The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-07 00:00:00

NEW COURT.

MAGISTERIAL NEGLECT. - The following case is
strongly illustrative of the loose manner i❑ which depo-
sitions are taken in the Police Courts, and the little reli-
ance that can be placed on their accuracy.
Peter Welch, printer, aged 17, was placed at the bar,
charged with stealing 56 yards of bed-ticking, value 31.,
the property of Charles Thompson.
The firstwitness called was the shopman of the bedding
warehouse from which the ticking was alleged to have
been stolen. lie stated that the name of his master was

Rickards, and that he knew nothiag about any person
named Charles Thompson.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—Why, in your deposition before
the Magistrate, you state that you were in the employ of
Charles Thompson. Witness—l told the Magistrate that
I believed my master's name to be Rickards, and that I
knew nothing about Thompson. I understood that I said
tie ticking was the property of my master.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—Then :you know nothing about
any Charles Thompson? Witness—No, my Lord.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—CaII the next witness ; and let
us see if he knows any thing about Charlie, Thompson.
The next witness was the policeman, who appeared to
be equally ignorant of the existence of any C. Thompson.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—TeII the Magistrate that there
does not appear to be any such person as Charles
Thompson connected with this case.
The Jury, under the direction of the Learned Judge,
immediately acquitted the prisoner.
It appears from the calendar that the prisoner was com-
mitted on the 23d December, by. J. B. Greenwood, Esq.
ANOTHER LAPSUS.—Joseph Clarke and Henry Clarke
were indicted for stealing certain goods, the property of i
William Mills and another.

On the trial it appeared that Mr. Mills had no partner.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—Who gave orders to have the in-
dictment prepared at Mr. Clarke's office ?
A City policeman stepped into the box and said ho had
clone so.

Mr. Baron GtTamEY--What directions did you give?
Witness—That they should be indicted for stealing the
goods of William Mills. I said nothing about any partner.

- Mr. Justice WIGLITMAN said that -under the circum-
stances it was the duty of the Jury to acquit the
pri-
soners, which they accordingly did. The Court, how-
-1 ever, ordered both the prisoners, and also the prisoner
Peter Welch, to be remanded until next session, and in
the meantime gave directions to have proper indictments
preferred against them.
TRIAL OF A LASCAR.— Russell, a lascar, was
placed at the bar, charged with feloniously cutting and
wounding Abraham, with intent to do him some
grievous bodily harm. The prisoner, who was attired in
a pilot coat, with a large fur collar, which was closely
buttoned up to the chin, surveyed the Court with a look
of the most intense curiosity and satisfaction, unmingled,
however, with any thing like an appearance of appre-
hension or anxiety ; he seemed, in fact, to regard the
whole proceeding as an exhibition got up for his
own especial amusement. When brought up to plead
in the morning, on which occasion Mr. Sheriff
Rogers addressed a few words to him in Hindostanee,
he appeared attired in a turban. He now, however,
stood at the bar bareheaded.
An interpreter having been sworn,
The first witness, who was attired in a turban, was
sworn on the Koran. He said his name was Abraham,
and that he belonged to the ship Fort William. The
prisoner was his shipmate. Prisoner had struck
him when he was on board ship in the East
India Docks. Witness was under the forecastle
when Russell gave. him five dollars. Russell was en-
trusted to give out money. Witness gave three of the
dollars to one of the topmen, andwith two dollars bought
some clothes of the Serang. 'rhe Serang told witness to
give another man two dollars, but he had no more. The
prisoner was the Serang. Witness said he had no more
to give. Prisoner said he must give, and struck him with
the hooka produced on the forehead. It bled, and hurt
him much. He had done nothing to the prisoner to
snake him do it. The hooka was produced in Court, and
appeared rather a formidable instrument.
Cross-examined by the Prisoner, through the Inter-
preter—Witness was clerk to the Serang (the prisoner).
Prisoner had given him 90 dollars before.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—lnterpreter, tell the prisoner the
question is not about the dollars, but about striking him
with the hooka. _ _

The Interpreter (after communicating with the pri-
soner)—He says that he did not wish to break his head.
Mahomet Greatoo, sworn upon the Koran, and exa-
mined through the medium of the interpreter, deposed
that he saw the blow given with the hooka by Russell,
and that Abraham had done nothing to Russell pre-
viously.
The constable of the East India Docks deposed to
taking the prisoner into custody on board the Fort
William.

Mr. Blew, a surgeon, described the nature of the in-
jury the prosecutor had received.
Mr. Baron GURNEY—lnterpreter, ask him if he has
anything to say in his defence.
The interpreter, after communicating with the pri-
soner, said, he says he has nothing to say.
Mr. Baron GURNEY summed up, and
The Jury found him guilty of a common assault.
The Surgeon of the ship said that the prisoner as
Serang was a man whose presence was required on
board the ship. He was the chief and manager of the
native crew.
Mr. Baron GURNEY sentenced him to be imprisoned
for one week.

THE PEussrAN EMBASSY.—The personnel
of the Prussian le;;ation have removed to his Excellency
Chevalier Bunsen's mansion (recently Lord Stuart de
Rotheaars),onCarlton-house-terrace, whereßaron Canitz
and Baron Schlenitz have taker it their reeidepce. _