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

CRIMINAL COURT -(THIS DAY

OLD COURT
(Before the RECORDER and Mr. Alderman KELLY.)
John Ogleby, a young man, was indicted for extorting
money from Mr. F. L. Meiville, a member of the Stock
Exchange, by using threats of charging him with an
offence of a disgusting character.
Mr. Clarkson attended for the prosecution ; the pri-
soner was undefended.

The circumstances of the case were stated at great
length by the prosecutor, but the principal facts can be
given very briefly. The prosecutor had, on the 6th of
October, been standing in Tottenham-court-road, waiting
for an omnibus to convey him to Piccadilly, when the
prisoner, who was very respectably dressed, came up,
entered into conversation, and ascertaining in what di-
rection the prosecutor wished to go, said that his better
way would be to get a cab, as no omnibus would be up
for a considerable time. The prosecutor did so ; and as
the prisoner expressed his intention of going in the same
direction, he was requested to enter the cab. They went
on as far as Half-moon-street, when the prisoner said,
" I want money, and unless you give it me, I will
order you to be driven to the station-house."
Prosecutor said, " To the station-house, what for ?"
The prosecutor after some more words had passed, got
frightened, and ordered the cabman to pull up. The
cabman did so, and prosecutor got out, followed by the
prisoner, who said to the cabman, " You take this gen-
tleman to the station-house ;" and he added the parti-
cular charge which he intended to allege against him.
The prosecutor lost all presence of mind, and ran away,
still followed however by the prisoner, who overtook
him, and said, " Now, you give me 201, or I will not let
you go." The prosecutor took his purse, containing
51. 10s. in gold, and gave it him. He also gave his watch
and chain, worth about 401. ; and the prisoner then
said, " You go in that direction, my way lies here." Pro-
secutor then got home. He was in about a month after
met by the prisoner in the street, and followed to the
counting-house in Angel-court. The prosecutor escaped
on that occasion, and on the following morning informed
his brother of the whole circumstances, and on that day
the prisoner was observed lounging about the door, and
at once given into custody.

The evidence of Mr. Meiville's brother having been
given,
Charles Rouse, the cabman, said the prisoner and
prosecutor had got into his cab together in Tottenham-
court-road. They got out in Half-moon-street, and he
observed the prisoner running after the prosecutor. He
knew the prisoner by sight ; his brother had been a
cab-driver.

The prisoner addressed a few words to the jury, who,
before the Recorder summed up, expressed their opinion
of the prisoner's guilt.
The RZCORDER—Then, gentlemen of the jury, I ►ill
ask you, for the sake of the prosecutor's family, if you
are quite satisfied of the truth of his statements ?

The Foreman of the jury—Quite satisfied, my Lord.
The RECORDER—There is another charge of a similar
character against the prisoner, but it need not now be
proceeded with.
The prisoner threw himself upon the clemency of the
Court.

The RECORDER said that to a man whose nature was
so depraved that he would, for the purpose of extorting
money, press a detestable charge of this kind against
an innocent person, the Court could entertain no mercy,
and the sentence of the Court, therefore, was That he
be transported beyond the seas for tke term of his na-
tural life."

The prisoner was then removed from the bar.

-Sir Robert Peel left town this afternoon, for his seat,
Draytos Manor, Staffordshire. The Lords of the Privy
Council sat this morning to consider a petition from
the Island of Guernsey, praying her Majesty's con-
firmation of a project of reform in the constitution
of the said States. Sir James Graham, Lord Wharn-
cliffe, Mr. Baron Parke, and other Lords were
present.

OXFORD, Nov. 29.—The Hebdomadal Board has
received the report of the committee on Mr. Ward's
publication, and are now engaged in devising some prac-
tical measure of censure. It is not, however, anticipated
that the matter can be brought before the Convocation
during the present term. The proposition of the Rev.
Mr. Bricknell'a pamphlet for including the origo mali
Tract 90 in an authoritative condemnation finds favour
in some quarters, and yet may be acted on.
NEWCASTLE AND DAMENGTON RAILWAY.--Thef
Directors of this railway have granted an allowance o
five shillings per week each to the widows of Mr. Brown
and Mr. Burrell, of South Shields, who were recently
killed on that line, between South Shields and Brockley
Whinns, by a collision, when on their way to attend
Newcastle cattle market.

PICSEEING.—CHEAP RAILWAY TRAlN.—Tuesday
last was the day announced for the cheap train to start
from Pickering for Whitby. The morning was ushered
in by a keen, biting frost, notwithstunding which the
country lads and lasses congregated in strong muster at
the station. Ruddock's band was engaged for tho day.
The train started with about 100 passengers,