The Sun. — 1862-10-11 (London, England)

BOW-STREET.—THREATENING SIR RICHARD MAYNE.—John I'aget Tremlett was again brought before Mr. Henry on the charge of writing a threatening letter to Sir R. Mayne. Mr. Wm. R. Fredk. Lane, M.R.0.5., and licentiate of Apothecaries-hall, said—l live at Northside, Bethnal-green. I have attended the prisoner for months. I think he is in his right state of mind, but when excited he is somewhat rash and disposed to use stronger language than is prudent, Mr. Henry—Do you think he is competent to distinguish between right and wrong? Mr. Lane-1 have never had reason to suppose to the contrary. He is very exciteable when put out or when he has been drinking, and if he thinks he is in the right he will go to great lengths. Mr. Henry—Ah, but he must be restrained from going great lengths as to threaten persons with the example of Rush and Williams. You had better read that letter, Mr. Lane ; you will probably remember that the persons referred to were persons who were executed for murder. Mr. Lane, after reading the letter, said he did not consider that the defendant's mind was disordered. The prisoner, addressing the magistrate in an angry and vehement manner, said he should be very guarded in his observations, as it had gone forth that at the former examination he expressed himself incoherently. Mr. Henry—Now, Tremlett, let me advise you to be calm. The Prisoner (fiercely)--Calm, sir ? Oh, I will be calm ! I will be calm !  Mr. Henry—You certainly were very excited yesterday. The Prisoner—Any man may be excited at times. Mr. Henry—Yes, but I want you to endeavour to control that excitement. I want to point out to you how you have erred. You seem to have thought that you had a grievance, and that Sir Richard Mayne wished to withhold from you the name and number of the policeman. Now, you were quite rong in that. There is no hesitation or difficulty about giving his name and number. However, No if there were, nothing can justify such threats. _ antecedent letters, no previous circumstances whatever could justify them. think I was The Prisoner—l beg your pardon. I determined to quite justified. I only say I am as do what he did. have an answer as Rash was to There is no threat in that. Mr. Henry—No reasonableperson would interpret it as you say. The Prisoner—Had that letter been written to an ordinary private individual would you have taken any notice of it Position in life of the parties makes no difference whatever. The Prisoner—Tlie decisions of magistrates vary so much, that the law is nothing but a lottery. The prisoner then re-called Mrs. Harvey, to grope  that he (tho prisoner) had never been informed of the policeman's number. Then prisoner then went into a number cf details as to the correspondence, all of which Mr. Henry reminded him he had already stated. Mr. Henry then said—ln that last letter you have certainly used language calculated to excite alarm ; and, as it is the opinion of medical men that you do understand the difference between right and wrong— Prisoner (emphatically)—Certainly I do. Mr. Henry—Therefore I must hold you to bail, to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the next 12 months, in two sureties of £5O each, and your own recognisance of £lOO. The Prisoner—That is pretty heavy bail. Mr. Henry—And let me caution you that if you write to Sir Richard Mayne, or any one else, any more letters containing similar threats you will be committed for trial.  The Prisoner—No jury in England would convict ma.  Two gentlemen, neighbours of the prisoner, offered themselves as bail. Both, however, requested the magistrate to fix a lower amount, sug-, gesting that £25 would be sufficient. Mr. Henry—l think not. I have considered the matter carefully, and 1 think fixing that amount may have the effect of restraining him. You appear to be his friends, and he would probably be reluctant to subject you to the loss of the money. One of the sureties admitted that he should not like such language to be written to himself; the other said, if the prisoner would take his advice he would give up letter-writing altogether. The rccognisances were entered, and the prisoner liberated.