The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-08 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX. SESSIONS.

(Before Mr. Sergeant ADAMS and a full Bench of Magistrates.)
ST. JAMES, CLERKENWELL, AGAINST GEORGE WHIPPLE.
This was an application for an order of affiliation under
the New Poor-law Act.
Mr. Bodkin appeared for the parochial authorities, and Mr.
Prendergast for Mr. Whipple.
Mr. BODKIN said he applied on behalf of the authorities of
St. James, Clerkenwell, against Mr. George Whipple, for the
support of an illegitimate child, and compensation for the
expenses the parish had been put to. The party sought to be
charged had tilled the office of churchwarden or overseer of
the parish, and had, by virtue of that office, become ac-
quainted, three or four years back, with a young woman
named Jane Webb, then only about 16 years of age, and,
whilst visiting the family to relieve them with bread, took an
opportunity of seducing the young woman in question.
Jane Webb,. an interesting young woman, with an infant
in her arms, deposed that she 20 years oiage. The child
was born on the 15th of September, 1843. Mr. Whipple was
the father. She first became acquainted with him three years
and a half ago, whilst living with her mother, at 13, Bowling-
green-lane, Clerkenwell. Mr. Whipple was a member of the
Philanthropic Institution, and in that capacity. visited the
family to relieve them with bread. After relieving them two
or three times, during the absence of her mother he invited
witness to take a walk, saying he would take her out to tea.
, Whipple then took her to a house of ill-fame in a court lead-
ing out of the Old Bailey, where she remained with him
about an hour. Witness's mother had procured a situation,
and Whipple called on her, and directed her to take a lodg-
ing in another name. Witness took a lodging in Greenhill's-
' rents, Smithfield, under the name of Smith. She' remained
there fire or six weeks, during which time Mr. Whipple
visited her every evening, except Sunday, from about eight
until eleven. Whipple then told her he was married, and
asked her to come and live in the house as servant, which
she consented to, and lived there altogether nearly three
vears, during which time the intimacy continued. Witness
left on two occasiens for shOrt periods, and Whipple paid the
rent of her lodgings. Witness finally quitted his service the
early part of January, 1843. The reason of leaving was a
quarrel about a Miss Digby, witness accusing Whipple of
coming out of her bed-room. Witness, on leaving, told Mrs.
Whipple in her husband's presence what had taken place
between them. Witness applied in March to Mr. Neams,
a gentleman residing in Vincent-terrace, City-road, for a
situation, and referred him to Mr and Mrs. Whipple for a
character ; but on the character given he refused to take
her. The following day witness saw Mr. Whipple, who
directed her to send Mr. Neams at a particular hour, when
he would give her a good character. Witness obtained the
situation, and remained there about three months, when her
situation becoming apparent she was compelled to leave.
The witness, who had been under examination some hours,
went into hysterics, and was removed from the witness-box,
and subsequently to the workhouse.
Richard Webb, brother of the last witness, stated that he
had frequently seen Whipple kiss his sister whilst in his
service.
Mrs. Burrell remembered Jane Webb living in Greenhill's-
rents, where she went by the name of Mrs. Smith. Witness
used to open the door for Mr. Whipple, who went into Jane
Webb's room, and used to lock the door.
Mrs. Rosannah Webb deposed that she was mother of Jane
Webb. In 1840 they were living in Bowling-green- lane in
great distress: She applied to Mr. Whipple, who was a mem-
ber of the Philanthropic Institution, when he visited them
and relieved them with bread and a little money. Shortly
afterwards she got a situation as nurse in Great Distaff-lane,
and left her daughter with her little furniture, directing her
to sell it and buy clothes, and then go to her sister at Mort-
lake. Witness's daughter visited her in eight or nine weeks,
and told her she had got a situation, but she knew nothing of
her living in Greenhill's-rents.
Mr. John Austin Neam, residing at 11, Vincent-terrace
City-road, deposed that Jane Webb applied. for a situation.
in his family. He called at Mr. Whipple's house, and saw a
young lady, who refused to give her a character. At the re-
quest of Jane Webb he called again, and saw Mr. Whipple,
who said she was a most excellent servant both for honesty
and integrity, and that he had known her family for some
time, who were very respectable. Witness then took her
into his service.
Mr. PRENDERGAST, in defence, addressed the Court at
some length, contending that the corroborative evidence
required by the Poor-law Amendment Act had not been
given. The Learned Gentleman then called the following
witnesses :
Mr. Burrell deposed that he had resided with Mr. Whipple
some years, and never saw any liberties taken or any inti-
macy between Mr. Whipple and his servant Jane Webb.
Cross-examined—Mr. Whipple is a practical chemist, in
the firm of Messrs. Barron and Co., the extensive wholesale
druggists in the City.
Miss Charlotte Digby deposed that she resided with Mr.
Whipple from the Ist of December, 1842. Witness remem-
bered Jane Webb leaving; before doing so, she told Mrs.
Whipple she was enciente by Mr. Whipple, and that Mr.
Whipple came out of witness's bed-room, which was false.
The CRAIRKAN, with considerable warmth, said the wit-

nesses for the defence gave the strongest evidence in the case. I
After such evidence, and the accusations of Mrs. Whipple by
Jane Webb, Whipple gives her an excellent character, gets
her a situation, and passes her off on a highly respectable
family. If that was not enough to father a dozen of children
upon him, he did not know. what was. He would not trouble
Mr. Bodkin to reply.
The COURT were unanimous in their opinion.
The COURT then ordered 4s. per week for the support of the
child, the expenses the parish had been put to, and 20/. for
the costs of the present application.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
WORSHIP-STREET.

Yesterday, Samna Wheeldon, a constable of the N di-
vision, No. 56, was placed at the bar before Mr. Bing-
ham, charged with robbing another constable of the
same division.

In consequence of a great number of articles being
missed by different officers during the last six months in
the station-house in Hoxton, which had occasioned great
discomfort to the men, from the suspicion it created of
each other, the whole of them have been lately on the
qui vice, to discover, if possible, the perpetrator, but to
no purpose until Monday afternoon, when. as George
Massey, No. 409, who had been- upon night duty. was
lying in bed, apparently asleep, in the same bed-room
with the prisoner and three other constables, one of
whom was named Michael Cotter, Massey saw the pri-
soner get up and partly dress himself, and, after looking
round the room, to see whether he was observed, go to
a table near the window, en which was placed Cotter's
clothes, and, after feeling about them for some time, he
saw him put his hand in one of the trowsers' pockets,
and take something out, which he unf lded, and then,
replacing something in the trowers. he conveyed some-
thing else into his own pockets. He then saw him open a
penknife, and do something to the trowsers; but thinking
they were his own clothes, he had no suspicion, and took
no notice of it. It at last struck -him that it was Cotter's
clothing which had been so hAndled, and waking Cotter
'up, he asked him if that was the case, and desired him
to look whether he had lost anything. Cotter got
up and did so, and then fund that a had half-crown and
a sixpence, which coestituted the evidence against a
notorious "Smasher." now in custody, named 'Wolfe, an 1
which coins Cotter had wrapped up in a paper together,
had been taken out of his pocket, and that the half•
crown, being worthless, had baen returned loose, while
the good coin had been. stolen, and the bottom of the
pocket ripped open with a knife, to give it the appear-
ance of having dropped out. Sergeant Dubois was then
sent for, who, on his arrival, found the prisoner cooking
some steak by the kitchen tire. He asked him where he
got it, and the prisoner said at a butcher's in Hoxton he
mentioned, saying, to further questions. th .t he had paid
for it in halfpence ; but on being closely pressed, he
acknowledged that he had paid for it with a sixperce.
The butcher was then communicated with, and he at once
produced the' sixpence, having only taken that one coin
of that description during the day, and which coin both
Sergeant Dubois and Cotter identified as that found
in the possession of Wolfe. Another constable also
proved that his knife, which he had left on the window.:
ledge before going to bed, had been removed, and the
pocket 'of the trowsers, which were produced, had evi-
dently been freshly and intentionally cut.
The prisoner, in defence, said all - this statement was
false. While taking up his coat, which was by the
trowsers, he might certainly have touched the latter, but
that was all. lie declared he had not put his hand in
the pockets, and certainly stole nothing from them.
Mr. BINGHAM thought it necessary that the butcher,
who was not in attendance, should be produced,
to prove the passage of the coin from the priso-
ner's hand to his, and ordered him to be remanded till
next week, for that purpose.
The prisoner was then removed in custody.
ChERKENTVELL.

Margaret Kelly was charged with stabbing John Dym-
mock, a- carman, residing in 13, White Horse-court,
Turnmill-street, Clerkenwell, where the prisoner also
resides.

The prosecutor was unable to attend, and a certificate
from the house surgeon of St. Bartholomew's Hospital,
in which the wounded man lies, was produced, which
described the nature of the wound, and set forth that
Dyrnmock's life was in daner.
Anne Dymmock deposed that between nine and ten
o'clock on the previous night, she was returning from
her day's work, when she met the prisoner at the door
of the house in which they live, but had met her in Sut-
ton-street a few minutes previously. The prisoner used
language of an irritating and offensive description to
wards witness, and they had some words on the stairs.
The prisoner was under the influence of liquor, and wit
ness retired into her own room, in which her hus-
band was. In a 'few minutes after this Margaret Kelly
burst open the door, and, like a manaic, rushed into the
room. Witness was greatly alarmed, but before she
could do anything, the prisoner seized a table knife, and
plunged it into the head of her husband. who was on the
bed. He bled profusely from the wound, which was on
the sicle of his face.

Mr.CokßE—Why did she do this ? Witness—Oh,
she was actually mad, your Worship.
Air. COMBS-But can you msign nu reason ? Wit-
ness—She had a quarrel on Good Friday, and she har-
boured a grudge against its ever .since. He was con-
veyed to the hospital at half•past ten o'clock. I called
the police.— (The woman then produced the knife, the
blade and handle of which were stained with blood.)
Police-constable Joseph Parfitt, 38 G, deposed that
he was on duty on the previous night about ten o'clock,
in Turnmill-street,' when the last witness came to him,
exclaiming that her husband had been stabbed. He
hastened to the house, and saw the prosecutor sitting on
the side of the bed, bleeding profusely from a deep gash
on the side of the heal. There was a pool of blood on
the floor. Tae man must have bled at least a pint. The
prisoner was standing there looking at the man bleed-
ing. Witness took her into custody on the charge of
stabbing, when she.eried out ".oh, it %as a piece of a
broken basin I struck him with."

Prisoner—Aye, and so it was a piece of a basin.
Policenan—lt could nut be so, for the man's cheek
was cut quite through, and the knife, covered with blood,
was lying beside the pool of blood on the ground.
Mr. &MBE (to the prisoner)—What have you to say
to the charge? Prisoner (with an air of the greatest
comnosure)—All that I have to say is, that she called
me bad names. They struck me on the shoulder like-
wise, and here is the mark. (She exposed the upper
part of her person further than decency would permit,
and showed the mark of a bruise on her breast, but it
did not seem to have been recently inflicted.)
The police-constable said there were several witnesses
present who saw her stab the prosecutor.
Prisoner (smiling)—Are there, indeed.
3lr. COMBE—The man's lire is said to be in danger.
Prisoner (laughing)—Oh there's no fear of him.
The clerk—Perhaps you are laughing too soon; if the
man dies you will be tried for the murder.
Mr. COMBE remanded her until Monday next, and she
was removed to the cell apparently more unmoved than
any one present.
John Spillan, who has been four times convicted of as-
saults on the police, within a comparatively short space,nof
time, was brought before Mr. Combe, charged with violeffly
assaulting police-constable 124 E.
It appeared from the evidence that on the previous night,
between eleven and twelve o'clock, the prisoner, who was in
liquor, was creating a disturbance with five or six other fel-
lows, when the constable desired them to " move on." All
complied, with the exception of the prisoner, who became
most insolent-and unmanageable. The officer took him into
custody, but the ruffian kicked him in a brutal manner on
the legs, so as to occasion him very groat pain. He was re-
moved to the station-house with much difficulty.
Mr. CosinE—What have you to say to the charge? Pri-
soner—lt is false.
Mr. CoatuE—Have you any proof that it is so ? Prisoner
—Not a bit.
Mr. CosinE—What sort of a character is he? Policeman
—One of the worst in St. Giles's.
Prisoner Vel, your VorAip, I acknowledge I'm bad
enough, but there are worse ; and I was arter drinking with
a couple of cronies.
Mr. CosinE—Then you must pay 11. for the assault.
Prisoner—A pound ! Vy, I have not a blessed fardin in
my company.
Mr. COMBE—Then you must go to prison for a fortnight.
BO IV-S Tli EL 7.

Airs. O'Toole preferred a charge against Mrs. APFLotn,
for that she AIN. Maillynn had broken an umbrella
stick over the arms and shoulders of Mrs. O'Toole in her
own room.

The complainant after stating that she was " a widdy
wid two childer," said that the defendant had yesterday
come into her room, and because she (complainant)
would not lend her the price of,a quartern of gin, she
fell upon her and " bate " her in the most unmerciful
manner.

Defendant—She strik me, yer Werehip.
Complainant—Look wer she bit me body!
Defendant —Jist look how she tore the life out iv my
arm.

Complainant—Yer Werchip, plase louk at me ear.

Defe7idant—Look at the

"Silence !" shouted the corpulent ush"r, and the over-
whelming power of his voice drowned the shriller accents
of Mesdames, NlTlynn and O'Toole.
_ _

Mr. JARDINE-1 see how it is, I shall bind you both
over to keep the peace.
Mrs. O'Toole---,uppose she should bate the life out iv
me, what 'ill I do then?
Mr. JARDINE—The case is decided.

The part:es thenleithe Court separately.
UNION-HALL.
Thomas Weddell, a man represented to have formerly car-
ried on an extensive trade at Kennington, was charged with
stealing 2s. 6d. from the till of the Goat public-house, t;leaver-
street, Kennington. The prisoner had been at the above
house on the preceding night, and, in the absenee of the land-
lord a moment from the bar, took an opportunity of draw-
ing out the till, from which he purloined the sum mentioned.
The landlord, in detailing the facts, said that he felt very
great sorrow in seeing the prisoner placed in such a position ;
that he had known hint when he carried on a very respect-
able business ; and that his present condition was mainly at-
tributable to dissipated habits, to which he had recently given
himself up. The complainant added that he did net wish to
press the charge.
Mr. TRAILL said that it was lamentable to see a man of the
prisoner's appearance place himself in such a degraded situa-
tion; that as the complainant expressed a wish not to pro-
secute him, he should therefore discharge him, advising him
not to place himself in such a dilemma again, otherwise he
would be treated very differently.

On Monday morning the Lord Bishop of London
hell a confirmation at Islington church. His Lordship, ac-
companied by the Rev. C. B. Dalton, M.A., arrived shortly
before eleven o'clock, and was conducted into the church by
the Rev. Daniel Wilson, the vicar; the Rev. J. Hambleton,
the Rev. R. Eden, the Rev. J. Haslegreave, the Rev. W.
Faulkner, and most of the clergy of the adjacent parishes.
The prayers of the church, and those specially appointed for
the occasion, having been read, the Right Rev. Prelate
ascended the pulpit, and d • • an appropriate and im-
pressive charge to the yont' :!didates for the holy rite.
He then returned to the alta •e the confirmation was
proceeded with. Upwards of - .ung persons were ad-
mitted. , Yesterday morning
„ordship held a con-
firmation at St. James's church, adilly ; this day at
St. Philip's church, Stepney ; on Mon ay next, the 13th inst.,
at the parish church of St. Marylebone; and on Wednesday,
the 15th inst., at St. Luke's churCh, Chelsea.
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