The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-16 00:00:00

BOTV-STREET.

At a few minutes to five o'clock, as the Magistrate was
preparing to leave the Ceurt, a middle-aged gentleman was
brought in, charged by the steward of the Free•trade Ba-
zaar, at Covent garden Theatre, with uttering a counterfeit
sovereign. The accused declined giving his name.
Mr. Burnaby—Am I to put you down as a person refusing
to give your name 7 Defendant—My only object in refusing
is, the utter absurdity of the charge, which will be found so
on inquiry.

Alr.-TN4FORD—WeII, if you are innocent, you can have
no motive fur concealing your name.
Defendant—lf I am compelled to give it, of course I will
do so.

Mr. TwYronn—Why, bless me, I know your voice,
surely, although I cannot recollect your name. Are you not
personally known to me? I don't mean in my capacity
here, but in private? Defendant—Yes, Sir, we have met
before.

➢lr. TWYFORD—Dear me, I thought so. You must be
the person I mean. There can be no reason for withholding
your name.
Defendant—My name is White.
Mr. TWYFORD—To be sui eit is. I know this gentleman
perfectly well. lam the habit of meeting him in private so-
ciety every week. He is an intimate friend of mine, and I
cannot conceive it possible that he is guilty of any such act
as that imputed to him. However, it is my duty to go on
with the case of course.

Mr. W. F. James, of 15, Bridge-street, Blackfriars, one of
the stewards of the Bazaar, here observed, that without
knowing anything of the accused, he fdt it his duty to have
the case invest igated. The gentleman was certainly in a very
awkward position.
Mr. TWYFORD—Oh, certainly, you are quite right in press-
ing the charge, and I must go through with it in the ordi-
nary way, and even with greater attention, after what I have
heard stated respecting the defendant.
The defendant—No one can be more anxious than myself
that the matter should be examined.

Mr. James then stated that he was officiating as one of the
managers at the Bazaar, when applied to by the Rev. T.
Witcherly, another steward, whose statement relative to the
defendant induced him to give him into custody on the charge
entered upon the sheet.
Mr. T. E. Wicherley said he was a dissenting minister,
from the country, but at present residing at 59, Frederick-
street, Borough-road. He deposed as follows :—I was acting
as one of the stewards, near a perfumery stall, on the stage
this afternoon, when the person at the bar came and pur-
chased a box of perfumery, price 35., tendering in payment a
coin which I supposed to be a sovereign, and for which
change in silver was given. I handed the coin to Mr. Gads-
ley, who, returning it immediately, said it was a light one.
I took it and showed it to the gentleman, upon whist' he
pulled out his purse and gave me a good one, remarking at
the same time, that he had ten of the imitation ones in the
other end of his purse, and that it was a mistake. He then
purchased another article of the same kind, for which he paid
3s. in silver, and was afterwards taken into custody by the
directien of last witness.

A constable of the detective force deposed to having taken
the defendant, in whose pocket he found a purse containing
nine false sovereigns at one end, and 51. 10s. in gold at the
other. _ _

Mr. TWYFORD—Have you any evidence to show that this
gentleman is a reputed hand at this sort of thing ? The
officer, as well as the stewards, stated that they had never
seen him before.

Mr. TwyForD—Then there is nothing in the case that I
can take notice of. But, Mr. White, you can explain the
affair if you like, and in your own way.
Mr. Witcherley—l assure your Worship, that if the gen-
tleman does not deserve suspicion, no one will rejoice more
than myself in his honourable acquittal.
Mr. TWYFORD—If I had not known the gentleman I should
have treated the case precisely in the same manner. It
would hare been better if I had not known him.

The defendant—l wish, Sir, you had not, for I am-certain
you would have seen that I had no wrong intention. Those
imitation sovereigns I have had in my purse for three or four
years. They were quite bright when I first had them, and I
have often shown them to my friends. I bought them of a
man, and gave something like sixpence a dozen for them I
believe. I have also in another purse in my pocket two dia-
mond rings, and two 101. notes, besides other things. I ten-
dered the coin produced quite by mistake, it being a gloomy
part of the theatre, and when it was asked who had given
that sovereign, I replied in a loud voice that I had, at the
same time stating that I had others in my pocket. So that
there was no attempt at erasion made by me, and when I
was apprised of the error, I immediately offered a good
sovereign. _ . .

Mr. TWYFORD-I have known this gentleman a long time,
and shall dine with him, in all probability, to-day, and with
several of his friends.

Mr. Witcherley—l hope your Worship will not deem it
improper in me to bring this case before you?
Mr. TWYFORD—Oh, no, not at all. I should have acted
so myself. I can only say that, knowing Mr. White, he is
the very last person I should have thought capable of buying
such trumpery as that which has got him into this un-
pleasant position. However, unless I could believe, from the
evidence.given, that Mr. White had been in the habit of
uttering bass coin, I could not detain him on this charge.,
If he had been guilty of such acts before, to our knowledge,
it would have been my duty to remand him to Monday, in
the usual way, in order that the case might come into the
hands of the solicitor for the Mint, who, whenever the party
is recognised by him as an old offender, undertakes to pro
secute him. So that, if Mr. White was actually guilty of
one uttering, in the absence of any proof of previous guilt, I
should be bound, as I am now bound, to discharge him ; and
I do so without being influenced by any acquaintance with
him, and my conviction that he could not have intended to
commit a felony. I think you said, Mr. White, that you had
another purse containing other money.
Defendant—Yes, Sir (producing it). You are liberty to ex-
amine it.
Mr. TWYFORD—Let the officer examine it.

The constable took out the contents, which were, as Mr.
White had mentioned, two 101. notes, and two diamond
rings.
. .

Mr. James here stepped forward to examine the rings, and
asked if he might be allotted to detain the false sovereign.
Defendant—l have no objection to that whatever.
Mr. James then asked if the gentleman would have the
goodness to leave his address.
The defendant asked if it was necessary?
Mr. TWYFORD—You cannot have any objection to it,
surely.
The defendant said it was "No. 8, Regent-street." He de-
clined to mention his profession, and the stewards stated that
they did not require that.
Mr. Witcherley, Mr. James, and the defendant then ex-
changed personal assurances of the absence of any ill-feeling
towards each other. Tie former shook hands with Mr.
White, remarking, at the same time, that if any other similar
coins were found in the treasury, he might hear of the sub-
ject. The defendant assured them that they would find him
at his residence.

Mr. TWYFORD confirmed the statement, and then the
parties separated, Mr. White slipping out of the prisoner's
box on to the bench.
WANDS WORTH.

SCANDALOUS ASSAULT ON A CHILD BY A GENTLEMAN IN
WANDSWORTH FAIR.—The Court and its avenues were
crowded, in consequence of its having become known that
an elderly gentleman had been taken into custody in the fair
on the previous evening, on a charge of indecently assaulting
a little girl, only ten years of age.
Immediately on Mr. CrivE's arrival, the accused was
placed in the dock. He is a tall military-looking man,
about 60 years of age; he wore a military cloak, and gave
his name and address, Charles Bell, 13, Parliament-street,
gentleman. Both name and address are said to be fictitious,
and it is generally believed that he is an officer of considerable
rank, on half-pay,
The complainant in the case is a pretty-looking girl,
turned ten years of age. Her name is Eliza Willis, the
daughter of a bargeman of that name, living in Spencer's
court, Waterside, Wandsworth. It appeared from her
evidence, corroborated and materially strengthened by nume-
rous other witnesses, that on Wednesday evening, between
five and six o'clock, the complainant was playing with her
sister and brother, in the fair field, and was in the act of run-
ning after them, when the prisoner seized her hand and asked
her if she should like to go into a show. She said she had
been in one on the previous night, and didn't care about seeing
any more. The prisoner, however, pulled the child up the
steps of " Tanner's Mechanical Exhibition," and whilst stand-
ing on the platform, he was observed by Maria Warlters, one
of the performers, to act very indecently with the child, and
Elizabeth Tanner, the daughter of the proprietor of the exhi-
bition, had her suspicions so much aroused, that she desired
her mother, who took the money, to ask him if it was his
little girl. Upon this lie hummed and hesitated, and then
said, "It is fair time, it is all right." With some reluctance
Mrs. Tanner admitted the prisoner into the show. He was,
however, watched by the proprietor, his family, and servants,
and seen to take the child on his lap, her several times, and
after drawing his cloak around her, proceed to take most dis-
gusting liberties. The child was then snatched out of his arms
by the man who beat the drum, but not without some
resistance and stormy language on the part of the prisoner.
The proprietor of the exhibition sent for a policeman, and
gave the pt isoner into custody. The prisoner's conduct was
witnessed also by several persons who had paid to see the
performances.
Mr. CLIVE asked the prisoner if he wished to put any ques-
tion to the child or any of the witnesses?—The prisoner re-
plied in the negative.
Mr. CLIVE then called upon him for his defence, reminding
him that he was not obliged to make any statement.
The prisoner, in a tremulous tone, said, I should like to
say a few words, but I have no desire to question the child
or witnesses, as they have given their evidence fairly, and
with very little exaggeration. lam at present so over-
whelmed with shame and confusion, at my egregious folly,
that I scarce know what to say. lam a perfect stranger to
this place. I wandered front London to the fair, and, seeing
this little thing, I asked her to go into a show. I was de-
sirous that she should see everything that was to be seen,
and took her on my lap.
Mr. CLIVE—I shall send this case for trial.
Prisoner.--I implore you to dispose of it summarily. You
know not what I am suffering in my mind, and what I have
suffered in that horrid cell all night. Do not send me for
trial. I will cheerfully undergo whatever punishment you may
be disposed to inflict.
Mr. CLIVE—I have no alternative. It must go for trial.
Prissner—l have been indiscreet, but deny that I had any
improper motives. If I had, a public booth was not the place
in which to commit such an act. Indeed, I had no such
thought, so help me God !
The child here said that the prisoner wanted her to go to
Westminster with him.

Mr. CLIVE asked the prisoner if any one was present who
was acquainted with him ?
Prisoner—l have sent for no one. I had hoped you would
deal with the case summarily. My character up to this mo-
ment is unimpeached and unimpeachable. If lam sent to
prisoner I shall go mad. Some minds are keenly sensitive
to suffering; and mine is one of that nature. lam nearly
sixty years of ago. lam a soldier, and have seen service in
the four quarters of the globe, and never till now have I
stood charged before a magistrate. lam willing to recom-
pense the parents of the child to any amount. Do dispose of
it summarily, I implore—l entreat of you.
Mr. Ct.tvE—l cannot ; I shall send this case to the ses-
sions, and shall commit you for the misdemeanour, but will
accept of bail, with twenty-four hot& notice.

Prisoner—lf you will permit me to go to Yirestinnis. ter I
will get any amount of bail you require.
Mr. CLIvE—I cannot allow you to do s) ; you. must rei
main in custody until you find two approved suretio3 0
25/. each.
The prisoner was then removed in custody, and in the OOU
of the afternoon he dispatched a messenger to procure ba