The Express.
London, England, 1855-11-23 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

IMO= ma. MILIMAINT
Charles Gibson, 17, was indicted for feloniously receiving
6 iron gratings, value 30a., the property of her Majesty,
under the control of the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests, well knowing the same to have been stolen.
Mr. Cooper appeared for the prosecution, Mr. Nibtolt 188
the primmer.
Is the month of June last a number of iron gratings were
mimed from over the drains in Kensington Gardens; and a
watch being kept, a little girl wu detected in the act of
carrying one away. The prisoner kept • marine store shop,
No. 2, Palau-place, Kensington, and on that occasion the
sergeant ooutable of the gardens celled at his shop and
inquired whether any gratings had been offered to him for
sale, when the prisoner stated that on the previous day
• little girl offered him one, bat on piing to the
police stair.., he could not or would not recognise the girl
who was in custody, and she was discharged in conesquenoe.
The sergeant then cautioned him, and afterwards repeated
the caution, not to partikase way gratings, and he promised
that he would sot, and that if any were offered to him he
would let the °Moen of the gardens know. On the 7th in-
stant, three girls were seen to enter the gardens, end one of
them, named Ann Bess, 12 years of age, was observed to
attempt to pull up one of the gratings, but she failed ; she
tried another without sueoeu, bet in the third attempt she
got the grating up and pat it under her shawL As she was
walking away one of the constables took her into custody,
and she thee confused to having taken • number of the
gratings and said theca to the prisoner at his shop. In eons.-
quince of this &unstable paid him • visit, and asked him if
be bed purchased any iron gratings ? and be replied that
he had net. The girl Bass was with the constable, and on
the prisoner being told that she bad admitted having sold
him one on the previous day, be acknowledged that she bad.
They went into a cellar, or more," as it was called, and there
one of the gratings we. found, and on being asked if
he had any more, be replied that he had not, bat on • fur-
ther Dunk being made five others were found. They
weighed about 30 lbs. each, were nearly new, and it sp.
peered that he bad given the girls Bd. each for some and
7d. for others. The girls were celled as witnesses. They
were evidently the shildren of respectable parents, and they
stated that they took the gratings, thinking no harm of it.
and sold then to the prisoner, and spent the money they
received from him in SW•ttallialg. The prisoner's fattier
was also • dealer in marine stores, keeping a shop in Limon-
grove, and it was stated that he had put the prisoner into
the shop in Palace place because he was unable to work at
his own trade, that of a carpnter, an account of his bad
sight. The grates were worth 80a.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty, but recommended
him to many or. account of his youth and • good eh&
reeler he had received.
The Assistant Judge said the ground upon which he 000.
minuted the prisoner was the bad example and bad educa-
tion be had received from his father, who also carried on a'
marina sten shop, and had, without a doub', initiated his
son into his own habits of business. He inquired if the
father wee present.
The constable mid be was, and on his making his ap-
pends',
The Assistant Judge said he wished him to see the spec-
tacle of his own son, a boy of 17, standing at that bar
through the bad education he had received from hie parent,
and he only prayed that every hour the boy would have to
pass in prison would be ten times more bitter to the father
than to hire, and sincerely did be wish that the law would
allow him to sentence the father instead of the boy, and
most surely if he were in the dock in the positionof the
prisoner, the court would pass up, n him the most severe
sentence it could. As regarded the father, it was about the
most aggravated ease be ever knew, avid on that ground,
believing that the boy had been led into it by the bad ex
ample of his father, the court thought it wield deal leniently
with the prisoner ; bat be now saw the consequences of such
practices, and it was to be hoped that be would redeem his
Amebae after he cams out of prison. The sentence was
that the prisoner be kept to hard labour in the House of
Cerruti= for six months.
The two girls were they called up, and cautioned not to
steel in future.

111011 XL 'WITHAM.

Henry Clerk, 18, and William Fisher, 19, were indicted
for steeling from the person of Jane Jordan, a purse, a Walt-
man sad other monies, the property sad monies of Wil-
lem Yreka.
The prosentrix, the wife of a coachman, living in Lyall-
mews, Belgrave-squire, on the morning of the 14th inst.
met the prisoners in Upper Grosvenor-street, end they
Jaquith& of her the way to Sloane- street. Having directed
them she went on her way, but had not proceeded many
yards when she was overtaken by a crowing.' weeper, run d
Webb, who was neer the spot when she first met the pri-
soners. From what be said to her, she examined her
pocket sad then discovered that her parse and its contents
were Rose. Upon this discovery, the peoreutrix pointed
out the 'simmers to • person named Bridge, who was
passing by at the time, and he followed them for some
diastase, but before he got up to them he saw Fisher drop
something on a heap of mud, and Clark jumped upon it.
He laid bold of Fisher, and soother man lsid hold of the
other. Oa examining the heap where Fisher heti been WWII
to drop something, the prosecutries purse and its contents
were found. Tte prisosen were then taken to the station-
hoses by a polies- constable, who had also seen Clark jump
upon the heap of mud In which the purse was afterwards
found.
The prisoners pleaded guilty to the indictment.
Fhirigeemviosa convictions were put in against Fisher, and
one Clark ; bat Sergeant Smith, of the B division,
who was ha attendance, was ready to prove seven or eight
ernaan ravietions against both the prisoners.
Mr. Witham said this was a most artful system of robbery,
by going about and asking persons whom they met in the
street to direst them to a certain place, and whilst persons
were engaged in Riving them the information, they took the
opportunity of robbing them. He then eenteneed the: each
to petal servitude for four years. Mr. Witham then perused
the 1141 t OfB2lllMt sod having ordered the crewing-
sweeper (Webb) to be :salted into court, sold that his conduct
" most praiseworthy, and it was with regret that in addi-
tion to his ordinary expellees he bad not the pewee to order
him a reward for bis exemplary conduct.
Webb said he felt grateful to his worship for this expres-
sion of approbation. He had eerd la the militia, bat had
hens arspelled to resign in consequence of M-health.