The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-25 00:00:00

LAMBETH.

Yesterday the Rev. James West, a clergyman of the Church
of England, who had been remanded under the name of " James
Fletcher," was brought before Mr. Henry, for final examination,
on a charge of illegally pawning goods from his ready-furnished
apartments.
Mrs. Hannah Croker, a widow, residing in Nunhead.lane,
Peckham-rye, deposed, that on the 2d instant the prisoner and
his wife came to lodge at her house in a ready.furnished apart-
ment, and remained there until the 15th. On the last-men-
tioned day witness, suspecting they were robbing her, asked the
prisoner's wife if she had any objection to her going into the
room. Mrs. West consented, but the moment she entered she
and her husband ran away. Witness missed a blanket, two
sheets, and a counterpane, and in consequence sent after the pri-
soners, who were brought back in the custody of a policeman.
The blankets, sheets, and counterpane produced were her property,
and were of the value of 17s.
William Hammond, a police-constable, 90 F, said that on the
15th instant, in the afternoon, he looked across Peckham.rye, and
saw the prisoner and his wife running as fast as they could. He
pursued and stopped them, saying " What have you done ?" and
the prisoner replied, " We have been stealing some sheets and
pledging them, but I didn't mean to run away without paying."
He said some money was due to him that night, and he intended
to redeem the things when that came. He (witness) found the
duplicate for the blanket and the counterpane on the prisoner,
and he acknowledged to having sold the duplicates for the sheets
Francis Woods, shopman to his uncle, a pawnbroker in High-
street, Peckham, deposed that the sheets, blanket, and counter-
pane had been pledged with him by the male prisoner.
Hammond, the police-constable, said there were a great many
persons in attendance who were sufferers by the prisoner's prac-
tices, but he doubted whether the offences amounted to those of a
criminal nature,
Mr. HENRY desired them to be called, when one,
A poor hard-working man, said, that the prisoner came to his
house and said he wanted a messenger to take a letter to Squire
Leicester, at the west end of the town, who owed him money, and
who would send some back by the bearer, and ultimately asked for
the loan of a shilling. Witness, being a poor man, could ill afford
to part with a shilling, but prisoner's language was so good, and
his representation so plausible, that he could not refuse him, and
gave him the shilling. He went with the letter to Squire Lei-
cester's, and was told there was no answer. While he was gone
on this message, the prisoner called at his house and succeeded in
getting a shilling from his wife.
A gentleman, who was in Court and had been in conversation
with the prisoner, here expressed a hope the magistrate would dig-
pose of the case summarily.
Mr. HENRY replied, he could not do so. A great number
of poor persons had been made sufferers, and he (Mr.
Henry) should send him for trial upon the charge of unlawful
pawning.
While the depositions were being taken, Mr. HENRY, addressing
the gentleman, remarked that, upon his former examination the
prisoner had mentioned the names of some distinguished families
to whom he said he was nearly related, and asked if he knew any-
thing about his character or history ? The gentleman replied that
he did, and that his representations about his family connexions
were perfectly correct. His real name was West, and he was a
clergyman of the Established Church. He (the prisoner) was
nephew to a nobleman holding the highest appointment in her
Majesty's household, was connected by marriage with many distin-
guished families, and his father and mother as well as the friends
of his wife were persons of large property and the highest respect..
ability, and he (the gentleman) became acquainted with him by
his being professionally engaged to dispose of some property be-
longing to him while graduating. at Brasenose College. While at
Oxford, he was picked up by a set of sharpers, and being of a most
liberal disposition—indeed, lavishly so—they fleeced him. As
a proof of this foolish liberality, he would mention the fact that
the last 100/. he possessed as the wreck of his property, he had
lent to a sporting baronet, though there was scarcely a hope
of his getting it er any part of it back. By similar follies
in money matters the prisoner had been reduced, no doubt, to
considerable want, and his friends, in the hope, probably, of
making him feel his folly, had allowed him but the small pittance of
7s. a-week, and not 11. 75., as had been stated; but still he was
surprised to find him resort to any act of criminality. In extenua.
tion of his offence he begged to say, that he (the gentleman) had
had a communication with Mr. Leicester, the gentleman whose
name had been mentioned, and he assured him he had forwarded a
sovereign by the post, for the prisoner's use, but It had never
reached him. Had he received it he would not have been under
the necessity of pawning the things, or, having pawned them, might
have redeemed them in time to prevent discovery.
Mr. HENRY asked if the prisoner had ever done duty as a clergy.
man ? The gentleman replied that he had, and said it was only a
short time since he was called upon to officiate at the east end of
the metropolis, and gave such satisfaction to the congregation, that
he might have gone on exceedingly well had it not been for the ex-
posure to which his poverty had subjected him. It appeared that
at a meeting where several of the clergymen of the parishes in the
vicinity attended, his (the prisoner's) name happened unfortunately
to be mentioned, when one said he had lent him a shirt and
cravat to preach in, which he never returned ; another mentioned
giving him some money, which he never repaid ; and the exposure
altogether was such, that the gentleman who was in the habit of
getting him to officiate felt compelled to discontinue doing so.
Since his commitment his friends had forwarded him some money;
and he had no doubt that, after this, something permanent would
be done for him.

Mr. HENRY observed he could make no distinction between the
case of the prisoner and any other person, and under all the circum-
stances it might be much better for the prisoner himself that he
should be committed, as it would bring his case to a crisis that
would lead to something permanent being done for him by his
friends. He (Mr. Henry), however, should admit him to bail in
two sureties of 401. each to answer the charge at the sessions.
The prisoner was then committed for trial, and the witnesses
bound over in the usual way to prosecute.
SOUTHWARK.

Yesterday two of the churchwardens, accompanied by the vestry.
clerk of St. George's, Southwark, waited on Mr. Cottingham for
the purpose of soliciting his advice under the following circum.
stances.

One of the churchwardens stated that for sone time past several
of the inhabitants of St. George's parish have received anonymous
letters, containing threats against their lives, and that in some in-
stances the writer of them had inclosed poison. The communica.
tions containing the poison were addressed to the daughters of a
merchant and two other persons, and couched in language most
affectionate, to the following effect :

"My dear Elizabeth,—l have sent you some powders, which I
received as a present from France. You will find them as a drink
very delicious, being flavoured with melon, which you will greatly
admire, and will do you a great deal of good. I shall call to see
you in a day or two."
The applicant stated that the powders alluded to were oxalic acid,
and that fortunately all the letters containing them had fallen into
the hands of the parents of those to whom they were traasmitted
through the post. The perpetrator, finding his designs frustrated,
then commenced sending more anonymous letters of the most dia-
bolical and revolting nature, not only threatening to murder the
children, but the parents likewise, and in some instances to set fire
to their houses. A Mrs. Spriggs, the wife of a respectable shop-
keeper, living in White-street, has been particularly selected out
as a victim by the anonymous slanderers. A letter in reference to
her, transmitted by post to Mr. Stead, the parish-clerk, was handed
to the magistrate. It was as follows:
" Sir,—l should take it as a very great favour if you would say
the following few words just before you utter the words ' Let us
sing to the praise and glory of God,' which will be about half-past
seven o'clock on Sunday evening, September 28, 1845,—` It will
be considered sacrilege if Mrs. Spriggs enters this or any other
church after to.night, as she has attempted the life of her child;'
and if you do not say it—and this is no idle threat—as true as
there is a Heaven above, I will set fire to the church, and by half-
past seven next Sunday week, Oct. 5, 1845, the church shall be
one mass of smoking ruins; and, mind you, I will attend on pur-
pose to hear if you do say the words, or at least something to the
purpose.—l am, Sir, your very humble and obedient servant,
" Sept. 22. `•
.p.

Several other letters were placed before Mr. Cottingham, and
after perusing them and examining them, he was of opinion, al.
though there was a difference in the character of the writing, still
that they were all by the same writer.

The MAGISTRATE inquired if any steps had been taken to trace
out the writer of those letters T—The churchwarden replied, that
efforts had been used for that purpose; that the thing had con.
tinned for the last few months scarcely without intermission ;
that many families residing in the parish had been thrown into a
state of considerable alarm owing to thecircumstance; and that a
reward of 401. had been offered for the discovery of the offender,
but as yet without success.
An inspector of the M division said that Sir James Graham
had been made acquainted with the circumstanees some time
since, and that the Commissioners of Police had given Instruc.
tions to employ some of the detective police for the purpose of
discovering the writer of the letters, but that notwithstantl',",,g
exertions had been used for the purpose, still they wert .unsuccess.
ful; that even since the police were engaged in the affair letters
of a similar tendency, and containing poison, had been sent to
families in the Borough.

The MAGISTRATE then inquired, as It appeared Mrs Spriggs was
one of the persons apinst whom threats of the most violent
nature were made, whether she had any reason for suspecting any
person in her husband's employ as the writer of the shocking
epistles produced ?

The inspector said that inquiries of that nature had been
already made of that lady, and it was found that no such suspicion
was entertained against any member of her household.

Mr. Corrusnus,m, addressing the churchwardens, said that in
answer ;(1 their applicution every exertion should be used for the
purpose of detecting and bringing to justice the miscreant. He
would not be satisfied with a policeman merely watching for a few
hours in the day about a particular post.office where the letters
were posted, in order to discover the writer, but he should give

. .
directions that the most rigid inquiry should be instituted,
ld D at: e
l
that instead of employing one policeman, three at least shou
engaged in the discovery of this offender of the worst description.

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, SErT. 22.
NGE ANIZATON.
A powerfulTHE section on of the Orangemen arle averse to
compromise, and require that the Orange confederacy
be re-organised according to the old system. There is,F„
festly, a decided split amongst the party. The Lond e, o'3
Sentinel contains the following account of the proceedings
the brotherhood in the county of Antrim : „ 000
"On Thursday last, pursuant tint notice, a very lodges,
and influential meeting of district masters, masters of
_...
and county officers, was held at Ballymena, to meet a depot
tation from the grand lodge of Ulster, for the purpos_,,
thoroughly organising this great county. The utmoestralin
nimity prevailed; and but one note was beard Orangeth 41.
ing—namely, a determination to stand by the
io
tution, as originally constituted, as their only sefegas tent,
their hour of need ; anji to carry out, to the fullest el
of
those principles which have ever proved the foundatie
he British tin one.
i nighia• etstcill te
Gi ornasn were unanimouslyejtoedgeof ulst
e posseadoptssie3edirrebe
full confidence of this meeting. That :aid grand lodge t the
quested to extend its operations to other counties; th.,sd,
in
county Antrim be identified with its proceedings; 8'..16-
order to a mutual and satisfactory arrangement and aa;tf
mation of sentiment and feeling, that a meeting of the c°, 0/b.
officers and district masters of the county Antrim, enuete
cers of the Grand Lodge of Ulster, be convened at Of otat
a date as possible, to effect and carry out the details °
union. their
", That this meeting view with the greatest alarm 0
tended Enniskillen confederation, as having a tendert
supersede the Orange Institution as originally constihtuttodn
mediately after the Battle of the Diamond; but taivir
Protestant confederation, secondary to, and assisting
men, we gladly hail its establishment.' broad ill
"It is gratifying to find the spirit which is a of tbe
Ulster, we must say mainly owing to the exertions ceding
Grand Orange Lodge of Ulster, who are steadily' lOcced, to
in that fixed determination on which they conlinelltroglf
maintain Orangeism in all its integrity ; and we
urge upon the Protestants of Ireland the necessity' 0, tend
themselves under its banner. We understand the L-01
meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ulster, in this ill
citYbe
for the 30th of this month, when arrangements ,s,;ocofir
tered on for securing the return of a staunch an' "
promising representative for the city of Derry."
GENERAL INSPECTION OF THE 11IILIIItted to
The following important circular has been Ireland,transa" °
the Lord Lieutenants of the several counties in ;pr
be submitted to the Colonels of militia, probably as
minary to the calling out of the militia:—
I have the
een
D honour,ub ibny Cdesire
of
feptit 1:0,4184:e4ier,
tenant, to acquaint you that her Majesty has
to command an immediate inspection of the 180 a
throughout Great Britain and Ireland. i,d bir
" An officer of her Majesty's regular forces, Lilt bead
regimental or staff surgeon, will forthwith visit Ue, sr
quarters of each regiment of Militia for that foasti' s
his Excellency requests that you will direct all P,e,„ilitia,,'
longing to the permanent staff of the regiment' of
ttolie,b,ecAoisunnssptoy eo-en s
under your charge to hold themselves in
the requisite arrangements shall bas:iesvb7ll
made, a notification will be forwarded to you of the ;es
which the officers who will be employed on this antYdusttlte
expected at the head-quarters of the regiment to con
inspection.—l have the honour to be, &c ASO
(Signed) TH " OMAS FRE3L--

" To the —
" Lieutenant of the county of
REPEAL ASSOCIATION- dal/ Cl°
The weekly meeting of the Association, held this roo4
most numerously attended. A large number of the,it bO4Ol
of the 'B2 Club attended, dressed in the uniform of tll.OO/ -
and wearing Mourning upon their left arms, in testi
of tjoa
the regard which they entertained for the Inenic'ff the
deceased brother, Mr. Thomas Davis t rv•
At one o'clock Mr. John O'Connell, M.P., ea;evaitt..ll
hall, accompanied by several members of the c°,
and moved that James O'Hea, Esq., barrister-at-13r'
nth beg
take the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said he was well aware that hweaiceii tiobel
remind the Association of the deep gloom under b
tteat,4
were assembled on that cccasion : nor direct their aco?
to the sad bereavement which had befallen thiorti
since their last meeting. During that short Pe!,l bad
spirit had been extinguished, and a glorious light „nett 0;
eclipsed.—( Hear, hear.) To mention the source °';d, ba
versal pain was to him a matter of deep regret lade to ad
be
was a duty he owed to the living and the den" ;iv as in
to that subject of sorrow and of mourning.
felt, he would be unworthy of that friendship Wi'"e''stti"
his lifetime he was honoured by him, if he did 0"n-dO:nU(1
find some utterance for the deep emotions that this t
throbbed his breast on the loss of one of Irelandan's
greatest sons.—(Hear.) He was a true man, lOvir
noblest and most emphatic meaninc, of the Pliraca-ani
a patriot. When he remembered but a few of the,—
tues that were his—when he called to mind his F-tbtisivir
industry, his learning, his high resolve, his loftYei,ap" nit
his deeply-fixed intense love of Ireland—and v/'-oeii
membered what they all must remember and wellini onlits,4
at cl ofell
what utterly unselfish disinterestedness those gre„,,, I for
were for years devoted to the service of his counl,ol
he might well say that the loss of such a man was orel
a nation's sorrow. His character was of the sterling -
he was possessed of

" A heart of adamant and a soul of fire,
No threats could daunt him, and no labour' gel.
Ile was no bigot in religion or in politics, and itlnevey.
evoi
be said of him that he loved his neighbour as hrtatlee„jel
sole ambition was to achieve the national inuero-ar:,,./
his country, to unite all classes in one Noun oela
brotherhood ; and in the pursuit of these objects
_llrt,,r tot"
no exertion was spared. He was, in fact, a unload ,eis
zeal. It remained but for his countrymen tot..ecis itv
sentiments with regard to that inestimable math 00°'
all, let them imitate the spirit of self-devotion
tion by which lie was actuated.--(Hear, hear.) froel,
Mr. JOIIN O'CONNELL read the following letter!their
father and Mr. Smith O'Brien, M.P., expressive 01 ,c
3
the premature decease of Mr. Davis : t•l6' 10 10
0
Darr -nano Abbey, Sep:„.-411) itej
4, My Dear Ray,—l do not know what to NvriLs of 103,5
is bewildered and my heart is afflicted. The le:tiro°, Or
loved friend—my noble-minded friend—is c,,hat '
deepest sorrow to my mind. What a blow--
blow—to the cause of Irish nationality! of 000
" He was a creature of transcendent qualities, „re If, 011
heart. His learning was universal—his known:Voile
minute as it was general. And then he was a het colt tS'
incessant energy and continuous exertion I%° out 151°_,
the few years, if years they be, still left to mediae u"
pect to look upon his like again, or to see the P
~eelsredie
left vacant adequately filled up. And I soleninlYuntissie
I never knew any man who could be so useful teiee(l.„,"
the present stage of her struggles. His loss is l'iatitr o ,
parable—what an example he was to the Proteses
of Ireland ! What a noble emulation of his virtu,
be excited in the Catholic young men of Ireland; weleTpre'_,
heart too—it was as gentle, as kind, as loving, 1'3,-0 ee pee
—Yes, it was as tenderly kind as his judgment,i'looltost
hensive, and his genius magnificent ! We Sh9P f filra"
deplore his loss—as I stand alone in the solitude ° the die
tains, many a tear shall I shed in the memory °he, Su
youth—Oh ! how vain are words or tears lc 11,13,
national calamity afflicts the country. rs
4, Put me down among the foremost contriba-ee fot
ever monument or tribute to his memory rneYrferleli A
the National Association.—Never did they Pe es
!l'
or, alas, so sad a duty. d, Sit
" I can write no more—my tears blind me--°13
"Fungar inani munere,'
'v ,00P-
" Yours ever, " DANIEL 104
" T. M. Ray, Esq." 19tb'sfdll
" Cahirmeyle, Sent „4p dri,l4
"My dear Sir,—Although very averse to f',tiot lO
the emotions which spring from grief, I yet e°'"f
the
from mingling my sighs with the lamentations ° ottrt
nation over the tomb of Thomas Davis. f bet
" Ireland weeps, not without cause, for one ° oleo
patriots, for one of most gifted children. sel1;00i4
" Love of country was with him more than hiSigese
more than a principle of duty. It was the absor o
of his life, the motive of every action, the fountghapPlo
feeling. To make Ireland great and prosperous
tore, leie,‘
social condition, renowned in science and liter4gbelterlu.
v
and in arms ; but, above all, to raise it to the dis eje
lion of moral dignity, and to enfranchise it "
tohe e",,
basing and enslaving influence. These wereon to
which he lived. In striving, alas, too ardently
elieettle
ends, he unsparingly lavished the severest int tf P-•
and at length sacrificed life itself.
10 tios' to•
"Placing under the dominion of a powenn`„forol,‘ .
A
of a resolute will, a store of the most varied .weheal" li
wrote as the advocate of a nation's liberty oe t 061030
Genius, animated by patriotism, gave
strains of masculine poetry and of fervid elonnelel besireleoo
indeed, would he have wielded other weoP,eelocedoooby
pen in defence of his country's rights°es gadc 00„01
too well recklessly to plunge it into the horror 0007-lite-of
of a civil war. It was his aim to unite his Oto tee.leatio
an indissoluble bond of fraternal concord, andipian'ool,t
that so united they would be irresistible--,..e.ect01l asQi
themselves to achieve and to maintain the 'l' act, otll
hat 9 Dt
greatness of this island. May God grant t beea ,it
ee
tions—aspirations so high and holy—have I'o .
op
in vain! less e
0 m
" Selfishness had no place in his bosom, lAlnby al with
were selfish to desire to be loved and honeureuotion
es
whom he served, whom he adored. The e
prompted him to write these lines— uttera_ce. t
9 IP
Be my epitaph writ on my country's mind' POW) po,
HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY AND LovED 1,-e has, hi et
indicates the character of his ambition. esistea ado
reward for which he toiled. The man who, ad the
influences but the energy of his character al; thirtibo 00
his motives, made himself, at the early age otl °has if
object of a nation's love, gratitude, and hoPe, tears, iet
wailed in his premature grave by oP
the highest description of success and of fara,e• we el t?„s.
" Nor let us be sparing of such testirnonialsn
to the memory of departed worth. We have 10 t
but hat
stow which can tempt the mercenary; t A ea lot
terested and the generous it is cheering to k>l,raltleu vi 511,096
falls in the service of Ireland falls neither on rs
• .0. "
wept. Let such reflect, too, that their ? A
with them. Has Thomas Davis lived in vans e, Aye
indeed lies in the cold grave, but his spin; 'to YiDwitli;fis
a nation's
cso
De
The ever-living flame, which lie has assistet! I,okotiono
continue to burn until it shall encircle this,. 'fbPiro
bright radiance of an imperishable glerZiotberdgibell
among the patriot youth of Ireland will realltioate
was justly regarded as their chief, and, At'e his „e 0
spirit, will emulate his labour and comPle` 4.414'0
',.44
task. ii voi"-
" I forbear from giving utterance to eadet
_„OC4O
tS P." 01 A
the present melancholy occasion. I sentiments
upon record some portion of my sellbe fortio
one who, though so young, was among '',ihertY. I,ol,tri
champions of Ireland ; but I am not at ; 5 PliglideSteo
CW..O
upon the public my sorrow for the kts° ° big 'inept t
Deeply, indeed, do I mourn for friend, s°,„01,0'0,400.,;(0.1,
fectionate, and sincere, wti:, united a Weevil,* tOtt79Orri,
with the soul
early ti
of a friendship which, tnootial
';)f hero, nor shall I everhough iaterCe
w^:s cemented by united labours and n°
in the sacred cau“seßoeflielrveelamnedforueresdovnetz• ;if cse.r°ols-013140:4614;11:
WILLI'''. IiSCI re eiCP
" T. M. Ray, Esq."
1401 AN. Of 0
Ile then said, that the letters Nv- had
so Alec 000 0
impressive address of their chairman'diVehi ell a la ll'erjar
his owe emotions, that he would not wog code, gea;
to him was of such a painful nature.. , ever thnoete
lu Ws' 00
fact, however, which lie was sure woula
was
of Mr. Davis to his countryale_ll which
tlernan who proposed the solemn plede,

ls,tf,"
FOR 7WE REMAINDER_PITO

o'l
Ty lf°Ao. IDI
London : Printed and PuLlished bOR offico,
'
No. 112, Strand, Printer, e he Sun ju $lO
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy,
Middlesex, Thursday, Set twat: Or e"—

klr4
THIS DAY.