7 SEPTEMBER 1833, Page 2

The Old Bailey Sessions commenced on Thursday, at the Old

Court ; when some additional consequences of the "mistake" of Mr. Rotch and his fellow Magistrates became apparent. Two prisoners refused to plead ; alleging that they had been tried before, and il- legally convicted. Mr. Parker, their counsel, applied for their die..

charge, on the ground that as there had been an intermediate seesion since their conviction, at which they were not tried, they could not be legally tried at the present session. One of the prisoners, who had been sentenced to transportation, had been removed from, an House of Correction to Portsmouth, and thence back again to Neo gate. The cases were finally adjourned over to Saturday, in order to give the pri- soners time to produce the records of their convictions.

Charles Reynolds, the servant of Mr. Wetherell of Highgate, was indicted for shooting at his fellow-servant, Sarah Parry, with intent to murder her. The particulars of this case were fully detailed in the

Spectator some weeks ago. The prisoner only said in his defence, that he was not aware of what he was doing. Three respectable witnesses gave him a good character for mildness of disposition. Baron Gurney,

in charging the Jury, observed, that no evidence was adduced to prove his insanity : unless the Jury were convinced that he did not know

good from evil, he must be held accountable to God and man for his ac- tions. After consulting together for an hour and a half, the Jury found the prisoner Guilty.

On the same day, James Fraser was tried in the New Court, and found guilty of bigamy.

At the Westminster Sessions, on Saturday, Robert Lee was sen- tenced to twelve months' imprisonment, for inflicting a severe wound on the face of a poor man named Thomas. Gillham. The prisoner appears to have been half mad, and cut at the prosecutor with his knife without the least provocation.

Mr. Combe, a barrister, has been appointed to the situation- of Thames Police Magistrate, vacant by the death of Captain Richbell, R.N., who died six months ago. Mr. Combo took his seat on the Bench at the Thames Police-office on Thursday.

Mr. Chambers, one of the Magistrates at Union Hall Office, has been appointed by the Secretary of State to fill up the vacancy at Marlborough Street, which was occasioned by the appointment of Sir Frederick Roe to Bow Street.

The Reverend James Macdonald was examined at Bow Street, on Tuesday, on a charge preferred against him by Lady Frances Wedder- burne, for assaulting herself and forcibly entering her house in Ches- terfield Street. He was also charged with kissing some of the servant- women, and knocking others down. It appeared that his object was to

gain possession of the house ; for which purpose, he went there at. tended by a hardy seafaring-looking fellow, who was called his page, and several other men. Lady Frances and her servants made a stout defence, with umbrellas, pokers, and chairs ; and her Ladyship received several bruises in the struggle. Her husband, Sir James Wedderburne, is abroad ; and she said that she was quite unprotected. Mr. Mac- donald was held to bail, himself in 3001., and two sureties in 150/. each.

Mr. Thomas Cox Savory was bound over, on Monday, to take his trial for having in his possession a quantity of plate on which the marks of the Goldsmith's Company were forged. His sureties were Mr. Gurney, of the house of Overend, Gurney, and Company, and Mr. Tyler, a coppersmith, each in 5001. Mr. Savory also gave his own se- curity in 5001. more.

Treen, the foreman, implicated in the charge brought against Mr. Savory, of Cornbill, has been apprehended at Devonport, where he was found in the employment of Mr. Ramsey, a silversmith.

Three Milton fishermen were brought before the Lord Mayor on Thursday, charged by Mr. Mark Redman with stealing large quanti- ties of oysters from some beds which he rented from Miss Wickham, the lady of the manor, at fifty pounds per annum. The defendants maintained, that they had a perfect right to take the oysters, and that the injunction lately granted by the Lord Chancellor did not affect their right. The Lord Mayor asked Mr. Redman, how he could swear to his oysters ? He replied, that they were of a peculiar kind, which he had procured from the coast of Cornwall. The men at once admitted that they had taken his oysters; but promised to keep an account of the profits of the sale, and if he could make good his claim to them, to pay the profits over to him. This Mr. Redman strongly objected to ; but the Lord Mayor refused to take cognizance of the case, and told him to apply for an injunction to the Court of Chancery. Mr. Redman said, he should lose 3001. if his property was not protected.

Mr. Staniland, the solicitor, applied yesterday to the Lord Mayor, to back a warrant issued by the magistrates of the county of Kent for the apprehension of two of the men, named Ellson and South, for rob- bing these oyster beds. The accused were, he stated, now engaged in selling the oysters at Billingsgate at 7s. a hundred, although they were worth 12s. Ten of the fishermen, of whom the persons named in the warrant were the ringleaders, had been committed to Maidstone Gaol by the Magistrates of the county for similar depredations, and the plunder had been kept up in the most extraordinary manner, a fleet actually consisting of 100 men being daily employed in stripping the beds, to the ruin of the unfortunate man who rented them of the lady of the manor. All the rest of the beds within the manor were protected by the injunction of the Lord Chancellor; but an injunction bad not been applied for in the present instance, on account of the expense. In the mean time, the lessee's property was hourly disappearing, After some hesitation, the Lord Mayor backed the warrant, but expressed great regret that his duty compelled him to do so.

It is said that, all along the Kentish coast, the fishermen and their families are in great distress in consequence of the extension of the manorial rights of land proprietors into the sea.

A very long examination took place on Wednesday, at the Thames Police-office, on a charge brought by the parish-officers of St. John's Wapping, against a Mr. James Wren, for refusing to support his wife. Mr. Wren is an auctioneer and appraiser, engaged in a very good busi- ness in High Street, Wapping ; and acts as agent to several noblemen and gentlemen possessed of property in that neighbourhood. He at first positively denied that the applicant was his wife ; and, being pressed by the. Magistrate, said that he felt very ill and faint. Mr. Broderip, the Magistrate, said that he had not seen him in better health for many years, and refused to postpone his examination. Mr. Wren admitted then, that he had married Mrs. Wren ; but affirmed that it was not a legal marriage; as she had a husband named Rake living at the time he married her. This was most positively denied by the woman ; who gave a clear account of her connexion both with Wren and Rake. At length Mr. Wren acknowledged that the person he now lived with was not his wife, and that his children were illegitimate. He complained of the injury his character would sustain by this proceeding against him, and promised to allow his wife seventeen shillings a week; which sap. tisfied the Parish-officers, and be was discharged.

At the Hatton Garden Office, on Wednesday, Miss Elizabeth Char- lotte Slee charged Hierom Holmes, late a corporal in the 9th Lance % with having married her, his first wife being alive. Holmes had been flogged, and then dismissed from his regiment, for misconduct. He met Miss Slee, whose mother is a widow lady of property, and who herself had 7.561., accidentally near Gravesend, a few months since ; and contrived to form an acquaintance with her, which ended in his marry- ing her, against the wishes of her friends : the ceremony was performed at Gravesend church—the prisoner going by the name of Edmonds. He soon contrived to get all her money from her ; and then, telling her-that he had got all he wanted, absconded, and was not found. tiR Tuesday last ; when his lurking-place in the.neighbourbood of Hack- ney was discovered. Money to the amount of 120/., with some trinkets and valuables belonging to Miss Slee, were regained by the Policeman. Holmes admitted that he was a married man, and said that Miss Slee knew it. Both the parties declared that the marriage had never been consummated. The prisoner's wife and family reside at Liverpool. He was remanded for further examination.

William Puddifoot, an old gambler, was charged before the Lord Mayor, on Tuesday, with having purloined about 4501., intrusted to him by a Mr. Langley to purchase some stock. The stock was vane- ferred by the brokers into Mr. Langley's name, by desire of the pri- soner, who had been often employed on the same kind of business by Mr. Langley; but he never came to pay the money. On Monday, he was taken into custody, and about 4001. of the money was recovered. It appeared from his own replies, and the evidence of his wife, that the old man had lost the balance at cards. He had an insane passion for gambling, which some rogues bad taken advantage of to ruin him. His wife promised to make up the deficiency from her own income of 251. per annum ; and the prisoner was suffered to depart.

Mr. Bodkin, the barrister, gave information to the Magistrates of Hatton Garden Police-office, on Thursday, that one of his clerks, in whom he had placed unbounded confidence, had absconded from his service, having embezzled large sums of money, which he had received on his account.

A young fellow named Chambers applied to the Lord Mayor, on Monday, for an order on the parish in which he resides, to support him, as his father refused to do so. But his father said that he was such a profligate brute, and bad even violently struck his mother, that he was obliged to turn him out of the house. Sir Peter sent him away, and told the Parish-officers not to give him a farthing.

Michael Fallon, an Irish coalwhipper, was examined on Monday at the Thames Police-office, for a brutal assault on a brother labourer, named Bannister, which seriously endangers his life. He was re- manded until it should be ascertained whether there was a probability of Bannister's recovery. The English and Irish.coalwhippers are con- stantly.quarrelling, and this assault arose out of one of their disputes respecting the rate of wages demanded for delivering the ships of the cargoes.

A man with a wooden leg, well known in Westminster as the "King of the Beggars," was committed to gaol for a month, from the Queen Square Office, on Saturday, for begging, and using brutal language to all who refused to give him money Popay, the spy, was brought up at the Union Hall Office, on Thurs- day, by Dean, a discharged Sergeant of Police ; who accused him of insulting and threatening him in the streets. Popay denied the charge; and informed the Magistrate, that wherever he went he was called a "monster," and asked "what blood-money he had in his pockets ?" Popay was discharged on his own recognizance to appear next Monday at the Surry Sessions.

A successor to Dando the oyster-eater, named 'William Wrench, was held to bail at the Marylebone Office, on Monday, for eating five dozen oysters and five pieces of bread and butter, at the shop of Mr. Green of High Street, Marylebone i.nd then going away without paying for them. The fellow repeatedly promised the Magistrate, upon his " ho- nour," that he would pay for them as soon as he could.

Mrs. Victor Pauline Heron and her husband, accused of robbing a Mr. Dowley of Wake Cottage,, Camberwell, of sundry valuables, were discharged by Mr. Gregorie of the Queen Square Office, on Monday. The woman, who bad been Mr. Dowley's servant, said that her master, a gentleman of weak intellect, had given her the articles said to be stolen.

At the Hatton Garden Office, on Monday, Mary Thompson, who said she was the wife of a jeweller residing in Howard's Green, St. Luke's, was committed to prison to take her trial, for strange and noisy behaviour in Islington Church on Sunday last. The beadle said that she interrupted the service, by singing snatches of songs, like a mad or intoxicated person. Her only defence was, that she felt very sorry, and much ashamed of her conduct.

At the Bow Street Office, on Wednesday, Elijah 'West, a carterlately in the employ of -Sir Charles Price and Company, oil-manufacturers, Blackfriars Road, was charged with having stolen 1001. and upwards, in notes and sovereigns, out of the counting-house of his former em- ployers. He was remanded, in order that additional evidence might be produced against him.

John Dow, a young man of respectable appearance, was fined five shil- lings, at the Marylebone Office, on Wednesday, for getting drunk the night before, knocking at the house-doors, and swearing at the constables.

At the Union Hall Office, on Wednesday, the.drivers.of two oppo- sition Brixton coaches, named Balls and Durston, were charged with furious driving. The prisoners had been racing together; and Balls seeing that Durston was going a-head, drove,against him, and thereby upset the coach. A poor carpenter, and a nursery-maid, with-the iv- fent of Mr. Debar, a French gentleman, in her arms, were thrown and all three were much bruised and injured. D4ston was fined U. and Balls 21. 108.

On Wednesday, William Tilbery was committed to prison from the Office in Lambeth Street, for thrusting his hand through the shop- window of a pawnbroker in the Commercial Road, and stealing a silver pepper-castor. Ile said that he had committed the offence in order to be sent out of the cuntry. It appears that he had fallen in love with Miss Fanny Kemble, Ind had spent all his money in going to see her act.; and as he understood that she was not likely to return to this country, he wished to leave it also. It is probable that his wishes will be gratified, unless a lunatic asylum should be considered a more fitting place of residence for the young blockhead.

On Monday, James Orlando Williams, a Police constable, was charged, at the Queen Square Office, with a felonious assault on Emma

Fowler, a girl of fifteen, daughter of a journeyman cabinetmaker at Pimlico. The case excited the greatest interest in the neighbourhood, and the result of the examination was anxiously looked for. After a long examination, the charge was fully proved, and the prisoner was 1Y111/111itted for trial.

Several tradesmen at the West end of the town have lately been eheated by a German swindler, calling himself a Baron, who occupied rooms in a respectable hotel near Berkeley Square. He was au attend- ant at Crockford's, and rode about in a cabriolet, attended by livery servants in great style. On Wednesday week he decamped, and has not since been heard of. Tailors, jewellers, livery-stable-keepers, and restaurateurs, are the principal sufferers by their own folly and his rascality.

An elderly man from Birmingham, named Townshend, gave in- formation on Wednesday, at the Bunhill Row station, St. Luke's, of the following robbery. He had recently left Birmingham, with about 1001. in guineas. On Monday afternoon, he was looking about in Ilolborn for a small shop, when he was accosted by two genteel. looking men, who wormed out of him that he had sixty-four guineas and 71. in his pocket. " Oh," said one, " I don't think you have such a thing as a guinea—they are not to be found now; I'll bet you 51. you can't produce such a number of guineas." The bet was taken, and the three adjourned to the Sir Juhn Falstaff, when the contryrnan dis- played Its money. " Well," said the sharper, " you've won it, sure enough," and threw down a five-pound note. Without going over the 'whole story, it may be stated :that the sharper pretended to wrap the man's money up in the note, and put it in his fob. On their departure, the man found his guineas gone, and halfpence in their place.

Several warehouses and empty buildings have lately been entered from the roofs, and valuables stolen from them. It is a common prac- tice for.the thieves to break a pane of glass in a skylight, and then let down a child into the rooms to pick up what he can find.

A fellow, calling himself Thomas Bennett, has been writing letters to various merchants and tradesmen, requesting to be informed as to the character of some young man, who, he pretends, has referred him to them for a recommendation, previously to being received into his counting-house. His object is to obtain their signatures, and make nse of them for his own dishonest purposes. Several persons have written to the Lord Mayor on the subject ; and the roguery of Bennett is now publicly exposed.

Information was given yesterday to the different Police-offices, that on Monday afternoon, about two o'clock, a French lady alighted from a hackney-coach in Piccadilly. In a few minutes afterwards she recole leeted having left her reticule, containing 1301. in notes of five and ten pounds each, besides twenty-two sovereigns. Immediately on missing it she went to the coach stand, near the spot, but ascertained that the coachman had driven off at a furious rate.

A number of children have been missing from the borough of South- wark, and it is considered that there are persons interested in kidnap- ping children from that district. John Haines, a hay and corn dealer in Whitechapel, was brought up before the Magistrate for obstructing and wilfully damaging Mr. Han- cock's steam-omnibus. The steam-carriage was stopping in White- chapel, where it had arrived from Stratford; and John Haines drew up his cart before it, so as to prevent it from proceeding without damage to his vehicle. No remonstrances would induce John to make way for " a coach that had no horses to eat hay and corn," as he said. At last, the conductor guided the steam-carriage out of the way of John Ilaines's cart ; who then backed his horse, and drove up against the omnibus, to the injury of its pannels. John Haines had to pay 41. for his headstrong folly ; and finding there was no appeal from a fine of that amount, grumblingly paid the money. This is a genuine specimen of. John Bullism. Half the stage-coach-drivers, horse-dealers, farmers, and corn-dealers, fancy that their trades will be ruined by steam- carriages. We hope Miss Martineau will devote one of her admirable expositions to their enlightenment. For though they will not be ruined, they will be apt to think they ought to have been, when steam- earriages are established as conveyances on the common roads.