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

IMP INTELLIGENCE.

EAST GRINSTEAD.—The hops in this neighbour-
hood and throughout the Weald, including the dis-
trict between this and Lamberhurst, remain in as
bad a condition as can well be imagined. In most
places, what little bine there may have been is fast
disappearing, and by the time it is usual to commence
picking it will be black and dried up. The best gar-
den in this part of the country is supposed to be the
one on the Brighton and Tunbridge wells road, about
a mile from the latter ; in most other situations their
appearance is desolate in the extreme.
BoucwroN.—This district is doing remarkably
well. We are clear of mould and vermin, and ex,)ect
a good crop.
EAST SUTTON.—The hops here are going on re-
markably well, the fine weather of the 16th and 17th
having improved them wonderfully.
llousEmoN DEN.—This parish is looking uncom-
monly well, having quite got over the high winds of
the week before last. A good crop is anticipated.
IGHTHAM.—Excepting some little mould, that is,
however, fast disappearing, there is not the least com-
plaint to make of the hops in this district, except of
not getting on so fast as could be wished. There will
be a fair average crop, fully equal to that of last year,
and of good quality.
MAIDSTONE.—The low temperature at night ap-
pears to have kept back the plants in bur, but, the last
day or two, the weather has improved, and the mould,
which had been increasing in some parts, seems to
have got a check. The duty. is set so variously that
it is almost impossible to give a fair quotation, the
been
lowest being 120,000/.
her
ei
having so effectually
sno
expectation
chtueraellyofbalinghaLed.
rage crop,
ASHFORD.—There
hopsri'
as to render recovery impossible.
FARNHAM AND ITS ENVIRONS. RoNs..The state of the
hop plantations in this favoured part of Surrey and
Hants is very encouraging to the
I)';,rowers, although
they have been sadly ock d a out by the storms
and tempests of the past ten de scarcely a leadingh
head to the bine has been left
uninjured,
. and.
.t e
lateral shoots have
suffered
nearly in a similar
manner, particularly on the S.W. side of the grounds,
or where they are not protected from the autumnal
equinoctial gales. The cold east winds of April and
May had checked the rapid growth 'of the bine,
therefore there is not to be seen those luxuriant
lateral shoots which often occur in the best grounds
of Farnham—there is not so much " shaking hands,"
or prevention to walking between the hills, as might
be expected if an overwhelming crop was to occur—
yet there will be more than an average crop ; they
are coming into hop very fast, and are very forward
in those grounds where there is a fair proportion of
male bines ; indeed, under such circumstances, it is
expected that such gardens will be ready for the pick-
ers a week earlier than others differently circum-
stanced. Picking will commence at Bonham's Farm,
near Alton, before August has expired. The ave-
rage old duty of Farnham district has been, for seven
years in succession, nearly 7,5001., and certainly this
year it will pay a full average, unless we have some
more extensive gales, such as occurred a few years
ago in the first week of September, when more than a
thousand pounds of duty were scattered to the winds.
The last year's old duty on the Farnham, district was
4,7051.—Sussex Advertiser.

THE WELSH IRON TRADE.—OUT trade has greatly
improved ; it is, indeed, better now than it has been for
years. This remark applies especially to Merthyr and
Dowla6.— The Welshu►an.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.
(Before the RECORDER.)
Edward Brown, a young man respectably connected,
was indicted for obtaining, under false pretences, on the
17th of April last, a sum of 3501. from a gentleman of
the name of Harding, a solicitor, of Gray's Inn. The
prisoner, who was out on bail, surrendered this day.
Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Ballantyne conducted the pro-
secution, and the Solicitor-General and Mr. Chamb,TL,
appeared for the prisoner.
Mr. CLARKSON having addressed the jury on the part
of the prosecution, called the following witnesses :
Richard llarding was a solicitor in Gray's Inn-square.
On the 13th of March last was introduced to the de
fendant by a person of the name of Morgan. Had pecu-
niary transactions with him. On the 17th of April the
defendant called upon him and produced a bill for
978/ 10s. and upwards, drawn by Potts, Baxter, and
Brown, and accepted by a person named Roberts,
which he asked witness ti discount. Witness said he was
not in the habit of discounting bills, and disliked them.
He said, further, that he knew nothing of the parties.
Witness asked him several questions, to which the de-
fendant replied that the acceptor, Roberts, was a wool-
broker at Liverpool, very respectably connected, and had
dealings with their house of Potts, Baxter, and Brown.
To another inquiry the defendant stated the bill was a
good bill, taken in the course of business, that a bona
fide consideration had been given for it, and it would be
sure to be paid when due. He said also that he had a
large sum in the house of Potts, Baxter, and Brown, of
which he was a partner. He said, further, that his own
connexions and those of his wife were highly respectable.
He said he possessed a good property, that he had a free-
hold property, was possessed of ample means, and
was in good circumstances. He said the house of which
he was a partner was extensively connected ; that
they frequently required advances. When witness asked
him whether it was worth their while to obtain money
iu the way proposed, he said that he got 30 per cent. for
sending goods to Valparaiso, and that it was an object,
therefore, to obtain money in the way he required. Wit-
ness subsequently gave him a cheque for 3501. on the
faith of the truth of his respectability. The bill for 9701
was then handed over to witness, and subsequently ano-
ther 350/. was advanced upon it. The whole of the re-
presentations of the defendant turned out to be false,
and the bill was dishonoured when due.

Cross-exaimined by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL—Was
not bound by recognisances to prosecute before he went
before the grand jury.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL submitted that this was fatal
to the indictment ; added to this, the olTence was laid in
the indictment as having been committed in London,
while, in fact, it took place in Middlesex.
Mr. CLARKSON at once consented to the indictment
being bad.
. _

Some discussion then took place as to whether the in-
dictment should be quashed or the defendant acquitted,
the Solicitor-General and Mr. Chambers contending that
he ought to be acquited, as he had been given in charge
to the jury, and pleaded not guilty.
Mr. CLARKSON and Mr. BALLINTYNE submitted that
the verdict must be quashed.
The RECORDER held that the jury must find the de-
fendant not guilty.
The jury then acquitted the defendant.
Wm. Butcher pleaded guilty to an indictment charg-
ing him with stealing a load of manure, and was sen-
tenced by the Court to one month's imprisonment and
hard labour.

Win. Hickey pleaded guilty to an indictment charging
him with stealing one pound weight of tea, the property
of the St. Katherine's Dock Company, and was sentenced
to six months' imprisonment.
The grand jury this morning brought in a true bill for
mu-der against James Cuckburn Belaney, the surgeon.
George Middl6clitch, 29, a private in the Coldstream
Regiment of Guards, was indicted for feloniously ac-
cusing Major-General Thackeray of an offence of an
atrocious character, with intent to extort money from him•
Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Ballantine conducted the pro-
secution ; and Mr. Prendergast appeared for the pri-
soner.

The facts of the case will be fresh in the recollection of
our readers, as they have only recently appeared in the
police reports. It will be recollected that the prosecutor,
while on his way home, early on the evening of the 20th
of June, was accosted and annoyed by the prisoner,
until he at length called a policeman and gave him in
charge, upon which the prisoner accused him of an
abominable offence. At the station-house the prisoner
was anxious not to press the charge, but he was com-
pelled to do so ; and upon an investigation taking
place before the magistrates at Marlborough-street
Police-office, the charge made by the prisoner was at
once discovered as having evidently only been made for
the purpose of extortion. Immediately upon this taking
place' Major-General 'rhackeray preferred an indictment
for perjury against the prisoner, but as there were some
technical difficulties in making out that charge, the pre-
sent indictment for felony, under the statute, was even-
tually proceeded with.
When the evidence for the prosecution had been gone
into,
Mr. PRENDERGAST contended that inasmuch as no de-
mand for money, or any mention of money, had been
proved to have been made by the prisoner, the specific
charge contained in the indictment was not made out,
and that the defendant, therefore, ought to be acquitted.
The RECORDER said that in cases of this description
it very seldom happened that persons made a direct de-
mand for money. He thought that the intent and ob-
ject of the prisoner must be left to the jury. _ _

Mr. PRE-NDERGAST then took som other technical ob-
jection, but the Recorder refused to stop the case.
His Lordship then summed up, and the jury immedi-
ately returned a vOrdiet of Guilty.
The RECORDER, before passing sentence, told Mr.
Prendergast that he thought the tter course would be
not to respite the judgment, but to pass sentence at once.
If, however, upon consideration, the Learned Counsel
should think that any of the points of law he had raised
ought to be further discussed, he (the Recorder) would
take care that the sentence was not put in execution
until that discussion had taken place.
Mr. PRENDERGAST expressed his concurrence in the
course suggested by the Court. _ _ _

The RECORDER then sentenced the prisoner to be
transported for life, with the understanding that the pri
soner should Rot be sent away until his counsel had an
opportunity of submitting his objections to the conside-
ration of the Judges.
As the prisoner left the bar, he exclaimed—" I have
not had justice done me, that's all."