The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-08 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

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These sessions were held yesterday before the Learned
Assistant Judge and the usual bench of magistrates.
The calendar contains a list of sixty prisoners for trial,
fifty-six of whom are charged with felony, the remainder
with assaults, misdemeanours, &c.
DARING ROBBERY IN THE REGENT'S PARK.— Charles
Mason was indicted for stealing a Victorine (tippet) from
the person of Lucy Curtis.
The prosecutrix, a lady residing in the neighbourhood of
the Regent's-park, stated, that on the afternoon of the 23d
ult. she was walking on one of the bridgesover the Regent's-
canal, near St. John's-wood, accompanied by two of her
daughters, when the prisoner suddenly rushed upon her from
behind, and, after seizing her suddenly, snatched the Vic-
torine off her neck and immediately ran away. She was
greatly alarmed at this sudden attack, and called for assist-
ance, but no one came, and she saw no more of the prisoner
until he was taken into custody on another charge, when she
at once identified him as the person by whom she had been
attacked.
The daughters of the prosecutrix confirmed her testimony,
and also identified the prisoner.
The prisoner was found guilty.
He was next indicted for stealing some carpenter's tools,
to which he pleaded guilty.
The COURT sentenced bum to six months' imprisonment
in the House of Correction for each offenee; there to be kept
to hard labour.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL

Jam Williams, a young man who stated himself to be a
law clerk, was brought before Mr. Alderman Humphery,
charged with being in the building, 1, Fig Tree-court, Tem-
ple, with intent to commit felony.
Mr. Hans Busk, a barrister, residing in chambers at the
above-mentioned building, stated that about noon yesterday,
white he was sitting at his table he heard a key working in
the lock of the door, he walked towards the door, and heard
two other keys tried. Witness then suddenly opened the
door, and found the prisoner. Witness said to him, "This
accounts for all the doors being picked here." The prisoner
clasped his hands together, and exclaimed, "Have mercy on
me." Witness took him down stairs to give him into cus-
tody, and at the door the prisoner star ted off. Witness pur-
sued him through two or three courts, and 'gave him into
custody on a staircase in New-court.
The officer produced four keys he found in the prisoner's
possession.
Mr. Alderman HumPRERY called upon the prisoner to state
who he was, and where he lived. The prisoner said he lived
with his mother at 8, Lombard-street, is the Mint. The
keys found on him belonged to his master's door. He was a
law dark. _

Mr. Alderman HUMPIIERY asked with whom he lived?
The prisoner declined saying, as it would disgrace his master.
Mr. Alderman HUMPIIERY asked him why he entered
these chambers? The prisoner said he was inquiring for his
cousin, to whom he had lent 10s., and who had promised to
repay him that day.
The prisoner again refused to state by whom he was em-
ployed, and the Alderman remanded him till Friday, that the,
officer might make inquiries about him.

BOW-STREET.
A tobacconist, of the name of Bush, residing in High Hol-
born, was charged with having 81b. 4oz. of smuggled goods
(tobacco and cigars) in his possession.
Mr. Potbury, from the office of the Solicitor to the Cus-
toms, called several Excise officers t o prove that they went
to the defendant's house on the 18th ult., in consequence 'of
suspicions entertained by them, and under the authority of a
warrant granted by the Police Magistrate at Lambeth, an d
proceeded to search the house, having previously read tl.e
warrant to the defendant. The defendant's wife ran up-stai rs
into a bedroom, but was followed by one of the officers, 'w no
saw her take a parcel of American Cavendish tobacco oat of
a drawer. A box of cheroots was subsequently- found in. the
room, The defendant addressed the officers in a tone of ale-
fiance, declaring that the Commissioners might do what th ey
pleased with him ; in consequence of which, Mr. Pot tin ry
stated, the authorities had instructed him to press for the
severer penalty, instead of that usually indicted in such c as ea,
where the offend was a first one, and thedefendant expressed
his contrition for the same.
The defendant said he had not much experience in the
trade, having been only a year and a half in business n a a
tobacconist. He was led to purchase the goods by the tarts
of a Frenchman, but had kept them out of the way at the
suggestion of a friend.
3lr. TwyFortn, after examining the Act, observed that the
extreme penalty was 1001., but the magistrate had the power
to mitigate the penalty to one fourth of the amount.
Mr. Potbury did not desire to press for the full penalty. the
quantity of goods found being very small.
Mr. TWYFORD then ordered him to pay 2.5/. with the ,:orts.
The defendant immediately paid the sum, and was ills-
charged.
Caroline Evans, a servant maid in the employ of her 31a-
jesty, was brought up from Windsor Castle, on suspicions of
stealing a coat from a fellow-servant, named Hall, at 13uck- j
ingham Palec
file case w s t only very shortly taken, to admit of the re-
mand of the 'prisaner for a week.
MAULBOROUGH-STREET.

CONVICTION OF A NOTORIOUS BEGGINCT-LETTER bIIFOS-

TOM—Yesterday William Smith, a grey-haired man, of re-
spectable appearance, who has been known to the Mondieity
Society for the last thirteen years as one of the most succes-
ful begging letter writers in ndon, was brought before
Mr. Hardwick, charged with having attempted to impose on
several noblemen and gentl. men by meaus of petitions,
statements of distress, and also with having obtained money
under similar fraudulent pretences from a gentleman named
Olive, residing at No. 4, York-terrace, Regent's-park.
One of the society's visitors, named Fergusson, produced
an enormous bundle of petitions to persons of distinction,
which hal been forwarded for investigation to the society.
Amongst parties who had been imposed upon were the
Bishop of Norwich, the Earl of Eldon, Earl Jermyn, Lord
Bexley, and Lady Shaw Stewart. The visitor stated that
Lord iekley, on being applied to, had sent a soveici4n to
the society for the applicant; the Bishop of .Ncr.vieli had
also acquainted the society with the fact of having been ap
plied to. As the petitioner was perfectly well known as an
impostor, norsford, one of the constables, was instructed to
take steps to insure his apprehension. Tie constable, after
considerable trouble, got upon his track, alai on Friday last
he succeeded in meeting with him in Kensington, and taking
him into custody.

Mr. Olive stated that the prisoner some time ago made
application to him for assistance, and received half-a-sove-
reign. Shortly afterwards the prisoner made a second appli-
cation, and was then told he could not be relieved unless he
brought a recommendation. The prisoner went away, and
returned with a letter of recommendation, purporting to be '
written by Mr. Mackenzie, of Cornwall-crescent, a friend of
his (Mr. Olive's), and it was on the strength of this letter
that the prisoner obtained a sovereigi. A flw days ago the
prisoner paid a third visit, and, in order to escape detection,
he assumed all the feebleness of age and infirmity. 'lle
prisoner brought the following letter:— " Sept. 29.
"My Christian Sir,—l hope you will be pleased to feel for
an old servant of the Religious Reformation Society, who,
through long affliction, is brought to the greatest of distress
with a family of five motherless children ; and, as my health
is ruined, the doctors of St. George's Hospital wish me to go
to my native place, as that will only restore me to health.
My native home is Scotland (the prisoner is an Irishman),
but through my long illness I have not the means to go
there without the assistance of a few Christian friends. You
by doing this act of charity will be rewarded by God. I beg
to enclose the certificate of the Secretary of the Society, and
I pray to God that he will send me a friend in you to Lelp
me in this distress. " WILLIAM SMITH,
who begs to wait your kind answer."
Having previously ascertained from Mr. Mackenzie that the
letter of recommendation was a forgery, he (Mr. Olive) bad
requested his footman to look out for the prisoner. When the
prisoner had delivered his letter be went to him, and accused
him of being an impostor, telling him to leave the house, and
to think himself fortunate in not being given into custody.
The prisoner, who while in the house appeared hardly able
to crawl, no sooner found the door open than he scudded off
with surprising agility. The letters were sent to the Society,
and it was then ascertained that the signature of Mr. Finch,
secretary to the Reformation Society, was a forgery.
Mr. Fergusson stated that the cases of the Bishop of Nor-
wich and Lord Bexley could not be brought forward, as their
Lordships were at present not in town.
The prisoner bad no defence to make.

Mr. H.AnnwicK inflicted the full punishment the law per-
mitted—three months' hard labour in the House of Correction.
CLERKEN WELL.

A middle-aged woman, named Charlotte Perry, a pauper, in
Islington Workhouse, was charged by Mrs. Laman, the matron
of that establishment, with refractory conduct.
Mrs. Laman deposed that on Monday afternoon she found
the steps of the hall-door sprinkled and discoloured with ink,
and on inquiry she ascertained that the prisoner had caused
it by throwing an inkstand containing ink out of the window
of one of the wards whilst in a passion. In the course of the
evening the prisoner quarrelled with another pauper, saying
she was drunk, and her conduct was so violent and refrac-
tory whilst parties were in the supper-ward at supper, that
she gave her into custody for the peace of the inmates. Her
conduct was generally refractory.
Mary Bexworth, an elderly pauper, was called, but she
would not give any positive evidence.
The prisoner, in her defence, said that Mrs. Laman was out
when another woman, named Godson, was about to set down
her name to report her, and she admitted having thrown the
inkstand from the window. At supper-time she had another
quarrel with Godson, and on the arrival of Mrs. Laman, she
said I was more fit for a hovel in Saint Giles's than any other
place. I said, I was more fit for gentleman's service. She
denied being refractory.
Mr. COMBE—Why is such a person as this kept in the
workhouse at all? Mrs. Laman —She is burdened with a
child, your Worship.
Mr. COMBE—She seems able enough to support herself and
child ; is anything the matter with her? Mrs. Laman—
No, Sir; but she is always ill after these fits of passion.
The prisoner said, she had been three years in the house;
she was unwell. and she wished to go out of the workhouse.
Mr. COMBE—They will soon let you go if you wish to go.
You are committed for seven days to the House of Correction.
A female voice in Court—Never mind, Charlotte.
This person was brought forward, and said she was the
prisoner's friend.
Mr. COMBE cautioned her. She seemed to think nothing
of seven days' imprisonment, but if she was brought there
she would get more unless she conducted herself properly.
John.Fkteher, a beer-shop-keeper, 31, Goswell-street, St.
Luke's, was charged by Mr. Lewis Jones, of the Coach and
Horses public-house, Fann-street, in the Liberty of Glass-
house-yard, with representing himself to be a metropolitan
police-constable, for the purpose of obtaining admission into
his house, contrary to the Police Act, which subjected him
to a penalty of 101.
The prosecutor deposed that on Monday night last, at
eleven o'clock, the prisoner came to his house in company
of another man, and wished to go up stairs,- where a Phi-
lanthropic Society were holding their meeting. He said
lie came there to look after a person named Evans, who
had robbed the man then with him. Witness' informed
him that no person of that name was in the room, but he
described himself as being an officer, 39 K division, and
produced a truncheon. Witness suspected him, and refused
to admit him unless he brought some officer in uniform to
identify him. A boy present told witness that the prisoner
kept a beer-shop in Goswell-street, and witness, as the
Chairman of the Licensed Victuallers' Protection Society,
deemed it his duty to give the prisoner into custody.
Mr. CostuE—Can you form a notion as to his object in
wishing to obtain admission? Witness—l cannot; but I
suspect with no good one.
The prisoner, in his defence, denied any bad intention.
The person who was with him (a Mr. Banner) called on him
and said that a person named Evans had robbed him, and he
accompanied him to search after the thief. They went to
two or three public-houses before they went to Mr. Jones's.
He formerly was a licensed victualler, and kept the Albion
gin-palace, Ratcliff-highway. He was sworn in as a special
constable two years ago at the Thames Police-court. He
answered other questions in an unsatisfactory manner.
Mr. Comm did not believe a word he said, and thought he
was an impostor.
Sergeant Cole, G, said the prisoner had left No. 31, Gos -
well-street, and was living in lodgings in Ormond's-buildings.
The prisoner said he was about to sell the business. •
Mr. COMBE told him he should convict him in the full pe-
nalty of 10/, unless he could produce satisfactory evidence as
to his respectability; and he gave him until three o'clock
that day to do so.
_ _ _

The Prisoner then left the bar, and accompanied the officer
who took him into charge on the previous night, for the pur-
pose of bringing forward some friends to confirm his state-
ments; but up to the hour of closing the Court neither the
prisoner nor the officer made their appearance, and the im-
pression was that the prisoner had made his escape. After
the closing of the Court the officer returned, and said the pri-
soner had escaped from him.
QUEEN-SQUARE.

Rebecca Larkman was charged with defrauding a great
number of tradesmen of goods of various descriptions.
The prisoner lived in the service of Mrs. Coward, a lady
residing in Sloane-street, up to the end of June last, when,
in consequence of repeated acts of she was dis-
charged. Since that time she has visited the shops of the
various tradesmen in the neighbourhood who supplied the
family, and representing that she was sent by Mrs. Coward
and a lady who was staying with her on a visit, obtained
property to a considerable amount.
Evidence having been given to prove that the prisoner
obtained a tea-urn, value 41. 10s., and a handsome set of
fire-irons, from Mr, G. Gregory, an ironmonger in Sloane-
street, by pretending that she bad been sent by Mrs. Coward,
The police stated that. there were no less than" seven other
cases against the accused.
Mr. BOND remanded the prisoner, who made no defence,
for a week, in order that search might be made for the pro-
perty, and the necessary witnesses procured.
Michael Walsh was charged with insulting Mr. G. Maffin,
a gentleman residing in College-row, Brornpton.
About two years ago Mr. Maffin unfortunately left his cab
in the care of the defendant, who took the liberty of driving
it away for an hour, a►nd bringing the horse back in a very
harassed condition. Since that period he has had the im-
pudence to arrest the gentleman in the streets, and ask him
for money for taking care of his horse and cab on the occa-
sion alluded to. On Monday afternoon he came up to Mr.
Maffin, in Tz.ttersall's yard, in a drunken state, threatened to
knock his head off, put his fist in his face, and otherwise
grossly misconducted himself.
The fellow said he was very sorry, and begged. the gentle-
man's pardon. •
Mr. Bcisn fined him ten shillings. •
He was committed for ten days in default.
• SOUTH tV AR K.

Bridget Smith, a middle-aged woman, and who has been
twice remanded on a charge of sending a parcel containing
sugar, amongst which it had been ascertained was a quantity
of oxalic acid, to a Mr. Patrick John Smith, residing at
Peace's Cooperage, Cornwall-road, and delivering it to a
little boy of the name of Hyatt, with a request that he would
take it to the prosecutor's house, and say that she was com-
ing to tea, and requested it might be made soon ; promising,
on the boy's return, to give him a penny for his trouble, was
placed at the bar. After the boy had delivered the parcel, on
his return to where he had left the prisoner, she was gone.
At the former examinations the boy swore that the pri-
soner was the person who had delivered the parcel to him,
and evidence was adduced that she had been heard to use
threats against the prosecutor, and that she would poison
him. A good deal of recriminatory statements were made
on both sides, and from which it appeared, that the prisoner
had been engaged to attend the former wife of the prose.
cutor up to the time of her death, in February last, and
that there had been some familiarities between the prose-
cutor and the prisoner. At the last examination a copy of a
certificate of a marriage between the prisoner and a Patrick
Henry Smith, of St. John's, Paddington, on the 12th of May
last, Whit-Monday, and' which the prisoner alleged was
with the prosecutor, was produced. The prosecutor denied
positively that he was the man, although her marriage was
not denied with a man of that name. The prisoner also
stated, that she could procure evidence to show that she was
not in the neighbourhood of the Cornwall-road on the alleged
day the parcel was delivered, ar.d that the boy Hyatt was
wholly mistaken in her identity, and she was remanded f)r
further evidence. (The previous examination appeared in
The Sun.)
. _

On the prisoner being placed at the bar,
Mr. Games, a solicitor, said he appeared on the part of the
prosecutor, but as he had not been before concerned in the
case, he could only learn its exact position from the viva v. ce
evidence contained in the report of the proceedings in the
newspapers, and which, he understaod, was a most correct
report. He believed the only point was the assertion of the
prisoner that she was married to the prosecutor.
Mr. Cormoiiam said, that was not the only point; the
question of the marriage arose incidentally in the case, and
must, be taken to be a collateral issue, the prisoner having
asserted that she was married to the prosecutor; the truth
or falsehood of that assertion must be proved. There was
also another point or evidence: it was stated that an alibi
would be produced, as thefprisoner had denied that she was
near the Cornwall-road on the day in question.
Mr. Game 3 said he was in a situation to prove the story of
the marriage was a gross fabrication.
Mr. CorrixGßaar--The evidence ought not to come from
you, the prisoner must substantiate the fact.
Mr. Hardman, the prisoner's solicitor, stated he had no
evidence at present of the marriage, as he understood the
beadle and pew-opener of St. John's, Paddington, where the
marriage took place, had been summoned to attend by the
prosecution.

- Mr. Games said there was no doubt of the prisoner's mar-
riage with a Patrick liepiry Smith, but the prosecutor was

not the man; the beadle and pew-opener were present, and
he was re Idy to call them. He then called

Joseph brake, who deposed tiat he was beadle of St.
John's, Paddington, and prodree 1 the registers of marriages
on the 12th of May, Whit-MOntay, at St. John's. The re-
gister was kept by the curate, and there was an entry in
witwss's handwriting of a marriage of Bridget Smith with
Patrick Henry Smith, on that day. There were five marriages
that morning, and the last persons who were married he re-
collected, from the circumstance that the man was very dirty,
and had the appearance of a bricklayer's labourer, who had
just left his work; he wore a sort of flannel or fustian coat,
he was a tall stout man, but as he kept his head down he
did not notice him much ; the woman also looked dirty ;
the man asked the witness and the pew-opener to be wit-
nesses, but not liking their appearance he declined; the man
then went out after two witnesses who had attended a pre-
vious marriage and returned with them, when they were
married ; the prisoner was the woman, but he could not
speak as to the man; who wrote the names of the witnesses
he could not say, but thought it was the clerk's writing; it
appeared they were marksmen: the prisoner's name appeared
to be written by the clerk.
Mr. Cottingham minutely examined the entries in the re-
gister, and asked if the prosecutor had any objection then to
write his name?

Mr. Gaines said the prosecutor would have no objection to
do anything the Bench wished, as he was anxious for a full
investigation.

The Prosecutor then wrote down his name in full on a piece
of paper, which was handed to the magistrate.
The pew-opener stated that she recollected the marriages
taking place on Whit-Monday ? idle last marriage was be-
tween a man and woman, both of whom were very dii ty,
and that she never saw a dirtier couple, the man appeared as
if he just came from work, he wore a cap but held down his
head.

Mr. Games said he would call witnesses to show the prose-
cutor could not have been near the church.

After a tedious examination of witnesses,

Mr. COTTINGIIAM determined that as the charge was one
of a very serious nature, he should decline to take bail, and
wouki remand-the case-till Saturday_
The prisoner was then remanded, and will be bought up
again on Saturday. On leaving the dock she requestel to
see her son, which was immediately granted.