The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-13 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER S ESSIONS.

The Epiphany Quarter Sessions for transacting county
business was held yesterday, at the Sessions-house in
the Broad Sanctuary, before a full bench of Magistrates.
The first act was to elect a Chairman of the Sessions
until the county clay, inclusive of the Epiphany Sessions
1845 (standing order No. 4), when Mr. Sergeant Adams
was unanimously chosen, on the motion of Mr. Walesby,
seconded by Captain Berger, after which the Learned
Sergeant took his seat upon the Bench, and briefly re-
turned The minutes of the last Quarter Sessions was then
thanks.
read by the Clerk of the Peace.
The Bench next proceeded to receive 12pecial Reports
of the Visiting Justices of Westminster Bridewell and
of the Committee for accounts and for general purposes,
on the applications received from candidates for the
matronship of the Bridewell, for which there were 41
candidates, amongst whom only 27 were considered
eligible for the situation. After which, the general Re-
port of the Visiting Justices of the Westminster Bride-
well was received, when
Mr. P. LAURIE entered his protest against the system
adopted in many of the metropolitan prisons. lie con-
tended that many of the prisoners were discharged from
those places in a state quite unfit to engage in any labour.
During the short period in which the Model Prison, at
Pentonville; had been in operation, no less than three
persons had been sent to Bethlern Hospital, in a state of
confirmed lunacy. He did not so much find fault with
the diet as the system of solitary confinement, which he
was confident produced insanity. In one instance,
namely, that of John Rees, who had become an idiot, it
was found that he recovered his mental powers upon
being allowed
to hold intercourse with the other

prisoners. He concluded by strongly condemning the
system pursued at the Model Prison.
After considerable discussion the Cleric of the Peace
was directed to address a letter to the Right Hon. the Se-
cretary of State for the Home Department, acknowledg-
ing the receipt of the letter, recommending a peculiar
dietary for the prisoners and to infarm him that the Ma-
gistrates, after full consideration, had been induced not
to adopt the diet recommended by him, and to enclose to
him the Report on which they had come to the conclusion.
On the motion of Mr. Amyot, seconded by Mr.
Walesby, the following resolution was carried by a majo-
rity of 11 to 7 :—" That the salary of the Rev. George
Henry Hine, the Chaplain of Westminster Brider:ell, be
increased from 3651. to 4001. a-year, to commence from
24th June, 1843 ; and, in consideration of his increased
duties, the very satisfactory manner in which he has uni-
formly discharged them, his many valuable services, and
his length of service, that he be allowed a gratuity of 1051."
Several other motions connected with the business of
the county were then adopted, after which the usual re-
ports of the Governor of the Westminster Bridewell,
and the journals of the surgeon and chaplain of the
same establishment, were laid before the Court for in-
spection, when the Sessions was ordered to stand ad-
journed.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
GUILDHALL.

Yesterday William A ynscomb, a gardener, lodging in
Daubeny-place, Pentonville ; Frances, his wife, and
Henry, his son, were re-examined before Aldermen
Johnson and Gibbs, charged with receiving a large
quantity of Chusan and other dresses, the property Of
Messrs. Price and Partridge, of Cheapside, calico and
woollen printers.
The MAGISTRATES having consulted together, agreed
to admit the husband to bail ; but as further material
evidance was to be produced, which might implicate all
the prisoners, the Aldermea could not discharge either
of them now.

The prisoners were remanded till Thursday.
BOW-STREET.

An interesting-looking young woman, named Eliza
Austin, was brought before Mr. Jardine, charged with
attempting to commit suicide by throwing herself from
Waterloo-bridge.
It appeared that on the morning of the 4th inst. the
prisoner was observed to mount one of the recesses of
the bridge, and precipitate herself into the water. An
alarm was given, and one of the Thames police went to
her rescue, and she was taken out of the water. She was
taken to the floating- station-house, and there she said
she had attempted to destroy herself in consequence of
distress. She was conveyed to King's College Hospital,
where she remained until she was brought to this office.
Her sister stated that she believed the prisoner was
out of her mind. About a fOrtnight ago she had at-
tempted to destroy herself by poison. She was in a good
situation in the west end of the town, and was not
driven to the commission of the net•with which she was
charged by distress. The witness lived with her father,
who was very badly off, and who had eleven children.
They had no home to take the prisoner to.
Mr. JARDINE, after questioning the prisoner, said she
was evidently not in a tit state to be allowed to go at
large, and he should send her to the authories of the
Strand Union, who would take care of her.

WORSHIP-STREET.
Yesterday six dejected and miserable-looking men, named
Joseph Corbel, William Smith, William flinde, James
Booth, William Carrington, and John Hantswell, were
charged before Mr. Bingham, by William Horsford, one of the
officers of the Mendicity Society, with mendicancy.
Hartford, while passing through Bunhill-row, at eleven
o'clock, met the six prisoners, four of wham ( Hindu, Carring-
ton, Booth, and Ilantswell) were in a body in the middle of
the. road, singing a loud and doleful song, made up for the oc-
casion, on the subject of their distresses, while Corbet and
Smith were on either foot payment, following and begging of
the passengers in the most importunate and obstinate manner.
The prisoner Corbet, who had beers a soldier, but discharged
for misconduct, was an old and incorrigible- offender, and he
had taken him into custody only a short time ago under the
same circumstances.

Booth and Hantswell stated that they were machinists by
trade, and natives of Stockport, where they had endeavoured
to get employment in any branch of their business they could,
but without success. They at last resolved to come to the
metropolis, where they had been only six days ; but the same
bad fortune attending them here, they had been induced by
Corbet to join him and the others, in the hope of obtaining
enough money for their shares to carry them back to their
native place. They assured the magistrate, in a very earnest
and apparently truthful manner, that they were not habitual
beggars, that this was the first time they had ever asked for
alms, and that they did nut know they were offending by so
doing.
Smith, Hinde, and Carrington said that they were mechanics,
but out of employment, which of no description could they
obtain anywhere. They all had wives and children, who were
in a state of absolute starvation, and it was not until they had
pawned and sold every article that would fetch a penny that
they had adopted this course. They each told a tale of con-
summate misery and wretchedness, and implored the magic-
tate to do something for them.
Mr. BINGHAM asked if they had applied to their parishes
for relief

They all, except Corbet, replied in the negative, and said
they would sooner perish than expose themselves to the rebuffs
and contempt of strange overseers to whom they would be
obliged to apply.
Air. BINGHAM said that from the appearance and manner of
the poor men, he was much disposed to believe that they were
in the state of extreme wretchedness and distress they repre-
sented themselves to be in ; but in exact proportion to their
distress and want was their right and title to relief from the
parishes to which they belonged and if, upon a proper appli-
cation to their overseers, relief was refused to thorn, they had
only to apply to himself or Any other, the nearest magistrate,
and that magistrate would compel the parish officers to perform
their duty. As to Corbet, it had been proved that he was an
old and practised beggar, and, as an example to others of his
class, he should commit him to the House of Correction, with
hard labour, for a month. Booth and Hantswell he should dis-
charge, that they might return to their native place imme-
diately, which he trusted they would do ; but Smith, Hinde,
and Carrington he should remand for another examination,
that inquiries might be made into the truth of their state-
ments, when, if they should be found to be correct, he would
see what could be done for them.

Directions were then given to the officers to make these in-
quiries, and report the result to the magistrate.

LAMBE7I/-STREET .

After the ordinary business of the court had terminated on
Thursday evening, Nehemiah Shakspeare, late an engineer in
the employment of Mr. R. Johnson, cigar manufacturer, at
No. 35, Gloucester-street, Commercial-road-east, surrendered
to his bail, and appeared before Mr. Norton for final examina-
tion on a charge of having wilfully and maliciously caused the
explosion of a steam-boiler, by which the lives of upwards of
seventy individuals were placed in jeopardy.
Mr. Duncombe, the solicitor, attended on behalf of the
prisoner.
It will be recoßeeted that Mr. Johnston's suspicion as to the
guilt of the accused rested upon the fact of his finding, on en-
tering the engine-room on the morning of the explosion, at
eight o'clock, all the appearances to indicate that there was an
abundant supply of water in the boiler, and the prisoner him-
self, in a conversation at that time, admitted that the pump
worked so well that it more than sufficiently supplied the boiler
without any other source. There were other circumstances
which strengthened the suspicion, and those were, that imme-
diately after the explosion Mr. Johnston observed the prisoner
smiling, even after he had said to him, " Well, Shakspeare,
you have done a pretty thing ;" and believing he was so smiling,
said to a friend who was with him, " See, the villain smiles,"
and though his master had then said he would give him into
custody he left the yard under pretence of going for his jacket,
and did not return before the Thursday morning, when he was
given into custody. It will also be recollected, that on the last
examination Mr. Fennell, an engineer, and Mr. Marshall, the
maker of the boiler in question, swore positively that it was
their dezided opinion that the explosion took place solely from
want of water.

Mr. Johnston, the complainant, was cress•examined at very
considerable length by the prisoner's, solicitor. lie said that
between three and four months ago he purchased the boiler in
question from Mr. J. Marshall, of Colchester-street, White-
chapel, and paid him 45/. for it. He did not think at the time
that it was new, and thought he got a great bargain. He
did not know whether the boiler had been used before, or
who used it, nor did he knew the person who had set it. It
was set Joy a person who was recommended to hiin by the
foreman of the engineer who fitted up the engine, and the
fitting up took place under the prisoner's personal observa-
tion. There was a collapse of the upper part of the flue before
the prisoner took charge of the boiler, but not to any extent,
as it did not exceed the size of his hand. This was occa
sioned, no doubt, by want of water, but it did not seriously
injure the boiler. Believed the plate, or substance of the
boiler, as well as that part of the flue that gays way, to be
three-eighths of an inch in thickness, and it was warranted fo
him to bear 501 b. weight of steam to the square inch. Had
neither a steam nor water-gauge to the engine.
Duyght, who was in the employment of Mr. Johnston, and used
to drive the engine before the prisoner was engaged, admitted
that the pumps which supplied the boiler with water had been
frequently out of order, and that the prisoner and himself
used to set them to right. He admitted that they bad done so
two or three times within a month. _

Williams, another servant of Mr. Johnston, in his cross-
examination, said that on the morning in question the engine
was stopped twice, to repair the strap of a roller in the saw-
room. On the first occasion it was set to work, but had not
taken many strokes when he (witness) saw his strap giving way,
and called out to the prisoner to stop it, which he did, and in
ten minutes after the explosion took place.
Mr. NORTON—Then, was the engine stopped when the ex-
plosion took place ? Witness—Yes, Sir, it was ; I'm sure
of that.

Mr. Johnston—And it is still more extraordinary, if this be
true, and I have now heard it for the first time, that four of
the flanges of the fly-wheel, which were of great strength, and
which were quite out of the reach of the boiler, should have
been broken to pieces.
Mr. Marshall, in his cross-examination, said he had sold the
boiler to Mr. Johnston four months ago, for 45/. It had been
made by him about four years ago, as an experimental boiler,
but had not been tried. Ile considered the boiler sold by him
t,) Mr. Johnston a perfectly safe one with care, and attributed
the occurrence solely to a want of water ; and added, it was
self-evident it was so.

This was the whole of the evidence in support of the charge.
Mr. Duncombe called Mr. Cater, a boiler-maker of the South-
wark-bridge-road, who deposed that the boiler in question was
such as should not have been put up or considered sate ; on the
contrary, it was highly dangerous for such a purpose.
The witness, in reply to Mr. Norton, adm►tted that the im-
mediate cause of the explosion was the want of water.
Mr. Bruton, of the firm of Bruton and Sons, John-street,
Blackfriars, engineers, said he had examined the boiler in
question, and considered it unfit for the purpose for which it
had been used. In his opinion it was a "doomed" boiler,
end its destruction with a pressure of steam was inevitable
some time or other. In fact, he should pronounce it highly
dangerous.
Mr. Manwaring, of York-street, York-road, corroborated a
great part of Mr. Burton's evidence, and said, that the sub-
stance of the tube in tle: boiler was not more than a quarter of
an inch thick.
Mr. NORTON observed, that with regard to the criminal
charge against the prisoner he would at once get rid of it, as ho
did not think that any jury would find him guilty of it, and
with respect to the negligence the witnesses called had re-
moved that charge also from his mind. In conclusion he could
only say, that it afforded him pleasure to acquit the accused of
the charge.
THAMES-POLICE.

Yesterday Captain Murray, master of the Coquette, was
charged under the Merchant Seamen's Act with abandoning a
black seaman, named Thomas Duncan, on the coast of Africa,
about four and a half years since.

The complainant, a powerful and intelligent negro, stated,
that about Ave years since he was engaged under articles by the

defendant to go on a trading voyage to the western coast of
Africa. Whilst at anchor off the coast, Captain Murray being
at the time on shore, the crew contrived to get at some spirits,
and they all became intoxicated. Complainant partook of
some of the spirits, but had no part in procuring them ; there
were several Kroomen on board, but they were not intoxicated.
This happened on a Saturday night, and when the captain
came on board next day he ordered the men to work, but being
Sunday they refused. Complainant being one of those who
refused, the captain ordered him forward to the forecastle for
the purpose of delivering hirdup to the natives, some of whom
were on board. Not wishing to be put into the hands and
placed at the disposal of a naked and barbarous people, he re-
fused to submit. A signal was then passed ashore, upon which
a party of the natives armed with guns and cutlasses came on
board, and complainant was given into their custody, and after
some time he was taken 20 miles up the country, where he re-
mained seven months, and never saw the face of a white man
during the time, except that once beforo being taken up the
country he saw Captain Murray. On that occasion he remon-
strated on the cruelty of being left behind amongst a barbarous
people, but the capta'n took no heed of his entreaties. Com-
plainant ultimately got back in another vessel to Liverpool, and
the reason why this charge had not been made before was that
he had not fallen in with the captain until lately.
Captain Murray, in his defence, said that when he got on
board on the Sunday he fiend everything in a state of the ut-
most confusion, and all the men swearing riotously. Be then
learned that they had broached some spirit casks, and taken
more than two gallons. The defendant then entered into a
detailed narrative, from whirls he would have it appear that the
crew were in a state of mutiny. When he wanted to search
their chests to discover the spirits, the complainant and others
swore that they would not suffer him. Things rose to such a
height that he fired two guns, upon which the native king sent
down some of his people, and complainant, who was most riot-
ous, and encouraged the others, was put ashore, whilst another
of the ringleaders was put in irons.
Evidence of the facts complained of was then given, and
Mr. Be Lt,ANTINE called on the defendant to put in bail, him-
self in 801. and two sureties in 40/. each, to answer the charge
at the Old Bailey.
Mr. Pelham appeared on behalf of the Lascars on board the
Thames, to whose alleged pitiable condition public attention
has been directed, in consequence of inquests held upon two
of the men, whose death was supposed to be the result of
neglect. . _

'Air. Pelham stated that the persons for whom he appeared
were 73 in number, belonging to an old Indianian called the
Thames, which, for the last two months, had been iu the port
of London. The vessel belonged to Mr. Green, of Bristol,
and the men had been hired, at Calcutta, by one of their own
countrymen, who was answerable, at the hazard of his life or
perpetual loss of liberty, for seeing that they were paid, as well
as for protecting them against any ill-usage. He was in-
structed to say that they had been so badly treated during the
voyage, that the original serang ran away at the Isle of France,
after having lodged a complaint in one of the Courts there
against the captain, named Baker, who was fined in a sum of
2,000 rupees, and this fine was attempted to be put up as a set-
off against the claims of these poor Lasears for wages due to
them. When the serang ran away, the duty devolved on the
tintlal, or mate, named Kadder Brix, who was anxious to look
after and protect his countrymen. After the late inquest some
humane persons called mu him (Mr. Pelham) to retain him
on behalf of these poor Lascars, and he understood that their
chief complaint arose out of the want of a sufficiency of proper
food. They were in a starving condition in addition, to the in-
juries they had received, and by which some of them had been
deprived of the use of their limbs. They were about now to
be tent back to their own country in a ship called the Sophia,
which was to sail the next day, but they were unwilling to
leave without receiving their wages, which collectively
amounted to a sum of 2631. 18s.

Mr. BALLANTINE said he had nothing to do with the titles-
tionof wages.

Air. Pelham said, that what the parties now complained of
was, that they were subjected to the tyranny of the master,
who was a cruel, uneducated man, denying them the absolute
necessaries of life ; insomuch that they had even gone that
very morning without any breakfast.
Mr. BaLLANTINE directed Inspector Maddox, of the Thames
police, to inquire into the matter, and to ascertain if there was
any foundation for the complaints.
Shortly after the departure of the inspector, Mr. Barker,
broker to the 'f hame s , presented himself before the Magistrate,
and stated he understood that a number of black men had been
making complaints as to food and wages. The fact was, that
they had received more pay than they were entitled to, as they
had done no work since they came into the Downs, and it had
cost 701. to bring the vessel up. They were the greatest ras-
cals imaginable—bad stolen everything they could lay their
hands on in the vessel, and would steal the ship itself if it were
portable.

Inspector Maddox returned a little before five o'clock, having
carefully investigated the whole case. He found that the men
were allowed two whole sheep per week to last for three days,
and to be cooked in their own fashion. For the other four
(lays they were allowed fresh and salt fish. In addition to this
they had four sacks of rice, weighing 1651 b., with a like amount
of some other sort of pulse, with potatoes, greens, turnips, and
other vegetables, and on the whole they appeared to be very
well fed. Their great anxiety seemed to he to poses them-
selves of the money which they said was due to them, but which
if they got there would be no likelihood of their leaving by the
So