The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-27 00:00:00

COOKE V. HALLS AND ANOTHER.

Mr. Crowder and Mr. gaprell were counsel for the
plaintiff; Mr. M. Chambers and Mr. Bovill appeared
for the defendants.

This was an action of trespass for breaking into the
house of the plaintiff in Bethnal-green, and taking
and carrying away divers goods and chattels, the pro-
perty of the plaintiff. It appeared on the part of the
plaintiff that the two defendants, who are brothers of
his wife, had proceeded with their sisters to the house
in quastion, and having ejected an auctioneer and his
men (who had been put into possession previous to a
sale on behalf of the plaintiff), had nearly pulled the
house to pieces, and finally carried away a considera-
ble quantity of furniture, which they had deposited at
the house of another brother. On the part of 'the de-
fendants their conduct was justified on the ground that
the property had originally belonged to their sister
6-fore her marriage with the plaintiff in Feb. last.

From these witnesses it was elicited that Mr. and Mrs.
Cooke had no: been united more than three weeks before
Mrs. Cooke fell ill, and with the consent of her hus-
band she went into the country to recruit her health,
he promising to bring her,,home when she was better.
For some time, however, she heard no tidings of Mr.
Cooke ; but one day she received her boxes by rail-
way, and the state of these showing that they had
been broken open, and rifled of the better part of their
contents, she at once proceeded to town with one of
her brothers. On arriving at what she imagined was
to he her home for life, she found it shut up and pla-
carded with bills, announcing a sale, while her hus-
band's name bad been blotted out, and that of one
" Dabs" substituted, the owner thereof being the auc-
tioneer's man. On that day she took no steps ; but
on the following she went to the house with the two
defendants, who, thinking that their sister was an ill-
used woman, and hearing that her husband had gone
to America, doubted the title both of the auc-
tioneer or of Mr. "Dabs," and proceeded with their
sister, and on her behalf, to commit the trespases
complained of by the plaintiff, who had authorind
the sale, and was during the Is hole transaction within
reach of the belligerent party.
The CHIEF BARON, at the close of the defendant's
vidence, said it was unnecessary to call on Mr.
Crowder to reply, as, in his opinion, there was evi-
dence to fix both the defendants with the removal of
the plaintiff's property, the only question being what
was its worth and what damages the jury would
award against ahem. •
The jury, after, some little deliberation, found for
the plaintiff, with 30/. damages.

GLASGOW, Nov. 23 T —pi-14 iron—ln consequence
of the numerous meetings relative to the scrip system,
business in pig iron has been much interfered with during
the week. The price to-day must be quoted 445. for store-
keepers' warrants, at which some business has been done.
Cotton—There has been a pretty fair demand fur cotton at
our market during the past week, and prices have. advanced
id. per lb.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
"VERT COURT
(Before the CommoN-SLaGEANT.)
Joseph Thomas Bethel Jones, 24, clerk, a gentl,-2,
manly, well-cire!.sed young ni4n, was indicted for 'ut
tering counterfeit coin.

M. Ellis, Mr. Bodkin, and Mr. Clerk appeared for
the prosecution' and Mr. Parry defended.
The facts c,f the case were somewhat singular.
Early in November the prisoner went to Mr. Howell's,
the Savoy Palace, in company with another man, and
called for some gin, tendering a bad half-crown,
which being detected, was given back and a good one
given. On the 18th the prisoner came again alone,
and tendered a bad half-crown in payment for a glass
of ale. He was then given in custody, when he gave
his address Bennett-street, Doctors'-commons. The
prosecutor, thinking from his respectable appearance
that it might be a mistake, would not press the
charge. Oa the 10th of November he went to Mr.
Moody's, the White Swan, Salisbury street, Fleet-
street, and called for some gin, tendering a bad shil-
ling. Mr. Howell happened to he in the bar at the
time, and recognised him as having been twice at his
house, and he was again given into custody. Upon
the first occasion when taken into custody he had
upon him a bill of exchange for 251. and some gold
and silver. Upon the second occasion of his being
taken into custody he first said he lived at Jaek.:on's
Hotel, Bow-street, and Wells' Coffee-house, W4t, r-
loo-road ; but was not known there by name, but had.
had a bed at one of those houses.

Mr. PARRY, having addressed the jury, contending
that the money had come accidentally into his hands,
called several witnesses, who gave him a good cha •
racter, and said that he was the son of a gentleman
high in the scholastic profession.
The late Sheriff, Mr. D. Nicoll, said the prisoner
had been some time in his service as clerk, and was
strictly honest, leaving his service for some eccentri-
city of conduct. Mr. Nicoll had known him from his
path, having been brought up at the school kept by
the prisoner's father.

The jury acquitted the prisoner.
Ellen Costello, 28, widow, was convicted of utter-
ing two bad shillings.
The mode in which this offence was effected was
a new trick. The prisoner was one of those women
who purchase hare skins at gentlemen's houses. In
the present instance prisoner had called on the 20,h
of October at a house .in liensingtod-erescent, and
purchased two hareskins, giving a bid shilling ie
payment. On the next morning she called again and
requested to buy some rags and gave another bad
shilling, upon which the police were called in.
She was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.
Margaret Pike, 30, married, a somewhat fashion-
ably dressed woman, was indicted for having in her
possession a quantity of base coin.
Mr. Payne defended.
It appeared that on the 13th of this month the at-
tention of Inspector Brannan was called to a horse
and cart standing near the Green-gate, City-road, in
which the woman was, and he directed it to be taken
to the station. On the road thither the woman leant
over the front of the cart, and commenced striking
the horse as if to make it go quicker. The officer
who had charge of the cart, seeing her hand was
clenched as if there was something in it, watched her,
and saw her put her hand under the tail of the
horse, and drop a black bag, in which were found 26
base shillings. A man who had been with her was
discharged at the police court, there being no case
against him.

-The jury found her Guilty.
Brannan said the prisoner had been tried and ac-
quitted before for uttering, and had been several
times in custody for the same offence. She was one
of the worst of characters. She had trained her own
children to it ; some of whom were now undergoing
terms of imprisonment for the offence of passing base
coin.

She was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment.
The other cases, which occupied the whole day,
were of the usual description; the greater number of
utterings being to licensed victuallers.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
BOW-STREET.

Adolph de Werdenski, a Pole, who is under remand
for brutally and criminally assaulting a girl under 16
years of age, was brought up for further examination.
Ttae case had been put off with the view of enabling
the officers to learn the exact age of the child ; but,
owing to the death of the mother, nothing but con-
jecture upon the subject was forthcoming.
George Ho3kin, 5, Manor-place, Walworth-road,
said that he remembered the mother, who was a char-
woman in the Queen's Prison, and was confined there
in 1835, with, as he believed, the present girl. The
child was illegitimate, and they used to joke her about
a Dr. Brown. The prisoner was in the Bench a year
or two afterwaids, and knew the mother then. Wit-
ness had occasionally seen the girl since, and had no
doubt in his own mind that she was born at the time
he mentioned, in 1835, and would consequently be
about 15 years and three months old.
Catherine Younv, 8, Little Surrey-street, an elderly

woman, who was present at the birth of the girl, de-
posed to the fact; but she said she was no scholar,
and could not state the exact year when it occurred.
The girl was never christened.
Other witnesses were in attendance to speak to
the cruel beatings which the girl had endured from
the prisoner during the five years he had lived, and
apparently cohabited, with her.
Air. JARDINE said that nothing could be done with
the more serious charge against the prisoner unless
more exact evidence could be given with respect
to the child's age. More time should be given, if
necessary.

The prisoner was again remanded.
John Taylor was charged with stealing a large
number of books belonging to Mr. H. G. Bohn, of
York-street, Covent-garden; and John Millard,
bookseller, of Newgate-s.treet, was charged on suspi-
cion of receiving the same with the knowledge that
they were stolen property.
Mr. Bohn stated that Taylor had been in his ser-
vice for five years as a town traveller. Having oc-
casion to suspect him, he went with a police officer to
the prisoner's lodgings, and, getting admission into
the room which he occupied, at 4, Ravenscroft-street,
Hackney-road, found as many as 179 volumes lying
about, or placed in a box and cupboard. Some of them
were packed in a brown paper parcel. Having ascer-
tained that the prisoner had been in the habit of sending
parcels of books to the shop kept by the other pri-
soner, Millard, in Newgate-street, witness and the
officer went there in the morning. Millard did not
reach the shop till an hour afterwards. Witness had
his books upon the shelves, and in
observed many of
various parts of the shop. When the prisoner arrived
witness asked him were the two parcels were that had
been sent to him the previous day by Mr. Taylor.
He replied —" What, is there anything wrong then ?
I always thought him a very respectable young man."
Witness asked him what he gave Taylor for the books.
At first he said he could not remember, but afterwards
stated that he gave him two guineas. Witness asked
to see the books. He hesitated some time, and said it
would be very bard for him to be at the loss of the
books, but eventually be produced them. Witness,
having previously seen other books belonging to him
on the shelves, toldlthe prisoner that he had some more,
and mentioned the names of the volumes. The pri-
soner then said, "Oh, I recollect; I took them with
me to Clapham last night." Witness told him that he
had just now seen the books on the shelves, and then
the prisoner suddenly remembered " that he had not
taken them to Clapham," and produced the volumes,
Witness then mentioned two or threrexpensive works,
which he had also previously seen in the shop, and
Millard admitted that these were included in the parcel
which he received from Taylor. Witness saw some
of his books in the window, marked 4s. or 58. under
the price at which they usually sell. The parcel of
books which the prisoner Millard said he purchased of
Taylor for 9/. 2s. was worth 5l
Taylor said nothing to the charge.
Millard said he had had business transactions with
Taylor, su him to be a highly respectable per-
son. But he intended to have made inquiries respect-
ing the parcel of books the next time Taylor called
on him.
Mr. JARDINE remanded both the prisoners, ad-
mitting Millard to bail.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
William St. Clair, a journeyman glazier, was
charged with having sent a threatening letter to Mr.
Charles Fox, of the firm of Fox and Henderson, con-
tractors for the works of the Exhibition structure in
Hyde-park, and also with having used menacing lan-
guage to the same gentleman.
Mr. Humphreys attended for the prosecution, and
Mr. Rippon, of Blackfriars-road, appeared for the de-
fendant.
Mr. Humphreys read the letter to Mr. Fox, which
had been sent, according to the defendant's own
admission, the previous day to Mr. Fox, and which
formed the evidence in support of the first part of the
charge.
Mr. Charles Fox, of the firm of Fox and Hender-
son, contractors, said he received the letter he pro-
duced, which bore .the signature of the defendant, St.
Clair, on Monday morning. A copy or the letter,
almost verbatim, was found in the defendant's pocket
when he was taken into custody. The defendant was
employed as a glazier at the works. About fitty
journeymen glaziers, among whom was the defendant,
gave notice to leave his employ last Friday. Mr.
Fox then detailed the evidence of the previous day, of
his having been accosted in the building in Hyde-
park
by the defendant, who claimed an audience, and
who, when be received a refusal, clenched his fist,
and used these words, that " he would make him
repent it."
Cross-examined—There were forty or fifty other
persons present when the defendant used the words.
The defendant did not say that .probably witness
would repent it. His words were that .he would 1

make him (witness) repent it, or words to that
efft-et. Could not tell what it: w he was to rep-nt.
In reply to a quention, Mr. Fox said the words
were such as to hive an effect on his mind tilt': inti-
midAtion wr.s anant.

Mr. John Cochrane, No. 10, Walter-villas-place,
proved that a sort of protest from eertrin of the work-
men, relatiVe to the mode of payment for work, was
sent to him. A number of men gave notice to quit
at the latter end of lMst week.

The constable who took the prisoner into custody
-at the request of Mr. Fox said the prisoner, when at
the station-house in Vine-street, produced some
papers, among which, he said, was a copy of a letter
he had sent that morning to Mr. Fox.
Mr. Rippon, for the defendant, contended that no
charge had been made out which brought his client
within the operation of the Act, and proceeded to
call witnesses to disprove the alleged threats at the
building. _ _

George Smalt, one of the workmen, was present
during the interview of the defendant with Mr. Fox.
lie stood about foar yards off, and heard every word
that passed. When Mr. Fox refused to give him an
audience, the defendant held out his open hand, and
•aid, " Then you may repent it." Would swear that
the defendant's hand was not clenched.

Eiward Harding, another workman, heard the
words, which were, " You may repent it," and not
" I'll make you repent it."
Henry Stanborough.was one of 40 or 50 who went
into the building with the doendant. II- heard the
wards used by the defendant, which were, "You may
rt.pent it." The defendant did not in any way menace
Mr. Fox.

In reply to questions from Mr. BINGHAM, the
witness said the workmen who went in with the de-
fendant were those who had sent notice the previous
week of their intention to leave. They had gone in a
body to the building to receive some arrears of wages
and because they had been sent for by Mr. Robson,
the foreman of the painters, who had appointed to see
them at two o'clock.

Mr. Humphreys proceeded to comment on the evi-
dence for the defence, which he said was important,
not for the purpose for which it had been called, but
for the purposes of the prosecution, inasmuc,h as
thereby it was clearly shown that a considerable body
of workmen were in combination with the view of
molesting and intimidating the prosecutor. The
very act of going together in a body amounted
ro intimidation, even if not a word had been
said. He considered the present to be the
worst case he had ever known brought into
a police-court ; and he considered that the de-
fendant might consider himself well off in consequence
of the prosecutor taking this lenient course. The pro-
secutor had abundance of people to do that which the
defendant and his comoanions refused to do, so the
works in the park had not been stopped for a moment ;
but had the prosecutor chosen to adopt a stronger
course, he might have taken proceedings which would
have inconvenienced not one, but fifty men.
Mr. Rippon would not claim the right to reply
further than to remark, that as no offence had been
committed by his client, he denied that any mercy
had been shown by the prosecutor.
Mr. BINGHAM said, the Act of Parliament under
which the offence had been laid, he was happy to say,
was seldom resorted to in that part of London, though
he confessed to have had some experience of it in
Spitalfields. The question was one of very great im-
portance, and, though he could not say he had not an
opinion to give on it, yet, to avoid the appearance of
being at all precipitate, he would take time to consider
all the evidence, and would give his judgment on
Thursday next.
A printed paper and another paper were handed to
our reporter. The printed paper purported to be
" The Glaziers' Appeal to the Contractors of the Na-
tional Exhibition, Hyde park," and contained a series
of resolutions, passed on Friday last, among which
was one that " the public pre-s of London be appealed
to." The written paper was in the form of a com-
munication to the papers, and it was headed " Extra-
ordinary Scene in Hyde. park." The paper set forth
the cause of discontent of the workmen, and their
having sung the national anthem on leaving their
employ, concluding thus:—" No doubt the Commis-
sioners will take the conduct and painful case of these
loyal men—the bones and sinews and glory of Old
England, into their consideration." In pencil was a
memorandum to this effect—" The agitation can be
kept up on this system."
Bail was taken for the appearance next Thursday
a the defendant, who, when released, was received
with loud cheers by a large body of workmen, filling
the street and the avenues of the court.