The Sun. — 1844-04-19 (London, England)

THE ART-UNION OF LONDON AND THE GOVERNMENT.  It appeared, from the evidence, which was very voluminous, the case having occupied the Court during the greater part of the day, that, on Easter Monday, a little boy, named Hughes, crossed a brick-field at the Chalkroad, and, in so doing, it was alleged, disturbed some of the sand which had been prepared for the manufacture of bricks, in which employment the, prisoners were engaged. The prisoner John Hely White ran after the youth, and, after a race of two hundred yards, overtook him—the boy threw himself on the ground. The prisoner seized him by the legs, dragged him along the field, and lifting him up dashed the upper part of the boy's body against the earth. Mr. Dennis and Mr. Price shocked at the prisoner's brutality, ran over and entreated of him to desist; he refused, threatening to treat Mr. Dennis in the same manner. Mr. Dennis seized him by the collar and the boy escaped. The prisoner, enraged at the interference, struck Mr. Dennis two or three violent blows on the breast. Mr. Price endeavoured to prevent further violence, but the other labourers, hearing the noise, rushed in a mob across the field. Mr. Dennis escaped into his own house, but they fell upon Mr. Price, who remained, and beat him in a dreadful manner. His face and body were covered with contusions, and were it not for the timely arrival of a police officer and other assistance, he declared his belief that they would have murdered him. He was carried into his own house, bleeding pro fusely from several wounds in the head, and in a state of. insensibility. The prisoners were fully identified by several witnesses as the principal assailants. The prisoner John Hely White, who had his arm in a sling, and affected to labour under great pain from injuries which he said were inflicted on him by Mr. Dennis, was sent by Mr. Greenwood to the Gray's Inn-road Hospital for examination; and the house-surgeon there, after a minute examination, certified that there was nothing whatever the matter with him. The prisoners were fully committed fur trial. James Sansbury, a coffee-shop keeper and bagatelleroom proprietor, of 141, Goswell street, waq charged with harbouring and concealing fifteen packages •of foreign tobacco, which had not paid duty on being unshipped. Coleby Atkinson Davis, an officer of Customs, fully proved the offence. The prisoner was fined in the penalty of 1001. Two women named Green and Shaw were charged with being concerned in the robbery of a great number of pieces of woollen cloth, silk, satin, and velvet, the property of Mr. Lamb, a woollen draper, residing at 100, Holborn-hill. Mr. Humphries prosecuted and Mr. Robinson defended the prisoners. In November last, Green was discharged from Mr. Lamb's employment, where she had been as cook. Soon after her departure, the property was missed, and on investigation it was ascertained that the prisoners had been disposing of it. At Green's lodging in Crowncourt, Goswell-street; several keys were found. One of them opened Mr. Lamb's wareroom, the other opened a box in which the key of the wareroom was contained. Several small pieces of velvet, satin, and cloth were likewise found there, which the prosecutor identified. A dress-maker named Chelford deposed to having mada several cloaks and bonnets for the prisoners out of cloths and velvets furnished to her by them. These garments which were of considerable value were pawned by the prisoners at the shop of Mr. Lingey, in Greekstreet, Soho, and were produced in Court by his assistant. The prisoners were remanded.  The Annual Meeting of the Subscribers to receive the Committee's Report, and distribute thei-mount subscribed for the purchase of Works of Art, was appointed for Tuesday next, at Drury-lane Theatre, and all the elaborate arrangements consequent on the largeness of the body were made. On Monday last, however, the following letter was received at the office in Trafalgar-square :