The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-18 00:00:00

IN RE JAMES SHALLIS.-EXTRAORDINARY SCENE.

The insolvent appeared in Court to be liberated on
bail. Upon the two persons who offered themsel►es as
sureties entering the witness-box, one of them, named
William Whitecombe, demurred to being sworn upon
the Testament.

Mr. Commissioner REYNOLDS (to Mr. Whitecombe)—
Why do you refuse being sworn upon the Bible i Do
you believe in it ? Mr. Whitcombe— I believe in all the
parts of it which are moral. I believe in those parts of
it which denounce falsehood and bearing false testimony
against my neighbour.
The CHIEF CommissfoxEn—Then do you only believe
in the Bible so far as those principles are concerned in
the same manner as you would believe in a novel or any
other profane work which embodies the same maxims ?
Mr. Whitcombe-- Most certainly. I only believe in the
truths themselves and not in the general book in which
they are contained.
Mr. Commissioiser PoLLocE—ls the Court to conclude
that you deny the Divine origin of the New Testament,
or that it is a work .of Divine revelation? Mr. Whitcombe

—I do deny it.
The CHIEF Call MISNOMER—YOH may retire Mr.
Whitcombe. The Court does not require your presence
any longer.
Mr. Whitcombe and the other surety then left the
Court, and the insolvent was taken back to the Queen's
Bench Prison in default of bail.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
(THIS DAY.)
A DESPERATE BEGGAR.—John Ellis, a very powerful
young man, and a female, who passes as his wife, were
charged with begging.
Police-constable, Igo. 28 of the C division, stated, that
between six and seven o'clock last evening he saw the
prisoners begging, in company. together, in Pall-mall.
The male prisoner had his arm in a sling, and actually
followed two gentlemen into one of the club-houses. Ile
was then taken into custody, when he resisted, and it
was with the greatest difficulty he was overpowered.
In the cell he twice broke the handcuffs off his wrists.
There was nothing whatever the matter with his arm.
Win. Horaford, ono of the constables belonging to the
Mendicity Society, stated that the prisoner was a noto-
rious begging impostor, and had been several times con-
victed.

Mr. lllRnvricK sent him for another three months,
and the female for one.

CLERKENWELL.—(THIS DAY.)
A tall powerful-looking man, named Richard Johnson,
was charged as follows :
The fellow went into the eating-house of Mr. Clamin,
i❑ the Hornsey-road, yesterday, and having regaled him-
self sumptuously on the best the house could furnish,
drank seven pints of porter. Ho had no sooner finished
the last pint than he called for tea, rashers, and eggs, and
ordered them to be got ready by the time he had finished
this meal ; the landlord, however, refused to serve him
with more until the former reckoning was paid. The
prisoner said he wanted change of a 5L note, but having
no such thing, nor any other species of money on hi
person, was given into custody.
Mr. GREENWOOD discharged the gormandizer.

LAMBETH.—(THIS DAY.)
Upon the Hon, Mr. Norton taking his seat this morn-
ing on the bench, the Magistrate was informed that about
half-past six o'clock last night a most determined at-
tempt was made by five prisoners, confined in one of the
cells of the new Coart, to make their escape, and which
was very nearly successfal.
Last night the five prisoners were locked up in the
cell, waiting for the arrival of the van. Cook, the gaolor,
hearing an unusual noise, went to the cell in which the
prisoners were confined, and soon ascertained that they
had succeeded in removing the whole of the iron lattice-
work attached to the windows, and in a very few minutes
more the whole of the prisoners must have got clear off.