The Sun.
London, England, 1828-10-30 00:00:00

HATTON-GARDEN.

George Hughes Byrn, who stated himself to be
a conveyancer, and who it appears is one of those
individuals who traffiek in the money-lending line,
and keeps an office in St. James's-place, Pall-mall,
was yesterday brought up before the sitting Magis-
trates, Mr. ROGERS and Mr. LAING, in custody of
Kimpton, the warrant-officer, by the parochial autho-
rities of St. Pancras, on a charge of deserting his
wife, and suffering her to become chargeable to the
parish.
The complainant, Catherine Byrn, an aged fe-
male, reduced, yet still looking respectable, stated
that she:was deserted by the defendant, who, dur-
ing the 13 months, never contributed a single shil-
ling' towards her maintenance, but left her solely
depending on the precarious kindness and liberality
of her friends, and that whenever their contributions
failed, she had no other resource than in an applica-
tion to the pariah, which from time to time within
the above period advanced her some pounds for her
support, until her friends would take her into their
consideration again.
Mr. ROGERS—What is your husband ? Com-
plainant—l don't know what to say he is: he was
a journeyman hatter when I married him.
Defendant—l have never been a hatter in my life;
nor have I, your .worships, as she states, deserted
her. I have been bred a conveyancer, and for some
time had an extensive and respectable practice; but
in consequence of a variety of untoward circum-
stances, having unfortunately become insolvent, I
was lodged by my creditors in the Kine's Bench
prison, where I lay for several months, and its now
not more than three or four weeks since I obtained
my enlargement.
Mr. ROGERS—This may be all true, but the law
will not suffer you to leave your wife chargeable to
the parish funds. Defendant—l have not, Sir. I
have made a settlement upon her of 301. a year, to
be paid for her use to her trustees, the deed of which
settlement is now in their hands. Complainant—l
have never received one penny of it, nor has it been
paint. _ _ .

Mr. ligGEßs—l have nothing to tlo with your
dee 1.. Indemnify the parish for the expence it is
and has been at, for the maintenance of your wife.
Defendant—l will, Sir.
Mr. Roanns—Thea do it immediately. But where
are the means to do it with to come from ? De-
fendant—From my profession as a conveyancer. If
you, Sir, will indulge me for a short titste, I shall be
enabled to get plenty of money.
Mr. Coulthart, one of the overseers, stated to the
Magistrates that this was not the first time the de-
fendant had been before them upon a similar charge,
and under the very same circumstances, and handed
to them the warrant for his former apprehension. He
added, that having some time ago personally called
upon him at his lodgings, where he then seemed to
be in rather splendid circumstances, to endeavour to
bring him to some accommodation with the parish,
he threw down upon the table two .5/. notes, and
told him if he waited on his attdrney in the Strand,
a day or two subsequently, he should there receive
those 10/., but he (Mr. Coulthart) was however del
ceived by him, for having on -the appointed day
called to receive the money, he was informed that
none had been left, and received moreover a very
discreditable character of the defendant. He was
indebted to the parish now V., and it was his (the
overseer's) instructions to press the immediate pay-
ment of this sum.

The Magistrates ordered him to pay it, or fital
securities; and in default thereof committed him to
prison.
Twenty informations were yesterday laid by Byers
the informer, against William Fitzhugh, pawnbroker,
of Church-passage, St. Pancras, Somers-town, for
offences against the pawnbroker's statute, all of
which, with the exception of one, were dismissed ;
but upon that one the defendant was fined ios. and
the costs. He appealed, however, from the convic-
tion, and immediately put in bail to bring the case
before the sessions.
UNION-HALL.

It will be recollected a young man of genteel ap-
pearance and address, named IVm. Birmingham,
was brought up to this office a few days ago on a
charge of stealing a shawl and a Bible from the
landlord of the house where be had formerly lodged.
In the course of the investigation it appeared that
the prisoner, who had served his time to a chyrnist
in Limerick, came to this country about five months
ago, in the expectation of obtaining employment at
his profession, but failed in his application. Finding
there was no chance of procuring a situation, he
determined on proceeding to the West Indies, and
to eatry his intention into effect, his mother, a re-
spectable widow in Ireland, with a large family de-
pendent on her for support, remitted him 301. to
enable him to defray the expense of his passage.
Soen after the receipt of the above sum, he was
robbed of the whole of it, with the exception of a
few pounds, by some of the sharpers that abound in
this metropolis. The remaining portion he sub-
sisted upon until it was exhausted, after which he
was driven to the greatest extremities. Ilaving no
friends in London, aad being unable to pay fur lodg-
ings, he was necessitated to seek shelter many nights
under the shambles of Fleet-market. It was while
suffering under these privations the unfortunate young
man committed the offence for which he was taken
into custody, and brought tb this office. The Ma-
gistrate (Mr. Hone) before whom the case was in-
vestigated, conceiving the offence to be one of an
aggravated character under all the circumstances, left
it in the hands of the prosecutor whether he should
press it, at the same time pointing out those miti-
gating circumstances which he deemed favourable
to the prisoner. The prosecutor, however, was
insensible to the appeal on his feelings, and the pri-
soner was, consequently committed for trial. Since
his committal, lie was tried at the last Surrey Ses-
sions, and found guilty, but the Court having, been
apprised of his hitherto unimpeachable character,
and also taking into consideration the deplorable
state of poverty to which he was reduced previous
to the commission of the offence, passed a very lenient
sentence upon him—namely, fourteen days' impri-
sonment in the House of Correction. Since the
prisoner's conviction, several benevolent
and amongst them a Magistrate of Surrey, having
read the report of his case which appeared in this
paper, under the head of " Union-hall," and feeling
for his destitate condition, have charitably entered
into a subscription to release his clothes out of
pledge, and also to furnish him with the means of
defraying the expenses of his passage to Jamaica,
where he is desirous of proceeding, in the sanguine
expectation that he shall be enabled to procure em-
ployment at hi; profession, either in that island or
on some of the plantations in the vicinity of it.

Mr. T. P. COURTENAY has arrived in town
from his seat in Kent.