeton's. Goodwin is under
the doctor's hands.

RAIN WATER AT RAILWAY STATIONS.--A corre-
spondent of the Builder says—Raving observed, in a recent
number an article on the neglect of rain-water which fans on
house-tops, it appeared to me
i that a much more important
use than is there mentioned s also neglected, viz., with
regard to locomotives. Your correspondent gives 14 gallons
to the square foot per annum. Now, many railways have,
not square feet, but acres of roof, and as one acre is equal to
43,560 square feet, which gives 609,840 gallons of soft water
per annum on one acre of roof, the advantages which would
follow are these:-Ist. The water would be had fur the ex-
pense of the cistern. 2nd. Less consumption of coke, as
rain-water boils easier than hard. 3rd. The boilers would
not be incrusted.

LUDICROUS A man near Leeds was
MISTAKE.—
.13
woman who the
lately sent one day last week, by a neighbouring
lately bcen confined, with a message to the clerk of t
" churching" perky med. 'The worthy friend.
church, requesting that she might 11111-etile
l' to church."
toneforermmoednytiotet
clerk's wife that he wanted "a WOITI/111 axing
mar-
riage published, asked his name, which lie gave, The clerk's wife, supposing that he wanted the
nswe of the women, which, being enteredgii, eiti'le)enbooloitkt
read publicly by the church functionary, to tel .
Wit:diluent of the congregation, who were surprised to hear
a man asked in church with his neighbour's wife. book,
ewaass-
pts were
A STALE TRICK.—A few day
made by a party of swindlers to pshr a trick upon
nsos
to
tradespeople of this town. The plan was for two persons
cal: with a large basket lull of shoes for sale at a certain
price. The purchase was of course declined, and the parties,..l
went away, leaving one or tWO pairs behind them, which
hat been bought in order to get lid of their importunate,.
In a short time afterwards a well-dressed man entered the
shop, repurchased the -hoe,, roil give an order for a gross or
two to lie ready for him, and he would call
w.h
ng. Hyg in i. rea:ly market for them in
anothertetown.
next
morn-
This
,it.
1;,,,,, (me which w.:- not iiheAy le ii.ke, flit trick i, ing for
~tner parties to e,,me again in the ever,in and agaw ooffs, t!le ~ofs a: a still ,),-c,r price. After thisg the whole party
weuid decamp, and the gentleman would of course not f otil
his promise of calling in the morning,—Doncaster Gaz.t.e.