The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-02 00:00:00

rinE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY MORNINe. DECEMBRit 2 1344.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL-COURT.
OLD COURT.

(Before Mr. Justice MIULE and Mr. Commissioner
BULLOCK, &C.)
_ _

MANSLAUGHTER ON THE EIVER.—A young man.
named S mud Simms, was indicted for having, while in
cc:zinr,:nd of the Waterman steamer, No. 6, improperl'
riFi down a small boat, rowed by Edward Everett, a
licensed waterman, and containing* four passengers, by
which the said Edward Everett and another person were
drowned. The body of the first-named person was af-
terwards found, and these proceedings were instituted in
consequence.

Mr. BAllantine and Mr. "Wilde were for the prosecu•
tion ; Mr. Clarkson and Sir John Bayley for the de-
fence.

Mr. BALLANTINE having stated the case to the jury,
proceeded to call witnesses.
John Fryar, a labourer, proved the finding of the body
on the 22d November.

Edward Everett, inspector of Thames Police, saw his
father (the deceased) leave the stairs on the llotherhithe
side of the river. He had with him four passengers. He
was 66 years of age, and had for many years been a
waterman. There was no obstruction on the water then.
The steamer was making her way Across in the wake of
the skiff. Her speed was seven or eight miles an hour.
The proper rate in the pool is only five miles. Just
before the occurrence the steamer had not in any way
slackened her speed.
John Savory, a seaman, was in the skiff with the de-
ceased on the 25th of October. He did see a person on
the paddle box of thq steamer, Waterman No. 6, when
she was coming up in their wake. Witness made a sign
to draw off m ore into wid•channel, but it was nnittended
to. The deceased then pulled to the larboard side, in
order to save his boat from being cut in two by the bow
of the steamer. The paddles, however, caught her, and
she was capsized. The steamer was going at the rate of
ten miles an hour. She did not slacken her speed.

John Taylor, another seaman, who was also in the
skiff, gave similar evidence, as did two other witnesses.
John Chambers, examined by Mr. CLARKSON—Is
master of the schooner Ann, moored off the Tunnel pier.
There was a strong eddy occasioned by the schooner,
from the position in which she lay athwart the stream.
Were it not for that eddy the small boat could have
made the stairs easy enough. To a steamer coming up
the river the eddy would not be perceptible. He thought
the e‘qtain of the steamer could not have avoided the
accident.

By Mr. BALLANTINE—TIC cculd not have avoided the
accident, from the position in which the steamer was at
the time I first saw them. There was no time for the
steams fio have backed, as she was just in the act of
strikitir 'the skiff.
Richard Field, a waterman, ascribed the fatal occur-
rence to the rate at which the steamer was going.
Mr. CLARKSON contended, that before the prisoner
could be held accountable in such a case as this he must
be proved guilty of some personal act ; and he cited the
law from Carrington and Payne in support of his posi-
tion. Sir John Bayley followed on the same side.
Mr. Justice MAULE said that the whole evidence
proved that the direction of the steamer at the time of
the occurrence, and for some short time before, had been
wholly under the control of the prisoner, and therefore
he thought that the cases cited by the Learned: Gentle-
man for the defence did not apply in the present instance.
Mr. CLARKSON then addressed the jury. He regretted
the decision to which his Lordship had just come, for,
convinced as he was, of the prejudice that existed in the
minds of the jury against the rate at which steamers
were Said to proceed upon the river, he would have had
the matter rather dealt with as a matter of law than one
of fact. The Learned Counsel then adverted to the facts,
as sworn to by the different witnesses, and asserted that,
under the circumstances of the case, the prisoner could
not have otherwise acted. _ _

•
Witnesses were then called for the defence.
Mr. Justice MAULE having summed up the evidence,
the jury retired to consider their verdict, and after an
absence of four hours, returned a verdict of Guilty, but
recommended the prisoner to mercy.
Henri Brenton, a young man of very respectable ap-
pearance, was indicted for the manslaughter of Mary,
his wife. it appeared from the evidence of the nurse
employed on the occasion, that the prisoner's ,wife was
confined in the month of August last, and that about a
fortnight after that event she left the prisoner and his
wife in their bed-room together, and that soon after she
heard a noise and a kind of scuffling going on in the
room. She listened, and heard the prisoner's wife say to
him, " You may pinch me, or kick me, but I will never
give in." On the following day the nurse again saw her;
she was then insensible. A medical, man was sent for,
who did what he thought necessary for her, but she died
on the 17th of the month. Several medical gentlemen,
who had made a post mortem examination of the de-
ceased's body, were next called, but their evidence was
extremely conflicting as to the cause of the death of the
deceased, and there being no evidence:beyond that of the
nurse as to any ill-treatment of her on the part of the
prisoner, the jury, without troubling Mr. Ballantine to
address them on his behalf, returned a verdict Acquitting
the prisoner.
EXTORTION.—John Bennett was indicted for obtaining
a watch, with chain, seals, &c., a purse, and other ar-
ticles from William Faulkner, under a threat
,of charg-
ing him with a nameless offence.
Mr. Clarkson appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
Robinson for the prisoner.
The prosecutor stated that he was a chemist, and had
lodgings in Bouverie-street, Fleet-street. On the 10th
of November he had been to Regent-strei- t, and on his
way home he accidentally met with the prisoner, who
was previously an utter stranger to him. They en-
tered into conversation together. Witness went into a
tavern in Fleet-street, where he was followed
by the prisoner. Witness called for half-a-pint of
stout, and prisoner did the same. Witness paid for
both, and soon after, it being then near twelve o'clock
at night, he left the tavern, and went home. lie let
himself in with a latch-key, and having gone up stairs
to his bed-room struck a light. Having done so, he was
alarmed and surprised at finding the prisoner standing
alongside of him. The prisoner locked the door, and
demanded 51. of him, saying he would never leave the
room until he had it. The prisoner ultimately took from
him his watch, &c. Prosecutor at length having some-
what recovered from his fright, went down stairs and
informed one of the police, named Chadwick, who lodged
in the house, of what had occurred, by whom the pri-
soner was taken into custody.
The prosecutor underwent a very long examination
by Mr. Robinson, but nothing material was elicited.
The prisoner's counsel having addressed the jury at
considerable length, sat down without calling any wit-
nes3es on his behalf.

The COMMON SERGEANT summed up the evidence, and
tho jury, after a long consultation, acquitted the prisoner.
There was another indictment against him arising out
of the same transaction, but ne witnesses beir.g called in
support of it, he was acquitted on that charge also.

NEW COURT.
(Before the RECORDER.)
A .DANdEtioUs " SPREE."—A respectable-looking
young man,. namul Alexander Webb, was indicted for
stealing a coat and waistcoat, the property of William
Dickson, under the following circumst,mces :
It appeared that the •proecutor and the prisoner had
been drinking together during the whole of the evening,
when, both parties being drunk, the former about twelve
o'clock invited the prisoner home, upon reaching which
the prisoner, as he alleged in his defence, for " spree,"
put on the articles named in the indictment, with which
he waikt d out of the door. lle was, however, followed
by some friends of the prosecutor, who gave him into
cuito
The LParned Ri:connEn, in summing up, said it was
entirely for the jury to decide whether the property was
taken in a drunk, n frolic, or with a felonious inte•ition.

The jury, after a lengthened consultation, returned a
verdict of Not Guilty.
The prisoner, who seemed to be deeply affected dur-
ing the trial, then walked from the bar.
John Belton, a cab-driver, was indicted for stealing a
coat and other articles, the property of John Dona:d,
and lienq Belton, his brother, was indicted for feloni-
ously receiving the same, well knowing them to be
stelt.n.

The evidence glowed that the prisoner, Henry Belton,
had a coat very similar in appearance to that namtdd in
the indictment, and having been discharged from the
proecutor's service, he sent his brother for his clothes,
and some other trifling articles, to the prosecutor's
stables, when the colt was taken.
Tee jury at once Acquitted the prisoner.
Ilea y King and Richard Allen were indicted for
stealing a qumtity of metal, the property of James
Wilson Edwards.

The prisoners had been in Cie prosecutor's employ-
ment, and, taking advantage of the facilities thus afforded
them, committed the that...

The jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and the Court
sentenced them to six months' imprisonment.
Edward Warren, Philip Roberts, and George Bowers,
were indicted for stealing one hogshead of sugar, the
property of the London Dock Ci.mpany. In another
indictment the sugar was described as the property of
Thomas Drake. The prisoner Warren pleaded guilty
to the indictment.

__ •
Mr. Ballantine and Mr. Baldwin appeared for the pro-
secution, and Mr. Clark,on, with whom was Mr. Doane,
def,nded the prisoners Roberts and Bowers.
Ti.e facts of the case have been already fully laid be-
fore the public in our police reports.
Evidence having been adduced at great length in sup-
port of the prosecution,
Mr. CLARKSON took a technical objection to the in-
dictment, which having been allowed by the Learned
Recorder,

The jury, by the direction of the Court, acquitted the
prisoners Roberts and Bower.
E lmund Warren was then placed at the bar for judg-
ment, and sentenced to be transprted for seven years.

WINTER ASSIZES.
MID hAND CIRCUIT, Warwick, Not,. 28.
THE QUEEN V. j4ml;s_ LEIGH, AND OTHERS.

Joseph Flowers, and
James Leigh, Them as Leigh,
William Watts, stood charged upon an indictment, with
having, on the 21st of October last, at the parish of
Stoneleigh (at Stoneleigh Abbey, the seat of Lord
Leigh), ft•loniously cut and wounded one William Free-
man, with intent tv maim him, to disfigure him, or to do
him some grievous Wily harm.
'There were three other indictments against the pri-
soner,:, foe the same offence upon other persons —one for
assaulting a constable, to pro eat; 14wfill apprehen-
sion ; and one in which they were included with twenty-
five others in a charge of riot, all arising out of the same
trcnsac:ion, the particulars of which appeared in this
journal silt:ally g4er the final examination of the pri-
soners before the committing ixigistpattos„
Mr. Hill, Queen's Counsel (specially petainod), as
sisted by Mr. Miller and Mr. Mellor, appeared on behalf
of the Crown.
Mr, Temple (specially retained), assisted by Mr.
Eardley Wilmot, Conducted the defence,
Mr. Hut, opened the ma 1 and, after briefly youth

ing that Lord Leigh now was and long had, been in the ;
possession of the estate of Stoneleigh Abbey, stated that
-o loeg ago as the month of February last the prisoner
James Leigh first appeared in the grounds WTI mani-
tested some such intentions, but was they; quieted, and
,vent away. On the 12th of last Octolier he again ap-
peared with six other person; end made use of violent
language and threats, and was then again removed or in-
duced to go ; but on the following :t,londay the transac-
tion took place which was the subject of these proceed-
ings. The Learned Counsel then proceeded to the detail
of the facts, which were to the following effect :—On that 1
morning, shortly before nine o'clock, the postman, on his
return from the abbey, saw several parties of men all going
in the direction of the abbey, armed with sticks, blutr- ;
geons, hammers, crowbars, an axe, and other of the I
like sort of weapons. He went back and gave the
alarm, and the lodge gates were closed. Twenty-nine
men, of whom the prisoners were four, and two women
wade their appearance at the lodge gates and demanded
entrance of the keeper, which was of course refused.
They then stated that they would pass, and broke the
locks, and went through up to the door of the abbey, at
which they made some knocking, and then round to the
housekeeper's door, w'slich they proceeded to force. His
Lordship and the whole of his family were away from
home. At the last-mentioned door the intruders were
met by Elijah Dancer and Charles Hancock, two of the
county police, who required them to depart. They pro-
ceeded, however, to force the door, when Hancock put
his hand to the breast of James Leigh to stop him, upon
which James Leigh struck at his head with a bludgeon.
Then ensued a general murderous attack on the two
policemen who were knocked down, and with others of
his Lordship's servants, to the number: of nine or nearly
so, were most seriously 'injured, the lives of some of
them having been long in danger, and with one, if not
with two of them, the ;danger was not yet over. The
assailants then knocked two of the panels out of the
door, and effected an entrance. Upon the housekeeper
remonstrating, she was told she must leave, as it was
their house, and there was no longer any occasion for
her services. Mr. Jones, his Lordship's solicitor, who,
in consequence of a recent absence of the house steward,
happened to be residing in the house, on perceiving that
the door had been under the circumstances forced,
ran along some passages and made his escape over
the roof and down a ladder ; after which, having
taken horse, he made the best of his way to Coventry
for the police. The parties having now thus effected
an entrance, claimed the right to the possession
of the property, and broke open the pastry-safe,
larder, &c , and barricaded, with chairs and tables and
the like, the door which they had broken ; but the
violent ringing of the abbey bell, and other circum-
stances, having alarmed the neighbourhood. the villagers
came to suppress the outrage, and mustered in sufficient
numbers to make resistance to them useless, threatening
in strong language an instant attack upon and expulsion
of the intruders, who now becoming somewhat alarmed,
offered to lay down their arms and await the arrival of
the police, upon the condition that Mr. Chapman, one
of his Lordship's head stewards, should address the vils
lagers, and bring about quietness in the interim. Mr.
Chapman, to avoid further mischief, addressed the vil-
lagers from a window, and accomplished this, and the
parties laid down their arms and remained quiet until
the arrival of Roby, the inspector, and a body of police,
who took them, offering to go anywhere, but still claim
ing their right, together with the huge pile of awfully
destructive implements now produced, before the magis-
trates, by whom they were all 29 committed to take their
trials here this day. The Learned Counsel remarked
that they might all have been now standing to take their
trials upon the grave charge of felony, but it had been
deemed sufficient to make a selection, in which considera-
tion had been had to the degree of violence used by
each. The prisoner James Leigh was the ringleader
of the party. It might be deemed necessary, added
the Learned Counsel, to advert to the motives for
such a thing, to show how it could have come to
pass that this outrage had been committed. Lord
Leigh himself had been in the actual possession for a
period of twenty-one years, having succeeded his father,
who inherited from his uncle, to whom the property had
passed in 1806—a period of thirty-eight years in all.
The present was the oldest branch of this noble house,
and down to 1806 had resided upon their estates in the
county of Gloucester. The first Lord Leigh, who had
been created a peer about the year 1622, was a younger
branch, and the last lord of this branch dying without
issue, it came into the possession of his maiden sister,
who died in 1806, when that branch became extinct.
Many persons had thought that there must be descen,
dents of the younger branch to take in preference to the
elder, and others had thought that there must be other
questions of title, and a large prize tempted some persons
to make claims on very slender grounds, and others to
advance money to support them, and one George Leigh
had made a claim to the estate and title, as being de-
scended from one of the Lord Leighs of the younger
branch. Now, the form of proceeding in support of a
claim to a title was different to that in support of a
claim to an estate, and the former had been thought
the most eligible for adoption; but the investigation
before the House of Lords, so long ago as 1829, came
to an end suddenly, by the counsel for the claimant
admitting in its course that he could not further proceed
with the claim. It was then thought that the nobleman,
whom he was now representing, would be allowed to
enjoy his estate in peace and quietness. If these parties
had still thought they had any claim, why had his
Lordship been allowed to enjoy it at all, during all
the time from 1829 to 1844? But there was on the
part of many illiterate and ignorant persons a dis-
position to believe that all the estates in the kingdom
were enjoyed by wrong people, and though the law
had pretty well settled the question as to this estate
in 1829, different claimants had from time to time
made their appearance, who, frequenting the various
public• houses in the neighbourhood, there told different
stories:reflecting upon the honour and honesty of Lord
Leigh and his family ; and, among others, that a certain
tombstone had been destroyed to destroy evidence.
This was put forward at the investigation before the
Lords in 1829, when the late Lord Abinger, then Mr.
Scarlett, as counsel, adopted the test of detection of put
ting it to witness after witness, who came and deposed
to having repeatedly seen and noticed the tombstone, to
make a drawing of it, and which they all did, and the
difference was so excessively absurd as to put the whole
of them effectually out of Court. The Learned Counsel
having then remarked upon the fact that the law as to
time and long possession made it absolutely unimportant
in every respect what title there might have been, or
these people might believe to be, proceeded to mention
that any such supposed claim, even if the parties them-
selves believed that they were such, or even any real
claim, could have no relevancy whatever to this in-
quiry ; for parties who had claims must advance and
maintain du in according to the forms of law, and not
by taking that which they might want by storm. No
advantage to the parties so acting could thereby accrue,
however good their title or claim might be ; and it was
we
ignorant
this. anr
Fie should ill represent
t misguided sort of people
should
Lerd Leigh by making any observations as to his cha-
racter or that of his family, or by noticing, in 1844, sto-
riestheseknow as to the dead proceeding from such a source and
under such circumstances. lie was confident that when
the jury bad heard the evidence and the instructions that
they would receive from his Lordship, they would enter-
tain no doubt a hatever as to the guilt of the four pri-
soners at the bar of the heinous offence with which they
there stood charged.
The facts stated in the opening were abundantly proved
by the numerous witnesses. The two policemen appeared
to have been grievously injured about the head a:sd hotly,
and principally by James Leigh, the ringleader, and
Thomas Leigh. William Freeioun, an assistant game-
keeper, received about half a dozen blows on his arm
and one on tale head, inflicted with blir-.lgeons, from the
effect of which last he could not lie in his bed for a week,
and his life still continues in danger. His shirt was sa-
turated with blood. Joseph Ft semen, labourer on the
estate, had his arta broken when put up by him to pro-
tect his head fig a heavy blow from a huge hammer.
Charles Humphreys had his head very severely cut and
eyes blackerie.', and face cut across with blows also in-
flicted by a bludgeon. Robert Jaycock was struck at by
the prisoner Watts with a stone-breaking hammer, but
happily escaped the blow. The p: ironer Flowers had
also a bludgeon, with which he struck the policeman and
others several severe blows. Mrs. Savory, the house-
keeper, saw nearly all that took place, and deposed to
James Leigh's dismissing her from her situation, and to
the general " Hurrah as eo,n as the inside of the house
had been gained by the whole body. Mr. Chapman proved
one of the parties to have had a huge axe with him.
Messrs. Watson and Cottle, the surgeons who had
attended the woundsd, described in general terms the
nalure and extent of the injuries sustained, and par-
ticularly those sustained by the unfortunate William
Freeman, which were the subject of this indictment.
Besides other injuries, including a dreadful contused
wound, extending from the elbow to the wrist, he had
received (but. by whose hand it we; struck was not in
evidence) a severe wound on the left side of his head,
cutting through the integuments of the bore, and ex-
tending in three directions, the effects of which had pre-
vented him from being able to lie down in his bed for a
week, and from which he was not out of danger until
Monday last, and could not even now be so pronounced,
a swelling having recently appeared under the bone.
which, coupled with the earlier symptoms of dreadful
pain in the head, and sickness and shivering upon putting
his feet to thb ground upon a surface in the least degree
uneven, was a very alarming additional symptom.
They also both deposed that the wound (a very thick
hat having been cut through) must have been inflicted
by a very harcf blow with a heavy instrument (such as
a very heavy short bludgeon produced), the necessary re-
sult of which blow would have been to inflict a grievous
bodily injury.

Mr. TEMPLE having addres ed the jury on behalf of
the prisoners, uroing the absence of any of the intents
charged in the indictment, and treating the whole pro-
ceeding as a mere riot and a consequent fight, in the heat
of which blows were struck without premt4tation,
which had, most unfortunately, caused the grievous in-
jury to the poor man Freeman, which the prisoners, as
every one else must do, most deeply dt.plored.
His LORDPITIP proceeded in summing up very lumi-
nously to expound and explain the law bearing upon
the several parts of the case, and then through a most
impartial review of the fac:s, about which there seemed
ho,,‘ ever to be not -mob dispute, leaving it to the jury
to say, whether the prisoners at the bar were proved
to their satisfaction to have been guilty of any of the
offences charged, and if of any, then of which. He did
not see that the jury wou!d be warranted by the evidence
in fi4ding. any cstle rnpre of the four prisoners uttilty,
without finding them all guilty Ali'.
The jury having considered upon their verdict for a
very few minutes, at about half-past seven o'clock
returned a verdict of Guilty of a common assault.
Thprp biln4 other indictments, sentence was, of course,
deferred.

Friday, Nov. 29.
At the sitting of the Court this morning it was 1:(1.-
mated, as we understood, by thy Learned Counsel for
tba Prosecution, that, se the jury had already ging;

their opinion upon one of the charges of felony, and as
the f-tcts in all of them would be so nearly the same, there
was no desire on the part of the prosecution to press
any of the other charges of felony, and, with his
Lordship's permission, they proposed to offer no evi-
dence upon either of them. Verdicts here taken ac-
cordingly.

,
ne whole of' the twenty-nine were then put upon
their trial for the riot, but at two o'clock, when our
p.wort was necessarily dispatched, the case was still pro-
ceeding, Mr. Temple being in the course of his address
for the defence. The facts being the same as in the case
reported yesterday, there would seem to be but little
doubt that there must be a verdict against the whole of
the twenty-nine for the riot.

OXFORD ClRCUlT—Gloucester, Nov. 28.
(Before Mr. Justice COLTMAN.)
John Richards, aged 26, pleaded guilty to the charge
of uttering, at Bristol, a forged Post-office order, with
intend to defraud the Earl of Lonsdale, her Majesty's
Postmaster-General.

The prisoner, a simple-looking mechanic, had received
a letter from his mother enclosing an order on the
Bristol post-office for 55., when, unconscious of the
counter-check deposited with the office by the person
transmitting the amount, the prisoner added the sum of
21. to both order and letter, and applied at the office for
the 455. The variance between the documents at once
created suspicion, and occasioned his apprehension.
The Learned JUDGE, considering the facility of trans-
mitting money by means of these orders to be most use-
ful to the public, especially to the lower classes, and
being fearful that if frauds were successfully practised
against it, the benefit might be withdrawn, sentenced
the prisoner to transportation for ten years.
Richard Young, aged 45, was charged with having,
at Cheltenham, on the 11th of October, feloniously and
maliciously stabbed Elizabeth Young, his wife, with
intent to maim, disable, or do her some grievous bodily
harm.

Mr. B. Williams conducted the prosecution, and Mr.
Cooke the defence.

The prisoner, a coal-dealer in Cheltenham, was in
October very much affected in mind, labouring under the
supposition that he was pursued by "a thousand evil
spirits." These fits of aberration were of frequent re-
currence, and productive of much violence to his family,
towards whom at other times he displayed the utmost
affection and kindness. On the 10th October he awoke
his wife in the middle of the night to " wipe away the
blood from a thousand spears which had penetrated his
side," and called up the children and his wife to look at
the wretches who persecuted him, and whom he described
to be standing at the foot of the bed—there being, in fact,
no blood nor person visible except to his own disor-
dered imagination. His conduct very much alarmed his
family. Medical Advice was obtained in the morning.
The prisoner was bled, and took willingly the medicine
prescribed, but in a few hours after insisted that poison
had been administered to him. He seemed so evidently
determined on suicide, that his razor was secreted by his
wife, and he retired to rest apparently tired and com-
posed. In the middle of the night of the 11th his wife
was awoke by a stab in the abdomen inflicted by a pen-
knife, which the prisoner had provided himself with.
The wound bled profusely, but was only skin deep, and
by the surgeon's evidence had not been inflicted with
much force. The poor woman, greatly alarmed, shouted
"Murder I" the children fastened themselves in their
own room, and the whole neighbourhood was thrown
into a state of great excitement. The prisoner denied
any intention to injure his wife, and on hearing that she
would probably not recover from the effects, expressed
his determination to die with her, and cut his throat in
three places with the same knife. An eminent surgeon,
on being called in, found the wound on the wife to be
not at all dangerous, and sewed up the throat of the pri-
soner, who seemed on his trial to be recovered from the
effects of the injuries.
In a very feeling address, the counsel for the prisoner
contended that the wounding was accidental, or amounted
only to an assault at a moment when the prisoner was
not responsible for his actions.
After a very careful summing up from the Leaned
JUDGE,

The jury Acquitted the prisoner of the felony, but
found him Guilty of an assault at a time when he was
not in his right mind.
The grand jury have ignored the bill for murder.
Only ten cases have been disposed of to-day.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MAIIYLEBOIVE.
Oa Friday a w,ll-dressed msn, between 40 and 50 years
of age, named William Key, shopman to Mr John Dent,
a linendraper, Bcc., in an extensive way of business at
Nos. 30, 31, and 32, Crawford-street, Bryanston-square,
was brought up in custody of Ross, 157 1), and placed
at the bar before Mr. Long, charged with having plun-
dered his employer of property to a very considerable
amount.

• A number of pawnbrokers were in attendance with
large packages containing goods which the prisoner had
pledged ; and it will be seen from •the evidence that the
prisoner had, while in Mr. Dent's service, been keeping
a draper's shop at Harrmersmith, in which the greater
part of the stolen articles were found, the business being
carried on by his wife.
Rebecca Foster, wife of a confectioner in East-street,
Manchester-square, deposed, that on the previous morn-
ing, about eleven o'clock, the prisoner, who was a stran-
ger to her, came to the shop and made a small purchase
of sweetmeats, after which he took something from his
coat pocket, and, having wrapped it up in a newspaper
and tied it with string, laid the parcel on the counter,
saying that he would call it for it presently; he then
went away. In the course of the afternoon, thinking
there was something suspicious about the matter, as the
prisoner had neglected to make his appearance, witness
took the said parcel to the station-house. Inquiries were
subsequently made by the police, and it was ascertained
to whom the contents belonged.
Ross, the constable, who is a very intelligent officer,
stated that on the previous evening, in consequence of
information which he received, he went in plain clothes
to Mr. Foster'a shop, and at eight o'clock prisoner came
in and asked for his parcel, which witness had at the
time in his hand. He was told that Mrs. Foster was then
out, and that he could not have it till she returned. In
a few minutes she entered, accompanied by Mr. East-
man, principal assistant to Mr. Dent, who, having be-
fore examined the parcel, in which were two mousselin-
de-laine dresses belonging to his employer, exclaimed
(addressing the prisoner), " Good God, can it be you !"
to which he (prisoner) replied, " Yes, I've done it, I've
done it." He further said that he was a lost man, and
that what he had done was through distress. At the
station-house, when about to be searched, he pulled from
his coat pocket a table-cover and gave it up; a duplicate
for some cachmere and mousselin-de-laines, pawned by
him on Wednesday last, was found in his possession, as
also a few shillings in silver. Ho gave his address, 21,
Dowell's-row, Hammersmith ; and after he was locked
up witness proceeded to the house, where the prisoner
has a shop kept by his wife, and in it found a number of
table-covers, together with a quantity of drugget, and a
variety of other articles connected with the trade. He
also discovered in a portfolio, which he took from a book-
case, hetwern sixty and seventy duplicates for dresses,
and almost every other kind of drapery. &c., pledged
within the last few months. lie had raised upon the said
articles upwards of 501, and the probability was that
they were worth nearly four times that amount.
Mr. Eastman idontified the dresses taken from the
parcel, as also the table-cover given up at the station,
and the rest of the property found at the shop, as being
Mr. Dent's. _

The prisoner, who seemed very dejected and had no-
thing to say, was remanded till Friday.

UNION-HALL.

Joseph Sliith, a costerrnonger, was charged before Mr.
Cottingham, with being. concerned with two others (not
in custody) in committing a very daring highway
robbery.
Richard Walkinson, whose face was very much cut
and bruised, stated, that he was mate of the Unicorn,
brig, of Hull, and that on Saturday evening last he came
ashore to spend an hour with a fri,.nd. On returning,
as he was passing St. George's Church in the Borough,
he was accosted by a man with whom he entered into
conversation, and who prevailed on him to go down
Mint street, to a public •house. They, however, had not
proceeded many yards, when the stranger, and two other
men, one of whom was the prisoner, rushed upon him,
knocked him down, and in the struggle to recover him-
self, they set upon•him, and beat him in the way he then
appeared, and robbed him of his watch, which they
tore away from the pocket, bruaking the guard chain
by their violence, and then ran away, leaving him bleed-
ing in the street. lie was afterwards picked up by a
policeman, to whom he gave a description of his as-
sailants, and the prisoner was subsequently taken into
custody.
The policeman said that from the description he also
knew-the other two men, who kept out of the way ever
since, and that the prisoner was their constant associate
The prisoner said that he got his li,ing by selling
things about the streets, and that he could prove he was
at home on the night in question, and not eng•iged in
the outrage. He, howev,r, had nu witnesses in attend-
ance to prove the fact, but if time was given he would
do so.

Mr. COTTINGIIAM said that it was a most outrageous
assau!t and robbery, and that he should remand the
prisoner.

GRAND BALL AT MARCUMONT HOUSE.--On Wed-
nesday evening last Sir Hugh and Lady Campbell gave
a brilliant 1),11 to the nobility and gentry in the county
of Berwick and surrounding neighbourhood. The Com-
pany staying in the house consisted of the Countess of
Miuto and three Ladies Elliot,- Mr. and Lady Blanche
Balfour, Lord Frederick, Lady:Augusta, and Miss 'Sits
Clarence, of 'Etal House, Hon. F. Fitzclarence, Captain
Hunter Blair. Ladies Jane and Caroline Charteris, Lady
Fuller ; aid at the ball there were also present the Duke
and Duchess of Roxburghe, Sir Charles Dalhiac, Earl
and CounteAl of Home, Earl of Lauderdale and Sir An-
thony Maitiand, Lord Saltoun and Mr. Macdouall Grant,
Lord Elcho, Sir George and Lady Harriet Suttie, Sir
AI. W. and Lady Ridley, Lady Massey Stanley, Sir
John, Lady Elizabeth, and Misses Pringle, of Stitchell.
IMPORTATION OF DUTCH OXEN, POULTRY, AND
POTATOES.—Thursday afternoon the seam-packet Ba-
tasier, captain David Dunlop, arrived alongside the St.
• Katherine s steam-packet wharf, from Rotterdam, with
passengers, and a miscellaneous cargo. She brought no
fewer than sixty head of live fat oxen and cows, several
thousand live geese, ducks, and turkeys, and a large
qaant4y of potatoes, of excellent quality.
THE. GREENACER FAMILY.—.IIe. daughter of this
noted individual, as well as her husband, are now inmates
of hospitals—the latter as a lunatic, and the former. in
childbed. On the execution of the father the son and
daughter took a shop in the London-road, and notwith-
' standing that their business, that of Stay makers and
hosiers, was prosperous, still, such was the t-ffvet pro-
duced on the mind of Greenacre's that his
senses gradually grew impaired, and he was obliged, to
I be r.inoyati in a lunatic asylum.

LATE ROBBERY AT THE BANK
OF ENGLAND.
EXAMINATION OF BURGESS AT THE
MANSION HOUSE.

On the L Ord Mayor taking his seat on Saturday,
Burgess was placed at the bar, ia the custody of Daniel
Forrester, charged a ith fraudulently .obtaining. the trat,s•
fer of 8,0001. (Cons, 1s) on the 3d of September last,
which sum was entered in the books of the Bank ui
Englund in the name of Mr. Oxr-nford. It will 1), it.
recollection of our read,rs that the sum was paid ,0 Jo
seph Elder, the prisoner's accomplice in the transaction,
who committed suicide at Boston soon after his arrest
on the charge.
Mr. Freshfield, the solicitor, stated the charge against
the prisoner, and that a warrant had been issued for his
apprehension by the late Lord Mayor. He was prepared
to go Ito the case, but as the prisoner only yesterday
arrived from Boston, he (Mr. Freshfield) thought that
the most advisable course would be to remand him.

The prisoner, in a low tone of voice, said he wished to
be remanded.
Mr. Freshfitld then called—

Mr. Oxenford, who stated that the 8,000/. fraudulently
obtained from the Bank' of England, was his property,
and that he never authorised any person to use his-
name, or to withdraw it.

A clerk in the Bank depo,:e<l that the prisoner was a
witness to the transfer of the stock.

The LORD MAYOR then remanded the prisoner until
Wednesday next.
Burgess is a tall man, and appeared ti) feel acutely the
position in which he was placed. He appeared to be
lame, possibly from an accident which he met with while
endeavouring to escape when pursued by the officers in
Boston.

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.
On Friday forenoon, at eleven o'clock. a commission
de lunatico inquirendo was opened before Mr. Commis-
sioner Winslow and a jury of fifteen gentlemen, of which
Colonel Gant was foreman (and which also consisted of
several magistrates of the county of Middlesex), at the
Manor House, Green-lane, Stoke Newington, as to the
state of mind of Mr. George Porter, aged 46, f-►rmerly
a merchant carrying on business in the City of London,
but described in the commission as late of Tottenham,
and at present residing in Phillip-street, Kingsland-ro,d.
The commission was sued out at the instance of Mrs.
Porter, the wife of the alleged lunatic, and was supported
by Mr. Bateman, of the Chancery bar. Mr. Porter was
unrepresented by Counsel.

Mi. William May, a member of the Society of Friends,
was first called, and said he resided at Tottenham, and
had known Ur. George Porter for seventeen years. He
first attended him on account of his mind in the month
of May, 1837. When he saw him he found his principal
delusion was that he had a few days before, whilst sit-
ting in .
his apartment, seen two tablets similar to those
on which the ten commandments were written in
churches, appear in a flush of lightning on he wall,
and on them he saw inscribed words from the Mai
chapter of Hebrews, 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th verses,
and which he repeated with great fluency. He had
never known Mr. Porter free from that delusion
since. Shortly after he was taken with this malady he
saw Mr. Porter, with Dr. Sutherland, sen., and in
six months he was removed from home and placed
under the care of his cousin, - Mr. Samuel Porter. lie
saw him in July last in Phillip street, and on being in
troduced Mr. Porter suddenly rose as he put out his
hand to shake hands, and- exclaimed, " No, no, Mr.
May, you have been the cause of my being here." He
subsequently became more reconciled, and in conversa-
tion repeated the delusion about the wall, and said be
had lost his soul ; and that in consequence of the words
on the wall he knew that it was cast into utter perdition.
Another delusion was, that his brains no longer existed,
but that there was a bird inside his head which was
communicated with by a gentle spring from his heart,
,tud which was acted upon by the fiend. He would ako
declare that his tongue had been melted out of hi.,
mouth, in consequence of his blasphemies. He invariably
believed that the writing on the wall was his condemna-
tion, and his mind has in consequence become in a
morbid state.

By the CommissioNEu—lle enjoys good health, an
is rational in other respects. Ile admits his own in-
capacity to manage his affairs, and I believe him wholly
incapable of doing so.
Mr. Samuel Porter, the cousin of the unfortunate
gentleman, deposed that he would sometimes say the
vessels in his skull had burst. There was a fiend inside
him who pulled a string and kept his heart in motion
Further evidence having been given by Dr. Sather
land, and the unfortunate gentleman having been intro-
duced to the commissioner and jury, the jury ultimately
returned a verdict, "That Mr. George Porter is of un-
sound mind, and incapable of managing himself or his
affairs, and has been so since the 10th of June, 1837."

THE CASE OF STABBING A
LIVERPOOL CAPTAIN.

Yesterday a middle-aged man, named Samuel Brown,
a sailor, was brought up before Mr. Rushton, charged
with having, on the morning of the 18th inst., stabbed
Captain Launcelot Reed, ^f the ship Sir Charles Napier,
while on her voyage from St. Andrew's to this port,
about 700 miles to the westward of Cape Clear.
It appeared from the evidence of the cook, steward,
and a gentleman of the name of Porter, a passenger, and
part owner, that between four and five o'clock on the
morning in question, the captain requested Brown to
haul in the mainsail during a squall. The prisoner re-
fusing to do it, an altercation ensued, whereupon the
captain pushed him and was struck in return. The cap-
tain then caught hold of Brown to place him in confine-
ment, and was struck several times, receiving no very
serious injury, but, when they had got as far aft as the
mainmast, he felt a sharp instrument pierce him, and
called out, "I am stabbed—l am killed." The crew
being immediately aroused, he was conveyed to the
cahin, when it was found that a deep wound had been in
flicted on the lower part of the stomach, through which
his bowels protruded, and two other wounds, though not
dangerous, on the left side. On Wednesday last the
vessel arrived in this port, and a warrant was issued for
the apprehension of the prisoner.
From the evidence of Mr. Deane, surgeon, the lite of
the captain appears to be in extreme danger.
On examining the clothes worn by the captain at the
time the affray took p!ace, which were produced in court,
eight distinct cuts were visible in the jacket, and one in
the trousers.

The case was remanded till to-day, to await the evi-
dence of the captain and one of the crew, who was on
watch at the time of the occurrence.

The captain (who went out as mate in the Sir Charles
Napier) resides in Charter-street, and from the present
precarious situation in which he is now lying, it was con-
sidered necessary to take his testimony immediately.
Mr. Rushton, accompanied by Mr. Ellis and Mr. Deane,
proceeded to his residence for the purpose yesterday
afternoon, when the statement of the captain was taken
in presence of the prisoner. His evidence did nut vary
materially from that given by the witnesses.
The prisoner, on being shown, the knife, immediately
after being taken into custody, admitted that it belonged
to him, and at the captain's examination did not deny
any of the statements which were then made.— Liverpool
Mercury of Friday.

MARKET NE
COVENT-GARDE:
There w7..s a most excellent supply
getable:, yet the demand ruled at
were mostl supported.—Potat, es
4s 6 i p•rl• ewt ; Turnips, 2s to 3s ;
Coleworts or Green 3, 2s to 2s 9d ;
Is 9d per dozen :quiches ; ppl,- ILA
Spinaelt, Ini to is Sd ; and ()ni,,n...
t• :ii•k ; P,,. ApH., 4. 7. to 8,
lish • rrapt.s, 8d to Ithl ; Rot Ilowo
Foreign Grapes, 6d to 10d ;
Cobb Nuts, 8d to Is 2d per lb ; Engli:
4s ; and Foreign ditto, is 6d to 33
bages, 2s to 4s per dozen ; Horse
Broccoli, is 6d to 2s 6d; and Celery, 8(
Mushrooms, 8d to is per punnet ;
8s to lOs per 100.
nummEstrozar
We had only a limited supply of
the general demand was in a siuggisl
variation in prices.

NEWOATS ELND
There was a eery large supply of
Foreign gime and poultry, owing to
was excessivel% heavy. at very low ti,
Beef ai.d Mutton, the demand s,
very full prices, while in most ()the
steady business was transacted. Beef from -2" 944
3s 6d ; Mutton, 2s 6d to 3s 8d ; Veal3s to 4s ; ;tub..
2s 4d to 3s- 10(1 pt ,r Blbs. by the carcass.
NEWPORT.
We had a decided improvement in the trade, 11:j
prices were freely supported. Beef from 2s 8d to too
Mutton. 2s 10,t to 34 B+l ; Veal, 3s 4d to 4s ; and
2s 10d to 4s per Sibs.

BILLINGSGATE. Dtl I
Comparatively speaking, the supply of Fish wilgws,
very extensive, yet the inquiry was inactive, and r" I
were not supported.
WEITECIIAPEL. sfi
Most kinds of Meat were in moderate supPliA
steady demand, at our quotations. Beef, from 21 II)
3s 6d; Mutton, 2s 8d to 3s 8d ; Veal, 2s 10d to 01
Pork, 2s 4d to 3s 10d per Sibs by the carcase.
BREAD.
The prices of wheaten Bread in the Metropolis. 111124
from 7d to 7id ; of household ditto, Sid to 6d per
fr
loaf.
lIIDE MARKET.
Rawhides at per stone of 14 I bs.—Bost steers and heifelfir
5s 8(1 to 5s 10d ; middling hides, 4s 10d to 5s 6tl;
ferior hides, 4s 4d to 4s 8:1. Sheeo and calf skinsliii
per skin—Market calf, 6s 6d to 8s ; long Iv°
sheep, 2s 6d to 3s 9d ; short ditto, 2s to 3s.
IZAT 'CARNETS. /1P
SMITIIFIELD.—Course Meadow i :ay, 3/ 15s to 4- p
Useful ditto. 4117 s to 514 s ; fine Upland ditto, 51
51 lOs ; Clover Hay, 41 lOs to 6! , Oat Straw, 1/ „'
1/ 12s ; Wheat Straw, 11 12s to 1/ lss per 1010'
limited supply, and a steady deo-arl at full prices, so
CUMBERLAND.—Coarse Meadow :ta,), 18,1,0 41L,10
Useful ditto 51 to 5145; fine U: land ditto, 51 701
5/ 12$ ; Clover Hay, 41 lOs to 5/ 18s . Oat Straw. 1:00
to 11 13s ; Wheat Straw, 1/ 14s to 11 t - pet
Supply moderately good and trade &Mat- hat hci-1c%,50
WHITECHAPEL.—Coarse Meadow Hay, 3! 15s to 41'
Useful ditto, 41 16s to 513 s ; fine Upland ditto, 515,1 to
51 10s ; Clover Hay, 4/ lOs to 61; Oat Straw, 11 1"',0
1/ 12s ; Wheat Straw, 1113 s to 11 15s per load
te3cip
hny and straw sold steadily, and prices were supper ,
every instance.

WAKEFIELD CORN MARKET.—FRIDAY. 40
The Wheat trade is very heavy to-day, best S 1 sr
scarcely maintaining last week's prices, and inferior 40
lities must be noted Is. per quarter lower. Fine stardo
of Barley are scarce, and for such the prices of tili air
vteek are realised ; but low qualities are difficult 1° spi
pose of, at a reduction of Is. a quarter. In Oats. ell
Shellirg no material alteration, but Beans have deb°.
Is. to 2s. per quarter. 016'
Per qr. of 601 b to the bu soll,
EXTRA. ail
Wneat Suffolk, Esser, and Rent Red ..... .. -to 46 '
49 il
Ditto ditto ..... White... - 61 45,
Norfolk ..... ..... ....... .....-... Red ...... - 45
0 II
Ditto , ditto White... - 50 0
Lincolnshire and Cambridge Red....... - 44 Ao 0,
Ditto ditto . ....... - White... •-• 50 io r
Yorkshire ...... .... ........ ." Red....... - 45 45 r
Ditto ditto White... -bi4l $
Foreigr heti ...... - 49 0 A
Ditto ditto ..... - 62
Per impril
quarttr - 4e
....
Barley, Norfolk and Suffolk ...... ...................-.. - 31 11.1 5
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire .................. - SI "ao e
Grinding ..... "•• ......... •....•....... -
~- - 1
Foreign.... ......... ••• ..... fre ....... •••••••;•••••••• ... , er°,oo
Per qr. , f 831 b. t- to ..
deans, Small . ri, ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ..... ...... 45 4D' 11
Ticks ..... ........... ............. ........ .......... .... - 46 --$5
Foreign-. .. - .................. .................... - 49 00.
Oats, 1.(it..a,, a. d ..... d ... ...
MMalin;..„„. lid Ltl 12d,, Fcr,ign -d to -d. pel ; u
dil
sisaiing .. As. to Y'7, Od. per L''" 4
M ilt
R t0e5.ed............

RAILWAY RETURNS.
RAILWAY TEAFFIC.—The following are the Total Rocelptil°(,,his%
ways for the past week—that is to say, up to the date to W—
respective returns are made, together with the receipts of to
week in the previous year :

Week
ending

Last
week.

NAME OF RAILWAY.

_QQ
41g
oAi •
ZO:11
to)

ti,,"rat
-•+%

G_,o,t,

iA )".1
3N.
yof Fruit IMO titl,
tearly, And
fr,m 2s 6cl,_ - et
Carrots, 4s t
it o taik;ll,e "Pa
.; Leeks, 83,i Inaran"7 t
I*, at. , 2s to ". ' dt,,;att
•I- 6,1 to 1s eter.L
3, ; 41
),:t ~or '11.'1;147:
ditto, 3- to sil
"d 41 tioes in
10,1 to Is whet
ish Melons, 2s S° ' huh'
s each ; Red
Radish, 2s to " and
Id to 2s Ors -gt en
and Newr Au sullt.c
—hen
thi
3. ry
thost a-tieles, ' to
-
ih state, at but h' 11711
4to I
r-r.. 1.4 Et z • 2'es:a
r both English 14"'°‘", t c
which the dent *5147 ad,
Ten
inures. For pril of ~r~ein
54'llIewbat active,
r kinds of toetl4. Illethltbe
,4 eich t:tbde