The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-30 00:00:00

ADELAIDE GALLERY.

One of the most curious philosophical toys of the
day is now exhibiting at the Adelaide Gallery,
and is drawing crowded audiences every morning
and evening. We allude to the Automaton
Draftsman and Writer, recently exhibited at the
exposition in Paris, where it attracted the
marked attention of his Majesty the King of the
French, and which is now on a short visit to the
Adelaide Gallery. The automation is about eight
or ten inches high, and is attired in the cos-
tume of the Court of Louis XIV., he is
seated cross-legged in a fauteuil his arms,
resting on a table—in his right hand he holds a pencil.
He nods his head to signify that he is ready to com-
mence operations. A piece of paper is placed before
him—he steadies it with his left hand, and with his
right commences writing or drawing upon it. When
he has finished his work, he indicates its completion
by elevating his head and raising his hand from the
paper. He executed several drawings with great ac-
curacy while we were present, and wrote a variety,
of words. This automaton is certainly a very won-
derful fellow, and his performances appeared to afford
the greatest satisfaction to one of the most crowded
audiences we have ever seen in the Adelaide Gallery.

CAPT. WARNER'S EXPERIMENT.
(From the Brighton Herald.)
Certain reports having come to our ears calculated to
throw a suspicion upon the genuine character of the ex-
periment, we resolved, in justice to Captain Warner,
whose character these reports affect, to trace them to
their source, and having done so, we now place the result
without comment before the public:—
" Soon after the arrival of the John o'Gaunt in the
Shoreham roads, four pilots of that port, named Aus-
tin, Page, Merricks, and Parish, accompanied by a well-
known and respectable inhabitant of Shoreham, Mr.
Young, went off to her. Mr. Young proceeded on
board, and being asked by a person, apparently in com-
mand, what they wanted, replied that the men in the
boat were pilots who had come out to offer their ser-
vices, should they be required. Having stated this, he
soon afterwards returned on board the pilot-boat. At
this time they remarked, as a very unusual circum-
stance, some ratlin lines between the fore and main
mast, down the ship's starboard side (her head then ly-
ing to the westward), and passing through an eye-bolt,
which was about three inches in circumference. Mr.
Young also remarked on board the ship a quantity of new
warp (a rope about three inches round) lying on the
deck, and wondered what the rope could be for. On the
arboard side he had an opportunity of seeing also a rat-
in down the ship's side.
" The day that the vessel was destroyed, Parish and
other pilots went off towards the ship again, and he
states that he then saw three ropes of the size of the warp
passing from one point under the bulwark down the
ship's side, but separated, as they descended, by two of
them passing through the eye-bolts, leaving the centre
one in a perpendicular line between them. The eye
bolts were below the water mark, but could be clearly
discerned through the water. The ropes could be
traced under the bottom of the, vessel ; and there were
similar ropes fixed in the same way on the larboard
side. The steps were thrown over on the larboard side.
Beside the ropes already described, there was a guy
rope passing from the stem down the ship's side, dipping
beneath the eye-bolts, and ascending afterwards to the
stern."
Such are the statements made by Mr. Parish and Mr.
Young. It is for Captain Warner to deny. or admit
the allegations, and, if it is admitted, to explain the use
or intention of the above apparatus, which, to say the
least, will appear to all nautical men unusual and ex-
traordinary.

ANOTHER FATAL CASE IN THE SERPENTINE.
On Saturday evening Mr. Higgs, Deputy Coroner,
held an inquest at the Life Guardsman, High-row,
Knightsbridge, on the body of Mr. W. Jackson, aged
seventeen years, a medical pupil of Mr. York, of
Maida-hill, St. John's-wood, who was drowned in the
Serpentine, Hyde-park. Several witnesses declared
that if proper activity had been used by the boatmen
of the Humane Society, the life of the deceased might
have been saved. A Juror.—May I ask whether any
of the men of the Royal Humane Society are entitled to
any pecuniary reward for saving the life of a fellow-crea-
ture ? Mr. Williams, the superintendent—Nothing
whatever. The Juror—Then are they allowed anything
for picking up a dead person ? Mr. Williams—Only
what the Coroner allows. The Juror—What may that
be ? The Coroner—l generally allow 3s. for picking up
the body, and another shilling for giving evidence. After
a short consultation, the jury returned a verdict of " Ac-
cidental Death."
ANOTHER BODY FOUND IN THE THAMES.—On
Saturday an inquest was held on a body, greatly decom-
posed, of a young man, about eighteen years of age, at
the York Hotel, Waterloo-road, Lambeth, which was
taken out of the river Thames on Thursday evening.
The body was discovered in the mud, opposite the
wharf of Messrs. Edwards and Bennett, Commercial-
road, Lambeth. The Coroner, during the investigation,
remarked that it was distressing to mention the
number of cases of a like nature to the present ; and,
notwithstanding Anderson, the beadle of Lambeth, had
made every inquiry, the friends or relatives of the de-
ceased could not be traced. At the same time the jury
could d 3 no other than return a verdict of " Found
drowned." The deceased was dressed in a black waist-
coat and trousers, Oxonian shoes, blue pocket-handker-
chief with white flowers, blue worsted purse with Ger-
man silver watch-guard, and containing two sixpences
and a fourpenny-piece. On his third left finger wo
gilt or brass ring, with the word " Love" inlaid.

SUMMER ASSIZES.
OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Worcester, July 27.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Chief Justice;TninAL.)
Robert Bonlton, 17, and Richard Stanley, 17, were
indicted for breaking open the dwelling-house of Henry
Day, at Feckenhara, on the 9th of March, and stealing
a razor. _ _ _

Mr. Huddleston prosecuted, and Messrs. Cooke and
Barrett defended the prisoners.
The facts of the case possessed no feature of interest.
The defence set up was that the prosecutor had mis-
taken the prisoners for the men who had committed the
offence.
After a long trial, the jury returned a verdict of Guilty
against both prisoners.
A previous conviction was proved against Boulton, who
was sentenced to ten years' transportation, and Stanley
to twelve months' imprisonment.
Stephen Dovey, 30, who was acquitted yesterday of
the burglary at the late Major Williams's, was now in-
dicted for breaking and entering the dwelling-house of
Mary Lovett, at St. John's, on the 14th of March, and
stealing nineteen sovereigns, four silver tablespoons,
seven teaspoons, a watch, and various other articles, the
property of the said Mary Lovett and of one Lucy Lock.
Mr. Keating and Mr. Yardley prosecuted ; and Mr.

Huddleston de—fended the prisoner. -
The following are the facts:—Mrs. Lovett is a widow
lady, residing by herself, with a female servant named
Lucy Lock, and on the day in question went out to a
friend's, leaving directions to her servant to fetch
her home. About half•past six, the girl locked up
the house, and proceeded for her mistress. On
their return, at eight o'clock, they found the back
door open, the house in confusion, and the
articles named in the indictment stolen. On looking
into the adjoining garden, footsteps from there to the
road were discovered, which were afterwards found to
correspond with the prisoner's shoes. The prisoner had
been observed walking up and down before the house
when the servant went out, and it seemed that a girl
named Mary Jones, who was sent with the invitation
from her mistress to the prosectitrix, was an acquaint-
ance of the prisoner's wife, and after carrying the invi-
tation to Mrs. Lovett, called at his house, when in the
course of conversation the prisoner learnt that the old
lady and her servant would be absent for some hours on
the succeeding evening. He was very inquisitive as to
whether Mrs. Lovett lived alone, what sort of a house
she kept, if she had plenty to live on, and similar in-
quiries. On the 16th, two days after the robbery, the
prisoner's house was searched by the police, and a bag of
copper coin to the amount of 35., 2s. 9d. of it being in
penny pieces, found. Although none of the coin could
be identified, a bag containing exactly that amount in
the same description of coin was stolen from the chest of
drawers at Mrs. Lovett's house. A screw- driver was
also found in his house which corresponded with the
marks made upon the drawers and chests, which had
been forced open. The prisoner was asked for his shoes,
and gave them op, saying, " They will not fit any
marks." The police-officers observed him whispering to
his wife, and hang an apron up, which induced them to
inspect it, and on removing the apron they found a key,
which, being taken to Mrs. Lovett's, was found to: lock
and unlock the back door, by which the entry had been
effected.
The prisoner was found Guilty, and sentenced to ten
years' transportation.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Durham, July 26.
CROWN COURT..
Robert Ridley and John Ridley were indicted for setting
fire to a large quantity of gorse, in the parish of Stan-
hope, in this county.
Mr. INGHAM, who appeared for the prosecution, stated
that in the parish of Stanhope were large commons
covered with gorse, which was both useful and valuable
to the lord of the manor, who is the Bishop of Durham.
The prisoners turn their cattle on the common, as do
many others ; and in many cases the gorse has been set
fire to and destroyed by the commoners, with a view to
improve the herbage. This practice had gone on to so
great an extent that it became necessary to put a stop to
it ; and he believed that when it should be known that
it was unlawful, the offence would not be repeated.
The prisoners were, therefore, allowed to go, on en-
tering into recognizances to appear and receive judg-
ment when called upon.
William Kinsop and George Twaddle were indicted for
setting fire to three stacks of wheat, four stacks of oats,
and one stack of meslin, the property of Ann Lockey.
Mr. Ingham and Mr. Otter appeared for the prosecu-
tion and Mr. Mathews for the defence.
Two other persons, named Oxley and Toulson, were in
custody on the same charge, but were allowed to go, be-
fore the grand jury to give evidence against the
other two.
Cuthbert Lockey deposed that the prosecutor is his
mother, who is the lessee of two farms, upon one of which
the stacks which had been burned stood. She is up-
wards of 70 years of age, and he manages the farms for
her. On the evening of the 29th January last, between
seven and eight o'clock, the stacks were discovered to
be on fire, and the whole were destroyed. The wind
was high, and all efforts to stay the progress of the
flames were fruitless.
Other witnesses were called, who spoke to the time of
the commencement of the fire and its destructive cha-
racter.

Robert Oxley, one of the approvers, was then trans-
ferred from the dock to the witness-box, to be examined,
but after some time spent in his examination his evidence
was given in so unsatisfactory a manner, that the
Learned Judge ordered him to be taken back to prison.
Isaac Toulson, the other approver, was then called.
He stated that he and Oxley were walking together on
the evening of the fire, when Oxley said this is a fine
night for a blaze, and passing in the direction of the
stacks, about half a mile distant, said he wished they
were all on fire, it would light them home nicely, and
proposed to the prisoner to go and burn them. He
asked if they had any matches and paper. They said
no, and he gave them some. The prisoners went away
and he and Oxley took a turn, and came back again.
They looked and saw the blaze. The prisoners came back
and rejoined them, and said they had set the stacks on
fire, but they were a long time before they could get it to
go well. They afterwards went back to the fire, and the
witness and Oxley went away.
On cross-examination the witness stated that when
they were apprehended they were taken to the house
or premises of Mr. Hall, the superintendent of police,
where they were kept nine or ten days before they were
taken before a magistrate, each handcuffed to a police-
man. That during their stay there fiddling, fluting,
and dancing, were going on. On one occasion they had
a mock trial. One of the police, named Harrison, sat in
a chair as judge, with a nightcap on for a wig. Another
policeman was counseL There were two others as the
jury, and the prisoners were put on their trial. There
were also witnesses, who were examined and gave evi-
dence, after which the prisoners were called upon to say
what they had to state in their defence ; and were told
that they must say all, and then they would be sure to
be acquitted, and if they were acquitted there they
would be sure to be acquitted by the jury at Durham,
and that by this means a confession was obtained from
the prisoners.
James Harrison, who, it was stated, played the fiddle
to the judge, was put into the box, and appeared to be
considerably embarrassed. He denied the whole of the
statement, and swore that it was false, and that the pri-
soners confessed of their own free-will. He admitted,
however, that each prisoner was kept handcuffed to a
policeman till the time they were taken to the magistrates
and committed to prison.
Mr. Hall, the superintendent of police, said the pri-
soners were confined in his house, each handcuffed to an
officer. He had no prison in his district, and it was nine
days as to one, and ten days as to the other, before they
were taken before the magistrates. The magistrates
knew of the apprehension of the prisoners. He had been
in daity communication with them.
On cross-examination, he admitted that a report had
got abroad that there had been irregularities such as
had been described by Toulson, and he had inquired into
the fact, but could not find any foundation for it. No
other inquiry had been instituted upon the subject
beside that which he had made of the officers. He said
the confession of Twaddle was made voluntarily, and
that which he (Hall) had taken down from the pri-
soners' lips they had afterwards signed before the magis-
trates.
The confessions were then tendered in evidence. Mr.
MATHEWS objected to their being received, osi the
ground that they were tainted by the transactions which
had been spoken to, and which it was probable were not
entirely without foundation, or how could the report
have got abroad which led to the inquiry by Hall 2 Ile
submitted, too, that the keeping men in handcuffs nine
and ten days was placing them under restraint, calcu-
lated to depress the mind, and not leave it in that free
and voluntary state necessary to make a confession ad-
missible.
The statements made by the prisoners were put in
and read.
Mr. MATHEWS then addressed the jury on behalf of
the prisoners, and commented upon the conduct of the
police. Whatever might be the truth as to the mock
trial, it had been placed beyond doubt that the pri-
soners had been kept handcuffed nine and ten days with-
out a hearing, and if the jury thought that circumstance
and the other circumstances sufficient to cast suspicion
on the confessions, there was no other evidence against
the prisoners upon which they could be convicted.
The case being summed up, the jury returned a verd!ct
of Guilty against both, but strongly recommended them
to mercy, and expressed a wish that proceedings might
be instituted against Oxley.
The Learned JuDen said he would take their recom-
mendation into consideration, he thought it a very pro..
per one ; and he would also direct a bill to be preferred
against Oxley, as an accessory before the fact.
July 27.
George Bewick was indicted for a burglary in the
dwelling-house of the Right Hon. Lord Stourton, at
Hartlepool.
Mr. Ingham and Mr. Otter conducted the proseeution.
It appeared that in the early part of July the house
of the prosecutor was broken into and robbed of some
jewellery and plate. Shortly after this event the pri-
soner offered some of the stolen articles to a silversmith
in Sunderland, who observed that one of the rings had a
stone in it with a coronet and a motto, and objected to
buy it on that account. The prisoner said he would
crush the stone out and sell it for old gold. This led to
inquiry, and the prisoner was taken into custody. In his
statement to the Jury he said that one night he had been
out late, and on returning to his lodgings found himself
locked out. He then went to the Mow, and as he was
wandering about he saw a man sitting down, and was
going up to him, when the -man ran away, and when he
came to the place he found the articles in question.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty.

No fewer than 1,300 men have been hired -for the
lighting of the lamps in the Champs-Elysees, for the illumi-
nation of the 29th. They will commence at a given signal,
so that the lighting up i 6 expected to be almost simultapeous.
.-Parr Print. .

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