The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-29 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH, Nov. 28.
Oil Sings at Nisi Prius, before Lord DBIIMAIi and Common
Juries.)
COBB s. SAVILLE.

This was an action by the proprietor of the Theatre Royal,
Brighton, against the defendant, who was lessee for a period
of three years, and it sought to recover about 401. for alleged
breaches of certain covenants in the lease. The lease was
dated in 1841, and expired 13th April, 1844, at a yearly rent
of 4001., and the breach complained of was neglect in keep-
ing the theatre itself, and the properties belonging to it, in
proper and sufficient repair, as covenanted in the lease.
Counsel for the defendant maintained that he gave up the
theatre and properties in a much better condition than he
had received them in, having expended a considerable sum
out of his own pocket in repairs and embellishments.
A great number of witnesses were examined on both sides
as to this point, but the evidence was of a most contradictory
character.

His LORDSHIP having summed up,
The jury returned a ♦erdict for the defendant.
IjitEL.-HIS SERENE HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF BRUNSWICK

V. MATHEW TRENDEn PEARSON.
This was an action for libel brought by the Duke of Bruns-
wick against the present proprietor of the Satirist, and the
Duke to-day appeared in Court and conducted his case in
person, in a Court unusually crowded.
The proprietor of the Satirist was defended by ➢ir. Cock-
burn, Q.C., and Mr. Hugh Hill.
The Duke opened his case by stating that he had, during
the greater part of the ten years that he had been in this
country, been assailed by the Satirist newspaper with charges
of the most libellous and calumnious nature, and that feeling
their object was only to intimidate him and induce him to
purchase examptions (corn this sort of persecution by giving
to the libeller of his life and conduct money, he had deter-
mined to prosecute the editor. There were two allegations of
libel in the declaration. The first was, that the defendant
had published on the 3d of November, 1844, a libel in the fol-
I lowing words _

" Our Old Reader, who dates his letter from Charing-cross,
is assured that Mr. Gregory is better than, under the merci-
less and unmerited persecution which he has experienced, we
could be led to hope. He has been sustained under his
savage and unchristian' treatment by mental energy alone,
and we mistake much if he will not have abundance of energy
left to make his enemies quail, be they the worthless occu-
pants of great houses, or the grovelling dabblers in legal
filth. We understand it is the intention of Mr. Gregory to
give to the world a statement of all the facts in connexion
with this extraordinary case—extraordinary as being from its
commencement sustained in strong truth—extraordinary
from the legal injustice which has been done him, and most
extraordinary from the worse than' Bastile' treatment to which
he has been subjected under the tyrant sway of judicial and Tory
despotism. Mr. Gregory will be much gratified, we are sure,
by the generous and manly expressions contained in the
letter of An Old Reader,' and we shall take the earliest op-
portunity, after the termination of his unjust sentence, of lay-
ing the letter before him. _

I.‘ Several correspondents have expressed a doubt on the
subject of the statement made last week of an attempt on
the life of the Duke of Brunswick, grounding their suspi-
cion on the improbability of some of the details. Many
things, however, seem improbable, which, nevertheless, are
found to be based on truth, and this, we believe, is one one of
them, and, with reference to the apparent anxiety for the con-
cealment of the facts, it would not be difficult to assign very
plausible reasons for such a course, especially when it is pos-
sible that the ends of justice may, by that means be best
answered. We did not, our readers may be sure, publish the
statement in question on light grounds ; and even those who
are most sceptical on the subject may, if they take the trouble
to make a little inquiry, easily learn that a rumour of the
leading facts was in circuletion for several days before we
gave it the additional publicity of our columns."
The second allegation of libel was upon a passage which sub-
sequently appeared in the Satirist, relative to the examine-
nation of T. H. locker, before the magistrate, at Marylebone
Police-office, when locker was charged with the murder of
James. Delarue, upon which occasion the noble plaintiff ob-
tained a seat on the bench by permission of the magistrate, to
witness the proceed2ings. The libel ran in these words :
" CONGENIALTAT.—The Duke of Brunswick, the papers tell
us, was acce*.nmodated with a seat on the bench at Mary-
lebone Pe:ace-office, on the examination of the alleged mur-
derer, clocker. The journals do not add whether his Sere-
nity,took a pinch of snuff with the prisoner, who, it is stated,
handed his box about in the most affable mannerimaginable."
The plaintiff's complaint was that the defendant had by these
last-mentioned libels, or writings, attempted to cause it to be
believed that the libels for which the plaintiff had successfully
prosecuted Gregory were in fact not libels, but were true.
The necessary documents to prove the liability of the de-
fendant as the proprietor of the paper called the Satirist,
were then put in by Mr. Fred. Harrison.
An officer from the Central Criminal Court produced an
examined copy of the conviction of Hocker at the Central
Criminal Court.

Lord DENMAN observed, it was admitted on the record by
Gregory's conviction, that he had charged the plaintiff with
the murder of Eliza Grimwood.

Edward Scott, the policeman, who had taken up locker
to the police-office, said he saw the Duke at the examination.
Cross-examined—There were many persons present ; some
on the bench as spectators.
P. Fell, from Marylebone Police-office, saw on the bench
but Lord Mountford and the Duke upon the 4th of ➢larch,
the second examination.

Baron Audlau, late equerry to the Duke, believed the two
paragraphs relative to the murder of Eliza Grimwood and
the Duke offßrunswick were put in juxtaposition purposely
in the Satirist of 10th November, and he thought the impu-
tation was, that the Duke was accused in some quarter of
being accessory to it.
The Duke stated that was his case.

Mr. COCKBURN, QC, began by, expressing his astonish-
ment and his pity at the exhibition which the had just
witnessed on the part of the noble and distinguished plain.
tiff, who had gone so far out of his way to tell the Court and
jury who he was, and what was his station. He could not
see what could be the reason why he had thus put himself
forward as his own advocate, or why the case might not have
been left in the ordinary way to one of the learned profession.
The only motive he could conjecture for this was, that the
plaintiff expected and hoped, by appearing thus in person.
that he would by his rank and connexion effect that which
proved to be the great object of his life—namely, the putting
down and crushing of the Satirist newspaper. fie thought he
would, however, be able to show that there never was a person
of his high station who had so forgotten his own dignity; nor
was there ever a more trumpery case brought into court o:rien
that on which they were then engaged; and if so, he was sure
the jury would not forget what was due to a ;erson so ar-
raigned and so circumstanced. Whilst the Vtaintiff talked of
protecting himself, he (the learned cotttisel) thought that
the plaintiff had sought by this mea of proceeding to put
money in his pocket ; a.nd he now, perhaps, could divine
the reason why he pr,:ierred advocating his own cause in
Pe counsel. He must have been induced
to person rather
thus
because
bs
sei
lie could not otherwise secure to himself
an opportunity fcr displaying that rancorous and vindictive
feeling which characterised his present conduct, and which
blindly car:tad his animosity to the extreme, in the hope to
crush, as if it had been an active responsible agent, an ina-
nimate paper, whoever might happen to be connected with
it. The plaintiff certainly had a right to come there when
aSsalled by a newspaper slanderer, and defend himself, and
seek redress by filing a criminal information against him.
He had come in that way into Court to repel the charges of
Barnard Gregory once and twice, and convicted, perhaps
ruined the libeller for ever ; certainly had driven him from
the paper. (Here the Duke expressed his dissent.) One
would have thought that, wrapped up in the mantle
of innocence so clearly established, he could have afforded to
say to the defendant, " I will treat you with the scorn you
deserve if you reiterate accusations disproved by a decision
of a jury in the Court of Queen's Bench, where my character
has been fully vindicated in the highest court of justice in
this free country. I have brought my defamer to justice,
and lam content." This, he should have thought, would
have been the attitude such a plaintiff might have safely
assumed. But not so thought the plaintiff; for instead of
proceeding criminally against him, instead of purging him-
self of the imputed crime by his own oath, he stood here to-
day a noble and illustrious plaintiff seeking by the verdict of
a jury, to put a few paltry pounds—happily a few paltry pence
—in his illustrious pockets out of the proceeds of this most
pitiful and contemptible newspaper. Did the plaintiff, by pro-
ceeding in this way, seek to offer the defendant an oppor-
tunity to prove the truth of the alleged libel ?—(" Yes," in-
terrupted the Duke, "that is what it is.") Mr. Cockburn
continued—lt was not so; that was not what the plaintiff
sought, and he could and would prove it was not what he
sought. There could be little doubt that if the
.jury should
give the Duke 40s. damages to-day, they would hear to-
morrow that his attorney had commenced another action on
his own private account. He trusted that the jury, whilst
generously disposed to protect a foreigner against any unjust
attack by fellow-subjects, would weigh nicely in the balance
the amount of offence offered as well as the atonement, an„;
by giving the lowest possible coin in damages, if da:deges
they must award, chuck the vindictive feelings of 4,:ne prose-
cutor, and rescue a eomparatively poor and weak party from
the grasp of his would-be oppressor.
Mr. Henry Crocker, attorney for th'.. defendant, had called
upon the Duke's attorney, Mr. G'aeffe, when there was a
conversation, upon the contents of a paragraph in the Satirist
of the 9th of March last, and upon a second paragraph in the
same paper. The Duke's attorney said the actions had been
brouglit because the Duke considered it was a libel. There
were three actions commenced at once, and on the next day
of 'publication there was a paragraph inserted in the Satirist,
disclaiming, on the part of the editor and proprietor, any in-
tention to mix the Duke up with the offender Hooker or his
propensities. And, previously to the trial, the defendant had
been served by the Duke's attorney with notice that a copy
of the paper containing that disavowal of all such intention,
would be produced at the trial. The three writs were all
issued on the same day.
The Duke of Brunswick replied, disclaiming all desire to
reap pecuniary benefit from a verdict.

The Learned .JUDGE summed up the evidence with great
care and impartiality. If the jury thought the inuendoes
pointed to the plaintiff, this was a case of malice and not
of mistake, and therefore not contemplated by the statute
passed to protect publishers of a newspaper, who, without
malice, published a libel upon a party who brought his action.
Upon the whole, he would put the case to the jury upon the
plain intelligible ground of making the complainant's case
their own, and deciding accordingly.
The jury retired for nearly half an hour, and returned a
verdict for the plaintiff, with a farthing damages.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice COLTMAN.)
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY. Yesterday George Gamble, 31,
watchmaker, and Adolphus William Bodill, 31, traveller,
were charged, the former with stealing eight watches, value
1001., the property of John French, and the latter with felo-
niously receiving the same, well knowing that they had been
stolen.

In addition to this indictment there were live others against
the prisoners, the whole amount of the property stolen being
in value above 1,0004 The case occupied the Court a con-
siderable time, but it will be more easily understood in the
form of a narrative than if the evidence were given in detail.
It appeared that the prosecutor carries on a very extensive
business as a watch and chronometer maker in Cornhill, and
the prisoner Gamble had been in his service as foreman, and
acted in a confidential capacity for several years, but on.

the 16th October, in cbnsequence of some circumstances that
had come to the knowledge of Mr. French, he was discharged,
but at this time it would appear that no direct suspicion was
entertained against him. Almost immediately afterwards,
however, some further information was received which led to
the prisoner Gamble being apprehended at the Waterford
Arms, in the Haymarket, by Hall, a sergeant of the C divi-
sion ; and upon his telling him that he was charged with rob-
bing his master, Mr. French, he said that it was all over with
him, and that there was nothing before him but transporta-
tion. So far as this prisoner was concerned, there did not
appear to be any doubt of his guilt, for after be was in cus-
tody, he sent for the brother of the prosecutor, Mr. Wm.
French, and told him he admitted his guilt, and expressed
his deep regret for his conduct, stating, at the same time, that
he had given a great number of watches to the prisoner Bo-
dill and another person, whose name he mentioned, for the
purpose of being pawned, and he declared that neither of
those persons ever gave him either the duplicates or any
share of the proceeds. He also stated that be had repeatedly
applied to Bodell to give him the duplicates, as he intended
to redeem the property, but that he would not do so, and that
he bad threatened to expose him to his master if he did not
take more property; and this had led him to commit further
depredations. The prisoner Gamble, in addition to this, also
told Mr. French that he should never have committed the rob-
beries if it had not been for the solicitations of the prisoner
Bodill, who had suggested that they should open gaming-
rooms at a house in Manton-street, Haymarket, for the pur-
pose of playing at French hazard, as a means of making
money, and that this scheme was tried. The evidence against
the other prisoner, Bodill, was of an equally cogent charac-
ter. It appeared that in consequence of information which
had been received by the police in reference to the robbery,
a sergeant of the C division, named Gray, went to the shop
of Mr. Rochford, a pawnbroker in Brewer-street, who ap-
peared to have acted in a most creditable and proper manner
in the transaction, giving all the information in his power
tending to convict the guilty parties ; and the sergeant then
found the prisoner Bodill, who was at the time dealing with
two gold watches that had formed part of the stolen property.
Upon questioning him, Bodill informed the sergeant that he
knew Gamble, and said that he had seen him shortly before,
and that he had an appointment to meet him at five o'clock in
the City. The sergeant then told him that he should take
him into custody upon the charge of being concerned in
the robbery of watches from Mr. French ; and upon search-
ing him he found no fewer than one hundred and ten
duplicates, all referring to watches that had been
pledged, the amount advanced upon them being over
7001. In addition to this, it was proved that the prisoner
Bodill had been in the habit of visiting Gamble at Mr.
French's, and that they were on intimate terms ; and it was
likewise shown that apartments had been engaged in Pan-
ton-street for their joint use, and, as there was very little
d,,ubt, for the purpose referred to in the statement made by
Gamble to Mr. French. The watches, which formed the
subject of the present indictment, were produced by the
pawnbroker with whom they were pledged, and they were
clearly identified as being either the actual property of the
prosecutor, or as belonging to customers, and for which he
was, of course, legally responsible.
Mr. DOA_NE, on behalf of the principal, did not attempt to
set up any defence, and said that he was merely instructed
by the friends of Gamble to watch the evidence, and see that
the charge was legally substantiated. Having done this,
he had no further observations to offer, than to state that
the prisoner appeared to have made all the reparation in his
power by confessing his guilt, and assisting in the recovery
of the property.
Mr. CLARKsos addressed the jury on behalf of Bodill,
and called some witnesse who gave him a good character.
Mr. Justice ComiAN having summed up,
The jury, after a very short deliberation, returned a ver-
dict of Guilty against both prisoners.
Upon their being called up for judgment, the prisoner
Gamble declared that he had been dragged into the commis-
sion of the offence in consequence of his being surrounded by
a nest of gamblers and swindlers.
Mr. Justice COLTMAN, on passing sentence, said he was in-
clined to believe the statement of the prisoner Gamble, and
he thought it very probable that he had been led to commit
the offence by the solicitations of the other prisoner. That,
however, was no excuse or mitigation for his conduct, but
merely made the offence of the other prisoner of a worse cha-
racter. He then sentenced Gamble to be transported for ten
years, and Bodill for fourteen years.
Mr. BODKIN said there were six indictments against the
prisoners, and as it would not be necessary to proceed with
the whole of them, he applied to the Court to order that the
whole of the property which formed the subject of those in-
dictments, and -which had been identified, should be delivered
up to the prosecutor.
Mr. Justice COLTMAN said he saw no objection to this
course, and the property, consisting of valuable gold and
silver watches, was accordingly ordered to be given up to
Mr. French.

John Williams and Robert Waywood, who were convicted
at the September Sessions, were then placed at the bar.
It will be recollected that the prisoner Waywood was
charged with stealing a quantity of tea, the property of his
employers, and the other prisoner was charged with feloni-
ously receiving the property. Waywood pleaded guilty, and
was afterwards called as a witness, and an objection being
taken by counsel as to the admissibility of his evidence
under such circumstances, judgment was respited, and the
prisoners were now brought up to hear the decision of the
Judges.

iii. Justice CoLrmAikt, after having briefly alluded to the
circumstances, said the Judges were of opinion that the evi-
dence was legally admissible, and that the Recorder, who
tried the case, was justified in law in examining the witness,
and the conviction must therefore stand.
The RECORDER then passed sentence, and said that
the offence of the prisoner Williams was of a very
serious tbaracter. It appeared, that being himself a
d;,aler in tea, he bad been in the habit of going
about with a horse and cart, and receiving property
of that description from persons who had plundered their
employers of it. He considered his was a very aggravated
case, and, therefore, he felt it his duty to pass upon him the
extreme penalty of the law, which was that he be transported
beyond the seas for fourteen years. With regard to the other
prisoner, the sentence upon him was, that he be imprisoned
and kept to hard labour for six months.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.
William Harding and Thomas Jones, notorious members
of the thieving fraternity, were brought before the Lord
Mayor, charged with having robbed Mr. R. V. W. Williams,
of a pocket-book containing property to a very large amount.
Mr. Robinson attended for Jones.
Mr. Williams stated that he is a solicitor, and that he car-
ries on business at 3, Paper-buildings, Temple. That on
Thursday, at about half-past one o'clock, be was returning
from Masterman's bank, where he had received some bank
notes, which he had placed in his pocket-book, and deposited
in his inside coat-pocket, and that on his return to his cham-
bers, in about an hour, he missed his pocket-book. He had
passed through Cheapside, St. Paul's Churchyard, and Bois-
verie-street, to the Temple. That he had a bundle of letters
in his pocket, and at the top of Bucklersbury, in Cheapside,
he fancied he had his pocket touched, but upon feeling his
pocket and finding his bundle of letters safe, he concluded
that his pocket-book
with its contents, was also secure.
The pocket-book which he afterwards ascertained he had
lost, had at the time nine 101. Bank of England notes,
three Si. Bank of England notes, two orders for the payment
of .t,OOOl, each, an order for 5001., an order for 501., and
several bills of exchange, which were overdue, and had been
paid.
Mr. Thomas Brand, cashier at Masterman's bank, stated
that at about one o'clock on Thursday he paid to Mr. Wil-
liams, the prosecutor, the nine 101. Bank of England notes
produced, and the two 5/. Bank of England notes.
John Coram (policeman 403) stated that at half-past one
o'clock, in consequence of information which he received that
a gentleman's pocket had been picked, he went across the
street in Cheapside and looked down Gutter-lane, and saw
the prisoner Harding with both his hands in his pockets.
Witness followed him down the lane. The prisoner turned
his head round and witness knew him. The prisoner then
began to run, and witness cried out "Stop him," and pur-
sued. The prisoner ran as far as Goldsmith-street, across
Wood-street, through Mitre-court, and back through Russia-
row, where witness saw him take a pocket-book out of his
pocket and hold it in his hand. The prisoner turned the
corner into a court, and witness gave him the double and ran
round to the end of another court, met him, took him into
custody, and asked him where the pocket-book was. At
that moment a boy came to witness and handed him the
hook, which was identified by Mr. Williams, and contained
all the property described.
George Bell, a boy in the employment of Mr. Davis, of
Bull's Head-court, Newgate-street, as an errand-boy, stated
that as he was walking up Russia-row he saw Harding run-
ning along, and the constable in close pursuit, calling out
" Stop thief!" The prisoner turned down Robin Hood- court,
and witness followed him and saw him drop the pocket-book
produced. Witness picked up the pocket-book, and when
he got to the end of the court he saw the prisoner in the
custody of John Coram, the policeman, to whom he gave up
the pocket-book, in Harding 's presence.
The witnesses, Coram and Bell, on being questioned by
Mr. Robinson, for Jones, stated that they had not seen that
prisoner at all in company with Hardin A
30, stated
g.
tbte dangot to notorious thaßtohbeert
was
in Andrews,ehea Ideetrboeptowliatean one and two o'clotk the
n policeman,
day in question, and he saw the prisoners, Winslll. he knew to
o
sail' :times pass same-
ran up Chepside towards St. Paul's, and crossed to the op-
Houasrding, thieves,whtoogimetmheerd. iat H
eLer
ad. Jones
trossed the r
op-
posite side of the street., and went towards the Bank, and
witness pursued and took him into custody at the corner of
Milk-street, °`.s 1
and -ged him in the station-house.
On his erns...-examination, the witness said he had not told
the police
...man who was with him that he had seen anything
pas: mom Jones to Harding, as the case was his (witness's),
end not his comrade's. Neither had he mentioned at the
station-house that he had seen anything pass between the
prisoners.
Inspector Walter stated that the witness Andrews said at
the station-house that he saw nothing of the robbery, but
that he had seen the prisoners together before.
The LORD MAYOR did not consider that the evidence
against Jones was sufficient to warrant the committal of that
prisoner, and dischargsi him.
Harding was committed to lientte kr trial.
It was stated by several nettle policemen present that both
prisoners were t'Oßstafttly together, and that Harding had
been tried at the Central Criminal Court, in the name of
Stevens!, for a robbery some time ago.
It was indeed matter of regret, that the testimony against
Jones, who is the elder and more experienced thief, Was hot
sufficient to sanction his committal for trial.
Q UE EN- S Q UA RE.
SERIOUS CHARGE Or CONSPIRACY,—On Friday; Iteite#
Spicer, a broker, residing in the Marlbnrtelei-roa , Chelsea,
and Henry Stevenson, the proprietor of the 'rown beer-shop,
College-street, Chelsea, Were charged with conspiracy.
The circumstances of the case, as stated by Mr. Robinson,
and proved by the evidence, are these a—Mr. Thomas Docket,
of high-street, Marylebone, auctioneer and appraiser, who is
agent for a Mr. White, was desirous of getting possession of
a house belonging to that gentleman, at No. 8, Robert-street,
Chelsea, occupied by a lady named Freneh ; but finding this
a matter of no little difficulty, he accepted the proposal of
the prisoner Spicer, who undertook, by the exercise of some
ruse, to effect that object. As there were considerable ar-
rears of rent due, Spicer was armed, on the Bth of Novem-
ber, with a distress warrant, but was distinctly told by Mr.
Docket, that if le succeeded in getting in, he was not to
touch or move a single thing, but leave a man in possession
until he (Mr. Docket) was made acquainted with the circum-
stance. On Monday, the 10th instant, Spicer called on Mr.
Docket, and, to lis great surprise, informed him that lie had
made an entry, and had removed all the furniture, and im-
pounded it at Stevenson's. Mr. Docket then went to Chel-
sea, and in the presence of Spicer, and a gentleman named
King, the friend if Mrs. French, that lady gave up possession
of her house—Mi. Docket, from feelings of humanity, as the
lady had seven ccildren, undertaking to restore the whole of
her furniture excening eight articles named, which were to
be sent to Mr. Docket's house, and detained until the unfor-
tunate lady shoull be in a condition to pay 10/. Spicer drew
out the list of these articles, and a note to the effect above
stated was appented in his presence, and read by him.
Shortly after the arrangement had been effected, Stevenson
was made acquained with it in the presence of Spicer, and
told that on the lady producing the inventory, with Mr.
Docket's signature to it, the whole of her property, with the
exception of the eght articles, were to be given •up to her.

On the 13th instant, not having received the goods, Mr.
Docket went to Stevenson, and asked him the reason they
were not sent, when he replied, " Me send them, what have
I to do about sending them ?" and then added, Spicer had
borrowed money of him upon the goods, and he should not
let them go until 51. was paid, as Spicer had instructed him.
Mr. Docket informed Stevenson that no expense wes to be
incurred upon the things after the first day, as all had been
amicably arranged, and they were not to be condemned. On
the 15th instant, Mr. Docket again went to Stevenson, when
Spicer told him that the eight articles had been condemned,
and Stevenson then admitted, in the presence of Spicer, that
the condemnation had taken place on the previous day, and
that he had bought them, and added, that if Mr. Docket
would give him M. 125., he should have them. On Mr.
Docket expostulating and threatening to go before a magis-
trate, Stevenson said he would kick him out of the place.
Spicer and Stevenson were perfectly well acquainted with
the nature of the agreement, and the former, from first to
last, never had any authority to dispose of the property.
Spicer, in answer to the charge, pretended that as he had
had a warrant given him to distrain, he was perfectly justi-
fied in removing and impounding the furniture, and was
bound to sell it in five days after the seizure. He had been
at a great deal of expense in getting into the house, moving
the goods, &c., and sold the things to reimburse himself, as
Mr. Docket would not pay his list of charges (amounting to
nearly 5/.)
Stevenson declared most positively that he had no con-
nexion with Spicer, and that the relation in which they stood
to each other was simply that of landlord and tenant. He
assured the magistrate that he never had the goods in his
possession until after they were regularly appraised in the
presence of a policeman, when he bought them at an in-
creased price. Spicer occupied some premises of his, where
he impounded furniture, and whenever he seized any he
locked it up. He (Stevenson) had, of course, no control over
property in possession of another, and having seen the ap-
praiser sworn by the police, and the articles valued, he was
not aware when they were afterwards offered to him that he
did any wrong in buying them.
After a great deal of conversation, much of which was
irrelevant,
Mr. BURRELL ordered Spicer to find good bail for his ap-
pearance at the Central Criminal Court, to answer the charge
of conspiracy ; but, considering the case much lighter against
Stevenson, said he should be content with his own recog-
nizances to appear at the same time and place.
Spicer was locked up.
WORSHIP-STREET.

CIIARGE OF STABBlNG.—Yesterday, Benjamin Freeman
was charged before Mr. Bingham with stabbing a young
woman, named Mary Ann Webb, with whom he cohabited.
William Long, 77 K, stated that about eight o'clock on
Thursday evening he was called into a house in Collingwood-
street, Bethnal-green, where he found a young woman lying
upon a bed and attended by a surgeon, and was informed
that she had been stabbed in the abdomen with a knife now
produced. The prisoner was sitting in the room, and from
what was stated, it appeared that he had become irritated by
the refusal of the female to partake of some provision which
he had brought in for their supper.
A certificate was produced from the London Hospital, to
which the female had hem conveyed, stating that the wound
was of a very dangerous nature.
A large double-bladed clasp knife was exhibited, the large
blade of which appeared to be stained to the extent of nearly
two inches, the depth of the wound.
The prisoner, who appeared grieved by the occurrence,
stated that it was entirely accidental. He was eating at the
time with the knife in his hand, and was not aware that it
was pointed towards the female.
The Magistrate remanded the prisoner for a week.
SOUTHWARK. _ _ _

DARING ROBBERY IN A PUBLIC-HOUSE.—Yesterday, John
Watson and John Samuels, two well-dressed men, the former
about 45, and the latter 30 years of age, were charged with
stealing upwards of 501. in sovereigns and silver, besides two
watches, in a public-house called the Old Justice, in
Bermondsey-wall, and also with committing violent assaults
on policeman 237, M division, and on a young man named
Samuel Brown.
Mrs. Mary Wickens, the wife of the landlord of the Old
Justice public-house, stated, that between two and three
o'clock on Thursday afternoon the two prisoners entered the
house, and inquired—if they could be accommodated with a
private room to transact some important business, saying that
they had be .' there on the preceding week, and that they
should wis to occupy the same room in which they bad been
on that oc sion. Witness informed him that the room was
in confusiOn, but that they could be accommodated in the
parlour. They, however, replied that they had some letters
to write, that they did not wish to be broken in upon, and
that as to the room mentioned being in confusion, they did
not mind that so that they would not be interrupted. Witness
accordingly accompanied them up stairs to the club-room on
the first floor, and on taking their seats at the table they
called for pen, ink, and paper, and a glass of hot rum-and-
)
water, and addressing the landlady, said they expected
gentleman there, but that if he called she.,was not to permi
him up stairs, but to let him remain below in the parlo
until they were informed of his arrival, and that they wo d
go down and see him. The witness then left the room, and,
by way of precaution, although she had not the slightest sus-
picion of the two customers, on passing her own bedroom, on
the same floor, she locked the door and placed the key in
her pocket, and afterwards sent up the writing materials and
the glass of rum-and-water by her neice, who observed that
both men appeared to be intent upon some manuscript
which one was reading to the other. The niece then quitted
the room, and in about a quarter of an hour afterwards the
prisoners left the house, one of them carrying a blue bag,
which he was seen to have on their entrance. Almost im-
mediately after the departure of the strangers the landlady
went up stairs, and perceiving the door of her bedroom was
ajar, she quickly entered, and found that her drawers bad
been forced open, and and a bag containing between 201. and
30/. in sovereigns, a bowl containing 301. in silver, and two
watches also had been taken. She hastened down stairs, and
having given her husband a hurried account of the robbery,
desired him to mind the bar while she went in quest of the
thieves. She ran down Bermondsey-wall, and at the same
time exercising her lungs to their fullest extent, gave notice
of the plunder that had just been committed in her house,
which soon attracted the passengers, amongst whom was
a young man named Samuel Brown, who joined in the pur-
suit. Theycontinued running until theygot into the Spa-road,
when the landlady obtained a distinct view of the two priso-
ners, whom she pointed out, and they were soon overtaken by
Brown, who, perceiving that kafnuels carried a blue bag,
immediately tried to arrest him. Samuels, however, dis-
engaged himself from the young man's grasp, and ran into
a gateway, followed by the other prisoner. Brown directly
went in after them, when he was attacked by Samuels, who
had a "life-preserver," with which he struck him a severe
blow on the head, in his attempt to secure him. By this
time policeman 237 M arrived, and a desperate struggle
took place between them, both the pnsonerg making the
most determined resistance, during which Samuels, still in
possession of the weapon, turned upon the policeman, and
struck him with such force on the head as to cut through
his hat, and inflict a wound near the temple. The policeman
was stunned from the effects of the blow, but he still retained
hold of his assailant until he was at length disarmed of the
life-preserver, and both the prisoners were ultimately secured.
The blue bag which Samuels was previously known to have
carried was missed, and on a subsequent examination of the
place under the gateway where he and his companion had
taken refuge in the heat of the pursuit, the bag containing the
whole of the money was discovered concealed under a quantity
of mould, which had evidently been recently dug up for the
purpose. The bag, with its contents, was produced in Court,
and it was further stated that the two watches were found in
the possession of Watson, upon whom were also found a crow-
bar and several picklock keys.
At the conclusion of the examination, Mr. Traill perceiv-
ing that the prisoners had refused to give their addresses at
the station-house, asked them if they were now willing to
disclose their places of abode?
Samuels, who is supposed to be a Jew, with an air of com-
plete nonchalance, said that he was not going to tell where
he lived, bat that he was prepared to abide the consequences
of his conduct.

The other prisoner said that he was willing to take the
whole responsibility of the act of plundering the Old Justice
upon himself, and that Samuels had no hand in the affair.
In reply to a question put by Mr. TRAILL, the policemen
in attendance said that they could not identify either of the
prisoners; but it was stronly suspected they belonged to a
gang of well-dressed thieves who have committed robberies
to a serious extent in the houses of licensed victuallers. The
men in custody were well-dressed and respectable-leaking,
their appearance being well calculated to throw the landlords
of public-houses thoroughly off their guard.
Mr. TRAILL said that he should remand the prisoners until
to-morrow (this day), and probably other charges of a simi-
lar nature would be preferred against them.

THE BOILER EXPLOSION IN
BISHOPWEARMOUTH.
SUNDERLAND, THURSDAY EvEsusto.—The excitement
consequent on the terrible explosion at the Bishopwear-
mouth Ironworks has partially subsided, but still the spot
has been visited by thousands in the course of the day, and
the most anziolia inquiries are made respecting those suffer-
ing from the injuries they received, all of whom are going on
well, with the exception of three—namely, Richard Pearson,
William Carr, and George Siddle, who are not expected to
reethier. 'The inquest tin those who have been killed will be
held to-morrow morning, and will probably occupy the whole
day. Downey, the engineer, is much improved, and it is
considered that he will be sufficiently well to attend the in-
quest. He was not, It appears, actually. within the engine-
room when the explosion occurred, but just on the outside,
and his injuries were caused by the fall of materials pro-
jected with such violence into the air.
A witness of the appalling calamity observes that the top
of the building for a moment rose like a cloud, but the
next it flew to pieces, and, along with nearly the entire
contents of the building the boiler and the steam escaping
from it, ascended as if from a Volcano, and instantly the air
was tilled with the wreck of maehinery, broken splinters,
iron, bricks, tiles, wood, and dust, which Woe driven in
every direction. In the vicinity of the works, and to a con..
• siderable distance, the appearance of the roads and houses
was as If the ruins of the entire factory had been strewed
' tround, The boiler itself, which had exploded, huge as it
• Was, was broken into several pieces, and distributed to Ira-
Vow!) distAncee. One piece Weighing between two and three
tons, was dashed against a portion of the warehouse adjoin-,
jug the roan, wilic% it ;;;;::,!: through, and alighted on the
opposite side of the road, having been driven from its posi-
tion a distalide of nearly billet,. feet. Another larg,-: frag-
nient; Weighing abolit 4 toil Slid it Hilt; WA§ thrown into the
yard Of MesSO: Hartley and Co.'g glagsWotksi Whitt era
situate oil the fiotth side 11 16 ftOdi e ray
feet front where the explosion iiaiiffi4l. A Ple6e of.
pipe connected with the boiler, weighing about kifiq
sirae ctiiilily throWn a distance of 687 feet, and alighted
In Johnstoii-stfei4; Where it MA& a deep indentation in the
ground ; and, strange to say, anOtlll4 wqemied so high,
and was thrown to such a distance, that it enteral 6-14..4ir the
lofty chimneys of Messrs. Hartley and Co.'s works, whetB
it formed an obstruction for some time. When pieces of iron
of-such immense weights were thrown to such distances, it
may be well conceived- how flakes of iron and missiles of
hick, wood, and tile would be showered around. No lives
were lost by the falling materials beyond the works, though
various individuals were slightly injured by the light mis-
siles ; others had a narrow escape, and the houses in the imme-
diate vicinity of the catastrophe sustained slight damage.
Mr. Hutton, of Ford Paper-mill, had a narrow escape, he
having just passed a spot on the road on which a ofty
chimney was thrown. , A huge bark of timber was thrown
against the house of Matthew Smith, a farmer, nearly oppo-
site the works. It struck the window, broke the sashes
and glass, and a portion of the splinters were dashed across
the room against a plate-rack on the opposite wall, where
it shivered the shelf to atoms. Fortunately, none of
the family were in the apartment at the time, the do-
mestics being engaged sorting diseased potatoes, in a
shed behind the premises. Another portion of timber
was thrown over the house on to the roof a kitchen behind,
the roof of which it smashed in ; but ,'gain there was, fortu-
nately, no one near at the time. Indekd, casualties of this
kind are too numerous to particularise, there being scarcely
a house in the vicinity of the Works but ha s sustained more
or •less damage. One poor woman, named
_!lnn Hurst, on
the eve of her confinement, was so much alarm ed as to bring
on premature labour, and she was removed frOm her own
house to another, some distance from it, in a state bordering
on frenzy.
A mere list of the wounded can he of little inter est to par-
ties at a distance from the loalit.rl but 4 the folliowin

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appended a variety of particulars which will serve to convey
some notion of the nature of the calamity, and the amount of
suffering it has occasioned.
DEAD.—Charles Conforth, John Sugden, and William
Phillips, the latter having entered the works just before the
accident with his father's breakfast. John Oxley, who was
taken out alive, but died soon afterwards. His wound is de-
scribed as a compound fracture of the skull, or more properly,
fracture of the dorsal vertebra;. He was forty-five years of
age, and has left a wife and eight children.
MEN WOUNDED.—Thomas Hurst and Richard Oliver, cut
about the head ; Thomas Pearson. cut in the back, , and se-
verely injured internally ; Owen Thomas, skull fractured, and
otherwise much cut and bruised; John Lumber, head injured
and nose carried away, scarcely expected to survive;
Almond, cut on the head; Thomas Downey, the engineman,
cut in the head and arm ; William Lewis, head fractured
and Richard West, cut in the head and arm.
YOUNG MEN AND Boys.—John Shotton, much scalded;
two brothers, named Gardener, hurt in the arm and head ;
John Pegman, seriously injured, and carried to the infir-
mary, where his fingers, which had been broken, and were
hanging by mere threads, were taken off; William Richley,
cut on the head; John Mowbray, skull fractured ; William
Pearson, very much hurt, having received a compound frac-
ture of the skull, has been trepanned, and is not expected to
recover; Richard Boswell, slightly cut; Mrs. Boswell, the
mother of this boy, was nearly smothered in the ruins, while
bringing her son's breakfast, she escaped with great fright;
James Robson, much cut about the head and arms; William
Carr, skull fractured, and not expected to live; George Sid-
dle, much cut and bruised internally; Henry Cornforth and
William Buskell, bruised about the head and arms.

It will tl be seen that there are about equal proportions
of men and boys wounded. The fact of so many of the boys
being wounded is accounted for by their staying in the works
to take their breakfasts more generally than the men. As
they were all in or about the more immediate scene of the
explosion, their escape from instant death is attributable to
the boiler flying upwards, carrying along with it the roof
and all above and around it in its flight, and a great portion
of the fragments of which alighted, not in the works, but at
a distance. The injury sustained by the wounded appears
to hare been mostly about the head, a circumstance easily
accounted for by the fact that they were standing in the
works, and were injured from the fall of the materials blown
upwards by the explosion.