The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-08-10 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE LIABILITY OF FINDERS.  Mr. Thomas Carr Jackson, solicitor to the Great Northern Railway, brought before Mr. Lane, at North London Police-court on Saturday, a singular case of detaining a season ticket. Some days ago a gentleman named Parratt lost his first-class ssason ticket in the City, and he reported his loss to the company. The same day the company received a letter from an auctioneer at Clapton, who said he had found the ticket near the bridge in Iron-lane. City, and if the owner would forward him 10s, he would return the ticket. Mr. Parratt wrote to the auctioneer, and said he would pay any reasonable expense, but he declined to pay 10s. He (Mr. Jackson) then wrote to the auctioneer, demanding the return of the ticket, and threatening legal proceedings. At the same time he pointed out that the demand for 10s. was unprecedented. To this the auctioneer replied that as Mr. Parratt refused to pay the 10s. he had placed the ticket back in the spot where he found it. A detective officer was at once despatched to the spot, but the ticket could not be found. Counsel's opinion had been taken on the point, and it was held that this was not larceny, and that the proper mode of proceeding was a summons for detention. He (Mr. Jackson) confessed that there might be some difficulty if the defendant alleged that the ticket was not in his possession.—Mr. Lane: But the onus of proof rests with the defendant. I do not anticipate the slightest difficulty in dealing with the case. On the part of the defendant it is a most extraordinary proceeding. You may take your summons.  Richard Davis, who, with his brother John, i 3 lying under sentence of death at Chelmsford Pri,on for the murder of Police-sergeant Eves,at Flazeleigh, has confessed that he, his brother, and another man committed the deed.  The adopt;on of coloured dress-coats for evening wear is being much discussed iti Austria. The Vienna Fashions Club has sent a circular to all the tailors in Austria, calling upon them to promote the coloured-dress coat in every possible way, as Icing in the interest of good taste. Bright colours, a Vienna correspondent tells us, are not recommended, but blue, brown, drab, or bottle-green are suggested. Of course tailors are not averse to a fashion likely to give them extra work and extra profit.  The Duches of York frequently sends to the Imperial Institute for any jewellery which she wishes to wear, and the messenger who carries the costly burden is escorted to York House by armed men. The strictest precautions are in force in order to protect the quarter of a million's worth of precious things. At the end of each day all the articles of jewellery are removed from the cases and locked up in a large safe, over which a soldier watches all night. In addition, there are four sentries pacing up and down the galleries in which the presents are placed. A burglar just now would meet nth a warm reception.—S,,,, The gaming•tables at Namur are likely to be suppressed. The person who holds the concision will be charged with conducting games of chance. Other persons, including two French merchants, who have financed the undertaking, will be included in the prosecution. It is thought probable that the Government will take energetic measures to put down gambling throughout Belgium.  Sunday was the 49t1i birthday of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. He entered the navy at the age of 14. On January 23rd, 1874, tie married the Grand Duchess Marie, the only daughter of the late Emperor of All the (tussles. He is also Duke of Saxony, and Prince of Saxe-Coburg. Gotha. One incident in his life is almost forgotten now. In December, 1862, be was elected King oi Greece, but declined the dignity. Practical.—A "Yes, sir; I believe a man should stand up for the weaker sex in every instance." B. • "You don't do much riding in tram-cars, do you?" Used to it—Boss: "Aren't you afraid to work in a powder mill ?" Man: "Why?" Boss "You !night be blown up." Man: "Don't worry about that. I'm married." "Papa, what is a king?" "A king, my child, is i person whose authority is practically unlimited, whose word is law, and whom everybody muM obey." "Papa, is mamma a king?"