The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-18 00:00:00

Paddington; that he had dealt with Lloyd, on Holborn-hill,
. five years, adding that he was going to Box (near Bath),
when Lucas observed, "If you come with me to Oxford you
will be nearer Box theri than now." The prisoner said if he
insisted on his going to Oxford he would go, but not other-
wise. Lucas said he sliduld insist, and requested him to get
up, which he did immediately. He said that he must go to
Windsor the next Morning, or he should disappoint some
riends.
Cross-examined—My house is five miles from the Walling •
ord -road Station ; the trains at that time were running to
London, about eight or ten in the evening. When his money
had been taken from him, he asked what had been stolen.
Box is on the Great Western Railway. '

The policeman-added that the prisoner wai suspected
in censequence of the company he, kept ; but witnes•s
never heard or knew that he had ever been in custody.
The two men whom the prisoner had-described as having
been in his company when he took the Frenchmen's
cheque into the bankit!g-hense, were, witness believed,
cr_imps They were not in attendance.
'fbe prisoner—Those two persons were with me at the
time. I don't supposa they received the letters calling
upon them to attend.
Mrs.Sitlney Madlocks (widow) stated that the cheque
produced had been last in her possession on Monday. It
was drawn by her (1.1. the banking-,house of her fr ;he

John Lucas, the city 'marshal, corroborated the account
given by the last witness, adding, that while the prisoner was
dressing he said that he did not much like the journey to
Oxford, having promised to meet two friends at Eton and
Windsor the next morning. I went to London the following
day. aid found the place referred to by him in Bell- street, Pad-
dington ; it was a cigar and tobacco shop.
Mr. Guy Thomson, a banker in Oxford, of the firm of
Robinson and others;in High-street, was examined.
Lucas recalled-4 man of the name of Burgess pointed out
to me the spot where a bag was found like the one lost, con-
taining a box inclosing a stone and some sand. It was about
a mile on the Oxford aide of Nuneham.
This closed the case for the prosecution;
Whereupon Mr. BALLANTYNE proceeded to address the
jury on behalf of the prisoner.
After an able and lucid summing up on the part of the
Learned JUDGE. the jury remained some time in deliberation,
returning a verdict of ACquittal.
CIVIL SlDE.—(Before • Mr. Sergeant ATCRERLEY and a
- , Special Jury.)
iF.scit V. MERRICK.
For the plaintiff were Mr. Valentine Lee and Mr. Hodg-
son; for the defendant Mr. Sergeant Talfourd and Mr.
Alexander.
This was an action brought to recover compensation for a
breach of promise of marriage, alleged to have been made by
the defendant to the plaintiff.
Mr. HODGSON having opened the pleadings,
Mr. LEE proceeded to state to the jury the circumstances
of this somewhat singular case, as they afterwards appeared
in evidence.

..rocing-house or Tother
(Mr. Robarts), and 'she had deposited it in a pocket-
book which she placed in a bag, which bk.; lay in
basket in her- sister's open carriage, at Holmes's shawl-
warehouse, in Regent street, where !-he called. She was
about twenty minutes, or a
,quarter of an hour, at
Holme,'-, ad upon her return to the carriage she missed
the,
The f:o!.man stated that he remained outside Hohnes's
warehouse, on the form, within view of the carriage,
while Mrs. .Maddock's was within the house, and the
coachman said that he remained on the box.
Mr. Mullins then proved the presentment of the
cheque at the counter, and the account given
,by the.
prisoner of the manner in which he became possessed of
it, which was—that, as he and two friends of his were
passing along Lombard-street, two Frenchmen were
disputing about the cheque, and he pointed out to them
the banking-house where it was payable, and took it
from them to get it cashed _for them, as they did not
seem to understand it.
The prisoner requested to be informed whether the
Magistrate would take bail. .
SIT PETER LAURIE replied that he could not think of
taking bail in such a case.
The prisonsr—l assure you that I am entirely inno-
cent. I admit that there is something calculated to
excite suspicion ; but that is all.
Sir PETER LAURIE—I have given you every oppor-
tunity to clear .up the business if you could. I must
_

The plaintiff, it seemed, was a young, woman of prepos-
sessing appearance, the sister of a Mrs. Grimes (whose
husband keeps the. Red Lion Inn at Burford), with
whom she lived in the capacity of bar-maid. The defendant
whose mother died two or three years go, and kept the
Lamb Inn in the same town, about nine years ago formed
an acquaintance with her, and had been in the habit of call-
ing upon her daily since. Sometimes as often as three times
a day, during that period. In consequence of a statement
which originally issued from, and seemed to have been indus-
triously propagated by a Mrs. Street, a tenant of the de-
fendant, to the effect that Miss Bench was a young woman
of immodest character, the defendant discontinued his visits
at the Lion. After an interval, however, of some duration,
he was induced to resume them, and agreed to marry the
plaintiff within six months from the Ist of January, 1843.
This, however, he had neglected to do, alleging, as an excuse
that the plaintiff had been delivered of a child, as he
was informed, whOn" only nineteen years of age. This she
did not deny; but at the same time contended that the de-
fendant had been fully aware of the circumstances for some
years, and now only sought to avail himself of that unfortu-
nate occurrence in order to evade the promise which he had
before repeatedly made..
It was clearly proved, that ever since the unhappy young
woman's seduction by a , Mr. Hussey, and it was not pre-
tended that she bad ever been guilty of even an indiscretion
with any one else, her conduct had in every way been per-
fectly irreproachable.
Mr.-Sergeant TAIXOURD having addressed the jury on
behalf of his client, they remained about ten minutes in de-
liberation, finding a verdict for the plaintiff on the first, and
for the defendant on the second issue.
The defendant had pleaded, first, that he did not make the
promise in the declaration alleged; secondly, that at the time
of making the promise, he believed the plaintiff to be a
woman of good character and morals, which he afterwards
found she was not, and upon these pleas it was that issue was
joined.

commit you for. trial, and, whatever he the result, I hope
the case will operate as a warning to people how they
take cheques from foreigners.
The prisoner-It will be a warning to me, I assure you.
The:prisoner was then committed for trial.
G: J. Russell, the captain of one, of the steam-boats
which ply between London bridge and Chelsea, was
summoned to answer the complaint of Mr. R. S. Upton,
Who stated that on Thursday he went to the Pier-wharf,
at Southwark, and purchased tickets for his wife and
himself, having first been assured by the person who
took the money that the boat would certainly go to
Chelsea. When the vessel reached .Westminster-bridge,
however, the captain said the passengers must go ashore,
as he could not go. further that night. The secretary
said, upon being expostulated with, that people must
put up with it. The complainant added, that he had been
put to a great deal of inconvenience by the violation of
agreement, and he was determined, for the sake of the
public, to represent the matter to the Magistrate.
The. solicitor to the proprietors submitted that the
lateness 'of the, hour required that the vessel should
.go
no further than Westminster-bridge, and that she in-
variably stopped at that spot on the last trip of the even-
ing. Besides, the captain was not aware that the gen-
tleman had mentioned that his wish was to go to Chelsea
before the boat 'left Southwark-bridge.
Sir PETER Lir RxE thanked the complainant for the
trouble he had taken to correct such an a vil, and fined
the captain in the penalty. of 10s. and costs.
A young man, who stated his name. to be Henry Rage, and
his profession to be that 'of a surgeon, was brought before Sir
Peter Laurie, charged by Mr. Robarts; of the banking-house
of Ciatis, Robarts, and Co., uuder.the following remarkable
circumstances
Mr. Robarts stated that on
_the afternoon of Monday he
.

called accidentally upon Mrs. Maddox, his sister, andwas
told by her that she had lost a smell bag out of her carriage,
which-bag contained a cheque which she had drawn for 30/.
upon the house in Lombard-street. As the cheque was post-
dated he did notsuppose that any mischief would arise from
the finding of it hy any person. but hy way of precaution he
wrote to the resident clerk the particulars, and at a little
after nine o'clock on that (Tuesday) morning it was presented
at the counter by-the prisoner, who gave so lame an account
of the manner in which he, became possessed of it that it was
c~resi.terl roper to give him into custody.
Sir Pi.:-riut LA:on the gentleman will give me
an intelligib a explaiiatiOn. 'PITT, Sir, where did you get
this cheque? Defendant'---I. had it of two Frenchmen whom I
saw in-Lombard-street.
Sir PETER LAURIE—HOW did you happen to meet them ?
Defendant—l did not meet them. They were standing toge-
ther in the street, and they had the cheque, and did not ap-
pear to know where the bankingAouse was, and I looked at
the cheque and pointed it out to-them.
Sir P. LAvnin--;--And so you took it from them to get the
cash for them?, Defendant—Yes. I saw they did not un-
derstand the business, and I went into the banking-house.
They were broth behind me attthe time. One of them was
close to me. There were two gentlemen, friends of mine, who
were with me at the time, and saw what passed.
Sir P. LAURIE—Where were they when you went into the
banking-house? Defendant—They were outside.
Sir P. LAURIE—Of course, finding that you have got ink,-
such a dilemma by your good nature, they are hear to bear
testimony' to the- correctness of your statement. '
Defendant--I dare say they are.
Here Sir P. LAURIE directed that the names of the two
gentlemen should be called. There was no answer.
Defendant—Perhaps they don't know that I am in custody.
Sir P. Latium—Oh, yes they do. They ought to be
here. NoW, I am giving you .the fairest opportunity, by
asking you these questions, to clear yourself from all impu-
tation. If I were in yoUr situation-and you in mine, I should
feel very much.cibliged to you fur similar treatment.
- Defendant—l am obliged to you, I assure you. I see that
there is a necessity for investigation, and my friends will ap-
pear here: if you give time.
Sir P. I,Aumg---It would appear that they have left you
to your fate.
befeudant— I have not the least doubt that they will come
forward.
Sir P. LAURIE---Well, I shall remand you until your
friends appear to give their explanation of the affair. Of
course, they will not hesitate fir come forward on such an oc-
casion.—The defendant was then remanded.
CLERKEN WELL.
John Gordon, well-dressed young man, who de-
scribed himself as -a journeyman jeweller, residing in
Woodbridge-street, Clerkenwell, was charged with a
burglary,at the-house of Mr. Vaughan, on architect, re-
siding at 30, Park-street, Llington,
being from home on
Tuelrsaa-Vy,aSuagrhatiHaanndco!!)kis, tfha'rne tielYmale servant, invited her
sitter to take tea with her on the evening of that.day.
The sister ,came, accompanied by the prisoner, who pro-
feSsed to .be , her sweetheart; they went away about
ten o'clock. 'Between twelve and one o'clock on the
following morning, police-constable 178 N, !Ting on duty
in Park-street, heard a noise in the area of No. 30, and
on hastening thither found that the entrance from the
area into the kitchen had peen broken open, and saw
the prisonei escaping by the railings. Witness at-
tempted to secure him on the spot, but the prisoner
climbed over the railings, and ran away—the officer
pursued him, hat finding that he was very nimble
sprang his rattle police-constable 212 N attempted to
stop the prisoner„who knocked him down, but the officer
clung to him, and they were rolling on the ground to-
gether when 1781 came up,, and , he was secured with
great difficulty. On examination, it was found that
some articles which hung in the kitchen had been re-
moved, and that thoglass of thelritchen door had been
smashed. The servant said she was sleeping at the top
of the house, but-did-not hear- any noise.
The prisoner alleged that' he had made an appoint-
ment of an amorous nature with Sarah for Tuesday
night, but admitted that he had came " a night before
his time."
Sarah indignantlydenied the allegation, and declared,
with apparent candour, that she could not be vile enough
to:seduce the affections of her sister's lover.
. Inspector Thatcher said the prisoner had given a false
address. , .
Mr. Conan remanded him, telling him he should com-
mit him fur trial on the charge of burglary.
John Barrett was brought up or;_remand, charged with
obtaining money froth tradesmen by fraudulently re-
presenting himself as the agent of the Anti-Corn-law
League.
Ur. Ivimey, the 'solicitor for the, League, appeared
for the prosecution, and Mr. Humphreys for the prisoner.
The prisoner's • brother, a respectable-looking young
man, came forward, and stated that the prisoner was the
son of Mr. Barrett, hatter and furrier, 72 and 73 Castle-
street.. Bristol. He did not think the prisoner was of
sound mind. Some time two, he left 'Bristol, taking with
him clandestinely 251. and two gold rings, the property
of his father, which sum he spent in four days in Lon-
don. Various other circumstances had led his family
to believe that he was not of sound mind.
Mr. Ivimey said he should certainly press the charge
against the prisoner, unless the prisoner's friends wished
him to be remanded for the purpose of establishing the
plea of insanity.
Mr. Barrett would not, however, ask a remand on
these grounds.
Mr. Saul, secretary to the League, stated that he had
been informed by a correspondent at Bristol that it was
not the first time the prisoner had been charged before
a magistrate.
Mr. Comm: finally decided upon sending the prisoner
for trial.
The depositions of Messrs. Newman and Ingram—
the main facts of which have' been mentioned in our
paper of Tuesday—were formally taken down.
Mr. Paul, a printer, residing in Great St. Andrew-
street, Seven-dials, deposed that about six months ago
the prisoner called on him, and having stated ho was
agent and collector to the League, said he wanted to
have three thousand cards struck off for the League.
Witness, after some hesitation, assented, and the prisoner
gave theft elowing words to b.;printed on the cards
" The bearer is authorised to collect subscriptions for
the Asti-Corn-law League, George Wilsvn, Chtlirman. '

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, July 15.
CROWN SlDE.—(Before Mr. Justice CRESSWELL.)
Richard Cooper; aged 23, was indicted for having, at Bads-
worth, on the 4th day of June last, felonioulsy stolen ten
sheep, thyropely of Joseph Jackson. _

M. -
Mr Hall. and Mr. Overen-d conducted the prosecution ; the
prisoner was not defended by counsel.
It appeared from the statement of Mr. Jackson that on
_ _

7tit,p(Cti-, the 3d, 4 Jnofs. he had in a close at ILldgworth a

1:•ek of 50 sheep, 4S orwhich \veie hog sheep, and two
(in the Monday' evening they were all sacs:, but on the
Wednesday following it was found that ten sheep were
missing. On discovering his loss, Mr. Jackson went over
to Ackworth, the neighbouring township, and inquired of the
prisoner, who wag plnder there, whether he had any sheep
in the pinfold. The prisoner said he had not. Mr. Jackson
then inquired if he had had any lately. He replied, Yes,
that he had had borne on the Tuesday morning, belonging
to a Mr. SimpsOn, a flirmer, at Ackworth. • Mr. Jackson then
went away, but from some information he received he_ was

induced 6'; return to the prisoner's house, and accuse him o
having sold the sheep In question at Wakefield fair, the day
before. To this the prisoner at first made no reply, but he
afterwards admitted he had sold them at Wakefield for the
sum of 14/. Mr. Jackson asked where the money was, and
the prisoner replied, that he had 111. of it up stairs, and that
if Mr. Jackson would-say nothing about it, he would give

him the remainder in a-day or i'wo. Mr. Jackson got the
111., and told the prisoner he could say nothing about future
arrangements without seeing the constable. They went in
consequence to the constable's house, where Mr. Jackson left
the prisoner in custody..
The defence made by the prisoner was, that Mr. Jackson
had told him to take half a score of sheep to the fair, and to
seleet'them as he. thought best from the flock in the fields.
He said he had in consequence taken them to Wakefield and
sold them for 14/., butt that having got drunk and lost part
of the money he was afraid to go to Mr. Jackson with the
remainder. Mr. Jackson, he said, called on him for the
money, and threatened to charge him with sheepstealing
only when he found that it was not all forthcoming.
Evidence, however, was adduced to show that Mr. Jack-
son had in the prisoner's hearing stated on the Monday that
he was not going to,setld any sheep to the fair, and that the
sheep which the Prisoner was seen on the Tuesday morning
driving along the road towards Wakefield, were then covered
with red ruddle on' the rump, so as to conceal as much ay pos-
sible the mark "J.," which was the only one upon them
when in Mr..lackson's close.

The prisoner had formerly been in Mr. Jackson's employ-
ment, but had left it about four months before this occur-
rence.

The prisoner was found Guilty.
A previous conviction for sheepstealing having also been
proved against him, his Lordship pasaed sentence, stating that
the prisoner's
.previous history sufficiently showed that he was
utterly incorrigible, and that it was necessary to pass such a
sentence as would be a warning to others. To be transported
for life.

James Bradbury, aged 52, was indicted for setting fire to a
certain heath, at Aldmondbury, in the West Riding, the pro-
perty of George Hinchcliffe.
Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Pashley conducted the prosecution ;
the prisoner was defended by Mr. Bliss.
It appeared from the evidence for the prosecution, that on
the night of Saturday, the 26th of May, two persons were
on the watch in the neighbourhood of a moor, called Good-
bent Moor, which had, during the spring, been several times
on fire. In the course of these several conflagrations great
quantities of the game had been destroyed. About twelve
o'clock on the night in question, they saw part of the moor,
at some distance, burst into a blaze, and they ran off in that
direction. They had approached within about one hundred
yards of the place where, the motor was then burning, when
they saw a spark moving about much nearer them, and they
had come within a very few yards of it when it suddenly
burst into a blaze, and by the light they saw a man, whom
they recognised as the prisonerat the bar, rising from a stoop-
ing position over the burning heath. He was dressed in dark
clothes, with a hail.), cap. A scuffle ensued, but the prisoner
succeeded in making his escape. Besides this testimony,
evidence was adduced of the prisoner having repeatedly used
the most violent.threats respecting the owners of the moor
and the gentlemen who preserved game in the neighbour-
hood, in which he intimated that Good-bent Moor would be
the scene of a maulice," as it is called in the hill dialect,
meaning a mischance, before long.
For the defence, it was sought to establish an alibi, which
having failed, the prisoner was convicted.
Sentence was deferred.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Winchester, July 15.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.)
►William Cripps, a boy aged 12 years, was indicted for set-
ting fire to the dwelling-house of Thomas Ilerton, in the pa-
rish of Itchingswell. •
Mr. Ball prosecuted. The prisoner was defended by Mr.
Saunders.
It was proved that on the 18th of June the barn of Mr.
Thomas Horton was on fire, which was consumed, together
with his dwelling-house. 'The prisoner had been seen near
the place a short timebefore the fire was discovered, and was
apprehended on suspicion. He directly confessed that it was
he, and told how he had done it, viz., by putting some fire
among the straw in the barn. He further said Sally Mul-
lings.(wbo, it appeared, was a girl of eleven years of age),
told him to do it, and had said, if he would not set it on fire
she would.

Mr. § MINDE 118 contended that it was quite clear that the
boy did did not kwow what he was about.
Mr: Justice WIGIITHAN left it to the jury to say whether
he was doli capax.-
The jury returned their verdict that he was not, which was
therefore a verdict Of Nut Guilty.

. .
Martin Mountjoy, servant to the Earl of Chesterfield—On - POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
the 18th of March was passenger by the Defiance to Oxford. I (YESTERDAY.)
I got upon the coach, behind, at Knightsbridge. I saw the MA NSI ON-R OUSE.
prisoner get up. He sat at my right. He had with him a Henry Sage, the person who was charged on Tues-
carpet bag, which appeared nearly empty ;it was put under . - .
the seat where we were both sitting. I got down at Benson, with having presented for payment a cheque for 301.,'.
as did the prisoner also. On returning to the coach I ob-
which had been stolen out of a lady s carriage on Mon
served a man who had been travelling on the box at the boot day, was brought before Sir Peter Laurie for final exa-
of the coach ; he had on an old-fashioned blue great coat. mination. Mr. Williams, of the firm of Bush and Mut-
He was standing with one foot on the splinter-bar and one Ens, solicitors to the Committee of Bankers for Protec-
on'the wheel. I did not observe then whether there was tion from Forgeries and Frauds, attended for the
any one sitting on the box, but I saw the man with the old proseeution. Mr. Robarts, of the house of Curtis and
great coat holding a Mae bag in his hand. It appeared nar- Roberts, and brother of Mrs. Maddocks, the prosecutrix,
row, about two feet long, and very heavy. He passed to the i was present during the investigation.
back of the coach, and then resumed his place on the box.
I did not see what became of the bag. I was not absent • Sir PETER LAURIE said that, in order to have com-
from the coach more than a minute. I came on to Oxford,
plete justice done to :the prisoner, he had ordered strict
inquiry to be made respecting his character and the
Crow-examined-1 sat beside the prisoner all the way
from London. but did'not talk to him. I had a carpet bag in characters of the two persons who, the prisoner declared,
the front boot, and.was watching, lest that should be moved. had been in his company when he addressed the French-
I walked up and down a few times by the coach, during part men %ho had the cheque in their possession.
of which time I saw the prisoner In the inn. . The prisoner—l thank you, Sir, for having done so.
- Richard Coster, landlord of the Crown Inn, Benson—l saw .1. Hams, policeman, No. 248. stated that he had known
the prisoner during the last seven years. He was a
-the prisoner in the bar. He paid Hobson the fare as the
coach was leaving. He staid in the inn, bringing with him I surgeon, and had been some time aev student at one of
a carpet-bag, umbrella, and top-coat. He went to bed early.
the hespitals, but he lived now withe'a woman, and kept
Lucas, the Oxford city marshal, came •to my house that
ad company, such as thimblezrig men, sharpers,
night, and I went with him to the prisoner's room. Lucas very
searched his clothes,- the bag, which was quite empty, being an swindlers.
still in the commercial room. We found nineteen sovereigns The prisoner—Not to my knowledge ; but a profes-
and some silver in his trousers pocket. He said he was a se- ' sional man cannot know the characters of all whom he
spectable tobacconist, residing in Bank-street, or Bell-street, attenels.