The Sun. — 1862-03-18 (London, England)

SECOND COURT. (Before Mr. Payne.) John Smith, 29, tailor, Thomas Smith, 23, labourer, and John Lead, were indicted for stealing a gold watch, the property of William Gardiner, from his person. Mr. Daly prosecuted. Lead was defended by Mr. Metcalfe; Mr. Pater' defended John Smith ; the other was not defended. The prosecutor stated that he was a maltster residing at Strand-on-the-Green, Turnham-green, and on the evening of the Pith of February he went to Jem Mace's publichouse in Holywell-lane, Shoreditch (the Champion of England). From there he went with Thomas Smith and Lead to a beer-shop in Holywell-lane, where they got sparring. Witness took off his coat, and Lead made a dash at his waistcoat, where his watch and guard were. He. bit the watch off the chain and ran away. T. Smith took witness's right hand glove off and held him by the left while Lead took his watch. He smid—l wrenched my hand away, and followed Lead as fast as I could. I jumped down stairs and fell, which delayed the pursuit. I found Lead in Mace's, and. men. as I was gave him in custody for stealing my gold watch, vnael uoef £t I can swear that Thomas Smith was o following heLead. IJohn can Smith swearsto topped thatme. Thomas Smith held my hand ; John Smith stood close by. I had a glass of ale, six-pennyworth of. brandy, and three-pennyworth of brandy and ginger beer, and when I asked Lead for my watch he put me out of the house. George Bray stated that he was a licensed victualler at Hull, and was in the beer-shop when the prosecutor, who had a watch and guard, carne in. There was a clattering on the floor, and he saw' the prosecutor running after some one. Both the Smiths were there, and subsequently ho saw them at Mace's. Lead said he had not been in the beershop ; it was clearly and distinctly proved that he had. Other evidence having been given, the learned counsel for the defence addressed the jury. The Smiths were acquitted. Lead was convicted, and sentenced to nine months' hard labour. He had been out on bail, and earnestly protested that he was innocent. The Smiths were discharged. (Before Mr. Bodkin, Assistant-Judge.) James Westfield, a young man, was indicted for fraud. Mr. Metcalfe and Mr. Lloyd prosecuted ; Mr. F. H. Lewis defended. He pleaded guilty. Mr. Lewis said that the prisoner had been induced to join another person in an office for the sale of theatre tickets. The latter had put forward the prisoner as the principal, he keeping in the background. The prisoner had been in the Aervice of an American gentleman, and his savings had been lost in this office, which was for the sale of thc,,atrical tickets. The case was thus, the prisoner was employed to sell tickets, and did sell one to a gentleman of title, but it was a fictitious one, and the prosecution was conducted upon public grounds, not from vindictive motives, so that an example should be made in a matter which really and truly was of considerable public importance. The object of the prosecution no doubt was only to put a stop to a system of fraud upon the public by the sale of these admissions without authority, and which, when presented, were found to be not admissible to that part of the theatre that they were purchased for. The prosecution was instituted only to stop this system, and he (Mr. Lewis) hoped that a lenient course might be taken with the prisoner, as he had pleaded guilty, and had been a mere tool in the hands of others. The Assistant-Judge sentenced the prisoner to pay a fine of £lO and to enter into a recovisance of £5O.  ATTEMPTED _MURDER BY A