In the Central Criminal Court, on Thursday, Mr. Sergeant Arabin
was employed in trying persons accused of .paltry offences. An Irish coalwhipper was charged with stealing a goose from a pu.ilichouse in Shadwell : his trial gave the high-minded Judge an opportunity of sporting wit (!) and fun, so becoming the bench of justice.
The prosecutor jumped into the witness-box and bowed to the Bench. Mr. Sergeant Arabin—" On Monday last you had a goose roasting, on which you meant to regale yourself and friends?" Prosecutor—" Yes, my Lord." Mr. Sergeant Arabin—" I believe the goose was well ri ted, was it not ?" Prose- co tor—" Yes, I believe it was." Mr. Sergeant Arabia—" And your wife had tidiZn it up, and put it into the dripping-pun, to get it nicely done brown?" Prosecutor—" Yes, but we were done brown." Mr. Sergeant Arabin—" Ay, when you were all prepared to get your supper, I believe the goose was gone?" Prmecutor—" Yes, my Lord, we were minus the goose ; the bird had flown." loIr. Sergeant Arabin—" You lost the goose, but not your appetites, I sup- pose. What became of it ?" Prosecutor—" The prisoner carried it to another pribliehouse, to which I was called by a boy who had watched him. I saw the prisoner sitting at a table eating the goose." Mr. Sergeant Arabia—" How was his mouth ?' Prosecutor—" All over grease : be was gnawing the goose wholesale."
There was a good deal more of vulgar dialogue between the Judge and the witness ; and eventually the prisoner was acquitted, the Jury believ- ing that the goose was stolen in a frolic. The next prisoner was accused of stealing a " toy vessel."
Mr. C. Phillips objected that the indictment was bad; the article was not a toy vessel. Court—" What is it ?" Prosecutor—" I call it the model of a brig." Mr. Sergeant Arabin—" And a brig is a vessel." Mr. C. Phillips- " But a model is not a toy. Would you, prosecutor, call it a toy ?" Prosecu- tor—" No, I should never think of doing so. It is an accurate model of a brig ; and I told the clerk who drew the indictment so, but he argued that my description was not correct." Mr. C. Phillips—" Yes ; a man that never saw a ship in his life." Mr. Sergeant Arabin—" Should you call it a toy?" Prosecutor—" No." Mr. Sergeant Arabin—" Well, he must know best. He will not allow us to judge of it." The Jury were directed by the Court to ac- quit the prisoner.
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