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Leader (1850-1860), 7th March 1857, Edition 2 of 2, Page 9, The Case of Mbs. Hope.—This case, which,...

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      tried , the first for stealing fifty dozen pairs of gloves , value 76 ? ., the property of his employer , and the second for feloniously receiving the stolen property . The facts have already appeared in this journal . They were found Guilty , and sentenced to two years' imprisonment each . Dr . James Mitchell Wynne , a physician , and Thomas Tinley , his servant , surrendered to take their trial upon an indictment which charged them with feloniously cutting and wounding Mark Benjamin Benham , on . the 29 th of last December . The quarrel arose out of some dispute relative to the prosecutor ' s occupancy of rooms

      in Dr . Wynne ' s house ; but our readers were placed in full possession of the facts at the time the case was before the police magistrate . The defence was that Mr . Henham had grossly insulted Dr . Wynne ; that a scuffle took place , in which the doctor was forced to defend himself ; that his servant assisted him ; that the prosecutor wished , in order to forward his own views , to get the doctor within the meshes of the law ; and that the assaults had been greatly exaggerated . Several witnesses testified to Dr . Wynne ' s mild and gentlemanly manners ; and the jury Acquitted both the accused .

      John Paul and Joseph William Hawes were charged , the former tvith having feloniously uttered a receipt for 29 OZ . knowing it to have been forged , and the latter with having forged the same instrument , with intent to defraud the Guardians of the Poor of the City of London Union . This charge arose out of the frauds and forgeries committed by PauJ on the Union to which he was clerk . It "will be recollected that he was convicted at the last session of those felonies , and was sentenced to fourteen years ' transportation . He now appeared in his prison dress , and looked extremely dejected and wretched . The case was watched on iris behalf , but no defence was made ; The defence for Hawes was that he had acted as the tool of Paul , and did not know he was doing ; wrong . The jury Acquitted him , and found Paul Guilty . No further sentence was passed on him , and he was simplv remitted back to prison .

      Edwin Hammond surrendered to take his trial for the manslaughter of Richard Cottrell On the night of the 31 st January , Cottrell and a friend were passing King ' s-cross , when Hammond and t \ v . o other men came up and assaulted them . The prisoner knocked the deceased down , and , his head coming upon the kerb , his skull was fractured , from the effects of which he died a week afterwards . Hammond was found Guilty , and sentenced to one month ' s imprisonment .

      Furtivel Triedthe First For Fiftdozen Of...

      March 7 , 1857 . ] THE lEiPEB . 225

      The Case Of Mbs. Hope.—This Case, Which,...

      The Case of Mbs . Hope . —This case , which , has been argued for a long time before the Lords Justices of Appeal , has been decided . The appeal was from the decision of the Master of the Rolls , overruling a demurrer put in to the bill . The bill was filed by Madame Emilie IVIelanie Mathilde Hope , by her next friend , against Mr . Adrian John Hope , her husband , praying the specific performance of an agreement entered into bet-ween the parties at Paris in 1855 . The principal provisions of this agreement were—Firstly , that Mrs . Hope would immediately deliver up to Mr . Hope Mr . Adrian Elia 3 Hope , the youngest but one of their children , the youngest , Mr . Jean Henry Hope , being to be left under the care of his mother . Secondly , that Mrs . Hope would

      abandon a suit -which she had commenced in the English courts for a divorce against Mr . Hope . Thirdly , that Mrs . Hope -would not oppose a suit for divorce instituted against her by Mr . Hope in the English courts , but , on the contrary , would facilitate tho obtaining of such divorce ; the understanding being that Mrs . Hope should have access to , and be allowed to correspond -with , her elder children . Fourthly , that Mr . Hope should pnv Mrs . Hope for her life 75 , 000 francs per year . The bill alleged that Mrs . Hope had fulfilled this agreement , by performing the stipulations on her part , but that Mr , Hope had refused her access to her children , and declined to pay her tho annuity of 75 , 000 franca . The Master of tlie Rolls had considered the question too difficult to be docided upon demurrer . The Lords Justices of Appeal said that

      now , assuming the contract to be such as would bo enforced by the French tribunals—though that , pwhaps , did not sufficiently appear on tho bill—tho demurrer must , nevertheless , be allowed , as the agreement vra 3 one which could not be enforced by the courts in England , inasmuch as it contained stipulations contrary to the policy of the law here . The first article of the ¦ agreement was plainly so , being to withdraw the youngest child from tho care and superintendence of his futher , hia natural guardian according to tlie law of England ; and the third was equally , if not more repugnant to tho policy of that law , inasmuch as it had a double object firstly , to promote proceedings for a divorce , and secondly , to frustrate underhand proceedings commenced in a court of justice . That being so , tho agreement could not be enforced .

      Ill-usage op a Son . —A shocking case of ill-usage of a son was brought before the Worship-street magistrate last Saturday . The lad is about eighteen yoara of ago , and is tho son of Joseph Williams , a letter-sorter at the General Post Oflico . He is of weak Jatqlleot , and appears to have been systematically neglected by his parents ; but it is asserted that tlie mother in also imbecile . A publican living noxt door to the father , observing that the youth was sadly emaciated , would «» vo him bread : which tho poor fellow would eat

      furtively , carrying it to the dust-bifl , to be out of observation , and occasionally glancing up to the windows of his father ' s house . At length , the publican , brought the matter before the attention of the parish authorities , who went to the place , and found the lad seated in the kitchen by a small fire , horribly filthy , and covered with vermin . A room iip-stairs where hejslept was in a sickening condition from accumulations " of dirt ; and the youth , on being taken to tlie workhouse , and stripped , was found to be dreadfully emaciated , and suffering- from a great many sores and from general neglect . The father has seven other children , who appear to be well fed . The publican , in giving evidence , said he had seen one of them , a girl , laughing and mocking at her miserable brother , on account of the vermin on him . Williams was remanded , but bail was accepted for his reappearance .

      Hocussing o : n the Highway . —A young woman servant was stopped in the evening in the outskirts of Wakefield by two men , who solicited alms . On her replying that she had nothing for them , one uncorked a phial , and , while his companion held the girl , poured some of the contents down her throat . Some persons at that moment approached , and the men ran away . The girl was found in a state of stupefaction , and her throat was severely burnt by the fluid . The police are looking out for the offenders .

      Suspected Murdeu ineAr Lancaster . —The body of a man has been discovered lying in blood at the bottom of a very high precipice , called the Scotch Quarry , near Lancaster . Two men , named Nelson and Leach , have been apprehended under suspicion , and committed for trial on the coroner's warrant . One of them is a poacher and a man of dissolute habits ; both were known to have quarrelled with the murdered man on the night when he was missed ; and a great deal of circumstantial evidence points to them as the perpetrators .

      Another Holt Rabbit Case . —John Hagon has been , again charged at the Holt Petty Sessions with trespassing on " the Low , " and taking a rabbit from that piece of ground which bj right belongs to the poor of the neighbourhood . He was convicted , and sentenced to two months'hard labour . The Petty Sessions are acquiring a disgraceful notoriety . The Ashover Burglary . —Thomas Wooton , the man in custody under suspicion of being concerned in the burglary at the house of tlie Rev . Mr . Nodder at Marsh . Green , Ashover , has been examined before the local magistrates , and committed for trial . He is apparently the man who was shot by Mr . Nodder . His manner during the examination was very impudent , and he asked the court to allow him to leave for a time , to get his dinner .

      Attempted Muedek . —A young woman at Southampton has been shot by a man with , whom she had been living , and who had quarrelled with her . She was hit in the shoulder , but not mortally wounded . The man is in custody , and committed for trial . The City Bank Faruds . —The trial of James Townsend Saward and James Anderson for tlie celebrated frauds on the City and other banks took place at the Central Criminal Court on Thursday before the

      Chief Baron and Mr . Baron Bramwell . Sir Frederick Thesiger prosecuted , with the assistance of Mr . Bodkin and Mr . Sleigh . The prisoners , who were not defended , were fouud Guilty , and on the following day ( yesterday ) the Lord Chief Baron sentenced them to transportation for life , not heeding a recommendation by Sir Frederick Thesiger , on the part of the B ankers' Association , who were the prosecutors , that Anderson should be regarded with some leniency , on the ground that he was a mere tool of Saward .

      Gatherings From The Law And Police Court...

      GATHERINGS FROM THE LAW AND POLICE COURTS . Thomas Biclt ., a person charged at the Thames policeoffice on a previous day with sending threatening letters to Lord John Russell , was brought up again la . st Saturday , at tho instigation of the Home Secretary , to enable the magistrate to inquire as to tho state of liis mind , with a view to his future disposal . Mr . Thomas Mcares , surgeon , stated that lie had examined Mr . Hell on Friday and again that morning , and found that he laboured under a delusion that Lord John Itusscll liad disseminated slanders respecting him , and had employed persons to infuse poison into his food and medicine . He admitted the authorship of the letters . Mr . Mcares was satisfied that he was a lunatic , and that , as his insanity might assume a dangerous form , lie ought to be put under restraint . Mr . Bell , who appeared firm and collected , demanded upon what grounds the surgeon came to the conclusion that ho was of unsound mind . On having the last letter ho wrote to Lord John Riissell put into his hand , ho ndniittcd it -was his writing , and then assorted that lie hud been slandered , and that persona had been employed to poison him by hi . * Lord . ship . lie repeatedly declared that tlioy wore " mcreandott " slanders , and that Lord John " Mercnndott" Russell deserved the inercandott" medicine , as ho had repeated the Blander * at Dover-house to Lord Dover and othora , and ho wished Lord John Russell to be summoned na « witness , to see if ho could deny it . In rei > ly to tho inftgiatrato as to what was meant by the term " mercandott , " which ho used ao often , ho said , " Mcreandott ia an ash plant—a atick , IVSflrcandoU medicine phould .

      be applied to his Lordship . " The magistrate made out an order for the removal of the unfortunate man to Colney-hateh Lunatic Asylum . Mr . Bell exclaimed that the decision of the magistrate was an act of tyranny and injustice , as they had not put Lord John Russell into the box ; but he was shortly afterwards removed . Mr . Commissioner Goulburn , in the Court of Bankruptcy , on Monday , spoke with great severity of those tailors who encourage young men , under age , to reckless expenditure in clothes , by granting them credit . John Baxter Folkard , a tailor of Jcrmyn-street , applied for a certificate . His accounts commenced on the 1 st of January , 1855 , with , a surplus of 3387 / ., and , extending over a period of sixteen months , close with unsecured creditors , 8377 / . There are also liabilities to the farther

      extent of 6830 / . to Mr . Baxter , tho bankrupt ' s godfather , for bills which he has discounted , bearing the names o £ the bankrupt and his customers . The estate would now be solvent but fox losses to an enormous amount by bad debts by young gentlemen , who , it would appear , Lave but in few instances paid for their clothes . As it is , the assets to meet the debts of 8377 ? ., and such further amount a 3 may accrue from the liabilities of 6830 ? ., liave as yet realized only 2800 / ., and tho Commissioner calculated that the total amount could only be made up t » about 3000 / . After a severe lecture , Mr . Commissioner Goulburn said tho bankrupt would merely receive a third-class certificate after a year ' s suspension from that day , with protection from three months to three ¦ months . .

      An American , named Alexander Harnett Clarke , pursuing business as a photographic artist in Sun-court , Upper East Smithfield , is under remand at tho Thames police-office , charged with the manslaughter of a Mrs . Bunn . That person had gone to Clarke's room , and asked for a portrait which' had been taken of her son . The man said that it was not in a fit state to leave his ¦ ' . * establishment ; " but Mrs . Bunn rejoined that she had paid for it , and would . liave it . Clarke then seized a hammer and struck at a female companion of Mrs . Bunn ; but the blow fell on the latter , who was much , hurt . The American was given into custody ; but the Thames magistrate , believing that the case wa 3 only one of ordinary assault , fined Clarke twenty shillings , "Which , he paid . The woman , however , has since died ; and Clarke was therefore again apprehended .

      The old man calling himself Williams , who stands charged with obtaining charitable contributions from Lord Hokeby , by false pretences , was brought before the Bow-street magistrate on Wednesday , for final examination . He . then stated that he was unable to produce the Mr 3 . Duke , on whom he had relied for his defence , excepting by criminating another person , which he refused to do ; and he therefore threw himself on the mercy of the court , and besought the magistrate to consider his years and the fact of his having disease of the heart . He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment .

      TMr . Birchmore , the relieving officer of the parish of St . Pancras , attended at the Clerkenwell police-office to make a statement to the magistrate of the results of some investigations he liad been making ; into the circumstances of the applicants for relief belonging to the society of the unemployed . According to this statement , a very large proportion of the applicants were impostors .

      Accidents And Sudden Deaths. A Majj Empl...

      ACCIDENTS AND SUDDEN DEATHS . A MAjj employed on the Bristol and Exeter Railway has been killed while courageously performing an act of duty . Turner , the man in question , was in charge of tho down luggage train , and observed that a truck had been left on tlie line near the Jlighbridtje station . Although the train was in motion , he attempted to descend , in order to remove the obstacle , but missed his footing , and was thrown across the rails , where tho wheels of some of the luggage vans went , over hiuri . Ho was instantly killed . Mrs . Surah Elliott , an elderly maiden lady , wlio has lived for several years in Nursery-row , Brandon-street , Wnlworth , was found dead on Sunday morning by her servant , lying in tho parlour on three chairs with a halfemptj' gin hot He by her side . Her habits were very eccentric . She was supposed by her neighbours to bo highly connected ; but none of her friends were ol ) Bcrved to visit her . She lived parsimoniously except in tho matter of drink , in which she indulged . Tho house had at one time been richly furnished ; but , from neglect , the furniture is now in a deplorable stato . Mrs . Elliott , when the body was discovered , was dressed in miserable rags , held together by an inconceivable number of pins , though there were plenty of clothes of a costly cliaractor in tho house . Forty sovereigns , and six 6 / . Bank of England notes , wero also found in a bag under tho head of the corpse . The old lady had drunk a whole bottlo of wine tho night before her death ; but she appears to havo expired from natural causes . The inquest on the bodies of tho men killed by the explosion at the fog-signal factory of the Eastern Counties Railway was concluded on Wednesday , when the jury found a verdict of death from tho explosion , adding— " And tho jury are of opinion that tho greatest negligence has been exhibited in conducting tho manufact ure of the fopj-aignalS j and the most ordinary precautions

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 7, 1857, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_07031857/page/9/