The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-04-02 00:00:00

A BRAVE GIRL.

On Saturday, John Johnson, an old offender, with
several aliases, was brought up on remand before the
Brentford magistrates charged with feloniously entering
the house of Mr. Millard, Isleworth, and stealing
therefrom a cloth cape and a wrapper, his property,
value Elizabeth Sharwood, a girl of about 17,
said she was servant to Mr. Millard. She said :

On Saturday evening, the 19th last., the prisoner came to
my master's house about 7 o'clock. I answered the door,
when prisoner said, "Is the gentleman at home 7" I said
"Yes," when he handed me the letter produced, and asked
me to take it to my roaster. Having my suspicions, I went
Into the passage and gave the letter to a fellow-servant, and
on returning to the hall saw the prisoner in the actor leaving
the house with my masterlswrapper and cape under his arm.
I then seized him by the collar and pulled him back, when
my master took charge of him and sent me for a policeman,
but not seeing one, I returned to my master and found the
prisoner had managed to escape. I then ran down tins
Twickenham. road and overtook the prisoner near the toll-
gate, and gave him into custody. Ile had dropped the cape
and wrapper outside the front door when !first seized him.
Police-constable Denning, R, proved apprehending
the prisoner at the request of last witness. Prisoner
told the constable it was the gentleman's wish that he
should be allowed to go, but veltne.s said he must take
him back to see Mr. Millard. Witnees subsequently
found that this was not the case, but that the prisoner
had overpowered Mr. Millard and got away. Witness
now took him to the station and locked him up. On
searching him, he found the soft felt hat produced
secreted in his breast.

George Lochyer, sessions officer from the Middlesex
Sessions•house, said he knew the prisoner to be a very
notorious thief, and read over the following convictions
recorded against him
On the Ist of March, 1850, tried for larceny at the Central
Criminal Court in the name of John Roger.. and sentenced
to two years' imprisonment; 18th February, 1856, sentenced
to nine months' imprisonment for stealing a coat, in the
name of William Stowman, at the Middlesex Session.; on
the 6th of April, 1866, committed to the house of Corrertion
for six months, on a charge of larceny, in the name of
William Richards; October '2O, 1860, at the Thames police-
court, sentenced to two months' imprisonment for unlawful
possession in the name o William Dart. On the 10th of
March, 1862, prisoner was tried for felony at the Middlesex
Sessions in the name of Henry Saunders, and sentenced to
six pram' penal servitude, and on the 27th of July, 1803, he
was charged at the Thames police-court in the name of Henry
Williams, and sentenced to four months' imprisonment for
stealing plate.
The Chairman, addressing prisoner' said after this
lot of convictions all we have to do is to send you once
more before a jury.
On being asked if he had anything to say, prisoner
again feigned deafness and said, "I don't hear a word
you say, your worship."
Prisoner was fully committed, and the Bench com-
plimented the girl upon her courage.