The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-08 00:00:00

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Mr. PAYNE, who appeared for the prisoner, addressed the
Jury for the defence, and called several witnesses, all of whom
gave the. prisoner a good character for mikLess of disposition
and humanity.
Mr. Justice ERSKINE summed up the evidence, and the Jury
found the prisoner guilty of assault only. He was sentenced
to six months' imprisonment and bard labour.
George Coley, aged 38, was indicted for assaulting and
wounding Richard Pratley, with intent to do him some grievous
bodily harm.
It appeared that the prosecutor had been playing at skittles,
drinking at the house of the prisoner, who keeps the sign of the
Hoops at Kensington Gravel-pits. At the proper time the
prisoner desired the prosecutor and his companions to leave
the ground, and at the same time extinguished the lights, in
order to compel them to leave off playing. Upon being pressed,
however, he consented to allow them to finish their game, and
then again requested them to leave the house. The prosecutor
refused to go, and some opprobrious language passed between
them. The prisoner said he would fetch a policeman,
and put the prosecutor where he was before ; he went
out, but shortly returned, armed with a stick. He
again desired the prosecutor to go away, and instantly struck
him such a violent blow on the head as to knock him down,
and stun him for some time, inflicting a wound two inches in
length. It was admitted by the prosecutor, upon cross-exami-
nation, that he had been several times in prison for drunken-
ness and disorderly conduct, and also for assaults up ,n the
police; he also admitted that he was a prize—fighter, and had
been frequently mixed up in quarrels.
Mr. Justice COLERIDGE having summed up, a verdict of
Guilty of an assault was returned.
The Learned JUDGE sentenced the prisoner to six months'
hard labour in the House of Correction.

NEW COURT.
The cases to-day were uninteresting ; but, as a specimen of
life in London, we may state that a policeman, in alluding to a
gentleman who keeps a cab, added that he believed the gentle-
man's mother at the same time keeps a brothel, but then it is
one of the highest respectability.

LICE IN T.A.LIGENCE.
BO W-STREET.
A very well attired man was placed at the bar, charged with
stealing a purse, containing 31. 89. 6d., from a lady in the
Adelaide Gallery. Previous to any evidence being taken the
prisoner requested Mr. Hall to postpone the case for a few
hunrs, till the arrival of his solicitor, fur whom he had sent
that morning. As the witnesses in the case, however, were
very numerous, and it would be inconvenient for them to stay,
his request was not granted.
The witnesses in this pickpocket case were very numerous,
but as the prosecutrix's eviiience will sufficiently explain the
charge, we content ourselves with giving it.
Mary Henson, the presecutrix, a talkative middle-aged lady,
stated, with many circumlocutions, that last evening, about a
quarter to nine, she was in the Adelaide Gallery, hearing the
little Sappho sing. Whilst standing there, she felt some one
pick her pocket, and perceived that her purse, containing 31.
Bs. tid., was gone ; she suspected the pi isoner, and followed
him. When he got to the end of the Gallery he' made a bolt,
whereupon she laid hold of hi.n ; he dragged her down the
stairs. She then threw herself in his way, and prevented his
egress, at the same time calling for assistance, when he threw
the purse over the bannisters. Assistance soon arrived, and
the constable to-di him into costedy.
The next witness was the stout, gallant, little, old gentle-
man, with black coat, vest, and unwhisperables, and their in-
variable aceompanimentra white neckerchief, who went to the
lady's assistance.
Then came the pert, oily-looking servant girl who picked up
the purse.
Then came the good-looking, knowing, officious young man,
with Sir Peter Laurie's abomination hair, whiskers, cravat,
and Taglioni.
Then came the tall policeman, who did not know the pri-
soner, but who had suspected him all the time ; who stated
that gentlemen like him went much about just now to Ade-
laide Galleries, Polytechnic Institutions, and .Pantheons ; who
searched the prisoner, and who found on him l Is. in money,
a breast pin, and a penknife, such as is used to cut ladies'
pockets.
Three or four witnesses next rushed forward, anxious to be
heard, but, much to their apparent disappointment, they were
informed that the case was sufficiently proved, and that their
evidence would not be required. Amongst the aspirants for
the honour of bearing testimony in this case, we plainly ob-
served the prosecutrix's husband, a fat, paternal old gen-
tleman, whose countenance indicated the most dreadful
abhorrence at any man who could think of committing
a robbery in an illegitimate way. The eldest son,
the prop and pride of the family, whose hints tendered
on more than one occasion to his mamma exhibited his desire
that everything should be done properly. The eldest daughter,
a good-looking young lady, who would fain be examined to
show how much better she could do it than her mamma, and
her youngest son, who came there to get a little insight into
police business. Another old gentleman who came second to
the assistance of the lady; and another buckish middle aged
gentleman, with his hair so stiffly curled, as almost to raise
him from the ground, who was anxious to explain every
thing, but who was not allowed to say anything.
The prisoner was committed for trial.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
John Pearce, a middle-aged man, very
.respectably dressed
was placed at the bar charged with the following robbery :
Mr. H. Heaney, of the Britannia public-house, Berwick-
street, Soho, stated, that on Wednesday night the prisoner came
to his house and engaged a bed for the night. On ' his coming
down stairs next morning, an alteration was noticed in his size,
which, exciting suspicion, the prisoner was prevented from
going away, and, on examining the room he had slept in, one
of the blankets was missing from off the bed. On searching
him, it was found wrapped round his waist.
Mr. HAitywlcx (the presiding Magistrate)—Prisoner, do
you wish to say anything in answer to this charge? Prisoner--
Why, Sir, what can I say ? The blanket was found wrapped
round my waist.
He wrs fully committed. Numerous public-houses in the
neighbourhood, have been robbed under similar circumstances.
James Matthews, a sharp, knowing boy, about IS years of
age, who is known to the police as one of a gang of young
thieves infesting Regent-street and the vicinity, was committed
to take his trial at the present sittings of the Central Criminal
Court, charged with being concerned in the following daring
robbery. Between 8 and 9 o'clock on Wednesday morning, the
prisoner, in company with another boy much younger than
himself, were seen lurking about and watching the shop of Mr.
Daniel Bay, of No. 43, Regent-street, Mackintosh cloak, &c.,
manufacturer, and at length the younger boy crept into the shop
on his hands and knees, and very adroitly reached down
two Maekiwosh cloaks, of the value of 2/. 10s. each, with which
he crawled into the street, and having given them to the pri-
soner, was making off together, but Mr. Box's shopman having
been informed of what had occurred, pursued, calling " Stop
thief," on which the prisoner threw down the stolen property,
but nearly at the same instant was taken into custody. The
other boy, hove ever, managed to escape. The prisoner, on
being asked if he wished to soy anything in his defence, replied
saucily, " Not a bit of it, your Worship ;" and as he was being
led to the lock-up cells, he began singing the noted flash song
of "And 1 shall go up Holborn-hill," &c.
Ann Coates, a young woman of very dissipated appearance,
was remanded on a charge of having stripped a furnished room
she had taken on Thursday last, at the house of Mr. Green,
of No. 35, Berwick-street, Soho, undertaker, of every porta-
ble article it contained, even to the carpet, and six large
framed oil paintings. The property was found pledged in the
neighbourhood. She began clearing the room on Friday
morning last.
Yesterday afternoon, just at the close of this Court, Mr,
Barnard Gregory, the proprkor and editor of the Satirist
weekly newspaper, was brought up in custody of Gibbett, one
of the police-constables, appointed to serve the processes of the
Court, on a warrant that had been issued on an indictment
found against him this morning at the Central Criminal Court,
" for unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously, and designedly print-
ing, and publishing, and causing, and procuring to be printed

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
INS O VP :VT I)EPTO ;!S"
.;tJ I. T 1 7 .4p,•• ;I 7 .
ER JEAN ALT:i.A.:,7nER T1111.L.11-E TAT. StiF.D .48 crwriT

Me,;Jay, the pecuiar ciretnn:tanes in which tht insul,kt cvas placeet were i)rought before the Court, \then it ap.
peared that he tx as a person of high scientific attainments, and
the inventor of a certain method of generating gas by a much
cheaper process than that usually followed. The merit of this
this invention had been tested before his Royal High-
ness the Duke of Cambridge, and several of the
most eminent scientific men of the day, who pronounced
mo,t favourably upon it. It was stated to the Court that the
insolvent was in such a state of extreme destitution, that he
was unable to appear on his petition owing to the wretched
state of his dress, when an order was made that he should re-
ceive 31. to be enabled to come up to be heard.
Upon the insolvent entering the box this day,
Mr. Commissioner Ha anis inquired who acted as his at-
torney, and having been informed that it was Mr. Buchannan,
he said that gentleman's conduct was wholly inexcusable,
in bringing him to-day, as it was Mr. Commissioner Law who
heard the commencement of the case, and it was before him it
should have been terminated.
Mr. Woonitorex said a letter had been addressed to Mr.
Mears, the Clerk of the Court, by Mr: Commissioner Law,
desiring that the case might be brought before any of the
Learned Commissioners, who might chance to be sitting in
Court on the day when it was rile for hearing.
Mr. Commissioner HARRIS said he received a lette: yester-
day from Mr. Commissioner Law, expressing surprise that the
ease should have been brought on his absence.
Mr. Commissioner Law's letter having been produced, autho-
rising the ease to come on during hie Alence,
The Learned Sitting CO3I3IISSIOI La said under those cir-
cumstances he felt bound to exonerate Mr. Buchanan from
the censure which he felt in the first instance inclined to attach
to his conduct.
M. Estieu, who was a creditor for 212/., applied to have the
schedule amended, as his name was inserted for a debt of only
621.—Granted.
Mr. Commissioner HARRIS said as the case had been so fre-
quently adjourned, a day's delay would he of little consequence,
and he should, therefore, order the case to stand over until his
Learned Colleague was sitting.

ILE JOHN ROBE.
The insolvent in this case was described as a dealer in plated
goods, carrying on business in Whitechapel-road. The amount
' of debts and liabilities appearing in the schedule exceeded
1,2121.
Mr. Knight, of Whitechapel-road, was subjected to a long
examination concerning a certain assignment executed by the
insolvent in his favour, by which it appea d.that it was granted
for a loan of 1501. upon property, which ruralised by sale a much
larger sum. The deed had not been executed three clear
months before the date of the vesting order, and was conse-
quently legally invalid.
Mr. Knight having agreed to pay intt court the ballnee
between the sum lent and that realized, the case was ordered
to stand adjourned generally until the contract was fulfided,
after which the insolvent could appear in Court ,tpon two days'
notice to be discharged.

CRIMINAL COURT, YESTERDAY.
OLD COURT.
Alfred Flight, a sailor boy, was indicted for feloniously stab-
bing anti wounding Charles Swanson, with intent to do him
some grievous bodily harm, within the liberty of her 1114.. sty's
Tower of London.
From the evidence of the prosecutor, it appeared, that he
and the prisoner were engaged on board a ship
called the London. The prisoner w 3 an apprentice on
board the ship, and the prosecutor was the ship's cook. On
the 28th January last., the prosecutor and prisoner were engaged
in handing bars of iron into the hold of the ship. As the bars
were handed down they accidentally struck the prisoner once or
twice, and he said to the prosecutor "did you d that for the
purpose,'! and the prosecutor said in answer that he had not.
Shortly afterwards another one struck the prisoner, and he took
up a log of wood and threw it at the prosecutor, and struck
him on the thumb. This was between nine anti ten o'clock
in the evening. The prisoner went to the mate, and complained
of the treatment he had received from the cook ; but the mate
said, if he did not go about his business, he would give him a
d-d good thrashing. The prisoner then went to the quarter
cleat, and the prosecutor followed him. The prisoner got
into the rigging out of the way of the cook, but the
prosecutor struck him several times with a rope, and the pri-
soner drew his knife and stabbed the prosecutor in the shoulder.
He was taken to a surgeon, and the wound was dressed. He
was subsequently taken to the London Hospital. The prisoner
was given into custody, when he told the police-officer, that he
had stabbed the cook in self-defence, as he had been ill-treated
by him.
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