The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-21 00:00:00

UNION•HALL.

William Brocksopp, formerly in extensive business
as a grocer and tea-dealer in High-street, Southwark,
was brought before Mr. Traill on remand, charged by
William Brocksopp, jun., his son, with stealing a gold
ring, a gold pin, and portfolio, his property.
On Wednesd:sy last, the accused was given into
custody by his son on the above charge, when it ap-
peared that the articles above specified were taken out
of a box belonging to the complainant, and left in the
care of the accused, who had been for some length of
time struggling against adversity with a large family.
The complainant on examining the box, and finding
the articles missing, questioned his father on the sub-
ject, and it appearing the latter had pledged them,
and had objected to restore them, was given into cus-
tody by his son.
Mr. TRAILL, who could not help expressing his
surprise at a son bringing such a case before the pub-
lic, adjourned it over, merely making the accused
enter into his own recognisance to appear this day,
the magistrate and every other person in court; who
heard the details, believing that an ariangement would
take place betwe the parties, and that no more would
be heard of the charge.

In this expectation'', however, a disappointment was
experienced, for when the case was called on, the
complainant immediately appeared, and, in answer to
Mr. Traill, said that no arrangement had 1-een en-
tered into respecting the charge. The accused then
handed in a note, of which the following is a copy,
that he received from his son since the last exami-
nation :

" 13, Norfolk-place, Kent-road, Oct. 16.
" Mr. Brocksopp,—lf you are willing to deliver me
the articles I claim, viz., the two rings, gold pin, and
prtfolio, or give me the tickets and the money for which
they are pledged, I. will drop any further prosecution.
If they are not delivered up on these terms, you must
take the consequences. If not settled by to-morrow by
four o'clock, my solicitor has my instructions to make
out the necessary brief.—l remain, Sir, yours most re-
spectfully, " WILLIAM BROCKSOPP.
" To Mr. W. Brocksopp, sen."

Mr. TRAILL said &id he expected to have heard
no more of the charge, when the complainant imme-
diately answered, that as the prisoner did not think
proper to restore the jewellery articles, he should go
on with the charge. lie then proceeded to describe
that the rings and pin belonged to him, and that the
box from which they were taken was opened without
his sanction by the prisoner.

Mr. TuAu:r, said that, after all, the complainant
could not produce evidence of the stealing of the ar-
ticles, the utmost being that of illegally pawning
against the father.
The complainant said that he was still willing to
forego the prosecution, if the accused restored him
the articles.

The accused (in strong terms) denounced the con-
duct of the complainant, for the harsh steps he had
adopted towards him, and said that, even if he was
adjudged to restore them, he had not the means of
doing so.
The complainant said that, if he did not proceed
with the charge, the prisoner would not stop until he
deprived him of all his property ; that his father, some
time ago, was the cause of preventing him from ob-
taining 2,0001.
The prisoner denied the assertion.
Mr. TRAILL (to complainant)—Then, I suppose,
you have adopted this proceeding against your father
out of revenge ? The complainant, however, declared
that such was not the case, and complained loudly of
his father's general misconduct.
The accused retorted.

The magistrate stopped the recrimination between
the parties ; and, after some further evidence respect-
ing the charge, adjudged the accused to restore the
gold ring and pin to his son, saying at the same time
that if he did not consent to do this, an order would
be immediately issued to compel him.
The accused declared that he was wholly unable to
redeem the articles ; and he was then informed of the
consequences if he neglected to obey the order made
upon him.
William Batty, the proprietor of Astley's Amphi-
theatre, was summoned at the instance of Birch, the
informer, for suffering certain exciseable liquors to be
sold on his premises without a licence for that purpose.
Mr. Humphries, the solicitor on the part of the de-
fendant, contended that an information of that nature
must be laid by an officer of excise or some person
authorised by the Board, and not by a common in-
former. After some discussion upon the point, it,
howevei, was over-ruled, and the case proceeded.
Birch then called his witness, George Pratt, who
stated that he was a watchmaker out of employ, and
that, on Tuesday night last, he went to Astley's Am-
phitheatre. While in the theatre he went into the pit
saloon, and was served by a female with a glass of
gin-and-water, and some time after had a repetition
of the " dose," when he observed a lady taking a
glass of wine, and two gentlemen called for a glass
of brandy-and-water, with which they were also
served. He added that he was acquainted with the
person of Mr. Batty, and saw that gentleman going
into the private entrance of the theatre, when he
(witness) was going into the pit.
Mr. Humphries said it was incumbent on the in-
former to prove that the defendant was the owner of
the theatre.
Birch immediately drew forth a bill of the play, to
prove the fact; but this description of evidence not
be a
being cooennsviidcetireend, sufficientßirch th ebnystahide
thatma he gistrahatde
n 0
00 sus-
tainother
rmeans then of proving the fact; that everybody knew,
since Ducrow's death, that Mr. Batty was .the pro-
priet:Lrs.orilpt thought,
wouldugh h
t,adde geeudrßird.ch, that no obi
this ection of
Mr. TEAU.L said it was most important to prove
the ownership of the premises where the alleged in-
fringement of the Act took place.
Birch then said that he procured the bill of the play
to save the trouble of applying at the Lord Chamber-
lain's office ; that in case the magistrate considered
the allegation not proved, he should obtain other evi-
dence.

Mr. TaAu.L—You must before I can convict.
The Summons wee then ordered to deed over for