The Express.
London, England, 1864-09-16 00:00:00

WESTMLNBTER.

A few days ago Edward Thorpe, • labouring man, was
charged with stealing a gold watch and chain, value 301.,
from the home of Mr. Buick, 5, Hose-terrace, Brampton.
Mrs. Buick stated that the prisoner bad been employed
to clean her window; and being anxious to know the time
she looked at a gold watch in his presence, and replaced it,
with the chair, in the drawer. The prisoner remained ten
minute, afterwards in the room, and whets he had left,
Mrs. Banick locked the door herself, according to custom,
keeping the key in her pocket, until three or four hours
afterwards, on going to the drawer, she missed the gold
watch and chain, and on the man coming in the evening to
finish his work, Mrs. Buick gave him into custody.
The accused, who solemnly protested hie innocence,
and declared that he bad seen the lady put the
chain round her neck after she bad told him the time,
was remanded ; but on the following day • com-
munication was received from Mrs. Banick, stating that she
had found her watch, and Mr. Self. promptly despatched
the prisoner's discharge to the jail where he bad been lodged.
hire. Banick now said, that on the morning following the
prisoner's committal for re-examination, to her great sur-
prise she found the watch in another drawer in the same
room, but not in that in which she considered it was safely
put away. She had occasion to go to another chest of
drawers in the room, and there found the watch under
some linen.
Mr. Self, asked her whether she could explain how it
came to be pot there.
Mrs. Buick said she had no recollection whatever of
putting it there herself, nor of wearing it, as alleged by the
accused.
The man now affirmed that Mrs. Banick had put it rotted
her neck, as he bad before stated.
Mrs. Buick said she bad done everything she could
ender the unfortunate circumstancee of the case, and when
she discovered her mistake she went at once to Waltoe-
elreeelice station and entreated them to liberate the
accused.
Mrs. Buick handed a written agreement to the magis-
trate, in which it was proposed to give the accused 101., and
said she was quite willing to do all she could to atone for
having given him into custody, and would willingly pay any
reasonable amount.
Mr. Safe mid the first and great object in this proceed-
ing was to set the man's character free from imputation be-
fore the world, and the next thing, as • person had unfortu-
nately weds • mistake, was to compensate io that respect,
and although there was no malice whatever io this proceed-
ing, the man had been given into custody and deprived of
his liberty without due search and consideration. Mrs.
Buick had made her statement before with considerable
paitiveaess. He was free to admit that he (the worthy ma-
gistrate) doubted her story, and believed in the prisoner's
innocence, and he should sot have remanded the accused
had he not bees under the conviction that his master would
have come forward and bailed him.
A friend of the accused now stepped forward and said
that he did not consider 101. adequate compensation after
what had occurred to • poor man with four children.
especially as the aocused's wife, who worked at gentlemen's
houses, had been much affected in her employment in con.
sequence of the charge against her busbeod, which would of
course prevent persons with any property having her about
their houses. He certainly thought 20/. should be gives.
Mr. Belle said that if the parties would consent to his
being the arbitrator he would decide the nastier. It would
be better than either getting into the hands of attornies.
It was not desirable that the man should make a market of
his character, or that nodes advantage should be taken of
the unfortunate mistake into which Mrs. Buick had fallen.
Both baring willingly agreed,
Mr. Self e said, taking three things into consideration, that
the man had been out of work some days by this ; that foe
two nights and nearly two days he had been locked op of •
charge of which he was innocent, and that the value of the
property was 301., for the recovery of which in all probabi-
lity the pecescutrix would have given 151., he should hold
and give it as his decision that 151. was adequate compen-
sation.
An agreement being drawls up the money was paid, and
all the parties thanked the magistrate for his patient haves-
ligation of the matter.