The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-06 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.

OLD COURT.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)

MAGISTERIAL NEGLECT. The following case is
strongly illustrative of the loose manner in which depo-
sitions are taken in the Police Courts, and the little reli-
ance that can be placed on their accuracy.
Peter Welch, printer, aged 17, was placed at the bar,
charged with stealing 56 yards of bed-ticking, value 31.,
the property of Charles Thompson.
The firstwitness called was the shopman of the bedding
wareh'ouse from which the ticking was alleged to have
been stolen. lie stated that the name of his master was
Rickards, and that he knew nothiag about any person
named Charles Thompson.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—Why, in your deposition before
the Magistrate, you state that you were in the employ of
Charles Thompson. Witness—l told the Magistrate that
I believed my master's name to be Rickards, and that I
knew nothing about Thompson. I understood that I said
the ticking was the property of my master.
Mr. Baron GUNNEY—Then you know nothing about
any Charles Thompson? Witness—No, my Lord.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—CaII the next witness ; and let
us see if he knows any thing about Charles Thompson.
The next witness was the policeman, who appeared to
be equally ignorant of the existence of any C. Thompson.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—TeII the Magistrate that there
does not appear to be any such person as Charles
Thompson connected with this case.
The Jury, under the direction of the Learned Judge,
immediately acquitted the prisoner.
It appears from the calendar that the prisoner was com-
mitted on the 23d December, by. J. B. Greenwood, Esq.
ANOTHER L4rsrs.—Joseph Clarke and Henry Clarke
were indicted for stealing certain goods, the property of
William Mills and another.

On the trial it appeared that Mr. Mills had no partner.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—Who gave orders to have the in-
dictment prepared at Mr. Clarke's office ?
A City policeman stepped into the box and said ho had
done so. . _

Mr. Baron GiraNEY—What directions did you give?
Witness—That they should be indicted for stealing the
goods of William Mills. I said nothing about any partner.
Mr. Justice WicirrmAN said that under the circum-
stances it was the duty of the Jury to acquit the pri-
soners, which they accordingly did. The Court, how-
ever, ordered both the prisoners, and also the prisoner
Peter Welch, to be remanded until next session and in
the meantime gave directions to have proper indictments
preferred against them.
TRIAL OF A LASCAR.— ---- Russell, a lascar, was
placed at the bar, charged with feloniously cutting and
wounding Abraham, with intent to do him some
grievous bodily harm. The prisoner, who was attired in
a pilot coat, with a large fur collar, which was closely
buttoned up to the chin, surveyed the Court with a look
of the most intense curiosity and satisfaction, uniningled,
however, with any thing like an appearance of appre-
hension or anxiety ; he seemed, in fact, to regard the
whole proceeding as an exhibition got up for his
own especial amusement. When brought up to plead
in the morning, on which occasion Mr. Sheriff
RogCrs addressed a few words to him in Hindostanee,
he appeared attired in a turban. He now, however,
stood at the bar bareheaded.

An interpreter having been sworn,
The first witness, who was attired in a turban, was
sworn on the Koran. He said his name was Abraham,
and that he belonged to the ship Fort William. The
prisoner was his shipmate. Prisoner had struck
him when he was on board ship in the East
India Docks. Witness was under the forecastle
when Russell gave him five dollars. Russell was en-
trusted to give out money. Witness gave three of the
dollars to one of the topmen, and with two dollars bought
some clothes of the Serang. The Serang told witness to
give another man two dollars, but he had no more. The
prisoner was the Serang. Witness said he had no more
to!, i • Prisoner said he must give, and struck him with
the hooka produced on the forehead. It bled, and hurt
him much. He had done nothing to the prisoner to
make him do it.. The hooka was produced in Court, and
appeared rather a formidable instrument.
Cross-examined by the Prisoner, through the Inter-
preter—Witness was clerk to the Serang (the prisoner).
Prisoner had given him 90 dollars before.
Mr. Baron GURNEY-Interpreter, tell the prisoner the
question is not about the dollars, but about striking him
with the lu.oka.

The Interpreter (after communicating with the pri-
soner)—lle says that he did not wish to break his head.
Mahomet Greatoo, sworn upon the Koran, and exa-
mined through the medium of the interpreter, deposed
that he saw the blow given with the hooka by Russell,
and that Abraham had done nothing to Russell pre-
viously.
The constable of the East India Docks deposed to
taking the prisoner into custody on board the Fort

Mr. Blew, a surgeon, described the nature of the in-
jury the prosecutor had received.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—lnterpreter, ask him if he has
anything to say in his defence.
The interpreter, after communicating with the pri-
soner, said, he says he has nothing to say.
Mr. Baron GURNEY summed up, and

The Jury found him guilty of a common assault.
The Surgeon of the ship said that the prisoner as
Serang was a man whose presence was required on
board the ship. lie was the chief and manager of the
native crew.

Mr. Baron GURNEY sentenced him to be imprisone,

for one week.

REVERSIONARY INTEREST SO-
CIETY.—(THIS DAY.)
A meeting of the Proprietors of this Society was held
this day, at their Office, King's Arms-yard, Coleman-
stret t, fur the purpose of electing a new Director. One
of our reporters attended, but he was not admitted to
the meeting, as he was told it was entirely private.

NORTHERN AND EASTERN RAIL-
WAY COMPANY.—(THIS DAY.)
A general meeting of the Shareholders in this Com-
pany was held this day, at the London Tavern, for the
purpose of confirming the forfeiture of certain shares on
which calls had not been paid.
W. Cat SHAY, Esq., took the chair, and said he was
happy to inform them that there were only fifty Shares
to be forfeited, all the others previously declared for-
f,ited having been redeemed. He then called upon some
Proprietor.to move a resolution, confirming the forfeiture
of the Shares.
Mr. BULT moved, and Mr. SMALE seconded, the reso-
lution, declaring the,:said shares to be forfeited to the
Company, and empowering the Directors to dispose
of them.
Mr. BELL inquired if the shares would be sold in the
market?
The CII.kIRMAN said the Act of Parliament empow-
ered them to sell them in any way they thought best.
The motion was put and carried.
Mr. HARVEY said the London and Birmingham Rail-
way had set them an example worthy of their adoption,
which was that of stating the probable amount of divi-
dend at the next distribution.
The CHAIRMAN said he should be sorry to state any-
thing which he wasnot certain of. They had not made
out the year's accounts, but they should be happy to
allow any gentleman to go into the office and inspect the
books. He knew nothing with respect to that railway
which he would not communicate to any individual.
Mr. WILLIAMS made an application to the meeting
respecting the payment of shares, but it was decided
that the subject could not be taken into consideration at
that meeting. The Hon. Gentleman also wished that
the forfeited shares should not be disposed of till
June, upon which a short conversation arose
but it was decided that the subject could not be enter-
tained except at a meeting called for the purpose.
A. PROPRIETOR inquired what portion of the 240,000/.
granted at the last meeting had been raised ?
The CHAIRMAN said that about.6B,oool. had been raised.
Some conversation then arose as to the propriety of
at once connuencing the line to Hertford and Ware,
which nill be fully discussed at th 2 next general annual
meeting of the Company, which is to be held in February
next.

A Paw-nu:Ton inquired when the railway would be
opened throughout ?
The CHAIRMAN said he had consulted Mr. Veto, and
he had statrd that it ‘Tould be finished in April next.
In answer to a question from a Shareholder,
The CHAIRMAN said that the Company could not carry
goods yet, as accommodation had not been providc4.
HARvEY said that with respect to the prevention
of accidents on thZ railway, he wished to inquire if the
plan of placing an empty carriage next the engine, and
also one bAind, had b. an adopted? He thought it might
be desirable that some means should be adopted to pre-
the recurrence of accidents, in
vent, as far as possible,
order to give confidence to the public.
The CHAIRMAN said he did not think empty carriages
placed in the manner described would prevent accidents.
Mr. limixatito said that frequently stage coaches were
placed between the passenger carriages and the engine.
He was happy to say that thip line of railway was less
liable to accidents than any other, as there were no
cuttings or embankments. They had never had an acci-
dent yet.
The CHAIRMA2i—Don't toast,. Mr. Kinnaird.-= (A'