The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-21 00:00:00

NORTHERN CIRCUIT—Durham, July. IS.

Thomas M'Cann and John Swinburn were indicted, the
former fora robbery in taking away sixteen gold watches from
the window of Messrs. Reid and Co., watchmakers, in this
town, and the latter for receiving the said waterier, knowing
them to have been stolen. .

Mr: Ingham and t_itr Gregory Lewin were for the prosecu-
tion ; Mr. Granger for the defence.
Mr. INGHAM proceeded to detail to the Jury the particulars
of the evidence as detailed by the wituesses. The principal
witness would, he said, be an accomi lice of the name of Reeves,
who had been admitted Queen's evidence. On his testimony,
therefore, they would not place implicit felianee unless it was
so far corroborated by that of others as to give them reason to
suppose he was the witness of truth. He thought, howeyer,
that the evidence he would lay before them presented abundant
proofs of corroboration. 'I here was a great deal mere in his
brief with which he would not trouble them, inasmuch as it
did not tend to corroborate the accomplice in matters tending
directly to show the guilt of the other prisoner, but rather ;n
points bearing on, what was not disputed—viz., his own par-
ticipation in the crime. The prisoner is, it would appear, a
watchmaker, and. has fur a great number of years been in a
respectable way of business in the market-place in the city of
Durham. It appeared that on the evening of the 4th of Fe-
bruary last, about half-past five o'clock, an aperture was made
in a pane of the window of Mr. Reid's shop, and the contents
of a small tray, containing sixteen French gold watches, ab-
stracted. They were worth about 1501. Three men had been
seen about the window immediately before, and two witnesses
deposed as to Reeves having been one of the party; One wit-
ness also identified M'Cann.

Samuel Reeves, the accomplice, was then called, and he
stated at length the facts contained in the opening speech of the
Counsel for the prosecution.
Evidence was given to show that three men, of whom
M'Cann was one, were seen together in earnest conversation
in Gateshead about the time and place mentioned by the wit-
ness. It appeared also that Swinburne had Leen in Reeves'
company at a public house that morning, as Reeves himself had
stated; and Mr. John Hutchinson, the town-clerk, deposed
that he called in at the shop of the prisoner about the time
mentioned in Reeves' evidence. He stated, however, that
Swinburne was at the time at work with his sons at the bench
at the window. There might have been another man in the
shop, but there certainly was not a woman.
Mr. GRANGER addressed the Jury for the defence in a long
speech, in which he minutely analysed the evidence.
The Jury retired for about half an hour, when they re-
turned a verdict, finding M'Cann Guilty, and acquitting
Swinburne. Sentence wa. deferred.

POLIt,E INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.

John Dale, the mendicant with a wooden leg, who used to
sweep a crossing at Cornhill, was brought before Sir Chapman
Marshall, charged with the misdemeanor of attempting to
commit suicide, by jumping from Blackfriars-bridge into the
Thames.

iFlagnier, the City police constable on duty on the bridge,
stated that the prisoner jumped from the centre arch, at four
o'clock in the afternoon, and he was carried down by the tide
as far as Paul's-wharf, where he was picked up. The leap was
70 to t3O feet. _ _

The marshalman said he knew the prisoner, and had heard a
good deal about him. His distress was owing to his miscon-
duct. He obtained a good living by sweeping the crossing,
but he ran away to Ireland, threw his family on the parish, and
lost his sweeping ground. His son, who supplied his place, had
received as much as five shillings in a day.
Sir CHAPMAN MARSHALL asked the prisoner how he lost
his leg?—The prisoner replied he lost it at Quebec five years
ago.
Sir CH,APMAN MARSHALL said, if he had any knowledge of
the Lord Mayor he need not have resorted to suicide on ac-
count of his distress. He hadsome suspicion that the liberality
of the public to persons who had made similar attempts might
have prompted this ; and if he were satisfied of that. he should
follow the example of Sir Peter Laurie in committing him for
trial for the offence. As, however, he might have been im-
pelled by distress of mind alone, he should not adopt that
course. The family would receive proper attention if they ap-
plied for admission to the poor-house of the union in which-they
resided. He discharged the prisoner with an admonition, and
directed the officer to take him to St. Giles's Union.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

Mary Ann Anderson, a young married female, was charged
with attempting to murder an al,,en female named Mrs. Ryan,
and a young woman, named Sarah M'Carty, by beating them
over the head with a brick-bat. It appeared that the com-
plaining parties had circulated a report amongst the inhabitants
of lludley-court, High-street, St Giles's, where the prisoner
lives, that she had " served" a month at the mill at
Brixton, for uttering counts feit money, and ti.at the pri-
soner in return waylaid them as they were walking tegether in
Monmouth-street, -St. Gi:es's, and, having armed herself with
a heavy brickbat, she commenced a furious attack upon them
and with that formidable weapon inflicted on the head
of Ryan six severe blows, each of which cut through the
scalp completely to the skull. 111‘Carthy was also desperately
ill-treated. The clothes of both of them were soaked through
with blood. The police coming up prevented the prisoner from
inflicting further violence ; but it was not until after a most
desperate and protracted struggle that she was overpowered,
and conveyed to the station-house.
The prisoner contented herself with merely denying the
charge, and was fined 305., or six weeks' imprisonment, for
each assault. _ _ _

Vw
Richard Handley, alias Underwood, Edward Gifford,
alias Cook, and Sarah Ann Hunt, alias Gifford, alias Cook,
who have been twice remanded on suspicion of being concerned
in various burglaries, extensive robberies, and other offences,
were yesterday again brought up for further examination. The
office was crowded to excess by parties who had charges to
prefer against them. Mr. Wontner,• the solicitor, attended to •
conduct the prosecution.
Mr. Charles Clear, of No. 48, Blackman-street, Borough,
laceman, identified seventeen silk handkerchiefs, and other ar-
ticles, as part of the property stolen from him on the 19th of
April last, when his shop was broken open, and plundered of
goods to the amount of upw,.rds of 2001.
Frederick Herbert Evans, in the employ of Mr. Samuel
Lambert, of No. 27, Aldermanbury, laceman, identified 120
pieces of lace, as being part of the contents of a box of lace, of
the value of about 2001., which was stolen from the yard of
the Swan with Two Necks Inn, Lad•lane, on the 28th
February last, the porter, who was sent with it, having only left
it hut a minute or two while he placed two smaller parcels in an
omnibus.

_ .....
Mr. William Dawson, of No. 4, Scabberton-row, Walworth,
glover, &c., identified several ribbons and pairs of gloves, as
part of the produce of a burglary, committed at his shop, on the
2d of April last, when property to the amount of between 2001.
and 3001. was stolen. _ .

Mr. Henry Marshall, of No. 12, Red Lion-passage. Red
Lion-square, tailor, identified, from amongst the property pro-
duced, quantities of serge and plush, of the value of 141., which
was "sneaked" from his shop on the Bth March last.
In these cases the witnesses were all bound over to prosecute.
Handley stands fullycommitted on two charges as the principal,
and in one case as the receiver.

.41,6 •••
Mr. Fitzpatrick, the chief clerk, said that several other cases
would be brought against Handley, in which he would be iden-
tified as the party who committed the robbery.
Mr. MALTBY said, under those circumstances, he should
again remand the prisoners until next Wednesday.
UNION-HALL.

James Moor was brought before Mr. Cottingham, charged
with committing a violent assault upon Jane his wife.
It appeared that on the preceding afternoon the defendant
and his wife having had high words, to escape from his ven-
geance she ran to Pickle Herring-stairs, and preferred he alter-
native of throwing herself into the Thames. The defendant,
on perceiving his wife approach the river, ran after her, and
when she was extricated from her perilous situation, and brought
ashore, the husband, instead of exhibiting any compunctious
feeling for his conduct on the occasion, rushed towards her,
and striking her a severe blow on the face, accompanied it with
the heartless expression, " that she had better go back and
drown herself." Some of the bystanders who witnessed the
outrage gave the fellow into custody.
Mr. COTTINGRAM said that it was a ease of two serious a
nature for him to decide summarily—a 5/. conviction was so
inadequate a punishment for such an offence. He therefore
committed the prisoner for trial.
CLERKENWELL.

Mr. Thomas St. George Lyster, a gentleman, residing at
39, Adelaide-place, St. Pancras, appeared on a warrant to
answer a el.arge of assault preferred against him by William
Attwood, conductor:of the Paddington omnibus, 4,663, badge
865. The parties were before Mr. Greenwood on Saturday,
when Mr. Lyster charged the conductor with having used
abusive language, upon which the latter was convicted and fined
15s. The present charge arose out of the same transaction.
Complainant said that on Wednesday last he took up Mr.
Lyster at Argyle-street, King's-cross, and on arriving at the
Blue-coat Boy, Islington, where they stopped, he (complain..
ant) opened the door to let out two passengers. When these
had alighted he closed the door, but in less than a minute after,
the defendant opened the door and jumped out of the omnibus
in a violent passion, stating his determination not to go any
further with witress. The defendant then proceeded towards
another omnibus, but witness followed him and demanded his
fare, the only answer to which was a violent blow in the face,
accompanied by the vsse of sever ,1 opprobrims epithets.
Mr. Lyster, to thz: charge, said tHt the conw.lct
of the driver and conductor of the omnibus from the time he
took his seat in it until they arrived at the Blue-coat Boy wai

so scandalous that he felt himself bound to remonstrate with
the complainant very shaip y, in which remonstrance he was
joined by the other passengers. The driver had been racing
nearly the whole of the way with, another omnibus. A lady
hail nearly been seriously hurt by the sudden jerking of the
vehicle before she could take her seat, whilst other ladies were
so much terrified and alarmed by the furious speed at which
they were being driven, that they left the vehicle on the first
opportunity. He (Mr. Lyster) determined also to leave the
omnibus at the first stopping-place, and accordingly he got out
at the Blue-coat Boy ; but he positively denied having struck
the conductor. That person having impudently laid hold of
his (defendant's) collar, he merely raised his hand to disengage
himself' from the grasp of the fellow.
Mr. Matthews, a builder, who happened to be passing at the
time, and said he saw the whole of the occurrence, positively
' declared that the complainant seized Mr. Lyster by the coat-
collar, and as positively denied that that gentleman struck the
complainant.
Mr. Coal isz said the evidence was certainly most perplexingly
contradictory. The witnesses on each side were equally posi-
tive, and moreover were equally disinterested parties. lie had
no doubt that the conduct of the omnibus people had been out-
rageously bad, and he (Mr. Combe t himself was almost daily a
witness.of the abominable and dangerous nuisance of omnibus
racing, particularly along the New-road. Under the circum-
stances he should merely fine Mr. Lysteris.and costs.