Punch (53.1867)

December 28, 1867.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 259

BRITISH YOUTH.

Considerate Nephew. “ Now, Aunt, if you feel at all Nervous, you know, I’ll change Horses with you directly.”

A PRECEDENT BY A POLICE MAGISTRATE.

On the bench of the Thames Police Court, the other day, a very
extraordinary judgment was pronounced by Mr. Benson. The charge
which it related to rested on the evidence of a child ten years old.
This is enough to say about that matter. The judgment speaks for
itself:—

“ Mr. Benson said he had fully considered this case, which was one of great
importance to the public and the prisoner. The girl had given her evidence in a
very clear and straightforward manner, and with an appearance of great truth. At
the same time he could not help noticing that she was entirely uncorroborated, and
that another girl who was with her had not come forward.”

The case had been twice remanded to enable that other girl to be
produced. His Worship proceeded, referring, of course, to the evidence
of the sole witness :—

“ Against her evidence he must balance the testimony of a reverend gentleman,
the incumbent of a large parish, who had known the prisoner five years, and spoke
of him as a well-conducted, respectable, and moral man. He thought in a case of
this description character was extremely valuable, and such a character as the
prisoner had received left the evidence of the little girl in doubt. He hoped he was
not doing wrong in the step he was about to adopt. He thought the prisoner was
entitled to the benefit of the doubt he had in his mind, and he should discharge
him.”

Now really this is an extraordinary judgment, a very extraordinary
judgment, a very extraordinary judgment, indeed. That is to say it is
a judgment very remarkably different from the judgment ordinarily
delivered by a Police Magistrate in the class of case which it con-
cerned. The ordinary judgment of such a Magistrate in such a case is
based on a rule which, superseding a certain prior rule, declares that
in the month of one witness only shall every word be established.
Mr. Benson was evidently quite aware that he was venturing on a
course which some people might censure as unprecedented. “ He
hoped he was not doing wrong in the step he was about to adopt.”
The really worthy Magistrate may make up his mind on that point.
He was not doing wrong in refusing to convict on evidence which,
whether true or false, was insufficient. He was doing right. In so
doing he certainly did what was, as aforesaid, a very extraordinary
thing, but will be, let us hope, in good time an ordinary thing, as it

will whenever Magistrates in general get accustomed invariably to
weigh evidence by the standard of reason and justice. Mr. Benson
has shown them how to use the scales.

SOME REALLY COMIC SINGING.

London has long wanted a comic English opera-house; and, thanks
to Mr. German Reed, the want is now supplied. St. George’s Opera-
House, in Regent Street, was opened on the 18th, and we hope it will
be long before it will be shut. Having lately lost one opera-house, we
are glad to get another, though we still have a strong hope that the
one lost wiil be rebuilt. Every Englishman who likes an hour or two
of cheerful music is pretty certain, when in Paris, to pay a visit to the
pleasant Op6ra Comique. When in London, he may now go to the
Comic English Opera, and hear Offenbach and Sullivan to his
heart’s content. We wish all so-called “comic” singers would go and
learn a lesson from these composers’ comic songs. It is really quite
a novelty to hear some comic singing done by English singers, without
feeling a strong wish that one had been born deaf. “ Tol de rol,” and
“ Rumti-iddity,” and such old English comic chorusses, have long since
had their day. Go to the St. George’s Opera if you would know what
comic English chorusses should be. In the interests of good music,
we thank Mr. German Reed for giving men a chance of hearing some-
thing better, in the way of comic singing, than “ Champagne Charley,”
or “ Costermonger Joe.” We hope his charming little opera-house will
tempt people from going to the vulgar, stupid music-halls, when they
want to hear some singing which may make them laugh. Speaking
for musicians, with all our art we wish success to Mr. Reed, and hope
that every evening at his doors he will find a growing rush.

Patriotism and Treason.

We are sometimes asked whether the Fenians and Garibaldians are
not exactly alike? Not exactly. There is this little difference be-
tween them. The Garibaldians want to constitute an United Italy;
the Fenians are trying to dismember the United Kingdom.