The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-02 00:00:00

_CIE stn LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING JANUARY 2, 1845.

name of the Pope when it serves their own purpose ;
and employ the shadow of his Holiness's authority
in matters indifferent to them ; but let the Pope only
show the least disposition to control them, and they
will pay as little respect to his mandates as to a
Queen's speech. This was proved in the case of
the veto controversy, more recently in the case of
Bishop O'Finan's deprivation, and in the cruel
persecution of Dr. Mulholland, who, when he ex-
hibited the Pope's order to restore him to his parish,
sealed with the seal of the Vatican, and counter-
signed by Cardinal Franzoni, the Pope's Secretary
of State—(we have seen the order such as we de-
scribe it)--had the document all but flung in his face.
It is perfectly untrue, therefore to say that the
Pope has more power in Ireland than in
Austria, Prussia, or France. The Pope has
no power whatever in Ireland.
The independent power of the Roman Catholic
Church in Ireland is an anomaly, but like the
other anomaly of the Pope's concordat with Pro-
testant Prussia, on which the chaages have been
so often rung, it is an anomaly inseparable from
the free constitution of the United Kingdom. It
is the simplest thing in the world for a despotic
Sovereign, who can by a word or a nod com-
mand the civil obedience of all his subjects in
all temporal things, to arrange with an ecclesiastic,
at home or abroad, the limits of spiritual and civil
submission, and this is just what is done by a con-
cordat. But how can the Government of a free
country, in which every man claims and enjoys
the right to think as pleases him, to believe as
pleases him, and to act as he thinks fit, make
any such arrangement ? France is just now
in the agony of the attempt to reconcile estab-
lished Roman Catholicism with civil liberty ;
and the symptoms of the experiment hitherto
developed, are the very reverse of encouraging.
The United States sought to get rid of all difficulties
of the kind by altogether rejecting religion from
their political constitutions ; but late events at
Baltimore and Philadelphia, and late alarms at New
York, seem to prove the inefficiency of this expe-
dient. To us it is as clear as any proposition
can be, that no free Government can ever
come to any satisfaetory and useful arrangement
with Rome, and, whatever our opinion of the ge-
neral policy of the papal see, we do not found this
conviction upon any offensive hypothesis, but upon
the consideration, that as under a free form of Go-
vernment, the clergy must be as free as the laity, a
Roman Catholic priest under such a Government, in-
vested as he is with more or less of personal power, will,
if perversely disposed, resist the Pope, by virtue of
his civil privileges, and evade obedience to the civil
Government in right of his quasi Roman citizen-
ship. Take the case of Ireland. Is it from the
Pope that the Roman Catholic priest who leades his
10,000 to a monster meeting, derives his power ?
does he even use the Pope's name to mustr
them ? Nothing of the kind ; his power is
the power of elaborate craft over gross ignorance—
the demagogue's power over all of whom he can terrify,
and all whom he can teach to believe in his skill
and in his sympathy with their wishes, over all in
whom he can inspire the passion of vindictive
hatred, and the hope of indulging that and other
gross or vile passions. No, it is not the Pope
that is to blame for the state of Ireland ; the
blame is due to our ancestors, who inflicted upon
an ignorant and barbarous country the fatal gift
of premature freedom, which al ways turns to real
slavery—such slavery as that in which the mass of
the Irish peasantry are now held by the ebligarchv
of priests.

room, they found a thirty-gallon still in work, with
several barrels, and about 120 gallons of wash. The
' prisoner proved to be a man named Frederick Har-
bridge, and the way in which his apparatus was fitted
up showed that he was no novice at his business. Oa
being ordered to the station-house, he asked for his hat,
which Phillips said he would look for, and some time
afterwards, when they had thoroughly inspected the pre-
mises, and the Excise officers had taken possession of the
apparatus, and throw away the wash, he found a hat
containing a handkerchief in the still-room, which he
took into his possession. The next day (Sunday), when
in the station-house, the prisoner asked for the hand-
kerchief, to tie round his head, which Phillips refused to
give up, alleging, as the reason for his refusal, that he
meant to bring it in evidence against him, to which the
other replied, " There is no necessity, as I shall admit
it." He was taken before the magistrates on Monday,
and, in default of paying 301., was sentenced to three
months' hard labour. We understand that llarbridge is
a native of Staffordshire, and rents a house in Birming-
ham, where his wife resides. He is a tinman and bra-
zier by trade, and possesses not a little knowledge
. of
practical chemistry. Of late he has been living at the
Black Swan.— Worcestershire Chronicle.
THE FREE CHURCH COLLEGE.—Lord Jeffrey has
addressed the following letter to the editor of the Scots-
man :—"Sir,—My attention having been called (for the
first time this morning) to a statement in your paper of
last Wednesday, with reference to a report of my having
been one of the munificent contributors to the projected
college of the Free Church, I am bound to disclaim the
credit of any such splendid liberality, and to state that I
have not subscribed anything to that undertaking. It
will be obliging in you, therefore, to mention the fact in
your next publication. I am, Sir, &c., F. JEFFREY.-
24, Morray-plare, Dec. 17.
COUPAR.-ANGUS.—MELANCHOLY AND FATAL Ac •
cluENT.—On the afternoon of Saturday, a melancholy
accident happened to a Mrs. Taylor, the wife of a mason,
in the village of Burrelton, in this neighbourhood. After
dinner time on Saturday, Mrs. Taylor, accompanied by
her daughter, a gir' of somewhat tender years, went to
a neighbouring plantation for the purpose of gathering
brushwood, which she had accomplished, and, in return-
ing home, she had occasion to get over a paling, and
while in the act of doing so, and after she bad got over
herself, the load remained on the other side, and there
being a noose on the string, which was over her head,
she swung on the one side and the load on the other,
and was thus strangled. The girl observing the predi-
cament in which her mother was placed, made all pos-
. ible haste for assistance; but, ere any person had ar-
rived, the vital spark had fled.—Ediaburgh Advertiser.
SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE. Saturday week, a
lady, who resides in Elderslie, left Paisley by,the second
class railway train, at half-past one o'clock, for Glasgow.
After passing through the tunnel at Arkleston, she dis-
covered that she had been robbed, by her pocket being
cut near the bottom, and about fifteen shillings abstracted. ,
All the persons present being, to appearance, most
respectable, it never occurred to her that any of them
could be the perpetrators; but on stating the circum-
stance to her fellow-passengers, one of the gentlemen
suggested that the whole party should be taken to the
station-house and undergo an examination. Circum-
stances led the inspector to suspect that the person who
sat next her in the carriage was the guilty person. He
was remitted back to Paisley gaol, and has been ex-
amined by the Procurator Fiscal. He still remains in
custody. He was most respectably attired, had a gold
watch, gold rings on his fingers, and about 20L in gold
and silver in his pockets.—Glasgow Argus.
MISCONDUCT IN CHURCH.—A boy named Henry
Brown, apprentice to Mr. Baalam, carpenter, of Col-
chester, was on Thursday charged with wilfully disturb.
ing the congregation of St. Peter's Church by his mis-
conduct on Thursday evening last. Richard Norman,
the organ-blower, stated that the defendant was in a pew
near him, and immediately upon Mr. Carr giving out
his text, "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way,"
he said, in rather a loud voice, "I wish you might."
He then came behind the organ, and commenced blow-
ing the bellows violently, with other acts of misconduct,
tending to disturb and annoy the congregation. The
defendant promised not to offend again, and after a se-
vere reprimand from the Bench, and paying the ex-
penses (Ss. 6d.) he was discharged.

CORONERS' INQUESTS.
COMMITTAL OF A DRUGGIST FOR MANSLAUGHTER,
—On Tuesday, Mr. Wakley, M.P., held an adjourned in
quest at the King's Arms, Rawstorne-street, Clerken-
well, on the body of William Watts, aged 24, a cab
driver, lately residing at 4, Brewer-street.
Elizabeth Watts, widow of deceased, stated that her
husband complained of a cold on the 7th instant, and
that he went to Mr. Watkins, draggle, Myddelton-
street, to purchase two ounces of Epsom salts. After he
had purchased the Epsom salts he observed in the shop
circular that there were tasteless salts, and asked the
shopman to take back the Epsom salts and give him one
ounce of the tasteless salts instead. The shopman com-
plied, as he imagined, and he (her husband) upon re-
turning home melted them in warm water and drank
them. His face instantly became as red as fire, and he
exclaimed that he was on fire inside, and that he was
poisoned. Mr. Broad, surgeon, Goswell-road, was in-
stantly sent for, who, having applied the necessary re-
medies, pronounced that he had taken some deleterious
staff. Her husband, who had previously enjoyed robust
health, never afterwards left his bed, where he remainee
in the most excruciating agony until his death, on thd
16th instant.

Mr. Broad, surgeon, examined—About live o'clock on
the evening of the 7th inst. he attended deceased, who
was in great agony and extremely sick. He complained
as suffering from the effects of the oil of vitriol. Wit-
ness tested the drains that remained in the cup, and
found deceased had taken tartaric acid. He applied
every remedy, with the exception of the stomach pump,
that his experience could suggest, but without avail, as
the vomiting, pains, &c., continued unabated. Not
wishing to depend upon himself, he called in Dr. Major,
who pronounced it to be a hopeless case. He attended
to deceased until the Wednesday preceding his death,
which took place on the following Monday. Mr.
Watkins, who wished him to attend deceased, acknow-
ledged the fatal mistake.

By
a juror— He did not use the stomach pump, because
deceased's throat was so inflamed he could not introduce
it. When he vomited deceased said that he felt as if he
threw up the oil of vitriol. Dr. Major approved of wit-
ness's treatment of deceased.

Mr. Gill, surgeon, White Lion-street, Islington,
performed a post mertem examination. The body,
with the exception of the lips, which were excoriated,
showed no external injury. The stomach and the
whole intestinal canal were much inflamed, as were
also the mucous membrane, and they were exter-
nally of a purple red colour. After describing other
appearances of the body, the witness said that the
result of the examination, and of the evidence he heard
that day, led him to the conclusion that the deceased
died from the effects of some poisonous matter or cor-
rosive acid, such as " tartaric acid ;" but when he stated
that the " tartaric acid" was the cause, he said so as he
understood that that was the acid which had been
administered.

The CORONER, having duly cautioned the Messr9.
Watkins, asked them whether they admitted having sold
the tartaric acid in mistake to deceased ?

Several jurors—Yes, they have admitted this on the
rat day.
Mr. Watkins, sen.—l aJmit that it was sold iu my
shop. _ _ _

I r. Watkins, jun.—l cannot deny having made the
mistake.

CORONER (addressing Messrs. Watkins)—You had
better retire, and consider what reparation you can make
the widow fur the loss you have inflicted upon her.
Messrs. Watkins retired, and after a short absence
returned, when they said that their means would not
allow them to do more than pay the medical expenses
consequent upon the melancholy catastrophe.
Mrs. Watts recalled—All she received from Mr. Wat-
kins amounted to 26., which he gave her mother when
she informed him of their poverty. She had obtained
further assistance from the parish.
The CORONER recapitulated the evidence at great
length, and
The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict
of Manslaughter against Charles Watkins, jun.
The CORONER wrote his committal, and ho was con-
veyed to gaol.
The jury afterwards raised a subscription on behalf
of the widow.

DEATH IN THE QUEEN'S Patsom.—Yesterday after-
noon Mr. William Payne held an inquest in the Queen's
Prison, upon the body of Edward Bluck, aged 69 years,
a prisoner.

Mary Bluck, the deceased's widow, said that her hus-
band was admitted into that prison on the 20th of
February, 1826. He was formerly a farmer, and during
the time he had been under confinement he received
every attention from the prison atithoritie3, and wanted
for nothing.

Mr. Edward Solomons said that he could have arranged
with his creditors, in order that the deceased might have
been released, but he objected to his doing so, and said
that if he left the prison he did not know what he should
do for a living.
Verdict—" Natural death."

THE MURDER AND SUICIDE
AT ASIIFORD.

Immediately after the verdict of fe- lo de se was re-
turned by the jury, Mr. Wakley handed to the con-
stable his warrant for the interment of the deceased,
that referring to the man specifying that he should
he buried between the hours of nine and twelve
o'clock at night, and Nv i t hout any funeral ceremony.
The unhappy woman was buried on Sunday after-
noon, and her remains were followed to the grave by
a vast concourse of persons, who appeared to take a
deep interest in the melancholy affair. The mur-
derer was not buried until Monday night, about ten
o'clock, in the presence of Messrs. Hignet and Mer-
rick, the churchwardens of Ashford, the constable,
and a few other persons, the only relative of the de-
ceased that was present being his mother. The place
that was selected for the grave was a corner of
the churchyard which has before been the recep-
tacle of the remains of two persons who some
thirty years since destroyed themselves, and against
whom verdicts offelo de se were returned, and dur •
ing the whole period that has sinoe elapsed there has
not been a single suicide in the parish. One of the
men referred to was a master butcher, named Lewis,
who carried on a respectable business at Ashford, but
was suspected of sheep-stealing, and was taken into
custody on the char', e, but while at the public-house
awaiting the time to be examined before a magistrate,
he asked permission to leave the _room for a short
time, and the moment he got into the passage he
drew a knife from his pocket and cut his throat in such
a dreadful manner that he died almost immediately.
The other case was that of an Qx.ccsoliari in Wales,

named Davis, who had been ordered up to London by
the Commissioners to be reprimanded for some mis-
conduct. It appeared that the circumstance prved
LI pen his mind, and he destroye4ihimP,ir in a corn &id
at Ashford by opening veins in different parts of his
body, and then cutting his throat. The remains of the
miserable murderer and suicide were laid by the side
of these companions in crime. When the coffin had
been lowered into the grave, the mother looked on it
for the last time, and exclaimed, " Ah, my boy, they
have buried you like a dog; but, never mind, God
will forgive you, and take you to heaven !" She
then walked away, apparently very little concerned at
what had taken place, or the awful ceremony she had
' just witnessed. Since the inquest every inquiry has
been made to endeavour to ascertain where the de-
! ceased man had obtained the poison, which was the
cause of his death, but hitherto without success. The
little boy and girl are perfectly recovered, and they
have since been removed to the Brentford Union, to
which they belong.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
MANSION-HOUSE.

A young man, named Thomas Smith, was brought
before the Lord Mayor, charged under the following
circumstances :

Henry Cabrow, a person in the employmell. of
Messrs. Price and Co., perfumers, stated that th“ ie-
fendant called at the shop at a little after seven o'clock
on Tuesday morning, and asked for Mr. Price. Al-
though it was intimated to him that Mr. Price was
not in the way, and a request was made of. him to
call at ten o'clock in the morning, at which time he
could see the gentleman, he insisted upon remaining
in the shop, and declared that he would not leave it
until he could communicate with Mr. Price. As the
conduct of the defendant was calculated to impede
the business of the shop, witness called a policeman
and gave him into the custody of that officer.
The LORD MAYOR—WeII, defendant, what have
you to say to this charge of interrupting the business
of the shop?—The defendant said that a friend of his
had sold a horse to Mr. Price, for which another horse
and a cheque for the difference, amounting to, as we
understood, 501., was to be given by that gentle-
man, and he (defendant) called at the time appointed
at the house of the purchaser with .the horse, at the
desire of the seller. Upon going to the house he saw
Mr. Price from the street in the shop, and he en-
tered, and, upon inquiring, was told by a young lady
that Mr. Price was not within. He observed to her
that he had seen Mr. Price in the shop a little while
before, and that the gentleman had promised to leave
a cheque for him, and he would wait. The shopman
then told me to sit down, and immediately went to a
person at the back part to communicate something.
Upon his return the shopman told him he could not
stay there; and when he said he should wait for
what he was entitled to receive, the shopman, who
had before invited him to sit down, called a police-
man and gave him into custody, and he and the
horse were taken together.
The LORD MAYOR (to the shopman)—Who called
you at the back of the shop ? The shopmait--I don't
consider that I am bound to answer that question,
my Lord.
The LORD MAYOR—You must answer, Sir.
The shopman—Miss Price told me to go there.
The Loan MAYOR—Answer me, Sir. Was it
Mr. Price that called you ? You are upon your
oath. The shopman—lt was Mr. Price, my Lord.
The LORD MAYOR—I discharge the defendant.

The shopman—My Lord---
The LORD MAYOR—There is no occasion for more
words. Defendant, you are discharged.
A female of respectable appearan:e, but appeari.g
to labour under much mental distress, who stated her
name to be Hannah Haines, was charged with having
contemplated self-destruction.
One of the City police stated that he found the
prisoner in the neighbourhood of the river Thames in
a deplorable state of mind, and when he inquired the
cause of her distress, she stated that her husband had
deserted her, and robbed her of all her clothes, and
taken away with him the servant-maid ; that she had
stru2gled with adversity and actually with starvation,
until that day, when her landlord threatened to seize
what trifling matters of furniture she had for rent,
amounting to 3s. 9d., and that she had come to the
place in which she was apprehended for the purpose
of putting an end to her existence. The witness
added that she had given to him the names of very
respectable relations of her husband, and their sd-
dresses, and seemed desirous, upon his suggestio:, ru
seek the humane interference of the Lord Mayor.
The LORD MAYOR—What do you say, prisoner ?
The prisoner—l am plunged, my Lord, into the
deepest poverty and distress by the conduct of my
husband. He sold the business which he had been
carrying on, and abandoned me twelve months ago,
taking with him and his paramour everything of the
least value. He had commenced the world with
property and good expectations, equal, I believe, to
those of the rest of his family, but his prodigality de-
stroyed all.
The LORD MAYOR—I perceive that the names to
which you have referred are respectable, and I am
surprised that you should contemplate so awful a
crime as self-murder. Do you suppose that any of
those individuals will be willing to serve you ? The
prisoner—I think they would not refuse, my Lord.
Those of my own family who are within my reach are
poor, with large families.
The LORD MAYOR—You shall be taken care of by
the matron at the Compter until Friday, and, in the
meantime, I shall cause inquiries to be made into
the particulars of your statement.
The prisoner expressed her gratitude in a few broken
but intelligible phrases.
BOW-STREET.

STEALING IN A DWELLING-HOUSE.—A young man
named John Oxford, was brought before Mr. Twyford,
charged with stealing a silver watch and a quantity of
wearing apparel from the house of Mr. Joseph Jewel,
17, Alfred-street, Tottenham-court-road, under the fol-
lowing circumstances :
It appeared from the statement of the prosecutor's
wife, that at about half-past seven o'clock on Tuesday
evening her brother paid her a visit, and on showing him
over the house she attempted to open the door of the
back parlour, but finding some obstruction from the in-
side, she used more exertion and forced it in, when she
found the prisoner staring her full ie the face. She im-
mediately called him to account how he dared to enter
her house, and her brother coming to her assistance, the
prisoner was brought into the front parlour, until a con-
stable could be sent for, when he fell upon his knees and
prayed that he might be forgiven and liberated. On
searching the back parlour it was discovered that the
prisoner htei lighted a taper on the mantelpiece, and had
filled a large black bag he had brought with him with
every portable article in the room, consisting of shirts,
dresses, bed furniture, trousers, and a flageolet, which
had been taken from a chest of drawers, together with a
mantle and dress that hung behind the door. The silver
watch was subsequently found concealed in the bed, and,
on the arrival of the constable, he found eight skeleton
keys and a quantity of lucifer matches upon the pri-
soner's person.
In answer to the charge, the prisoner said the servant
girl having gone for beer, left the street door open,
which enabled him to enter the premises, and to act in
the manner described. He was fully committed to New •
gate for trial.
CHARGE OF STABBlNG.—Laurence Wright, a shoe-
maker, was charged with stabbing Joseph John Corn-
wall, his landlord, in the temple, with a case knife.
The complainant stated that the prisoner was his
lodger, in Ship-yard. for about two months, and occa-
sionally worked for him. On Tuesday morning his wife
went into the room for the purpose of cleaning it, which
the defendant objected to in such terms as to compel her
to leave the place. In the course of the day, understan:!-
ing that some articles of furniture had been removed,
went to the room, thinking the defendant was out, to
ascertain if such was the case, and finding him there, he
told him, as he had conducted himself in such a manner
towards his wife, ho should in future cease to occupy
the room, and must seek an apartment elsewhere; when
he instantly seized a knife, similar to that produced,
from the table, and rushing at him, drove it into his
temple, withi❑ the eighth of an inch of his left eye, from
the effects of which he instantly fell down stairs, and
was conveyed in an exhausted state to King's College
Hospital.
Mr. Cannon, house surgeon of the hospital, proved
that shortly before nine o'clock the complainant was
brought in, having a punctured wound about an inch
deep, inflicted with some sharp instrument, near the
ot bit of the left eye, and as it was of a dangerous cha-
racter he considered it necessary lie should still remain
in the house under medical care.
The constable who was called in said he found the
defendant in the room, and he instantly admitted having
committed the offence, at the same time pointing to the
knife produced, which lay on the table, as being the in-
strument he had made use of, adding that he would re-
peat the same if the complainant made a similar attack
upon him, which he repeated at the station-house. •
The defendant accounted for his conduct, by saying
that the complainant struck him on the previous night
because he refused to allow his wife to dash a quantity
of water on the floor of his room, as he was in a delicate
state of health, in consequence of having some of his
ribs broken when he was in the army, from which he was
discharged and then entered the police force, which he
was also obliged to leave from ill health. When the corn- i
plainant, who was well skilled in the art of " self-de-
fence," entered the room he put himself in a fighting
attitude, threatening to throw him out of the house, al-
though he owed no rent, and upon his putting his threats
into execution he seized a weapon (not the knife pro-
duced)
which he used in his trade, and defended himself
in the best manner he could.
Mr. TWYPORD said the charge was of too serious a
nature for him to deal with in a summary manner, and
in order to enable the surgeon to give a decisive opinion
on a future day, he should order the defendant to be re-
manded for that purpose.

MARLIIOItOUGII-STREET.
Mr. Joseph Salomons, of No. 7, Windmill-street, Fitz-
roy-square, charged Itobtrt Franklyn with having as-
saulted him, created a disturbance at his house, and
threatened to do him at a future time some bodily harm.
Mr. Salomons said the defendant, who was one of his
late clients, came ou Tuesday afternoon to his house,
and though he had received a message left for him with
the clerk, he insisted on obtaining admission into the
Office, and staying there until he got some money. In

effecting his entrance, the defendant struck him on the
chest, and when he did get into the office, began using
threats and gr..ss nbusP, him (complainant') a
scoundrel, a s;%indier, and a rLts.2al., and ..swearing that
vtould tear out his - guts. Cowplaivant begged
the defendant to go away peaceably, but the defendant
declared he would stay and smoke his pipe there, and
unless dragged out he would not leave the place until
he got some money, for money he had come for, and
money he would have. It was necessary to send for the
assistance of the police. The complainant said he was
sorry to have occasion to appear against a person fur
whom he had transacted business, but as the defendant
had used threats of vengeance at some future time, he
had found it necessary to press the charge.
The defendant said the complainant had conducted a
suit for him, and had received all the money recovered,
not a farthing of which would he refund, either to him or
to the witnesses for their expenses.
An old man got into the box and said he believed the
defendant's story was true, for he had been obliged to
get a judge's writ against Mr. Salomons.
Mr. Salomons said he had his bill of costs and legal
charges to show how the money had been disposed of.
At all events, if the defendant thought he was wronged,
there was a very easy remedy which he might &clop%
Mr. MALTBY fined the prisoner 3/., or one m,m (Lk's im-
prisonment._

- Edward Morgan and John Attwood were L:harged with
having committed a violent assault on Thomas Redford,
one of the constablef. it the Princess's 'rhea:, 0.
The constable said the prisoners wanted to pay but
threepence for admission into the gallery, and because
refused they caused a disturbance. He was called to re-
move them, when he was violently assaulted by Morgan,
who struck him, bit a piece out of his finger, and threw
him down. Attewood assisted Morgan in trying to get
away, and was also very violent.
The prisoners said they offered copper at first, but
afterwards they paid a shilling, and received two checks,
one of which was still in Attwood's possession.
The money-taker said he could not say whether the
defendants paid or not.
_ _ _

Mr. MALTBY fined Morgan 4/., or six weeks' imprison.
ment, and Attwood 305., or 21 days.
GLERKEIV WELL.
.....

AURGLARY.—Junzes Horne was charged with burglari-
dEsly entering the house of Mr. John Cox, No. 9, Gib-
son-square, and stealing therefrom a large quantity of
plate, consisting of silver forks, spoons, goblets, ewers, &c.
The evidence went to show that on Friday night last
the plate was deposited in the locker in the parlour. The
prosecutor and Mrs. Cox returned home between eleven
and twelve o'clock, examined the windows, and found
the shutters secured. On the following (Saturday)
morning the servant, on entering the parlour, found
that the window had been broken open, and that the
plate was missing. Early on the same morning, police-
constable Miles, 110 N, met the prisoner, carrying a
bundle, in Maiden lane, which he (the prisoner), upon
being interrogated, said was a piece of beef that he was
carrying home. The constable, however, insisting on
knowing the contents of the bag, he threw it down and
attempted to run away, but was arrested. '['he bag,
which was nearly full, contained the stolen property.
Mrs. Cox and Mary Skelton (her servant) having
identified the plate, the prisoner, who reserved his de-
fence, was fully committed for trial to the Old Bailey.
SUPPOSED INFANTICIDE.—Frances Holmes was charged
with concealing the birth of her child.
The prisoner was in the service of Mr. Jay, a solicitor,
residing in Harper street, Red Lion-squ-,re, and her
pregnancy was noticed by some of her yellow s.,rva,ts.
On the 16th ultimo the body of a full-grown child, much
lacerated, was found in a water closet in Mr. Jay's
house. Mr. Jay at once gave information of the fact to
the police. The prisoner admitted that she had given
birth to the child and placed it there, but alleged that it
was born dead. She has been since the 14th in St.
Giles's workhouse, and during a great portion of the
time was dangerously ill.
Mr. COMBE decided on committing the prisoner
for trial.

soner making his
doing to the child
ui-,

appearance she asked him
? HP replied tit:itt it wq,,

~i.Yl _ ~

what he W 913

repiy to the siagistrate's question, toe witness said
she had never heard the child's mother ill-use him. On
the contrary, heard her once beg of the prisoner to desist
from ill-using the child. Witness, however, thought she
could have very little of the feelings of a mother about
her to allow her unfortunate offspring to be treated in so
cruel a ma •ne. .
Four oth,:r witnesses corroborated the evidence of the
last witness in every particular. One of them, a trades,
man who lives opposite the prisoner, added that one day
he heard a violent screaming issue from Pratt's house, and
on hurrying across, and looking through the window, he
saw the child hanging from the top bannister by a rope,
with a noose round his neck, and his feet about six
inches from the ground. He instantly forced open the
window sufficiently to put in a lad who was its his em-
ployment, and who cut the child down. The witness
added, that he did not impute to the prisoner or the
others in the house the dreadful crime of attempting to
hang the little fellow, but his impression was that he had
been tied to the top bannister, and by endeavouring to
relieve himself had got into the position in which he had
before described, and had he not been observed so soon,
his death in a few moments must have been the conse-
quence. _

Mr. HENRY observed that the witness had put a very
charitable construction upon the act.
The prisoner in reply to the charge, declared that the
greater part of what the witnesses had atated was false,
and wished to have the child examined.

Mr. HENRY observed that the witnesses had given
their evidence in such a way as must convince every
person of their truthfulness. They could have no motive
for coming forward as they did, except one, namely, that
of humanity ; and their conduct reflected so much credit
upon them, that he would order them five shillings each,
for their loss of time in attending.
The prisoner again requested that the child should be
examined, upon which Mr. Henry remarked that he had
examined the poor child, who was really in a shocking
state, and what he said fully confirmed the evidence of
the witnesses.

Mr. HENRY, addressing Dunn,,one of the beadles of
Lambeth, said the case was one which should be prose-
cuted by the parish, and he should therefore request
that the vestry-clerk should be informed of the pat ti-
culars, with a view of prosecuting the prisoner at the
session. To afford the necessary time for this, he should
remand the prisoner until Monday next.
The prisoner was accordingly remanded.
THAMES POLICE.

W9RKING AN ILLICIT STILL.—Two young men,
brothers, named Edward and William Smith, were
charged with working an illicit still, in Frederick-
place, Bedford-street, Stepney.
Colley Atkinson Davis, an ()Seer of Excise, stated
that from information which he received, he watched the
house, No. 11, Frederick-place, about nine o'clock last
night, and saw the two prisoners ge into it. He waited
awhile, and having stationed a censtabia and wanner
Excise offs •er. named Pearse, to watch in the front, he
succeeded in effecting an entrance at the beck door. On
searching the place, he found a copp,r still in the
kitchen. It had recently been worked, and the end of the
worm tasted of spirits. The prisoners were out then, so
he secreted himself in the front parlour, and shortly after
heard x low knock at the front 'h No answer
lying. returned, tee deer aas opened from the out:ide
with s key, and the two prisoners entered. He size 4
the elder prisoner, Edward, on which a struggle en-
sued, and they both rolled into the street. William, who
ran on, was arrested by the constable and the other
officer. In the pockets of each there were bladders, still
Wet, strongly smelling of spirit, and hooks containing
memoranda of materials used in distillatien. The 1-it ad
of a button. which corre,ponded with those on the Offer
prisoner's coat, was found on the still, and such a one
was mi.,:sing from the back of the coat. A deposit b.trik
book in the narne of Richard Thompson, was found on
the elder prisoner. There were seventy :;•ellons of
wash on the premises, which Davis subsequently
worked off, and it produced six gallons of spirit 20 de-
grees above proof.
Pearse and the constable confirmed the evidence as far
as they were concerned in the t,aiisaction.
The prisoners boldly denied that they had any con-
nexion with the still, and insisted that they had not been
in the house at all. The officer, they said, pounced out
on them as the) were passing by the door, and they were
taken on a groundless suspicion.
Mr. BRODEICLP thought otherwise, and ordered them
to pay a tine of 301. each, or he eummitted to hard labour
for three calendar months.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]
_ _

ANNUAL REPORT of the BRITISH
COLLEGE OF HEALTH, NEW-ROAD,
LONDON, FOR 1844.