The Sun. — 1862-12-15 (London, England)

CRIMINAL COURT-THIS DAY.  OLD COURT. The December sessions commenced this morning before the Lord Mayor and tile Sheriffs. The calendar contains the names of nearly 100 prisoners for trial. There are two charges of murder, one against a young woman named Nautili Newman, for killing her illegitimate child, and another against two seamen named George Mitchell and Thomas Hewitt for causing thti death of a porter in the course of a quarrel and fight in the neighbourhood of the Victoria Docks. There are a few cases of what are described as robberies with violence, but there is only one charge involving What may be termed a garotte robbery; so that it would seem that the example made of this description of offenders has not been without its effect in repressing, to a certain extent, the commission of this desperate crime. The present calendar does not contain a single case of Post-office robbery ; and the present is the fourth session in which the calendar has presented a similar satisfactory result. The principal case of importance that will have to be disposed of at the ensuing session will be the charge arising out of the extraordinary robbery of bank-note paper from the mills of Messrs. Portal, the manufacturers of the whole of the paper upon which the notes of the Bank of England aro engraved, and in which six prisoners are implicated, and it is understood that the Attorney• General will conduct the prosecution. It is very likely, however, as the case is one of a very complicated and unusual character, that after the grand jury have found the bills that may be presented to them, an application will be made to postpone the trial to the January session. The Judges who will preside at the December session are Chief Justice Erle, Mr. Justice Crompton, and Mr. Baron Martin.  Two men named Knowles and Brown were indicted for stealing 235., the property of Robert Brown. The prosecutrix said that on the evening of Nov, 7 sh,, company with her husband, was in a public-house taking some ale. She was standing near the bar, and by her side were seven or eight men ; her husband was sitting a few yards from her. According to Mrs. Brown's statement, .she said the men, amongst whom were the prisoners, surrounded her, and then she discovered that she had lost her money. She called out " Robert, I'm robbed," when Knowles knocked her down! and Brown held her :by the shoulder, while his companion took the money from her. Before her husband could get up Knowles ran away. In three weeks' after the prosecutrix met the prisoners. She called for the police, and when the constable took hold of Knowles, Brown threatened to knock his brains out if he did not let his companion go. A violent struggle took place, but the prisoners were ultimately secured. One of the prisoners said the woman Was drunk, and that she fell down and lost her money. The jury found both prisoners guilty. A previous conviction was proved against Brown. The police said Brown was a very desperate man, and was wanted for another robbery. The Common Sergeant said Brown was eviaently a very desperate person, and if he had used any great violence on the prosecutrix he should have given him a very severe punishment. Under all the circumstances he should sentence him to 10 years' penal kervitude. Brown, on hearing the sentence, said, " Aint that severe ? Why don't you hang me at once ?"t'And was with some difficulty removed. The Common Sergeant told Knowles, as he was unknown to the police, he should only sentence him to four years' penal servitude.  Knowles—Thanky'e, my lord, I am obliged to you.