The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-21 00:00:00

NEW COURT.

A well-dressed young man, named George Jessop, aged
23, described as a plumber, was indicted for stealing two
silver table spoons, and several tea spoons, the property
of James Last, a publican and horsedealer, residing at
Yarmouth.

The prisoner lodged in the prosecutor's house, and
while the prosecutor was out attending a fair, the pri-
soner took that opportunity of running away with his wife,
who carried with her the spoons in question. These
spoons were engraved with the maiden name of the wife,
and were her property before her marriage. The pri-
soner and the woman came to London together, and the
prosecutor, having followed them, found them in bed
together, at the Bell Inn, Old Bailey. The prosecutor
immediately gave the prisoner into custody, it having
been discovered • that he, in company with the woman,
had sold some spoons to a silversmith on Ludgate-hill.
Several witnesses deposed to these facts, and in the
course of cross-examination it appeared that the prose.
cutor had taken his wife back again. He also admitted
having had several children by other women.
Mr. PanNnEacAsT, who defended the prisoner, sub-
mitted that there was no case to go to the jury:
The COMMON SERGEANT said he thought there was a
case for the jury, inasmuch as it was in evidence th it the
prisoner had sold the spoons.
Mr. PRENDERGAST submitted that there was no proof
of identity with respect to the spoons.
The COMMON SERGEANT said that was a question for
the jury.
Mr. PRENDERGAST again submitted that there was no
case for the jury, and, in support of his opinion, referred
to the case of Rosenburg and Bohain, in which case the
Learned Judges gave it as their opinion that the question
ought never to have been sent for trial.
The COMMON SERGEANT said the present case differed
widely from that one. In Rosenburg's case the woman
left her husband's house, and went to the defendant's
lodgings. There could not, therefore, be any felony in
such a case as that. In the present case the prisoner
was living in the prosecutor's house, and left the house
with the wife.
Mr. PRENDERGAST then addressed the jury for the
prisoner, and contended that this was a case which
ought never to have been brought before them. Had
such a case been brought before them apart from the
adultery, there could be no doubt whatever that a ver-
dict of not guilty would have been immediately returned.
Re thought it was evident that the prisoner had no felo-
nious intention whatever when he sold these spoons, for
the prisoner believed that they were the property of
the wife.

Th—c-
-0 ONMON SERGEANT summed up the evidence,
Slid said the only question the jury had to decide was,
7poheotrwtteichspothons sold by the prisoner were the same
the prosecutor had lost. If they were
satisfied that th
had been clearl eY
were the same spoons, then a larceny
The jury r etiYrE,nlarilit,taeflter an absence of an hour, re-
turned into Court,
ing verdict :---,, We find
the foreman returned the follow-
recommend :
hi
to d the prisoner guilty, but strongly
spoons under the mercy,impressionas we believe that he sold the
of the prosecutor's Wife, they
that they were the property
initials.' 1 theY being marked with her
The COMMON SERGEANT said they
again and re-consider their verdict, as had better retire
it was impossible
for him to receive snch a verdict.
The jury again retired, and after
being
time, returned into court with a verdict of absent some
Acquittal.
The prisoner was therefore discharged.
Two young men, named William Dawson,
and Charles Henderson, aged 19, were found aeldt
y of
18,
guilty
stealing twelve spoons, and divers other articles, value
6/. and upwards, the property of Mr. R. White, in his
dwelling-house.
They were sentenced to six months' imprisonment
each, with an intimation that if they were again found
offending they would be transported.

SOUTHWARK COURT LOF
REQUESTS•

DISCHARGE OF PRISONERS IN EXECUTION UPON JUDG•
MENTS FROM THIS COURT UNDER LORD BROUGHAM'S

BILL.

Yesterday a very full attendance of the Commission-
ers of this Court was held in the Committee-room, for the
first time since Lord Brougham's Act for the Amend-
ment of the Laws relating to Insolvency, Bankruptcy,
and Execution, came into operation, to take into consi-
deri4ipn.thq rt wers vested in the Commissioners by the
praitsiona- of the Act to discharge persons under execu-
tioitstipon judgments from that Court, and also to cob- ,