The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-11 00:00:00

RAILWAY SHARES, FOR THE ACCOUNT.

St. Germain 825 .. 825 .. 815 .• $l5
Ver-ailles,L.B. ..... 257 50 .. 258 75 .. 257 50 .. 258 75
Rouen 973 75 .. 975 .. 975 • 975
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Avignon to Marseilles•••• •• 767 50 .. 767 50 . 767 50 .. 767 50

Her Majesty held a Court this afternoon at Buck.
Ingham Palace, for the reception of the Spanish Am.
bassador.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat
this afternoon, at the Council-office, and resumed the
hearing of an appeal from the Prerogative Court of
Canterbury, "Aleddowcroft v. Huguenin.

THIS DAY'S. NEWS.

QUEEN'S BENCH.-ZTHIS DAY).
(Sittings at Nisi Prius.)
The Court was occupied during the morning in trying an
action for an alleged illegal distress, but the case, " Hollings •
worth v. Pursett," presented no feature of interest except to
the parties concerned.

COMMON PLEAS.-(THIS DAY.)
(Sittings at Nisi Prius, before Lord Chief Justice TIDAL..

ELIOT V. ELLIS AND HICKS.

• This case was resumed this morning, when a few witnesses,
in addition to those who gave evidence yesterday, were called
for the plaintiff. After the plaintiff's case had been closed,
Mr. Sergeant SIIEE addressed the jury for the defence. He
called -upon the jury to defend the parish officers in this
case, who had done no more than their duty, and what they
were bound to do, in protecting society from a. person
in the state of mind to which the plaintiff was reduced. He
would be able to prove to them that the plaintiff was not in
a sane state of mind—that he lived in the most extraordi-
nary manner, and was in the habit of acting in such a man-
ner as no person of sound mind would act. He would show
that when he was brought into the workhouse, he
attacked one of the inmates named Harris, most vio-
lently, and that when he was dismissed by the
Magistrate he was found near the canal by two
policemen, under such circumstances as led them to be-
lieve that he intended to commit suicide. He denied that
the plaintiff had suffered any pecuniary loss. He would
prove that he had not a sixpence in the world, and that he
even owed money ; that he was living in a most wretched
manner, and in fact, that it was an advantage to him to be
taken to the workhouse. The plaintiff was as mad as M'Naugh-
ten, or any other madman, who committed acts of violence
on society, and the parish officers would not do their duty
towards society and towards the prisoner himself, if they did
not take the steps they had taken.
The Learned Gentleman then proceeded to call witnesses
to establish those facts. We understand there are between
twenty and thirty witnesses in attendance on the part of the
defence, so that it is probable the case will not terminate
to-day.

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY

OLD COURT.

Mary Ann Brown, a rather interesting looking female,
about 26 years of age, and John Francis Skinner, a fashion-
ably dressed young man, wearing meustachios, were indicted
for forging a cheque for 190/., with intent to defraud. Messrs.
Smith, Payne, and Smith the bankers, on the 9th of January
last. The name forged was, as may be remembered from our
recent police reports, that of Lady Margaret Nettlethorpe.
Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Doane conducted the prosecution,
while Mr. Wilkins defended the prisoner Brown, and Mr. M.
Chambers appeared for Skinner.
Mr. BODKIN having stated the particulars of the case to
the jury,
Mr. Evyson, clerk to Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smith,
deposed to the fact of a cheque having been cashed on the
day named in the indictment, alleged to be drawn by Lady
Nettlethorpe.
Lady Margaret Nettlethorpe stated that she was the
widow of Sir Henry Nettlethorpe, and resided at River Hill,
in Kent. She met the prisoner Brown in London, who made
application to her for an engagement as a companion, but
this was only accepted for a short time, during which Miss
Brown had had frequent opportunities of seeing her. (Lady
Nettlethorpe) write. Witness never gave her authority to
sign any cheque in her name. Was aware that Miss Brown
belonged to a most respectable family, but had latterly been
in rather distressed circumstances, when she lent her some
money.
Cross-examined—The opportunities which the prisoner
Brown had of seeing her write, was when she was writing
letters. Used printed cheques, and seldom wrote more than
two or three during the year. Miss Brown was aware that
she banked with Smith, Payne, and Smith.
The next witness was Mrs. Mason, who deposed that the
prisoner resided some time at her house at Kingston, and in
payment of her rent, &c.. gave her a 5/. note.
The note was identified as one of those which had been
paid away upon Lady Nettlethorpe's cheque.
Several other witnesses having been examined, who gave
collateral evidence, all of which has been already published
in our police report,'.
Inspector Pearce, of the Detective Force, deposed to taking
the prisoners into custody at Kingston, when they
both declared their innocence of the offence of
forgery. The two prisoners were living together as
man and wife, and when the witness went to their
lodging, Skinner acknowledged that the female was not his
wife, but begged of him not to let the people of the house
know anything about the transaction, as they had lived there
most respectably, and without the slightest imputation or
suspicion.
Mr. WILKINS addressed the jury on behalf of his client in
an able and lengthened speech, and in illustration of the diffi-
culty with which the identity of a signature was beset, men-
tioned the case of a Learned Judge in that Court (Mr. Justice
Pattison) who mistook his own handwriting.
Mr. M. CHAMBERS addressed the jury on behalf of the
prisoner Skinner, and commented strongly upon the impro-
bability of a person who bore her Majesty's commission and
held the high station in society which he did, being guilty
of the crime with which he was charged. The Learned
Counsel also coinmented upon the honourable feeling which
he exhibited in'not availing himself of the offer of Mr. Bush
to become a witness against the female prisoner.
Several witnesses, most of them officers of tb.e army and
navy, were called, who gave the prisoner Skinned.' the highest
character for honour and respectability.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON having summed up •
,
The jury, after a short consultation in thn box, stated to
at nfte jruwd eicthh atthtehye yrewtiroeudldiantoust btoe ldiykeolyf t:nagrte
,:setfhore sooffimecerstimot
j e,
the Court to the jury-room to consider their ;verdict.
The jury, aver abovlt as dtliberatiog,4 returnectinto