The Express.
London, England, 1852-07-26 00:00:00

ROBBERY AT LEEDS BY POLICEMEN.

LENDS, SATURDAY.
Yesterday, John Payne, No. 42, and John Outh-
waite, No. 93, two of tht Leeds police forte, were brought
before the Mayor and several other magistrates, at the
Leeds Court-house, oa a serious charge. Payne has been
three or four years in the force, but Outhwaite, who is a
much younger man, has not been more than a year. The
circumstances out of which the charge arises arc the follow
lag :—A little before three o'clock yesterday morning, an-
other police-officer, ow duty iu Mill-hill, found two young
womrn, about 17 or 18 yours of age, fast asleep on
the atop of what used to be the post-office. Ou being
awake the two girls said they were on their way to New-
castle, and that police officers 42 and 93 had taken all the
money they bad to pay lodgings ith. The two girls were
accordingly taken to the police office, told the same story to
the superintendent, sad when the police arrived front duty
they picked oat Payne and Outhwaite as the men who had
got their money. This led to an investigation by the watch
eommittee yesterday morning, who finding the charge made ,
out, at once dismissed the two officers from the force, and
ordered them to be taken before the magistrates and
punished for neglect of duty.
The facts as stated in open court are thee. The two
girls are Mary Ann Smith and Ann Wi.kinsou, from Man-
chester. They stated that they were on their way to New-
castle, where Wilkinson has a stepbrother re-Ming ; and on
the previous night they were inquiring for lodgings, when
a little girl offered to take them to her mother's house.
This was in York-street, and just as they were inquiring
for lodgings, the two policemen, Payne and Outhwaite,
came up and asked if they had any money to pay for lode.
logs. The replied that they had, and Wilkinson
gave to Outhwsite a sixpence and some copper, expecting
that he and Payne were going to find them lodgings. In-
stead of doing this, however, Outhwaite waked away, and
Payne, after removing a man that was standing near, u-ed
his stick, and, as one of the girls expressed it, " leathered"
them both away.
In support of this statement two police-officcrs, John
Shendon and Samuel Stead, were called. Their evidence
was to this effect. They were patrolling York-street about
• quarter before one o'clock, when they observed Payne
and Outhwaite standing with these two girls and another.
The girls were asking shout lodging., when one of the
officers asked if they had any money to pay (or lodgings.
One of the girls said they had, and took out • sixpence and '
3id. or 4d. in copper; whether the girl gave Outhwaite the
money or he took it out of her hand they could not say,
bat they afterwards saw it in his posrassion. In answer to
questions by Payne, the witnesses said they did not hear
anything said by Payne, who at the time went to remove a
man who was standing near the place, and that at the
police-office Outhwaite afterwards denied in toto that he
had ever got any money.
Payne, in defence, said, I know nothing at all about the
money. I was there when the girls came down, and I
asked what they were doing. I never heard a word about
any money until I came back from taking the man away,
and then when between the Yorkshire Hussar and Lees-
square ono of the girls shouted out, .42 has got my
money." At this moment, Outhwaite came up out
of Lees-square, and the girl then said 93 bad got her money.
Outhwaite denied it, and I turned to get the girls away
down the street ; that is all I know about the matter.
Outhwaite admitted having gut the money from the girls,
but said that he gave it to Payne, who had it in his pocket at
the time he drove the girls away. Ile silted Payne if he could
look him in the face and say he did not get the money.
Payne replied that he could, and wished to ask the girls
whether he got any money.
The girl Wilkinson said—No, you (lid not take the
money, but you was standing by when the other man took
it; and when he got the mosey you " leathered " us
away.
The Mayor, after conferring with the other justices (ed-
arming the two defendants), said—You are now brought
before us upon two informations charging you with neglect-
leg your duty as constables of this borough ; and certainly
if it is the duty of a constable to be honest, and to exercise
his office with due attention and humanity towards the un-
fortunate persons with whom he has to deal, never was
there • case of greeter neglect of duty. I have had occa-
sion to tell you before, and I now repeat it, though
towed to hear charges made against police-officers, they
are generally of a trivial character ; but this is the
most utterly disgraceful I have ever heard. If
these girls were violating the law by committing
an act of vagrancy by remaining in the streets, the utmost
I you bad to do was to bring them before the justice* next
morning with as much regard to humanity as possible. But
to take their money, whether they gave it you or not, and
then to drive the girls away, calculating no doubt that
they would not have the courage to appear against you, is a
thing so utterly disgraceful to any person employed in any
way in the administration of justice, that we as magistrates
should be violating our duty if we did not mark such con-
duct with our severest displeasure. By the Municipal Act
you are liable to imprisonment for ten days, or to be fined
40s. and to dismissal from office. If you had not already
been dismissed, this court would not have allowed you to I
continue in office ; but that duty his been discharged by
the proper tribunal (the Watch Committee) ; they have
discharged their duty, and we shall discharge ours, and
sorry we are that the set of parliament does not permit us
to inflict a heavier punishment. We shall sentence you to
be imprisoned in the house of correction for the space of
ten days.
The defendants were then removed in custody.
The mayor, addressing the girls, said they should make
an order for them to be assisted to proceed to Newcastle by
railway.

SPORTING.
TATTERSALVE.--SATERDAT.
0001.IWOOD STAKES.
9to eget Mr. ream%Merest (t Creel')
19 to Mr. Itageelesistprise
IS to Mr. Etwen Butatesiet (t to NM)
11 to Mr. Dos Ode Dee Pedro (1)
19 to Mr. WI Marre's CblefJetties
IS to Mr. T. Part's Weseersses
Is to Mr. Ileum% Sherlsee (t freely)
LS to Mr. lestries Pelow.ms.l.see (r
Uto Lord Weterhers Oadterow (t))
SO to Mr. I. Day's Menearsa (I)
The only horses in favour were Haricot, Dm Pedro,
Bushranger, and Musician ; the outlay on Musician in the
course oldie day amounted to upwards of 1,200!. Surprise
had no friends.