The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-02-18 00:00:00

TUE DANGERS AND MYSTERIES OF
LONDON.

A correspondent of the Twee tells • story, which
moms to show the possibility of outrages in London
streets *simpered with which "Barking" was child's
play. He says :—" Between five and Ix o'clock on the
night of March 21. 11487, I lefelthe City is an omnibus,
got out jnat before the Elephant and Castle in the middle
of the read (at that time there was • inset deal of hoard-
ing up), gave the ID= ed., and received the 4d. out:
the rest is blank, until about eleven or near twelve
o'clock a man name, shook me by the arm, and said,
•We are icing to close.' I, Leavy with sleep or some-
thing else, looked up, and suDeostgl I unn in • wfree.
shop from one light then burning and the wood in front
of tab. window. Presently be came again and said,
'You must go, sir;' at which I got up and was let ont
of the door, it being then quite dark, save this ntreet
lamps. Shortly I found myself sitting ins cob in front
of the Elephant Ind Castle, directing the man where to
drive me, which was ten miles off and where, thank
God, I got safe betwesu four and A. in the morning,
cold ant snowing, paid the man, gave his something to
drink, got his card, An,, relieved tie anxiety of my
friends, had some tea myself, was sick, went to bed for
an hour, and off Vsbnaineo as if nothing had happened.
And yet, sir, something very Duet. Xing and frightful
had taken place ; from the time Igotort of the omnibus
to the time I woe awoke in the coffee-louse I remember
nothing; lost gold watch, gold and silver near ES, ell
but Is. Everythins else was safe. My pocketbook.
with more than £4O worth of note% all loose letters,
and every atom of paper safe; my hos, gloves, pocket-
handkerchief, and clothes safe and net soiled—save on
the inside of my coat collar were sone spots of tallow
grease, as though my coat had been if. and my shirt
sleeves bore the print of some fair creature's hair-net
plain enough. I had not drunk &opting to cause this,
and had appare,tly nothing given inc. snob as beer or
spirits. I felt I had eseapod with try life, and when
next day in the same locality I felt as though some one
would seise me from behind, which ci sl not wear off for
it week or two. For thirty yearn! lave known every
inch of the neighbourhood. On that night I never went
into any plasm to drink with anyone, and the mystery
always seems to me how with co dig It after sickness I
was rendered no 'instantaneously senseless,' as not to
know • how and by whom' I was led into the place in
which I found myself.'"
The Rev. Henry White, too, relates an incident which
beftl himself, and which may serve tt,bow how clergy-
men with the best of intentions may be led into
dangerous place'. "I was leaving he Putt,lt office,"
Mr. White says, "in the duds den aitomn Wednesday
evening. As I stood on the threshold, for an instant, a
woman asked me, in an anxious tone if! was a clergy-
man. and then implored toe to go to her home and
baptise her sister's dying child. She assured me that
she bad sought help from the incomlent of her district
and from two neighbouring clergymen ; that these
gentlemen were gone out for the evering. In the faith
of this seemingly hopeless and likely 'adore, I consented
to accompany her. We threaded our way through
several courts which lead eircuitoisly to Feste.lane.
On our journey she recollected thatshe had not called
at the druggist's for some medicines which were needed
for the child. She bade me hasten in the address, which
she then gave me. After a frailties Fearer among
intricate alleys, I asked the help d a policeman. He
at once recognised the address to bathe abode or resort '
of thieves &Di 'Bride-lane ruffians' In spite of his
discouragement% and guarded by his villing companion- I
ship, I went to the hones, 'remixed to be of use even to
'a ruffian's' child. We found that nr child was ill, and
that (of coarse) the people of the hones knew nothing of
a woman sent in search of ii clergyuan. The police
congratulated me upon my escape from a pomade
awkwardness, and assured me that It ',geld be moles'
to seek or to charge the woman who Ind been sent out
to entrap my weariness."
. . _

During the searches of the police is Westminster for
the mincing clergyman, Mr. Spike, the °llion, made •
singular diacovery in a dilapiciatod heittie in one of the
bask slums of the district, In a kitchen was found •
chopping•btok. made fast to tip floor, of the kind that
butchers ordinarily use. No *tensible purpose would
be aesigned for it in such a situation ; and no ordinary
force wail antfisient to move it. 37 accident one of the
police touched • spring, and the top ((ound to be • lid)
flew open, and it was discovi red that the shorn block
was not only hollow, but that it communicated with the
main sewer. [The Times declare there is not an atom
of truth in this sensational story.j
As indicating one of the many rays in which unwary
passengers may be decoyed int* dangerous places, a
correspondent of the TingeJ tells tie following story :
" I was returning from Chigoes Hospital to Booth
Kensington when I was •oocated te • man in the King's.
road, representing birneelf to be .4
foreigner, and who
stated, in very good French, that le was about to leave
England for Paris, but before long so he wished to
redeem • gold watch which he hoc pawned for EL He
invited me to accompany him to tie pawnbroker's, and
showing me a sovereign, *eked moil I would kindly get
it out for him, as he could not steak English. Upon
my politely declining to do this We favour for him he
ire ;attire
tatoch,h.tn feelings
(t: gh ivnert h; English language.
will not repeat, as they were noyt altogether pouted to
your cohtnina"

•
Mr. ki'Keown, bullion punched, was returning at
half-past twelve on Monday nigh from the Monday
Popular fl°°°°"4 at St. James's Hall, and, having
reached the site of some unfinished louse' in Lancaster.
road, was accosted by a woman whom he summ•rily
repulsed. No winner had be done to than he was seized
behind and before, evidently by two men, • third
appearing almost simultaneously to assist. He waa
lifted bodily off his feet, and carriee out of the highway
among the mud and mortar of the refinished buildings,
and there he was robbed of a gold eye-glean, and left
almost smothered with dirt. Althatgla be wag brutally
knocked about on the eyes and ("mho lost nothing but
the eye-gin..; whereas he had upm him nearly £lOO
worth of property, ',minding a buy diamond tin& •
gold chain, worth at least ten guiles", and a watch
worth probably twice as much, together with • silver
card-ease. A locket, probably drcpp.d in the souffle,
was round next morning in the nud. One of the
miscreants we, • coloured man.
At Westminster polo- court, on Tkurselsy, a young
man and woman named Frank Taybr and Jane Archer
were placed at the bar charged wlth plundering John
Treverell, a countryman, of some mstmy and his watch.
It appeared from the evidence that the prosecutor we.
proceeding along the Queen's-road, Chelsea, on Monday
night, when he was scooted by the woman and inveigled
under some pret.xt kto • house. Hebad not been there
long before the male prisoner rested in, claimed the
woman ash,, wife, and, affecting the utmost indigestion
at prosecutor's visit, took him watch and money from
him, be him, and turned him out the house. The
police immediately after wards apprehended the prisoners,
when the watch and some money were found in the
male prisoner's pockets. The prisoners were remanded
for • week.

The 2erils of the street." we exemp'lfied by •
circumstance which happened tvo or three months
since in Vietoriaetrecit. The aerator is the father of
the hero, who is deacribed as • powerful athletic young
man—an offioer in the Cape Mail swvioe. This gentle-
man in. November last, was quietl3 prooo.dtair along
down Victoria-street, when he waa jo,ited again.t by.
rough-looking fellow. Without tekin any notice of
biro, be proceeded on his way, but m soon found he
was being followed by the follow, who said, " Whet do
you mean to Mood for pushing agoinat me /" Still
desirous of avoiding any altercation, M merely &Hided
having done no, and Wan Walked 04. He had not,
however, gone many yards before he heard a whistle,
and two other men came out of one d the low streets
which Victoria-street intersect* Ihe °Seer now
thought it time to &mums the offensive and accordingly,
planting bin beck against the railings,b. raised a more
than ordinary stout stick, which b, good fortu. he
happened to be carrying, and in • detrained tone said
be would make a noes for Westminstr Hospital of the
first man who laid a finger on him. This
hearing seems to have cowed the aoaaja, for, one
of them muttering " Let the goutlenan peas," they
drew off.
A gentleman In the Civil &Twine °muds to the
7..j.drapd the following letter receivet by--
to Her Majesty's Customs:—
. Mr.—A Teuty runs treason, twinyyeaa old, Is
to be turned out of doors In a dam 11 abs does
not pay Dia some rent /be owe., I
further, no sloe has made up her mind a ha to
exne gentleman to as to get out of her ralloulty. P.r further
particular. I AO begled to wait upon To in any place you
Moms to appoint.- Your humble *errant,
"St. Li.
G ke's, Feb. 4
eor m
George Johon, builder's toreros; was charged at
• Pliaeres urk with delimiting money with
menace,
to St. Hollow's. About half..
• on Monday evening Mr. Claxton was going
that a man had demanded her mon,. A few yards
Clseined
N..gtriethe L Jopark, when a young mama
further on the prisoner came up, and laiil, ~
Race vim
any money Give it me," and amid a blow at Mr.
Claxton. Tbe blow did not take elect; and after •
little while a policeman was (eland, sad the prisoner
vs. taken into muted'. A young Roman narrated
bow the prisoner demanded ntonw, from her in •
In answer to the Marge tbe prisoner
Refirjr ,e manner. had be. D &Liking with enuajber of work-
esen, and did not kao• what he rag doing at the
Wee. He 1,114 wramitted for Mil.
A momeeptedent Of the Tilegrapin Slates an ineidiet
whisk Wel him in pemlitig through
Gettleasi abet omit en ratan) sighrologiag

tits gate I saw the dram of two men <doss to the
corner. I had not gone mom than fifty yards op Abe
gardens when one of the men ran quickly past me, and
placard himself io froot of me, his compouion placing
himself between me anal the gate. The man who was
closest to me informed me he had a favour to ask of
me, to which mild request I replied by musing a bia.
at his head with my stack, as I was anxious to dmabia
the ruffian before his companion, who was sans yards
off, could come to his mai.tance. Ruffian No. I took to
his heels, end was joined by his 'cover:don."