The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-31 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

MANSION-HOUSE.
Richard Rolfe and Alfred Large, well known to the
police, were placed at the bar before Alderman Moon upon
the following charge.
Mr. Lewis appeared for the former, and Mr. Wontner for
the latter prisoner.
Edward Fairbram said, I sin • sailor, living at No. 3,
Crown and Shear-court, Nineties. I was going Mold;
Tower-street, about balf.put two o'clock yesterday, when
the prisoner Rolfe asked me if I could show him the way to
London-bridge. I said I was going a little way towards it,
and would direct him. He said he was shortly going to
Australia, and was then going to buy nine pounds worth of
clothes, and would like me to go to the shop to see if they
were anyway' gond enough to go out in. I agreed to ac-
oompans him. He asked me to take something to drink,
which I declined. He then said he wanted to get something
to drink himself, and invited me into • public house with
him. I said I had not much time to spare. He asked me
upstairs, and pressed me to take something to drink, when
I said I would only have • glen of water. Two other men
then came in, one of whom was the prisoner Large, and
another man came in with razors, which he offered
for sale. Wo all refused to buy any. I then saw a
pack of cards on the table, and the razor
man took out three cards, an ace, the jack, and the ten of
hearts. The prisoners then began to gamble with that man
and called out "One posed," " Ten shillings," and "live
shil.ings," betting thallthey would put their hands on the
right card. Rolfe lathed up the corner of the jack, so that
it might he seen, and they all asked me to bet upon them.
I said, " I have only about • shilling or two," when Large
replied, " You've got a watch, you can put that for two
pounds, if you've got no cash." I took my watch off my
neck and put it towards the cards. The razor man pat
down two pounds against my watch that I would turn up
the jack. I then turned up the card that I supposed was
thejack, from its having been bent, and found that it was
the ten of hearts, which hail been substituted for the jack.
Large then said to me, "If you don't want to lose your
watch altogether, if it is worth more than 21., I'll release
it fir yok." The Ilan with the razors took up the
watch and put it in his pocket. Large said he would re-
alm it if I could get the money to pay him again. I said
I would, upon which he put two pounds on the table. The
passe man took up the two pounds and put them in his
pocket, and gave the watch to the prisoner Large, who put
it in his me ket, sod said to me, " Coins along, I'm in a
hurry." I said to Hulk, "If yen are 'going to bey the
clothes you spoke about, you had better go now." He re'
• " Os, I've lost dye shillings, and I must go and get
more money." Large and I went away together, and he
promised that we should go and pledge the watch, which
we did for 265. I gave the money to Large, taking the du-
plicate myself. We then went to • public.house, where he
paid for:a glass of gin and water, which we drank. He
then said, " When am Ito get the 16s. to make up the
two pounds ?" I told him I would give it him the following
afternoon if he came to my house for it. He said he
would meet me at that public-hoes* the next day
at four u'cloek, snd asked me, in the 1 my meeting
any of his companions, not to let them know shout it, as
he did not wish it to be known. He then asked me the
way to London-bridge, and said he was going to Australia,
and we parted. I told the whole matter to my mother who
communicated with an officer, who apprehended Rolfe On
Tower bid, and shortly afterward.; Large was captured
near the same spot, after trying to escape from the officer.
Rolfe said, " I'll give you anything to let me go," and
pulled out of his pocket thirty shindigs and handed me,
and which I took 'oat holding him. I said to him " No,
I'll not let you go." I gave the thirty shillings to the offi-
cer at the station-house. I should not have noticed the
prisoners, who would have escaped had not the officer
pointed them out.
Cross-szsmined by Mr. Weidner—Three men came in
together. Large, the razor man, and another. The razor
mesa sat by himself. I can't tell who brought the card,.
Thomas Hayton, city constable, fobn—Frons information
I received, I secompinied the prosecutor to Tower dill on
the 23rd instant, wure I met the prisoner Wife. I said
to the prcseeuter, "This is the one you want, is it not ?"
He replied, „Yee." I then leek Rolfe into custody, tell-
ing him I charged him with defrauding the sailor of twenty-
am shillings. He said he was ienonnt, that it was not
him, and that the prosecutor must be mistaken. On the
way to the station-hooey I met the prisoner Large in
Tower.street. I said to the prosecutog." that's the other,"
pointing to Large. He said it was. it this moment the
sergeant of the Pentien-effiee, on Tower hill, woe pawing,
whom I left in charge of Rolte, and pursued Large, whom
I succeeded in capturing almr a long chase. On Rolfe I
head a 61. win, three apvereigns, sod • flash 61. note. I
have known Haifa &hest two years, and have frequently
pea him prowling about the Minories, Tower-hull, and
Thasenaldreet. I have frequently seen them enter the
-house.
Mr. Grodatan—So that he would know his way to Lou-
isa-bridge. (Laughter.)
Offieer—Oh, ye'. I have also seen him oa Lendon-bridge.
I have known Large for three months. I have frequently
sees the prisenerstogether.
by Mr. Woutster—The prosecutor would

nut hare noticed Large, except for nay pointing Mtn out.'
He was :Len within a yard and a hall ut me, and the prow- I
cuter did not notice him.
George Quarter-maw. r Sergermt at the Pension-
cffic:. Tower-hi:4 partially corroborated the statements of

the tie* preceding witoemes.
Ferdinand Brown-1 atn a licensed victualler, and land-
lord of the hutoe that Las Leen spoken of—the Ship Afloat,
in Beer-lane. 1 do not know either of the prisoncrs ip as to

•be able to swear to them. _
Alderman Moon—You heard the officer say that he has
seen them separately and together enter your Lome.
Witness—l am very busy at the bar. I never noticed
them. I have been master of the house eleven years and

a half.
Two anuses proved the prisoners to be companions, and
one of them bad had Rolfe in custody.
The prisoners were fully committed.
The prisoner Large was againcharged with a man named
Robert Crane, with conspiracy, under the follawing circular-

ata►cea.
Mr. Beard, from the office of Mr. Buchan►n, appeared
fur Crane ; Mr. Wontner, as in the last case, defending

Larp.
Mr. John Trotter Hamilton-1 am master of the Venus
collier, trading between Newcastle-on-Tyne and London.
On Wednesday week last I was crossing Tower-hill, when I
saw the " tall gentleman" (Large) who came up to me, and
naked me to be so good as to show him the road to London-
bridge. I told him I would show him the road as far se I
was going, as I was on my way to the Coal Exchange. He
said he wanted to look at the bridge, as he had only a short
tine to stay in town, and was going abroad. After we had
walked a few paces he paid he was going to Australia on a
speculation, having a little money to lay out. I remarked
It was a very fine country for those who were going there.
We eventually came to Brown's public-house, "The Ship
Most," when he invited me in to take a glass of ale with
him.
Alderman Moon—And yet the landlord swore he did not
know Large. Some enquiries must be made about this
house.
The Witness continued—l observed to him that my time
was short, when he said we would only stay a minute or
two. We then went up stairs into the parlour, when he
called for two glasses of ale. Another " gentleman" then
came up to him and said, " What do you think ; some men
have been calling these things nutshells (alluding to
some gambling cups). I call them monkeys' skulls. I
brought them from Gibraltar." (Laughter.) He said to
Large, "I'll show you how to play with them ;" and he
produced it pea. 1 thought to myself I would like to see
how you play with them. With that they got under
weigh.
Alderman Moon—What do you mean by " under
weigh ?"
Witness—They began to play with them. (Laughter.)
At this time the prisoner Crane, whom I had never seen
before, came in and sat at my left, Large sitting on the
right beside the player. The two prisoners and the player
began playing and betting es to which of them found the
pea under one of these shells. They played several times,
betting five or ten shillings, and then persuaded me to try
and find which shell the pea was muter. The shell was put
so that I could see the pea, it being only half covered over.
I bet upon that shell and won a half sovereign, which was
paid me by the player, he taking the 50. which 1 had staked
against it. I lost the half sovereign almost immediately. I
then said I had no more money, upon which Large observed,
"Hero are two sovereigns I will lend you; play on again;
you are sure to win." I took up the two sovereigns. The
player shuffled the shells, talking " This, that, and eother,"
anti offered to bet anybody five sovereigns he would not find
the pea. Large whispered to me, "Go on, you're sure to
win this time." I bet the two sovereigns, which .1 Iftet
upon taking up the shell, and finding no pea under it 1
then said it was time 1 was going away. I went out of the
bow, the two prisoners following me. We sgain gut into
Wftweenation, and Large followed we into the Coal Ex-
change, I having reviously told him as we were leaving
the Ship Afloat that I was going there to get some money.'
Crane told me he was going to call upon a friend to draw
some money, and intended to return to the public-house to
try and win back the money he had lost. I said, "My !WS
is heavier than any of yours, I believe." Large then left,
saying he would join us in half an hour. I went to my
factors at the Coal Exchange, and drew 201., consisting of
three five-pound notes and five sovereigns. As I came out
of the office 1 found Large standing in the gallery of the
Exchange. He came to me, and we returned to the Ship
Afloat, where he called for two gl f ale. The man
who bad played with the shells came and sat down by us,
and began playing. The prisoner Crane next came in. We
took turn about to play at the same game. I hat a five-
pound note—one of thine which I received at the Coal
Exchange. We played on till I lost the other two 51. notes.
When Large saw I was losing he asked me for the two
sovereigns that he had lent me, and I gave them to him.
I said, " I have only three left now." I tried again, and
lost the three. I said, " Now I'm a • hatter'—l have got
nothing left." (Laughter.) The player then rose, saying
" If you have no money you can't play," walking quickly
nut of the house and not returning. I lost altogether
201. Si. The witness added that en leaving the public-
house he drank part of one of the glasses of ale which Large
had called for and did not finish it, because be found it
very thick, and that on reaching his ship he became
completely stupified, and remained so till the following

. .
morning.
Mr. F. Penny—l am clerk to Messrs. Hill, Wood, and
Hughes, coal factors. VA last witness came to our office
on the 21st inst. and drew 201., in three 61. notes and five
sovereigns. I took the numbers of the notes at the time.
The 61. note produced by the officer is one of those I so
paid.
Thomas Haytoo, City police constable 588—I took the
prisoner Large into custody on another charge, and on
searching him found the 61. note which I produce, and a
61. " Bank of Engraving" (flush) note.
Charles Stabbings, a superannuated constable of the
metropolitan police force, said I know the prisoners to be
associates. I have seen them in company -in several occa-
sions, and also in company of the prisoner. Rolfe who was
committed infthellast case. I have followed them alfftogether
to the Ship Afloat.
Alderman Muon said he should commit the prisoners for
trial for conspiracy'.
Mr. Beard said if time were afforded him he should be
able to prove a distinct alibi in respect of Crane, who, he
understood, was some distance from Tower-hill on the day

in question.
Alderman Moon—You had better give evid•nce of that
fact at the Central Criminal Court.
On the application of Mr. Beard, who said his client was
a publican in business,
Aldermen Moon said he would accept bail for Crane's
appearance to take his :trial, 'himself in 1001., and two
sureties in 601. each, with twenty-four hours' notice.
Mr. Wont ner said that as the magistrate bad expressed
his intention of sending the case for trial, his client, Large,
would reserve his defence.
The prisoners were then fully committed.
GUILDHALL.
Mr. Whittaker Ileinees, a solicitor, carrying on business
in Essex-street, Strand, was charged with being drunk and
breaking a cab window.
Mr. Clement Smith, a pawnbroker, of Bath-street, City-
read, said he was returning with hie wife and some friends
in a cab from Exeter-hall, on Wednesday evening last,
when the defendant suddenly came up as the cab was
crossing Farringdowstreet, and smashed one of the windows
with his fist. The driver stopped, and Mr. Smith alighting,
gave defendant into custody, after which be proceeded
home" in the same vehicle, ao,ll caught a severe cold in
consequence of the window beTng broken. His wife was
very near her confinement, and it was impossible at present
to tell what might be the effect of such a fright upon her.
He therefore pressed for the highest penalty the law would
allow, both for the protection of the public end as a caution
to the defendant.
The defendant said he had been dining with some friends,
and had but a dim recollection of what had since taken
place ; but It was his impression that he must have fallen
accidentally against the cab, and so thrust his elbow through
the window.
Alderman Wilson said that, as the defendant was a soli-
citor, and occupying a respectable position, he ought to have
known better than to get intoxicated. It bad been sworn
that he deliberately broke the window with his fist, and
he must therefore fine him 20s.
The fine was immediately paid.
Alderman Wilson said he Lad received a great many
anonymous and other letters from persons complaining of
the incivility of omnibus conductors. Anonymous letters
did not, as a general rule, deserve the slightest attention,
but in this instance he was personally aware of the kind of
misconduct alluded to. It was an invariable practice with
conductors to slam the door as soon as a passenger entered
the omnibus without givieg him time to find a seat, the
consequence was, that the horses knowing the sound started
off again, and precipitated the lady or gentleman, which-
ever
it might be, into the nearest person's lap. If asy gen-
tleman would bring a cue of that kind under his notice by
summoning the so-offending party ne (Alderman Wilson)
would give the subject his best consideration, for he had
seen so much of that sort of incivility that he thought it
was highly necessary to take some steps to meet this
complaint.
Alderman Wilson acknowledged the receipt of a letter
placing at his disposal 10 children, of coke for distribution
among the deserving poor of the district. Tickets will ha
issued from this oflice,,did the coke delivered by the City
kitchen free of expense.
BOW-STREET.

Thee. little boys named George Harkins, aged 9, Thonsasl
Mathews, 7, and (;core Atkinson, 9, were charged with
breaking into a milk-stall house in St. James's-park, and
stealing four tumblers end other property therefrom.
The stall in question had been shut up, but the keeper of
an adjoining stall saw the prisoners forcing the door of the
little but or cottage ettached to it. She requested a gentle-
man who was passing to send a constable to the spot, but
the young thieves ran away before his arrival, carrying
with them the iou- glasses, and some other articles which
had been left in the lilac!. They were pursued and over-
taken, but a fourth child, loaded with some of the things,
managed to escape apprehension.
It was stated that the children had been educated at a
charity school, and could all read and write.
Mr. Jardine observed it was quite clear, then, that igno-
rance was not the cause of depravity in their case. It would
be of no use to send them to prison.
The prisoners, after a suitable admonition, were restored
to their parents.
A gentlemen, whose name did not transpire, applied to
Mr. Jardine for his advice under the following circum-
stances :—lie stated that about a week ago he sent a basket
of provisions to a poor family by the Parcels' Delivery
Company. Finding afterwards tbst it nevee.reached is
destination, he called at the office of the company in Dolls'-
buildings, Fetter-lane, to make inquiries upon the subject.
After some delay the basket was produced, but it had beat

opened and sonic of the contents were missing; besides
which a large piece of meat had become neureous, by being
►ept too long. The direction, which hat been written on
tarchment, was torn off. The superintenlent offered to pay
the cost of the missing articles, but declined to compensate
hiM fur the spoilt meat.
Mr. Jardine said the only course open to the applicant
was to ascertain the name of one of the directors of the
company, and then sue him fur the amount in the County
Court.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE—Friday, Dee. 30

FOREIGN•OFFICE, DEC. 23.
The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Noble
Towner as Consul at Barbadoes for the United States of
America.
The Queen has also been pleased to approve of Mr.
Sichel (senior), as Vice• Consul at Manchester for his Ma-
jesty the Emperor of Austria.
The Queen has also been pleased to approve of Mr.
George Wortmana as Consul at Gibraltar for Rill Royal
Highness the Grand Duke yr Oldenburgb.

CROWN OFFICE, DEc. 28.
=EDER RETURNED TO 88888 IN THIS PRESENT
PARLIAMENT.
Borough of Cloamel.—John O'Connell, E.g., of Gowan-
hill, in the county of Dublin, in the room of the Honourable
Cecil Lawless, deceased.

WAR-OFFICE. DEC. 30.
Ch Regiment of Foot—Lieutenant General Sir John
Bell, K.C.8., from the 95th Regiment, to be Colonel,
vice General Sir Thomas Bradford, 0.C.8, deceased.
20th Regiment of Foot. —Majer-Generai Nathaniel Thorn,
C. 8., to be Colonel, vice Major-General Sir Henry
Godwin, K.C.8., deceased.
95th Regiment of Foot.—Major-General Sir Francis Cock-
barn to be Colonel, vice Lieutenant-General Sir John Bell,
K.C.8., removed to the 4th Foot.