The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-20 00:00:00

MILITARY SAVINGS BANKS.

CHARGE OF MURDER ON BOARD
THE SHIP TORY.
EXAMINATION OF CAPTAIN JOHNSTONE.
On Tuesday, George Johnstone, late master of the ship Tory,
from Hong-Kong, was brought before Mr. Broderip, at the
Thames Police-court, charged with the wilful murder of
Thomas Reason, a seaman, on the high seas, within the juris-
diction of the Admiralty of England.
The prisoner is rather above the middle size, thirty five
years of age, of florid complexion, and rather sunburnt. He
is a man reckless appearance and manners, and seemed to
treat the serious charge against him with indifference.
"Mr. Pelham appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Hum-
phries, of Newgate-street, attended for the prisoner, who
was apprehended on Monday evening by Inspector Evans, of
the Thames police, and lodged in the station-house of the
Thames division. A bed was made up for him in the lock-
up, and two men sat up with him. He passed a very restless
night, and frequently groaned aloud. On the charge being
made known to him, he denied that he had been guilty of
murder. Soon afterwards he had an interview with his wife,
and gave utterance to a wish that he was dead. He is a
native of Scotland, and is very respectably connected.
It will be recollected that sixteen of the crew were charged
by Captain Johnstone with mutiny on Wednesday last, and
they stand remanded until this day. When Mr. Clarkson,
counsel for the 'prosecution, first mentioned the case to the
magistrate, he said that three men hsd been killed on board
—Rambert and Mars, the first and second mates, and an able
seaman, named Reason. The Learned Counsel intimated
that Reason bad been poisoned. Singularly enough, the cap-
tain, in his long and very unconnected narrative, alluded to
the deaths of Rambert and Mars, but he never alluded to
Reason, except that he had put him in irons, with two
others, when the ship was near the Island of Ascension, and
subsequently released him. Some of the prisoners, in de-
scribing the appalling scenes of bloodshed on board, and the
savageness of the captain after passing the Island of Ascen-
sion, said that Reason was one of those who had fallen a vic-
tim to the ferocity of the captain, and that he cut him in a
brutal manner with a sword about the head and body. Their
statement was partially confirmed by Sinclair, the carpenter,
a witness for the prosecution, who said he had seen the cap-
tain strike Reason several times with a sword in various parts
of the body, but he could not say whether he inflicted more
than one wound. The evidence given yesterday will be seen
to throw additional light on the transaction.
On the prisoner being placed in the felon's dock, the most
lively interest was manifested by the people in the Court,
which was crowded to excess. It was expected that the pri-
soner would be arraigned for three murders, but in the charge
as entered in the police-sheet he stood accused of the wilful
murder of Thomas Reason only.
Mr. Humphries said he had been retained by some
friends of the prisoner to defend him, a fact of which he
was probably not aware, for he had not yet communicated
with him.
James Flower, a sailor boy, Was then sworn. He is one
of the apprentices of the ship, and said he recollected the
death of Reason, but he did not know the date. The de-
ceased expired one night in the cabin. Before he went into
the cabin, he heard Reason say, "Spare me, captain, spare
me."

The captain afterwards spoke to Thomas Lee and Thomas
Reason, but witness did not hear what was said.
The prisoner here beckoned Mr. Humphries, and remarked
that the witness was quite mad.
Witness, in continuation—The captain again called for
William Mars, and spoke to him, but he did not recollect the
words. The captain then struck William Mars, but he could
not say what the blow was with. After the blow blood
flowed from Mars. Mars was after this put in irons by the
orders of the captain. He was in irons about three-quarters
of an hour, and was then called down into the cabin. Wit-
ness heard some words, but could not tell what they were,
not being there. He was outside, on the companion-way.
Mars was again sent up. and placed in irons on the main
hatch. He remained there about three-quarters of an hour.
He was then called down again into the larboard after cabin.
Witness was in this cabin at the time. Mars was

handcuffed. The captain struck him with a cutlass, and
blood flowed in consequence. Mars was then ordered
upon deck, and placed upon the main hatchway.
Having remained about half-an-hour or three. quarters, to the
best of his recollection, he was called down again by the
_ _

captain. Mars came dOwn handcuffed. The captain struck
him with a cutlass about the head and hands. Mars spoke,

but witness could not recollect what was said. Mars after

this was again placed on the main hatchway, and he bled
again. His face was all covered with congealed blood, so he
could not say whether there were any fresh cuts or not.
There were cuts also on deceased's hands, which bled.
After this he was placed on the main hatchway. Shortly
Mars was again called down, but by whom witness could not
say, as he was on deck. An order came for witness and
Julian to go down into the cabin, and they did so, the cap-
tain being at dinner. Mars was sitting down, and seemed
in a very weak state. The captain told witness and Julian
to make Mars stand up. We told him to get up, and
he got up, but he immediately fell down again,
saying he was not able to stand. Witness had the
cutlass in his hand at the time, given him by the
captain. Witness had hold of the handle of the sword,
and Julian the other end. They told Mars to lay hold
of the back of the sword, which he did, and they raised
him up from the table; but Mars let it go, saying he could
not hold it, he was so weak. They put a piece of cord
through a hook in the beam, and passing it round Mars, en-
deavoured to pull him up. Mars groaned and moaned, say-
ing he could_ not stand it, and his head fell on one side.
They then let him down, when he seemed very weak, and
in a dying state. The captain ordered him to be taken out
of his sight, saying, " He has got the look of a murderer in
his face." Mars was then removed. The captain ordered
Tucker to remove Mars, which was done by passing a rope
round his body. He was taken on deck, witness
following. There was a strand of the rope round his
limbs. Julian called all hands on deck, saying that
it was by the captain's orders they had to come.
He saw David Johnson and Franklin Tucker, heave
another strand of rope round his legs; others of the
crew being there. Witness was standing by with a
cutlass in his hand. Mars asked for a drink of water, which
was given him. After he had got the drink of water there
came a worm out of his mouth. All hands said it was an
evil spirit that came out of him. Witness then went below,
and reported these things to the captain. He stood a few
minutes there, when French came down and said that Mars
was dead. The captain said, " Are you sure of that ?"
French said, " There was no fear of his telling him so unless it
was so." William Dunn came down and asked for` a prayer-
book to read the service. This was immediately after Mars
was reported dead. Dunn got the book and went up. A
few minutes after Dunn came down again, and said that Mars
was buried. The captain, in the interim, had not gone on
deck. Nothing further passed until about half-past five or
six o'clock. All the hands then came down except witness,
William Burton, Julian, William Dunn, French, Alexander
Sinclair, James Glover, and William Spence. Witness was in the
carpenter's berth in the captain's cabin, and heard what took
place. To somebody who came down the captain said,
"Are you implicated in this affair or not?" The answer was,
"Yes, Sir." They all came down the same way, and were
questioned, and answered in a similar manner, " It is all
concerning Mars ;" and this was all that was said.
With regard to the death of Thomas Reason, he would
state what he knew. He was lying in his berth in the
morning of a day during the voyage which he did not re-
collect, when William Burton came and asked where he
could get a little wine. Witness asked who it was for, and
he replied, "For Thomas Reason, who is very nigh dead."
Witness told him to ask James Glover, the steward, for the
dipper in the pantry, and he could get the wine out of the
casks. Witness got up in a few minutes, and went up on to
the gangway. He saw Barton put a little sugar in a
glass of wine and take it towards the forecastle. 'Wit-
ness followed into the forecastle, and on uncovering
Reason's face he was found to be quite dead. Witness
saw blood flowing from one of his sides. Reason was covered
with a rug that was stained with blood to the extent of a
foot. David Johnson sewed up Reason in some old canvass,
after which witness went aft, and stopped on deck about half
an hour. Witness had seen Reason the same night in the
cabin, when he did not appear to be in a very bad state,
though he was bleeding from the wound on his forehead,
which he had got when the captain was striking at Mars, the
sword missing the latter and grazing his forehead. Wit-
ness did nut see Reason buried. This was all he knew of the
matter.
To Mr. Humphries, in cross-examination—He was sixteen
years old. He had given the same account before to Mr.
Hawley, to whom he had been sent to give his evidence.
This was on Saturday night, when his evidence was taken
down in writing. He was alone with Mr. Hawley at the
time.
Arthur Gilmour Spencer examined—He went out an ap-
prentice in the Tory. He was apprenticed to Messrs. Duncan
and Gibbs, of Liverpool, the owners. He was with her
the late voyage. On or about the 23d of September he was
informed by Captain Johnstone that Barry Yelverton,
another apprentice, had told him that Stephen Cone and
Thomas Reason had said, when off the Island of Ascension,
that " if the ship did not reach the island before the morning
the captain would be a dead man." The captain said no
more at that time to witness. Shortly afterwards witness
was called upon to come on deck, and write down anything
the men had to say. The crew were all aft when he came on
deck. He heard the captain ask them if he had not treated
them always most humanely, or something to that effect.
Most of them said, Yes. He saw Thomas Reason and Stephen
Cone in irons by the break of the poop en the starboard side.
They seemed to have been severely wounded, and he saw the
blood flowing down their faces. He heard no report or state-
ment made at that time to the captain. He went be-
low, and sometime afterwards he heard Richard
French state to the captain that the crew, or part
of the crew, had sharpened their knives, as witness un-
derstood him, with the intention of having the captain's life.
The captain seemed to be in a great state of excitement at
the time. He heard French say also that, if the captain
went forward, they intended to seize him, and sail the ship to
the continent. NY itness also heard Dunn make a statement
to the captain that Richard French had sharpened his knife
on both edges, with the intention of taking the captain's life.
Tbis was the object as far as he recollected. Cone and Reason
were kept. in irons till next day, when Lambert, the chief
mate, jumped overboard. He believed that during part of
the time they were in irons up on the tops. Always when
witness came on deck he saw the officers in charge of the
poop armed. On the 25th lie saw J. Rambert on his knees
before the captain, who was standing up. The mate prayed
the captain to forgive him ; the captain several times pointed
the sword to his breast, threatening to run it through him,
but he did not see him touch Rambert at that time. Wit-
ness saw the captain the same day aim a blow at Rambert
with a sword. The latter was unarmed. The blow took
effect on the body of Rambert. He was after this called
upon by the steward to take evidence on the part of the men,
which he did, and the written papers were given to the cap-
tain. Witness had since seen them in the hands of the
solicitor.
Mr. Hawley here handed in six 'written papers, four of
which the witness identified as the evidence of the men,
taken by him on September 25, and signed by several of
the crew ; the others were taken in the following month.
The ship was in peace until the 22d of Octotnr, when the
ship was off Fayal. The captain went on sbore, and returned
with the harbour-master, whom he invited into the cabin to
take a glass of wine. After this Mars was called
below by the captain. They were, apparently, on friendly
terms at that time. A few days folloring this witness was
in the cabin, and Reason was called. Tne captain had a bayonet
lying by his side. He shook Reasceii violently, on which witness
went out. About three-quecers of an hourafter the steward
and witness went into cabin, and Dunn, the cook, in pre-
sence of the captair.l, said that Reason was dead. Witness
thought Dunn ‘;:as joking, and said " Oh, nonsense ;" when
the cook immediately took hold of his hand and it was quite
cold. Witness was greatly horror-stricken at the time. The
captain waned quite calm, and appeared to be in no way
affects. Witness was much surprised and shocked at his
manner at that moment. (The examination of this witness
'was continued somewhat longer, but to a similar effect, being
mainly corroborative of the evidence of the previous wit-
nesses.)
The further examination of witnesses was then adjourned,

Mr. BaoromP—Did he say anything else? Witness—
Nothing else.
Mr. BRODERIP, observing some timidity in the boy, ad-
dressed him, and said, this scene was no doubt new to him,
but he had no occasion to be under any apprehension what-
ever. He was to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth, whether it made for or against the prisoner.
He exhorted him to attend to the questions put to him, to
conceal nothing, and not to be alarmed.
The boy continued—l went into the cabin shortly after
Reason said " Spare me, captain." I saw Reason, who ap-
peared to be in a dying state. I saw the captain examining
a wound in his left breast. I saw the blood flowing from the
wound. Thelcaptain had a bayonet in his hand. There
were two other wounds, one on his temple, the other on his
forehead; they were fresh wounds, and bleeding profusely.
Reason died about ten minutes after that. I was present
when he expired.
Mr. BRODERIP—Are you quite sure you heard Reason say
" Spare me, captain ?" Witness—Yes, sir.
Mr. RRODERTP—Did he say anything in the cabin ? Wit-
ness—l don't recollect hearing Reason say anything in the
cabin.
Mr. BRODERIP—Did prisoner say anything about any lint?
Witncal Yes, he asked me for some lint?
Mr. BnonEßlP—What did you say in return? Witness—.
I told him it was all used.
Mr. BnobnaiP—And was it all used? Witness—Yes, it
was, sir.
Mr. BRODERIP asked Inspector Evans, who conducted the
case, if he had any further evidence to lay before the Court?
Inspector Evans—Not at present, sir.
Mr. BRODERIP—WiII you be prepared to lay any further
evidence before me? Inspector Evans—Yes, sir, a good
deal of evidence.
Mr. BRODERIP said, before he remanded the prisoner, it
was his duty to ask him if he had anything to say ; and cau-
tioned him in the usual manner, that what he did say would
be written down, and might be used in evidence against him
hereafter.
Mr. Humphries spoke to the prisoner, and said that under
his advice he would not say anything.
Mr. BRODERIP—Then it is my duty to remand the prisoner
on this charge of wilful, murder till to-morrow.
Mr. Humphries asked the magistrate to name the time.
Mr. BRODERIP said, the charge of alleged piracy against
the seamen belonging to the Tory was remanded till Wed-
nesday, end the hour fixed upon was twelve o'clock,
at which time Mr. Clarkson was likely to be present,
but he could not promise the case should be taken at twelve.
It depended entirely on the number and duration of the night
charges.
The prisoner was then removed from the dock.
We understand that no further evidence will be adduced
against the seamen charged with mutiny, who stand re-
manded till this day, in which case they will be forthwith
liberated, and sworn as witnesses on the part of the Crown, to
sustain various charges of murder against Capt. Johnstone.
Mr. BRODERIP said he.had received a letter from the father
of William Beresford, one of the prisoners, whom he re-
manded last Wednesday on a charge of piracy on board the
Tory. The father of the prisoner did not know where his
son was confined, and had inclosed the letter for his son in
another directed to him (the Magistrate), with a request
that it should be forwarded to him. He handed the letter
to the sergeant of the police van, and ordered him to deliver
the letter to Beresford, in the Westminster Bridewell, to
which place Captain Johnstone was remanded.
It was erroneously stated in a morning paper of Thursday
last, that the lad Barry Yelverton, one of the prisoners
charged with mutiny on board the Tory, was " the grandson
of the celebrated Lord Avonmore." A gentleman came to
the Thames Police-court on Tuesday, and stated that the
youth was not related to the Avonmore family. He is a
Lancashire lad, and never pretended to claim kindred either
with the present or the first Lord Avonmore. Nothing
whatever was stated during the examination on Wednesday
to justify such a statement.

An important communication, under the signature of Mr
L. Suliven, the Deputy-Secretary at War, addressed to the
commanding officer of every regiment in the army, is now in
course of issue. It proceeds—" With reference to article 8
of the warrant of the 11th of October, 1843, establishing
regimental savings' banks, by which it is required that a
soldier convicted by court-martial of desertion, or recorded
by a board of officers in the usual manner as a deserter,
shall forfeit to the public all moneys he may have in the
regimental savings bank, I am directed to acquaint you
that in all cases of soldiers deserting from the regiment
under your command, and not returning within three
months, or who may be convicted of desertion within
that period, the deposits of such soldiers in the regimental
savings' bank are to be withdrawn by the captain of the
troop or company to which each man belongs, and
placed in the hands of the paymaster for the purpose of be-
ing inserted in the next pay-list, tendered byhim to the War-
office, not as a credit in the man's non-effective account as
part of his effects, but as a specific and distinct credit to the
public in the general state under class Q. All sums in the
regimental savings' bank belonging to the deceased non-
commissioned officers and soldiers are in like manner to be
withdrawn ; but the amount is to be credited in their non-
effective accounts as part of their effects. The account of
every man, whether dying or deserting, which is transmitted
with the regimental pay-list, is to 'be accompanied by a
certificate, showing whether he had or had not any moneys
in the regimental savings' bank, and if he had, the parti-
cular account in which the amount had been credited as
above directed. With regard, to the deposits of discharged
men, as the means are now afforded of transferring the
amount of their savings direct from the regimental to a Go-
vernment savings' bank, although exceeding 301., I am to
request that you will point out to all men about to be dis-
charged,, whose savings exceed .that sum, the necessity of
their deciding before they quit the regiment whether they
wish this course to be adopted or not, is order that the neces-
sary steps may be taken at the regiment for effecting the
transfer. by Ailing up the proscribed certificates. In the
event of their quitting, the. regiment, leaving their money in
the regimental savings' bank, as provided for in article 6 of
the warrant, they cannot afterwards be allowed to avail
themselves of the advantage offered of direct transfer to the
Government savings' bank when the deposits exceeds 30/."-

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.

Yesterday Mary Smith and Henry Thompson were brought
up for further examination, charged with having most grossly
imposed upon the public.
The Secretary to the Mendicity Society attended to pro-
secute.

Worledge,* City policeman (442), said that about four
o'clock on Wednesday, the 12th November, the female pri-
soner was point td out to him as an impostor. He followed
and saw her go into some houses in Friday-street, for the
purp(ne of begging, and she dropped a letter, which was
partly in print and partly in writing, and contained a list of
the contributions of the charitable. Witness took her into
custody. The male prisoner, who had been talking with her,
waited outside while she entered.

Mr. J. W. Taylor. a clerk in the employment of Messrs.
Liddiard and Co., of Friday street, stated that the female
prisoner called and asked for Mr. Liddiard, who was out at
the time. She then went to Mr. Liddiard's partner, who,
upon hearing her, gave her ss. She called again on the
12th, and was taken into custody, intelligence having been
given that she was a notorious impostor.
Mr. William Curling, merchant, carrying on business at
No. 5, George-yard, Lombard-street, stated that, between six
and seven weeks ago, Mary Smith called upon him at his
office, and presented to him the paper produced by the
officer, of which the following is a copy:—
"Secretary of State's Office, Home Department,
Whitehall, Aug. 4, 1845.
" Before any intelligence can be given respecting convicts,
the following questions must be correctly answered, viz.:—
" Convict's name—John Wilson.
" Where tried—Old Bailey sessions.
" When tried-'.January, 1841.
" Sentence—,Seven years.
" To what hulk or prison removed—York. •
" If sent on board, the name of the ship by which trans.
ported—Asia.

" The bearer, Mary Ann Wilson, is the lawful wife of the
above rn94n, who left this country through embezzlement, and
she is anxious to join her husband with her two children at
Hobart Town, New South Wales, but unfortunately is with-
'out the necessary funds to defray their expenses and passage
out. I have every reason to believe her deserving the assist-
ance she implores.',

" J. IL Capper, 11.
"When this paper has been fined up as above directed: it
must be sealed or wafered, the name and address of the per-
son making the inquiry Iroing been previously inserted in
this place. _ _

P- - " 'opottiswood: 11-.; nev. H. Legge, V.; C. Han-
bury, ilk • J. Deacon, 1!.
"
And then put in the post, when an answer will be re-
turned; but it will be useless for the applicant to proceed
with the inquiry unless the above particulars can be accu-
rately furnished.
" The foregoing directions must be strictly observed in all
particulars, as personal applications cannot be attended to."
Witness said that to the paper just exhibited were affixed
several signatures, with various sums opposite, purporting
to be contributions. Believing the paper and the signatures
to be genuine, he gave the prisoner, he believed, half-a-
sovereign, and put his name down on the paper as a con-
tributor.
Horsford, one of the officers of the llfendicity Society,
stated that the female was the most thstormined and inde-
fatigable imp9gtor in. the metropolis. The /490104; she

Tiih s§rm, LONI)ON, TililitriA.V: 146.00140-, -1:1....9,y_10..M.11itirR .2a,: 1t340,

served her term of irnpritalitent in one case, she began at
the old work with increased skill and activity. Since the year
18110 slit had been charged at various police. offices, dnd bran
imprisoned in several gaols.
Mr. itichard Ferguson, clerk to the Mendicity Society,
stated that he had searched at the proper offices, and found
that no such per 41..1 as John Wilson was tried in April sct-
sion, 1841, for embezzlement. He had also searched the
list of convicts for the Asia and found that there was no
such person in that list. Witness knew that the prisoners
had lived together as man and wife, and also w present
when they were sent toprison together as common im-

postors.
The female prisoner said that she did not recollect having
called upon Mr. Curling, and that she believed the gentleman
must be mistaken as to her.
➢lr. Curling said he had not the slightest doubt of her

identity. -
The LORD MAYOR then stated that he should to-morrow
(this day) commit the woman for trial at the Central Crimi-
nal Court, and his Lordship at once sentenced the male
prisoner to Bridewell for three calendar months.
BOW-STREET.
DISHONEST LETTER CARRIERS.—John Gord, who has been
a letter carrier upwards of nine years, was charged before
Mr. Jardine with stealing a letter containing money, the pro-
perty of the Postmaster-General.
Mr. Peacock, solicitor to the Post-office, conducted the

Jesse Tay'or Mid that son seeing Tyne on the ground, and
the prisoner kicking him in the head, he went to pick him
up, when the accused knocked him down with the quart pot,
and kicked him with such fearful violence as to dislocate his
shoulder. Witness on partially recovering was about to
leave the place, when the prisoner rushed into the room with
an axe in his hand, which was fortunately taken from him
by a man who stood by his side.
Benjamin Goodal said he was in the street advancing to-
wards the house, when the prisoner struck him a violent
blow with his fist, which knocked him down. He then throw
two large flint stones at him, which cut his head open, and he
was also conveyed to the hospital, where he remained for a
month, and was afterwards an out-patient for five weeks.
He never spoke to the prisoner before he struck him.
JamesCobbetts, foreman over the men emploped in making
a sewer in the King's-road, proved the dreadful condi-
tion in which he found the victims of prisoner's brutality.
On hearing that some of his men had been treated with
great violence, he went into the Colville Arms,- and found
the f them on the floor, weltering in their blood. He
immediately put them in a cart, and had them driven to the
hospital.
In the course of a long, rambling story, prisoner said that
Tyne wanted to fight, and lifted his hand as though he would
strike, when he (prisoner) gave him a blow with his hand,
and after that he took his part as well as he could.
Mr. BOND committed him for trial on the whole of the
above charges at the Central Criminal Court.
WORSHIP-STREET.
James Harrison and William Edwards, alias Setter, were
brought up for final examination, on suspicion of having
been concerned in breaking into and robbing the house of
Mr. Roper, one of the parochial guardians of Hackney; and
in several other burglaries committed in the same neighbour-
hood. Two other men, who gave their names Samuel
Trindle and John setter, were now placed at the bar with
them, before Mr. Greenwood.
The two first-mentioned prisoners were apprehended on
the morning after the burglary, at Mr. Roper's, by Inspector
Cooper, who found upon them several pieces of wax taper,
one of which appeared to be the counterpart of a piece left
by the robbers at Mr. Roper's. Upon one of them also was
found a piece of prepared liver, calculated to entice and
silence watch-dogs, and a similar piece had been found upon
Mr. Roper's premises.
A fresh charge was now stated of a burglary committed at
the house of Mr. Sewell, Dalston-rise, early in the morning
after the burglary at Mr. Roper's, and a few hours only be-
fore the two first-named prisoners were taken into custody.
James Summers, gardener, in the service of Mr. Sewell,
whose house is within a quarter of a mile of Mr. Roper's,
said the family were out of town, and the house was broken
into about half- past two last Friday morning. While in bed,
he heard a noise in the next room to him, and he got up, and
went out to ascertain the 'cause of it, when a man rushed
past him and ran down stairs; after which, a second man
came behind him and knocked him over the banisters, and
then escaped also. The first one,. who was in appearance
like the prisoner Edwards, dropped a basket full of plate,
The other was a tall man like Harrison, but there was not
light enough form him to distinguish the features of either of
them. The thieves had entered through the coal-hole.
There was a dog upon the premises which commonly barked
and made an alarm at the slightest noise, but was not heard
at all that night, and next day it seemed to be stuffed up
and stupified as if swelled up with something that it had
eaten.
Policeman 77 N said he saw the prisoner Trindle near Mr.
Sewell's house, and apparently taking particular notice of it,
about half-past ten o'clock on Thursday night.
Circumstances of suspicion were stated against all the pri-
soners, who are well known. Trindle was at the bar of this
Court not long since charged with stealing two valuable dogs
belonging to a country farmer. He has a remarkable voice,
and it having transpired that the voice was the princip
as
al
means of identifying the real dog-stealer, the 'prisoner w
desired by his legal adviser (Mr. Robinson) not to say a word
during the examination. " No, I wont," said the prisoner,
and the farmer no sooner heard that spoken, than he ex-
claimed, " I swear that is the man," and the result was that
the prisoner was summarily convicted.
Inspector Cooper produced a handsome mourning-ring
which he had found in the pocket of Harrison, " In memory
of Frederick Jago, who died in 1839," but he had not dis-
covered any claimant for it.
Mr. GREENWOOD finding that there was no evidence
against the prisoners as to the burglaries in question, dis-
charged them all

prosecution.
Wm. Abbot, a letter carrier in the London district of the
General Post-office, stated, that on Monday evening, about
half-past seven o'clock, he was on duty with the prisoner, at
the branch office in Charing-cross, sorting letters. The pri-
soner was engaged on his right hand side at the time. On
the arrival of letters from the chief office in St. Martin's-le-
Grand, they were sorted by the junior letter carriers for the
different walks, after which they were taken from the boxes
and. divided for delivery. Witness observed the prisoner
take the letters from the Golden-square box with his left
hand, at the same time turning round towardshis desk,which
was at the upper part of the office, and as his huh was turned
he put a letter into his right hand trousers pocket. It was
not part of the prisoner's duty to have removed the letters
from the box, but to have left them for the senior letter car-
riers to take out and divide them among the carriers of the
Golden-square walk, of whom the prisoner was one. Witness
immediately made a communication of what he had seen to
the inspector, and shortly after the prisoner went into an ad::
joining room leading to the water-closet, which witness men-
tioned to the inspector, and haying followed him, he came
oat again after a short delay.
Mr. James Smithers, inspector of letter carriers, said, that
in consequence of what he heard from the last -witness, he
watched the prisoner into the water-closet. Witness then
got on a step, by which he was enabled to see that the pri-
soner had a letter in his hand, and having asked him what
he was doing with it, he said " nothing.' He then came
out of the apartment, and the letter turned out to be di-
rected to the "Secretary of the Wilts, Somerset, and Wey-
mouth Railway Company, 449, Strand," upon which a con-
stable was sent for, to whom he was given in charge. After
the other carriers had gone away, the prisoner sent for wit-
ness, and told him that he did not intend to do anything
with the letter he held in his hand, but it was a mis-sorted
one which he happened to have about him. The letter was
torn near the seal when taken from the prisoner, and as it
was not in his delivery, he should not have had it in his pos-
session. It appeared to contain coin with the stamp of eight
o'clock on Monday evening, the time at which it should have
been sent out.
Mr. George Willis, a clerk in the railway-office, having
opened the letter, found that it contained the transfer deeds
of conveyance for ten shares, with a half- sovereign on ac-

count as fees.
The prisoner said that when any letters were mis-sorted,
it was customary to take them back to the sorters, and that
was his intention when the letter was taken from his hand
which had not been broken open; besides, what was seen in
his hand when he left the office was not a letter, but a bit of
waste paper.
He was ordered to be remanded.
Francis Cope, another letter- carrier, was next chargedwith
stealing three letters.
Matthew Peake, a constable employed in the General Post-
office, stated that on Monday night, about seven o'clock, he
went to the Paddington branch-office, where he met the pri-
soner, and having searched him, he found a small tobacco-
box, containing secret springs, which he desired him to open,
at the same time asking him what was inside, upon which
he replied " two letters," and having set the hands of the
springs, it was opened, and contained a letter torn into pieces.
Witness then proceeded with him to search his lodging,
No. 8, St. John's Wood-terrace, and having asked him on the
way what letters were in the tobacco-box; he replied that
one contained a sovereign, and the other, which was only
addressed to a servant girl, nothing. He was then asked if
the sovereign found upon him was inclosed in the letter, and
he said " yes." On searching the tobacco-box at the sta-
tion, a letter was found addressed " Jane Stagg, St. John's
Wood-terrace, Regent's Park, 75 ;" and also the fragments of
a letter, addressed " Mr. Bastin, at Mrs. Harris's, No. 2,
Wellington-place, St. John's Wood-road, near the chapel,
London."
Mr. Cole, after corroborating the evidence of the last wit-
ness, said that the letter addressed to Jane Stagg bore the
London stamp of the 11th, five o'clock in the evening, and
the other the 17th, which would in the course of business, be
forwarded to the chief office at ten o'clock in the morning.
George Harper, principal change taker at Paddington
branch-office, said that the prisoner had been an auxiliary
about twelve months. The letter addressed to the female
Stagg would have arrived at the branch office about twenty
minutes past seven o'clock in the evening of the 11th, and
the other about ten o'clock in the morning. The prisoner
assisted in sorting letters on Monday, and the last letter
which was not in his delivery might have come into his pos-
session through mis-sorting ; but in that case it was his duty
to have brought it back to the office, and have the words
"taken out by mistake," written upon it.
Mr. Bastin proved that the letter produced was addressed
to him by his sister, Mrs. Matilda Kemp, of Wood Hill, near
Grantham, and contained a sovereign.
Eliza Vale said that she wrote the other letter to Jane
Stagg, containing a piece of paper with directions from her
mistress upon it.
The prisoner, who said nothing in his defence, was ordered
to be remanded.
The prisoner was again charged with stealing another
letter containing money.
It appeared from the evidence, that a letter containing a
marked sovereign, a shilling and a sixpence, was addressed
by Mr. Walter Culthrope, a president of the General Post-
office, to a Miss M'Kensie, of St. John's Wood, and although
another letter was delivered on the same evening by the
prisoner at the same house, nothing was heard of the letter
in question. the contents of which were found upon his per-
son. He was again ordered to be remanded upon this charge.
THE ALBERT ELASTIC STOEK.—Thomas Smith, of No. 4,
King William-street, Strand, appeared on a summons, to
show cause why he was in possession of a quantity of elastic
stocks, the property of Mr. Edward Joseph Weston, well
knowing the same to have been stolen.
Mr. Wontner appeared to prefer the complaint, and Mr.
Gale for the defence.
The case occupied the Court many hours, and it appeared
from the testimony of several witnesses that the complainant,
who had• purchased- the patent of the- articles in question
from Messrs. Hughes, of Holborn, observed, on passing
through Duncannon-street, Strand, some elastic stocks in a
window, and as they resembled his -own manufacture, he
sent a friend to make a purchase, and on opening the article,
having found that it not only corresponded in every particu-
lar with his patent, but that the materials were composed of
his property, he applied to this Court for a search warrant,
which was granted, and the man in attendance in the shop
was given in charge. The name of Thomas and Co. was
over the door, and it being ascertained that the concern be-
longed to the defendant, who kept an ale store in George-
street, Adelphi, and was also an advertising agent for news-
papers, a summons was issued for his appearance. The com-
plainant had a lad named Pierce in his shop in the Strand up
to the month of May last; but was obliged to part with him
in consequence of a large deficiency in the stock; and his
mother also managed another establishment for the corn•
plainant in Holborn ; with both of whom the defendant was
on the most intimate terms, and after the discharge of the
youth, had been known to have frequently visited the
mother at the house in Holborn, who was also discharged for
malpractices.
On the part of the defendant it was proved, that the de-
fendant employed a person in Brownlow• street, Drury-lane,
to manufacture the goods, amounting to abuut fourteen
dozens of springs for stocks, produced, which being stripped
of the satin, turned out to be correct, with the exception of
one, the pattern of which was furnished by another person
not connected with the complainant; but the other materials,
such as lining, India rubber, arc., were identified by the com-
plainant as his property.
Mr. JARDINE said that the case was the first which came
under his notice under the particular clause in the Police Act,
and, therefore, he considered it necessary to pay the greater
attention to it. The defendant must have known he was
possessing himself from time to time of stolen property. Had
the case, which was of a very grave nature, been investigated
by him on a former occasion, it might have been sent to
another Court, but he would prefer dealing with it in a sum-
mary manner by sending the defendant to hard labour for six
weeks, and the goods to be delivered up to the complainant.

CLEBKEN WELL.
BURGLARY IN A WORKHOUSE.—Eight female paupers were ,
nally examined, charged with a burglary in St. Pancras ,
workhouse.
The particulars have already been detailed. The prisoners,
it will be recollected, broke through the oakum-room, where ,
they slept, into the pauper school-room, which they rifled,
and on the robbery being discovered, the property was found
concealed in the beds of the prisoners.
Five of them were committed for trial, and the others dis-
charged for the want of sufficient evidence.
ASSAULT ox THE POLICE.—John Peters. a powerful man,
was charged with having violently assaulted policemen 339
and 432 N, whilst in the execution of their duty, by which
the former officer was severely injured.
The prisoner was committed to prison (without fine) for
one month, with hard labour.
SOUTHWARK.
ALLEGED FRAUDS OF A LOAN SOClETY.—Several persons,
male and female, attended to solicit the magistrate's advice
under the following circumstances :
From the statement of one of the parties, who was spokes-
man on the occasion, it appeared that, being engaged in trade,
and wanting some money to carry on his business, he applied
to the Surrey Loan Society for an advance of 101. The
money was accordingly advanced, on his giving the neces-
sary security of a stamped note for the full amount, which
was to be paid by weekly instalments of 4s. 4d. Having re-
paid the money he borrowed, the persons belonging to the
society refused to deliver up the book or voucher in which
the different instalments were entered, and to the inquiries of
the applicant and other borrowers, a Mr. Jermand, in the
City, is now suing many of them and their securities, where
it can be proved the loans have been repaid.
In reply to Mr. COTTINGHAM, the applicant said that one
of the principal parties belonging to the loan society was
now a bankrupt, and that upon an application to a Mr.
Loyd, he admitted advancing money to the =pagers of the
society on the loan notes,, but says that they promised to
redeem them as the loans were paid off. That many of the
applicants' books, containing the entries of cash they repaid,
were now in the hands of the secretary, who refused to re-
turn them; and proceedings had been actually commenced
against several of the borrowers, to compel them to pay the
money over again. The managers got the books as vouchers
s
from the borrowers, by pretending that th:y were ethe office for the purpose of being examined.
Mr. CorristonAss said that, assuming what the applicant
had stated to be correct, a very gross fraud had been at-
tempted by the parties complained against. Although the
case did not come within his jurisdiction, still, if the circum-
stances
were as represented, he would advise the applicants
to lose no time in employing a respectable solicitor.
The applicants, amongst whom were several respectable • ,
looking females, having thanked the Magistrate, then with-
drew.
William Steadman, a cab driver, was charged with caus-
ing an obstruction at the terminus of the Brighton Railroad.
Shields, a policeman of the Company, stated that he was
stationed near the platform of the above railway, to prevent
the obstruction of vehicles arriving and setting down pas-
sengers for the trains. The defendant's cab was driven up
to the usual place of setting down passengers, and although
his fare had alighted and gone on to the train, yet the vehicle
was left standing in a situation which ought to have been
taken by the next in rotation ; and when witness went up
to remove it, the defendant interfered, abused him, and cre-
ated a considerable degree of confusion at the terminus be-
fore his removal was effected ; in adelition to which, he wore
his badge turned upside down in such a manner that it was
impossible to take his right number if it was found neces-
sary. The witness added that the secretary ,sf the Company,
being made acquainted with the circumstance:Z. gave direc-
tions for the defendant to be taken into custody.
Mr. CorrINGHAst said that when cases of this description
were brought before him, he was determined on puoishing
the offenders, with a view that travellers by railroads should
experience as little impediment as possible at the commence-
ment of their journeys. The Magistrate then imposed a fit,:
of 20s. and costs on the defendant, or fourteen days' impri-
sonment in default of payment.
The defendant, not being prepared with the money, was
locked up.
LAMBETH.
ASSAULT BY CAUNT, THE PUGILIST.—A person named
Marshall applied to Mr. Henry for summonses against Ben-
jamin Caunt, the well-known pugilist, and at present the
landlord of the Coach and Horses public-house in St. Mar-
tin's-lane.
From the statement of the applicant it appeared that, on
the evening before, Caunt drove along the Walworth-road at
so furious a rate, in his gig, as to endanger the lives of the
passengers, and ultimately ran " smack" against applicant's
chaise-cart. The applicant remonstrated with the big bruiser
upon his conduct, but the only return he received was two
severe lashes from his whip, which cut his (applicant's) coat
right through.
In reply to a question from the Bench, the applicant
said the damage done would take at least 21. to repair;
and Mr. Henry at once granted him two summonses against
Caunt—one for the wilful damage, and the other for the
assault.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
A RICH BEGGAR.—An aged countryman, in a smock frock,
was seen by Bostock, one of the Mendicity Society's officers,
to beg of various persons in Oxford-street, on Monday after-
noon. His venerable appearance and seeming poverty
attracted general sympathy, and he had alms bestowed on
him by charitable passers-by, whose condition appeared to be
but a shade better than his own. Bostock took the old man
into custody, brought him to this Court, and, according to
the usual practice, proceeded to search him, to ascertain if
he had any property about him. The old man suddenly shook
off the infirmities of age, and made such a vigorous resist-
ance, that it took the united strength of six persons to over-
power him. He was at last subdued, and the search com-
menced. In a pocket in the smock frock the officers found two
pounds in copper money. In a pocket in his clothes they found
between two and three pounds in silver money, and in his
wallet, which formed A lOrt of capacious trousers pocket, they
found concealed among potatoes, bacon, bread, and provi-
sions sufficient for three or four persons, !Elall bag which
contained sixty-four sovereigns and half sovere;g-s•
The amount of money found on the old impG2tor ex-
ceeded 691.
The defendant gave the name of Jesse Grover, and stated
that he was a native of Hemel Hempstead. He said the
money was his own, he had saved it out of the wages of his
labour, and he declared that he had never begged a penny
from any body.
MI. MALTBY sent the defendant to prison for a month, as
rogue and vagabond, and directed that a portion of the
money found on him should be applied to cover the expenses
of his maintenance in prison.
QUEEN-SQUARE.
UNPROVOKED MURDEROUS ASSAULTS —Thomas Howard,
a powerful fellow, was charged before Mr. Bond with a suc-
cession of assaults of the most desperate character.
There were no less than four distinct charges of feloniously
assaulting and wounding clearly proved against the accused,
independently of another in which the injured man could not
be found.
Henry Tyne, a labourer, stated that on the evening of the
Asked him if he 1. youlti-1
21st of last July, he went in company with three other
men into the Colville Arms, King's-road, Chelsea, where he
ret'us..-1
_dec. _declared he
saw the prisoner, who on his entering the room immediately
sight, and on
woo-, i„
Knock him thlwo. riStilier then advanced tower...
him and Struck him on the heed with his hand, and then,
selling a quart ilbt Nom the tab e; dire* the, beet it con-
tained away, and kiie hint a Violent blow on the heAd with
the rot, which felled him to the ground, and whilst in that
defenceless condition the prisoner kicked him desperately in
the eye. The blow the prisoner inflicted with the pot cut
his head open, and it was found necessary to take him im-
mediately to the hospital.
James Foreman, another labourer, after confirming the
account given by the last witness, said that on going to his
assistance when on the ground, prisoner gave him, without
the least provocation, a desperate blow on the head with a
quart pot, which knocked him down. He got up and de-
fended himself as well as he could, until he became senseless
from the loss of blood. The wound in his head was five inches
long, and be also received a very severe injury in the back.
He was taken to the hospital, where he remained ten weeks,
and never expected that he should
get up again. Witness,
on concluding his statement. said, •• wag eo gljurecl, that I
WWI ilem be Vie um d YNIS bef(lfl:t

THAMES.
Mr. Daniel Ferguson, master of the ship China, and Hyam
Levy, a Jew slopseller in High-street, Shadwell, appeared
before Mr. Broderip to answer a charge under the " Act for
the protection of seamen entering onoard merchant ships,"
the Bth and 9th Victoria, cap. 116, which enacts among
other things, that the Board of Trade shall license such per-
sons as they may deem fit to procure seamen for merchant
ships, and that no person not duly licensed, or not being the
owner, part owner, master, or person in charge of a ship, or
the ship's husband, shall be concerned in procuring seamen
to be entered. The 4th section enacts that no owner, part
owner, master, or person in charge of any merchant ship, or
ships's husband, shall knowingly receive, or accept to be en-
tered on board, any seaman who was procured contrary to
the Act. The penalty for each offence Is 201.
In this case Mr. Wells appeared as solicitor for the pro-
secution, at the suit of a person named Ward, of Albert-
streci, :.",hadwell, who has procured a license from the Board
of Trade to h 1;:ze, engage, supply, and provide seamen." Mr.
Pelham wii.l for the b. fence. The summons against Levy
charged that he noi men wily licensed by the ords of the
Council for Trade and
Committee of her Majesi. Privy
the C.
Foreign Plantations, and not r..),;:ng weer, part owner,
or a ship's
master, or person in charge of a mercii:;!lt shit. seamen for
husband, did unlawfully supply and provide two
vainst
a certain merchant ship, called the China. The summons.
Captain Ferguson charged him with knowingly receiving' the
two seamen so procured by an unlicensed person contrary
the provisions of the Act.
Mr, Wells stated the case, and said this was the first pro-
secution under the Act, which was one of great importance
to the shipping interest. He called two seamen, from whose
evidence it appeared they went on board the China to obtain
berths, and were referred to Levi. Upon going to his Whop
they saw Mrs. Levy, who said she wanted to engage hands
forth e China, and a card of recommendation was given to
them, which they were to present to the defendant Ferguson.
At that time Levy's son was on board the China, but Levy
himself was nett there, nor did lie appear to have had much
to do with the transaction. On the first occasion, when the
sailors We'tl, W the shop, they asked Mrs. Levy if she had to
engage the hands fear the China. and she replied in the affir-
mative. Her husband, wilt, w standing by, did not say
AWS. shop, and also on board
anything. The men called at J
the ship, several times, but, after all, were not engaged.
Mr. Pelham urged there was no providing of seamen, as '
contemplated by the Act, and that Levy bad nothing to do
with the affair. There was really no case, forfor him to answer.
Captain Ferguson said he had not receicgd any seamen
provided by Levy.
Mr. BROPERIP said it was easy to see there had been an
attempt to evade a new Act of Parliament, which was like)
y
to be a very useful one, and was passed to protect sa
guiltyilers
from a class of persons termed " crimps,
t; of
gross impositions. If a conviction was
there to be made, it
bef mustore
be founded on good evidence, and was none
him. He was undoese necessity of dismissing both sum-
monses ; but he beggit might be distinctly understood that
when a case was made
must
expect
should enforce the law, and if
any one offended they must expect to be visited with a severe
penalty. The Aa.gt of riatUllOnt was pamod moot righte-

ously to put down a very bad system of engaging seamen
by crimps, slopsellers, and others, who exacted large gratuities
from seamen. The new law prohibited any unlicensed per-
son interfering with the engagements of seamen, except
owners, masters, and ship's husbands; and the Act expressly
prohibited any person whatever from receiving any remu-
neration from seamen, either directly or indirectly, on ac-
count of their being hired. lie would discourage any at-
tempt to revive the old system, which the law was passed to
put down. The licensed agents were under the control of the
Board of Trade, and they alone had the right to procure sea-
man for merchant »hips, with the exception of the persons
he had named.
The summonses were then dismissed.
HAMMERSMITH.

Edmund Ankens, a lad in his fourteenth year, the son of
Mr. Joseph Ankens, a bricklayer, of No. 1, South-street,
Hammersmith, was charged with having stolen,a silver watch,
a pair of silver spectacles, a gold ring, and a tortoiseshell snuff-
box, the property of his father.
The prisoner has been repeatedly charged at this Court
with robbing his parents and other relatives. About six
weeks since he was committed for trial at the Middlesex
Sessions for stealing a pistol, the property of his uncle, to
which he pleaded guilty, and the witnesses not being in at-
tendance at the time, he was sentenced to twenty-four hours'
solitary confinement, and then discharged.
Mrs. Ankens deposed that she was the mother of the pri-
soner, to reclaim whose vicious propensities every possible
effort had been made. On the morning of the previous day
the prisoner left home about eight o'clock, and some time af-
terwards, on having occasion to go to a chest of drawers, she
missed her husband's silver watch, silver spectacles, gold ring,
awl snuff-box produced. The value of them was 3/.
Other evidence having been given, the boy was committed
for trial.