The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-07 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET.

Four well-dresssed persons, named Henry Miller,
Sarah Dewar, and Thomas and William Smith, alias
Apsells, with a host of other aliases, father and son,
were brought up for re-examination before Mr.
Broughton, charged with having feloniously
obtained possession of a quantity of :miscella-
neous articles, the property of different trades-
people in all parts of the metropolis. The prisoners
were said to form part of an extensive and organised
gang of swindlers, who for some time past had pur-
sued their depredations with remarkable fact and in-
genuity, and the court was crowded with tradesmen
to prefer charges against them.
It appeared that about three weeks ago the two
first-named persons hired a house, situate No. 1,
Peter's Cottages, Hammersmith, and immediately on
establishing themselves sent round orders to the
tradesmen in the neighbourhood for goods of every
description, which were executed with all the alacrity
and promptitude usually manifestedon such occasions.
At the expiration of a fortnight theprisoners suddenly
broke up their establishment and clandestinely re-
moved the whole of the property, but the police, after
incessant exertions, succeeded in tracing them to a
house in Harvey-street, Hoxton' where they also
found the other two prisoners, and conveyed them all
to the station house. A vast quantity of miscella-
neous property was found at the house and taken pos-
session of by the police. It was proved in evidence
that the elder prisoner Smith had personally super-
intended the removal of thegoods to the house in Har-
vey-street, and that the younger Smith delivered up
to the landlord the key of the cottage at Hammer-
smith a few days after the flight of the other pri-
soners. The prisoners were remanded upon a charge
of fraudulently obtaining a quantity of bonnets, the
property of Mr. Peat, a straw-bonnet manufacturer
at Hammersmith, and the following additional charges
were yesterday proceeded with.
Mr. Barker, a furniture dealer, at Hammersmith,
stated that about a fortnight ago the prisoner Miller
called at his place of business, and gave him an order
for furniture, to the amount of between 301. and 401.,
for the house in Peter's Cottages, which he said he
had just taken for a term of three years. The goods
were accordingly sent in, but on calling, according to
appointment, for his money on the 25th ult., he found
the house shut up, and that the prisoner had ab-
sconded.

Mr. Barnes, an ironmonger at Hammersmith, and
several other tradesmen, identified the prisoner
Miller as having victimised them under similar cir-
cumstances.

Sergeant Dubois stated that bariagreceivedpoitive

information that the elder Smith had lately taken a t,
i house at Upper Mitcham, in the name of Richard Ap-
sell, he' proceeded thither on Friday, and searched the
place, where he found a large quantity of new dresses
and other 'articles, corresp aiding with similar articles
which had been fraudulently obtained from different
tradesmen. He also found a large mass of written
documents, some of which were agreements for
houses taken in different names, for various terms of
years, in all parts of London. Some of these docu-
menti related to one Joseph Price, who had been en-
gaged in extensive swindling transactions, at a house
in Cambridge Heath-road, and he was prepared with
evidence to prove that the said Joseph Price and
the elder Smith were one and the lame person.
Mr. James Kipling, clerk to Messrs. Truman and
Co., tea-dealers, in Coleman. street, identified the elder
Smith as having obtained goods to the amount of 50t,
from the firm, in the name of Joseph Price, of
Cambridge-heath-road, on which occash)n he gate a
reference to a Mr. Dewar, of Ashford-street, Baton,
whom the witness identified as the prisoner Miller.
Sergeant Dubois said that the prisoner Smith had
opened no less than seven different shops, in as many
different names, within the last twelvemonth, and it
allowed further time he would bring forward nume-
rous other charges against them.
Mr. Duncombe, who attended on behalf of the pri-
soners, .Submitted that no case whatever had been
made out against them ; but
Mr. BROUGHTON said he was clearly of opinion that
a case of constructive felony had been established, and
he should remand all the prisoners for another week.
UNION-HALL.

Johnson, a young man of genteel appearance,
was brought up on remand from Wednesday, charged
with stealing several silver spoons and other silver
articles from different coffee-houses and taverns in
the metropolis. Owing to the publicity given to the
charge against the prisoner on Wednesday, on which
occasion he took two silver table-spoons from the
house of Mrs. Hubbard, a pastrycook in the Wal-
worth-road, and substituted two metal ones in their
places, the court was literally crammed with tavern
and hotel-keepers from different parts of the town.
Mr. Jones, the proprietor of the Three Tuns tavern,
St. Margaret's-hill, Southwark, stated that on Satur-
day, the 21st ult., the prisoner walked into his coffee-
room, ordered a roast partridge for dinner, and talked
very familiarly about his acquaintance with some
wealthy hop merchants in the Borough. He then
countermanded the order for a partridge, and ordered
a mutton-chop, and having taken some sherry negus,
left the house, and soon after his departure a silver
spoon, a salt spoon, together with a silver mustard-
pot and spoon, were missed. Mr. Jones had no doubt
as to the prisoner's identity.
The landlord of the Golden Cross, Charing cross,
stated that the prisoner dined at that house on Thurs-
day ; he had dinner in the coffee-room, and when he
was gone two silver spoons were found to be missing.
The proprietor of the St. Paul's Hotel, St. Paul's
Churchyard, stated that six weeks ago the prisoner
dined and had tea there, and having paid his bill he
left the coffee-room. He had, however, scarcely left
the house when a silver sugar-basin and tongs and
tea-spoon were missed; but he got clear off, although
pursued by one of the waiters.
The landlord of the Ship Hotel, Charing-cross,
stated that about a week ago the prisoner called there
and had a glass of gin-and-water in the coffee-room,
and that he decamped with a silver table-spoon, a
salt-spoon, and a tea-spoon, which latter article he
had with his Fin and water.
The proprietor of the pastry-cook's shop at the
corner of Gracechurch-street, identified the prisoner
' as having had a bason of soup in the refreshment-
room, and having paid for the same, it waa discovered
that he had taken two large silver spoons, leaving in
their places two metal ones very similar to them in
appearance.
Mr. COTTINGHAM said three cases out of the num-
ber should be selected upon which to prosecute the
prisoner, who was asked if he wished to say anything
in answer to the numerous charges alleged against
him. The prisoner merely said he should leave the
case in the hands of his solicitor. •
Policeman 166 M stated that the prisoner was an
old offender ; that'about twelve months ago he was in
his custody on charges of a similar desoription ; that
he was convicted at the Surrey Sessions of stealing
various articles of plate from the Hummums, and sen-
tenced to six Months' imprisonment.
The prisoner was then committed, but he will he
brought up again on Wednesday next.
Mr. Joseph Ashford, landlord of the Queen's Head,
Green-lane, Tottenham, was charged with wilfully
breaking the panel of a third-class carriage belong-
ing to the Brighton Railroad Company.
Robert Sutton, guard, in the employ of the Corn-
pany, stated ,that the defendant came from Croydon in
the Brighton train on the preceding night, and that
when they arrived at the terminus he commenced
hammering away at the panel of the carriage with a
stick until he did damage to the extent of 10s.
The defendant being called on to answer the
charge, said it was very important to the public that
all the circumstances of the complaint should be
known : on the preceding night he arrived by the
half-past nine o'clock train at the terminus. The
tickets were collected from the passengers, and he
wanted to get out in order to meet the stage at the
Flower Pot to take him to Tottenham. The door of
the carriage, however, was kept closed for upwards of
ten minutes after their arrival, and he admitted that
he knocked with his stick to get out ; that he did not
strike with more violence than was necessary to make
the persons hear, and owing to the detention he
lost the stage, and was compelled to walk home,
where he did not arrive until past one o'clock in the
morning.
Mr. COTTINGHAM inquired as to the cause of
such a detention after the arrival of the train
at the terminus ? The superintendent said that they
were obliged to wait :until a Croydon train, ,which
was about 'to 'start, was got out of the way. The
superintendent added that great force must have been
used to break and damage the panel of the carriage
in the way it was, and that the defendant's arm was
seen thrust out of the window striking away at the
side of the carriage.
Mr. COTTINGHAM was astonished to hear that a
passenger should have been kept locked in for such a
length of time after the arrival of the train and the
collection of the tickets ; but it was the duty of the
Company to have seen that there was no impediment
at the terminus on the arrival of the train, and not to
have put many of the passengers to the inconvenience
of being detained for such a length of time. If any
unavoidable accident over which the Company had no
control had occurred, then there would be an excuse
for such a detention, but in this instance bad manage-
ment was apparent on the arrival of the train. The
magistrate added that the damage done to the car-
riage being proved, the defendant was bound to pay
for it, but he (the magistrate) must say that it was
with reluctance he compelled him to do so.
Joseph Ashford, a publican, at Tottenham, was charged
the with w
Brightonilfull wilfully
Rail
d arnavvgayn gc
oamrailway carriage belonging to
Evidence was adduced that, on the arrival of the train '
the preceding night, the defendant broke the panel of
the carriage in which he was a passenger, with a stick.
The defendant said that he was kept waiting for ten
minutes after the arrival of the train at the terminus, and
the consequence was he missed the stage to Tottenham.
Mr. COTTINGHAM said that, the damage being proved,
it was with considerable reluctance he adjudged the de-
fendant to pay for it, as the Co:npany had no right to
keep him in the carriage so long after his arrival. The
defendant was then fined 105.
CLERKEIV WELL.
Mr. John Nye, a commercial traveller, was charged
with embezzling numerous sums of money, being
portions of the amount of cheques and bills of
parcels, the property of his employer, Mr. Isaac Malden,
plaster of pares manufacturer, 45, Bald
Gray's Inn-lane. win's-gardens,
Mr. Humphries conducted the prosecution; Mr. Wolff
the defence.
The evidence, which is very voluminous, went to show
that the prisoner, who had hitherto borne a most excel-
lent character, was in the employ of Mr. Malden for
two years, during which time he was confidentially en-
gaged in the collection of debts. Several respectable
.
tradesmen, architects, and sculptors, residing in various
parts of the City, came forward and deposed that they
had paid the prisoner sums of money for goods received
from the prosecutor, who deposed that he had re-
ceived in some cases none of these sums, and in others
only a portion of them.
Mr. Wolff asserted his client's innocence. It was an
error of Mr. Malden's to suppose that Mr. Nye had
embezzled any portion of the money instrusted to his
charge.
Mr. COMBE decided on sending
the prisoner for trial;
and the depositions were accordingly taken down.
Thomas Lee and Margaret Butt were charged with,
stealing several bottles of perfumery, the property of
their master, Mr. Broad, a surgeon, residing at 151,
Gosweil-road.
A case was fully established against the prisoners,
who, when called upon for their defence, admitted their
guilt.—Committed for trial.
THAMES POLICE.
CHARGE OF MURDER.—Mrs. Elizabeth Southerland,
a pretty, mild looking
woman, :slightly made, with
Dr.
Henry
Letheby, professor of chemistry, was
light brown hair, blue eyes, and very expressive fea-
tures, was put to the bar, charged on suspicion of
having caused the death of Samuel Cornish, late ship-
keeper or steward of the Dee Royal Mail steam-
packet.
Owing to the interest created by the publication of
r thrown
r o worewn
shoulders.
the proceedings at the inquest held at the Alfred
Head, Stepney,.9n the preceding day,ape tahreanccoeu.rt
She
about s
crowded at an early hour by persons anxions to wit-
ness the appearance and demeanour of the prisoner.
On her entering the dock all present were struck
wi
is ttahh oahetr satinyouthful t
obafrnede the
yearsisnat emreeo interesting
et
oini og p
age,u
a
cap nor bonnet, but was tastefully dressed in black,
'wi
the first witness called. He proceeded to detail with
great clearness the various interesting precems by

which he analysed the contents of the stomach, and
tested the intestines, .so as to lead to the conclusion
that arsenic had been taken into deceased's system. I
The evidence, which it is unnecessary to repeat, was
verbatim the same as that given at the inquest, the
substance of which appeared in The Sun of yesterday.
In answer to Mr. i'elham, who appeared for the
defence, Dr. Letheby gave it as his decided opinion,
that an over-dose of salts would not produce the in-
flammation which the intestinal canal of the deceased
exhibited. He could not tell what quantity of arsenic
his tests discovered, nor was it possible to say whether
it amounted to 140th part of a million part of a grain.
The whole of the intestinal canal had been completely •
cleared out.
Mr. Pelham—Does it not sometimes occur that
there is arsenic in the human system ? Dr. Letheby
—ln my opinion, it never occurs except f•orn acci-
dental causes.

Mr. Pelham—Then that theory is exploded? Dr.
Letheby—Yez, by all who take the trouble to in-
quire into tr-id satisfy themselves of the matter.
Messrs. Hose and Tatham, the surgeons who at-
tended deceased during his last illness, repeated the
evidence which they gave on the preceding day.
In answer to Mr. Pelham, the latter gentleinnii
stated that the cowfuct of the prisoner and deceased
was that of mutual friendship and affection towards
each other. Decea-ed did not at all appear as if he
he entertained suspicions that he had been unfairly
dealt by.
Mrs. Blackinwe was then called, and repeated her
testimony of the previous day, the gravamen of which
was that the deceased told her two years ago, that
Mrs. Southerland had sent him a cup of coffee which
smelt so strong of laudanum that he could not drink
it, and that she was in the habit of administering
drugs to him.
In answer to Mr. Pelham, the witness said the de-
ceased promised not to forget her daughter Anne in
his will ; but she (witness) was not so much con-
cerned about the money as the person of the deceased,
who was an old acquaintance, and friend of herself
and her husband.

Mr. BALLANTINE here interposed, and said, that
after the evidence of Mr. Tatham, who spoke as to
the kind and affectionate bearing between the pri-
soner and the deceased, coupled with all absence of
suspicion on the part of the latter, such a line of ex-
amination was unnecessary.
Two or three other witnesses were then eltansined,
but nothing material was elicited. Almost all of
them spoke to the kind feeling which appeared to sub-
sist between the prisoner and the deceased.
Mr. Pelham then put in a letter from Cornish to
Mrs. Southerland, dated the 7th of Nov., 1843, whilst
he was on board the Trent. Its expressions were
quite of a parental character. It alluded to and
commended her improvement in writing; referred to
a new dress with which he had presented her, and
promised her another should she continue to improve.
It concluded by recalling to her memory the happy
times they had passed together, and expressing a hope
that they should soon be renewed.
The prisoner, who up to this time watched the
proceedings with a collected air, and gave instruc•
Lions to her solicitor with great promptness, when she
wished to have any errors of date or circumstance in
the testimony corrected, burst into tears, and dropped
into her chair on hearing the letter read.
Mr. Pelham observed that it wa3 very improbable
that a man who suspected a woman of drugging him
should write such an affectionate letter so soon after-
wards.

Mr. BALLANTINE, finding that Sergeant Shaw had
no further evidence to produce; immedia.tuly dismissed
the case.

The prisoner, who, except her emotion when the
letter was read, and a slight spasmodic emotion of the
throat whenever she was alluded to as " the prisoner
at the bar," bore herself calmly throughout the in-
quiry, fell backwards in a tainting fit on hearing that
she was discharged, but fortunately Roche, the
gaoler, caught her in his arms, and prevented any
accident ; she was then conveyed out of court by her
friends, who appeared to be very respectable.