The Sun. — 1844-12-30 (London, England)

LAMBETH-STREET. CLOSING OF THE COURT.—THE COURT POOR-DON, AND THE POOR OF THE DISTRICT.-Mr. Norton and Mr. Henry being both present, the former magistrate rose and said that as the public business of that court was about finally to terminate, he wished to say a few words with respect to the funds which had been so kindly forwarded to himself and his respected colleague, Mr. Henry, for the use of the poor, and to enable them to alleviate the sufferings of those unfortunate beings who were frequently brought before them. It must be in the recollection of all who heard him that in every instance where applications were made for relief this season, that pains had been taken to ascertain the truth of the representations, as well as the characters of those making them, so that no impositions should be practised, and he, Mr. Norton, was happy to say that he did not recollect a single instance in which he had to regret the application of the funds, while on the other hand he felt that the benefits conferred by this mode of administering seasonable assistance were most gratifying. It was at this court that the disgraceful system of giving out work by large slop warehouses to one individual at a certain price, and that person giving it out to others, and each deriving a profit, so that the poor creatures who had to make up the work could not obtain a mere subsistence by their labour, was first expressed. It was at this court, and in the case of the Misses Reynolds, the daughters of a distinguished officer, persons brought up as gentlewomen, that the disgraceful system of requiring persons to make a shirt for three halfpence, had been exposed as it so justly deserved. In attending to this case, he was happy to say that with the kind assistance of the public press, no less a sum than 400/. had been subscribed for the Misses Reynolds, and these ladies were raised from a state of poverty, :which the wretched pittance allowed them for their ;exertions must necessarily entail, to one of, he hoped, to say, lasting comfort. Having said thus much as to individual cases, he observed it was the wish of himself and his colleague, Mr. Henry, to tender to those benevolent individuals who had supplied them with the means of doing so much good an account of their stewardship ; and they could not do this better than by courting an inspection of the " poor-box book" which was kept by the chief clerk, and which could be always seen at the New Court, Lambeth, by any of the subscribers. By this book it would be seen that from Christmas, 1843, to the present period, a sum of 246/ 13s. 3d. had been distributed,! and that every entry (which gave a sufficient account of the manner in which the money was given as to call the attention of the magistrates to every case) bore the signature of the magistrate by whom it was ordered to be given. A balance, he was happy to say, remained in favour of the poor-box, and it being the opinion of Mr. Henry and himself that they should distribute a portion of this balance amongst the numerous poor of the district, they had directed that a sum of a/. should be expended in the purchase of bread, blankets, and coals, and that these should be distributed by ballot to the deserving poor, under the superintendence of their own officers. In conclusion, Mr. Norton said that the management and distribution of the articles issued had imposed a new, onerous, and arduous—though he should add pleasing—duty. The summoning officers had much additional trouble in making the necessary inquiries about applicants, and for this additional duty Mr. Henry and himself had arranged to pay two of the three summoning-officers a gratuity out of their own pockets, so that no portion of the past levies should be touched. Both the magistrates subsequently expressed their admiration to Mr. Young and Mr. tierce, superintendents of the K and H divisions of 'police, of the manner in which all the officers under them had invariably discharged their duty, and at the final closing of the court most of the respected parish officers, dz.c., were present.  The jury said they were quite satisfied, and they at once returned a verdict that the woman was wilfully murdered by her husband, and with regard to the deceased William Oliver, they returned a verdict of felo de se.