The Express. — 1867-02-05 (London, England)

SURREY SESSIONS.  Yesterday the February adjourned quarter sessions of the peace for the county of Surrey commenced at the Seesions-house, Newington-causeway. The calendar contained the names of 54 persons for trial-52 for felony, and two for misdemeanour. The status of education was as follows:-15 could neither read nor write, six could only read, 3.2 could read and write imperfectly, and only one could read and write welL On the grand jury being sworn, the chairman said that the calendar contained the names of in prisoners for trial, and he was happy to inform them that it was much bus than thecorresponding session last year, I which ho considered hig y favourable when they remembered what hard times they had passed through and the hardships of the poor and destitute. At the same time, the offences were of a very slight nature, so much so that the grand jury might be of opinion that the magistrates should have dealt with them summarily, instead of troubling this court with them. lie, however, regretted that although the offenoes were mostly slight, the offenders were old thieve', some of them having been repeatedly convicted and served penal send- i tide. By an order from the Secretary of State magistrates at police-courts and petty sessions were restrained from I dealing with such prisoners, having direction, to send them to the sessions, so that the court would pass such a sentence as to keep them from their pursuits for a long period. There were 23 prisoners for simple larceny, eight ; for stealing from the person, four for obtaining from their masters, four for embezzlement, two for stealing goods by false pretences, four for breaking and entering dwelling- I houses, one for cutting a horse, two for cutting sheep, and; two for cutting and wounding. (Before Mr. T. Tilson.) Richard Rolla, a respectable-looking young man, who has been employed as cellarman in the Crystal Pekoe for upwards of eight years, was indicted for feloniously smelting Mary Chart, and violently stealing from her person two coats, the property of Thomas Chart, and one watch and other articles, the property of Richard Lambert. Mr. E. Smith prosecuted ; Mr. Lilley appeared for the prisoner. Mrs. Chart said that on the Sunday the fire broke out at the Palace she accompanied her husband and a young man lodger there, and being shareholders they were admitted. Soon after the fire broke out, her husband and friend, being anxious to assist in extinguishing is, threw off their omits and hat", and gave them to her to take care of ; and her lodger, in addition, handed her his gold watch and guard chain. In a short time afterwards she heard something said about the wild animals being let loose, and, becoming much alarmed, she asked prisoner, who appeared to her to be a person in the company's employ, to show her into the garden. He offered to do so, but instead of taking her to the garden, he took her downstairs underground, and when there rid. " I must have the watch and chain and the three costs." He then caught hold of her by the cloak near the ducat, and took the things away from her. While he was doing so she called out " Murder," but the place appeared so dismal and lonely that she did not think anyone could have heard her. On her leaving off prisoner said, " I must have that chain you are wearing also," and was about to take it, when she rushed away, and ultimately reached the building—in what way she could not tell. For the defence several witnesses were called, including Mr. Bertram, the contractor, and master to prisoner, all of whom spoke in the highest manner of him, and also went fully to prove that prisoner could not have been where proeecutrix stated at the time, and, in fact, he was with one or the other of them during the whole time of the fire. Mr. Lilley also made a powerful defence, when the jury returned a verdict of Not  --