West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. Friday 21st February, 1851. Part Two JUSTICES' MEETING, PENZANCE - The following case was heard on Wednesday last, before the Rev. URIAH TONKIN, and Mr. D. P. LE GRICE. For the last week or two a great many "navvies" have been arriving at Penzance, and some of them, in consequence of not being able to obtain work, have been perambulating the country around, begging assistance, and their surly looks seldom failed to create fear, and in some instances they have been known to have had recourse to intimidation to obtain what they wanted; hence the timid portion of the population have been in anticipation of hearing of a robbery, or something more serious. In the early part of this week, a rumour became current, that one of the "navvies" had assaulted a woman near Hayle, and had presented a pistol at and threatened to "blow out the brains" of a man who came to her assistance. This rumour proved to be partly correct; the circumstances from whence it arose are detailed in the following case:- MARY PHILLIPS v. GEORGE WARRINGTON. The defendant is an "overlooker" in the employ of Mr. RITSON, the contractor for the West Cornwall Railway: the complainant is a widow, and late on Saturday night last was returning from Camborne market with her donkey and cart, and when near Hayle, the defendant came up and asked her to allow him to get into her cart. He then immediately seized her by her clothes, and at the same time got hold of her basket, in which she had butter, meat &c., but on seeing a man coming, he ran away up a place near Floyd's public house. A man called KING (a night watcher employed by Messrs. HARVEY) came to her, and she informed him what had taken place. On arriving at the foundry she again saw the defendant, and King went and asked him what he had stopped her for. The defendant's answer was "go to h-ll." King then presented a pistol, and threatened to blow the defendant's brains out, upon which the defendant ran off. This was the substance of the complainants' case. Mr. Pascoe ably addressed the magistrates on behalf of the defendant, and adduced evidence that he (defendant) had been in the employ of Mr. Ritson for several years, and that he had always been a very steady and peaceable man. The magistrates reprimanded the defendant, and cautioned him as to his future conduct. HORSE STEALING - On Thursday last, JOHN LIDDICOAT, of St. Stephens in Branwell, was brought before Mr. E. COODE, jun., charged with stealing a pony, the property of Mr. ENOS CHANNON, of St. Austell, veterinary surgeon. The pony in question belonged to Mr. JOHN TRUSCOTT, of St. Stephens, who disposed of the same by a raffle. Channon took a chance, but not being present at the time the pony was drawn for, and not having paid for his chance, Liddicoat paid for him, and said he would take half the risk with Channon. The pony was won by them. On the following day Liddicoat took the pony to Channon, and said it was their joint property, but Channon refused to recognize the claim of the prisoner, and took forcible possession of the pony. At the last County Court, the prisoner brought an action against Channon, but the verdict was against him. On the following Saturday night (the 8th inst.,) the stable in which the pony was kept was broken open, and the animal put away. The prisoner having been seen in the neighbourhood the same day, and having been heard to threaten that he would still have the pony, suspicion fell on him, and he was apprehended on the charge, but there being no sufficient evidence to connect the prisoner with the robbery, he was discharged. The police had been in active pursuit, but could obtain no trace of the pony. FOWL STEALING - On Wednesday last, SAMUEL HOSKIN and JOHN COKER were charged before Dr. CARLYON and Captain WIGHTMAN, magistrates, at Truro, with stealing a fowl, the property of Mr. COLLINS, of Truthan. It appeared that on Saturday night, or early on Sunday morning last, Mr. Collins's gamekeepers being out on his grounds, saw two men in a field, and heard a noise proceeding from some fowls roosting in a linhay. On their going towards the linhay, a man rushed out, followed by two dogs. The keepers shot one of the dogs, a greyhound, and caught the other. The man, who had a double-barrelled gun, presented it at one of Mr. Collins's men, called BUDGE. Budge also levelled his gun, and called out to the other man that he would shoot him, on which the fellow turned and made off, Budge's gun being in fact not loaded at the time. The two men seen in the field also fled, and though Mr. Collins's people pursued, the three parties escaped. The man who levelled the gun at Budge was afterwards fired at about his legs, but whether the shot struck him or not is not known. The dog that was captured by the keepers was afterwards killed. A long investigation took place before the magistrates, a number of witnesses being examined. The evidence as bearing against the accused parties was, that on the same night they had met at a beer-house, where they were drinking with others, and had afterwards left, apparently with the intention of going to their homes. They were not sworn to by their features, but their dress, it was stated, when at the beer-house, was similar to that of the men who were seen by the keepers on Mr. Collins's premises. After hearing the evidence the magistrates bailed the accused to appear to answer the charge at the ensuing assizes. Mr. BENNALLACK attended in their behalf when before the magistrates. ESCAPE OF A PRISONER - The pickpocket WILLIAM JOHNSON, had broken out of Callington gaol, but Mr. GIBBONS (superintendent of the Plymouth police,) started off toe Bristol, and with the assistance of the detective officer, BANWELL, at Bristol, apprehended the man in that city within three hours of his arrival. He has been since sent to Callington, and committed for trial. We hope that some attention will be given to our country gaols. RECAPTURE OF A PRISONER - On Sunday last, MITCHELL, who escaped from the police some weeks since, and for whom a sharp look out had been kept, was again apprehended, and on examination before the magistrates of the Helston borough, was committed to the borough gaol to await his trial at the ensuing sessions. FIRE - On Tuesday last, a fire broke out in one of the houses on Wheal Trehane Mine, near Liskeard. Many of the buildings containing miners' clothes, two casks of tallow, gunpowder, &c., were destroyed. ACCIDENT FROM LUCIFER MATCHES - On Friday morning last, as a boy about nine years of age, was passing a rick of furze, at Ninnis, near Gwennap Pit, he set fire to a lucifer match, and threw it on the rick, which immediately ignited, and the wind blowing in the direction of a dwelling house, occupied by Mr. HARRIS, the flames immediately caught the thatch, and in the course of a short time, both the rick and house were entirely destroyed. The household furniture was saved. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE - A woman named ELIZABETH DAW, the wife of ANTHONY DAW, a shoemaker, residing in New-street, Penzance, on Tuesday morning about six o'clock attempted to commit suicide by cutting her throat. It appears that she had secured her husband's razor for the purpose, and after her husband had got up and gone down stairs she inflicted a severe gash across her throat. Medical assistance was promptly procured, and she is now likely to recover. FATAL ACCIDENT - On Saturday last as Mr. JOHN VOSPER and his son THOMAS (a lad of about twelve years of age), of Castlewick near Callington, were engaged in stowing away some corn in the barn prior to its being thrashed out, the lad slipped off from the top and was caught by the corn pike, (which had been left against the pile with the prongs up,) and the points ran into his bowls. He lingered about two hours and then expired. An inquest has since been held and a verdict of accidental death returned. CORONERS' INQUESTS - The following inquests have been held before Mr. JOHN CARLYON, county coroner:- On the 14th instant, at Bolenna, in the parish of Camborne, on the body of THOMAS WEBSTER, miner, aged 40. Deceased worked in Carn Brae mine, and on Wednesday the 12th instant, in reaching over a stull to get at a piece of timber, he missed his footing and fell, head-foremost, a distance of ten fathoms into a gunnis, and was killed on the spot. Verdict, "accidental death." On Wednesday the 19th instant, at Bereppa, in the parish of Mawnan, on the body of MATTHEW YEOMAN, aged 59 years, who dropped down and almost instantly expired as he was leaving his house, the preceding day. It appeared that the deceased had been an ailing man for some time, and he died from disease of the heart, Verdict, "visitation of God." On Saturday last, an inquest was held before Mr. HAMLEY, county coroner, at the parish of Pelynt, on the body of RICHARD DREW, a boy aged about 14 years, servant of Mrs. PHILP, of that parish. It appeared that Mrs. Philp, who is a widow, farmed an estate in that parish called Muchlarnick. In November last she went to the Liskeard Union, to get a boy as servant, and took the deceased to live with her. He was rather delicate, but continued to do his work until within a few days of his death, when he appeared to be unwell, it was considered by Mrs. Philp and her family, that he was merely suffering from a cold. The night before his death he went to tea but was not considered worse; he became however, much worse in the morning and died rather suddenly. Preparations were made for the funeral, but in consequence of reports that the boy had been ill-treated by Mrs. Philp, the parish authorities insisted on an inquiry taking place. A man named LEAN, a mason, deposed that about three weeks since he was working on the roof of Mrs. Philp's house when he heard the boy screaming, and on looking down, saw Mrs. Philp beating him with a stick. He saw him afterwards go to his work and did not think he was at all hurt by the beating. Lean having mentioned this after the boy's death, induced the parish authorities to interfere, particularly as no medical man or nurse had been called in during his illness. Several neighbours proved that he had always been treated kindly by Mrs. Philp, and a man named LOBB saw him the night before he died and did not consider him worse or in danger, but he went to see him in the morning and found him dying. On the jury viewing the body the feet and hands were dreadfully swollen and inflamed, but Mr. ROWE, the surgeon, stated that he had examined the body carefully and there were no marks of violence whatever, but that the feet and hands were covered with erysipelas and ulcers of the most malignant character, which he had no doubt was the cause of his death - as that disease was very prevalent in the neighbourhood. The jury were perfectly satisfied that there was no blame to be attached to any one, and returned a verdict accordingly. Mrs. Philp said the inflammation on the feet and hands had only appeared the day before. The case had caused a great deal of excitement in the neighbourhood. The following inquest has been held before Mr. HICHENS, county coroner:- On the 12th instant, at St. Just in Penwith, on the body of a lad named ROBERT JAMES, aged ten years, the son of a miner living in that parish. The deceased had been employed on the 10th, in breaking clay in a marl pit, on the tenement of Truthwell, and in the evening of that day went to his father's house for a sack to put some potatoes into, which were in a field near by, but the father for some reason did not allow him to take the sack, and the deceased left without it. About half-an-hour afterwards, the father went to the field with the sack, and not seeing the deceased there, and having observed as he passed the pit in which deceased had been working, that some of the clay had fallen down, he became alarmed and immediately set to work to remove it, and in a short time discovered under it the lifeless body of his son. Verdict, "accidental death. RAWLINGS and OTHERS v. BARRETT - Roche Rock Mine. On the motion of Mr. BENNALLACK, a rule absolute was granted for sale of the machinery. SIMMONS v. MARTIN - A rule absolute was granted, on the motion of Mr. G. N. SIMMONS, for sale of defendants shares in Carvannal mine. In the case of the same plaintiff against WILLIAM HENRY MARTIN, a similar rule was granted. RICHARDS v. GILBERT - West Tolgus and Treloweth - A purser's petition, under which defendant's four 940th shares in this mine had been sold, realizing GBP7. 10s. each. On the motion of Mr. Bennallack, the Registrar's report was confirmed. KENWORTHY v. LAW - Mr. HOCKIN (for Mr. ROBERTS), moved for a rule absolute for sale of defendant's shares under the purser's petition. Rule nisi made absolute. WILLIAMS and OTHERS v. TWEEDY and OTHERS - Defendants are assignees of JOSEPH MICHELL, a bankrupt. On the motion of Mr. HOCKIN, (for Mr. Roberts), a rule absolute was granted for sale of the bankrupt's shares in Wheal Unity Wood West. A similar rule was granted in respect to the bankrupt's shares in Wheal Unity Wood East. STANNARIES' COURT - (Concluded from our last paper.) Friday, February 14. TYACK v. MANLEY - Wheal Henry - On Saturday, the first day of the sittings, Mr. CHILCOTT, on the part of plaintiff, made a motion in this case respecting costs. The decision now given by the Court was, that plaintiff pay the costs of the day at the hearing, and defendant the remainder of the costs. TILLY v. GUSTARD - West United Hills Mine - A purser's petition. Mr. HOCKIN obtained a rule absolute for sale of defendant's shares, he being in arrear of costs. RICHARDS v. CLEAVE and OTHERS - In this case the Court had ordered that the representatives of a person of the name of WOOLCOCK, should be added to the list of defendants. But Mr. G. N. SIMMONS, on inquiry had found that Woolcock died intestate and insolvent; and he now moved that the case be referred to the Registrar to take an account without the addition of Woolcock. Mr. CHILCOTT opposed the application on the ground that sufficient search had not been made to ascertain whether or not letters of administration had been taken out by Woolcock's representatives. The Vice Warden, however, thought the search sufficient, and directed that the case be referred back to the Registrar, with directions to take such an account as he may be able; that he consider Woolcock's shares as abandoned, and Woolcock as not existing. POWELL v. POWELL - This was an action tried at the last sittings, when a verdict was given for plaintiff for GBP28. 5s. Mr. Bennallack subsequently obtained a rule nisi for a new trial, on the ground that the signature to a memorandum produced was not the signature of the defendant. Mr. Chilcott, for plaintiff, now showed cause against the rule, and it was discharged. SHARE BARGAINS - BLAMEY v. JEWELL - We reported this case last week when a verdict was given for plaintiff for GBP30. Mr. HOCKIN, for defendant, now moved for a new trial, on the ground of misdirection in regard to the completion of the contract between the parties. The Vice Warden said he considered it was borne out by the evidence that the contract was completed. But there was a point of law involved, on which the case, if it was desired, might be reconsidered. There were four or five cases of joint-stock companies, in which it was laid down, that in actions for the non-delivery of shares according to contract, the measure of the damage was the difference between the price of the shares when bargained for, and the price at the time when they ought to have been delivered. But all those were cases where a considerable time had elapsed between the bargain and the time for delivery - perhaps two or three days; so that there was ample time for the person who had bargained to buy, putting himself into a situation of loss, by acting towards other purchasers as if the party would fulfil his contract to him. But in the present case the question arose whether they could inquire into the damage to the person who had bargained to buy, it being evident that he could not have taken any step to prejudice himself - he could not have done any thing as if he were the owner of the share, or on the faith of the other fulfilling his obligation. The case might therefore be reconsidered on the point of law, whether the measure of the damages should be the same in this case as in the cases of the joint stock companies' shares before referred to. He then granted a rule nisi to reduce the damages to nominal damages; or for a new trial of the case. CLEMENS v. PENROSE and ANOTHER. - In this case the jury had given a verdict for plaintiff for GBP50. Mr. HOCKIN, for defendants, moved for a new trial, on the ground that the verdict was against the weight of evidence, or to reduce the damages to GBP3 odd, or to such sum as the Court might think fit. Rule refused.