The Express.
London, England, 1865-11-25 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

CLERK ENWELL.
Thomas Hat, 19, carman, of 14, Elstreastreet ;
Witlidin Fromm, 20, caroms, of 91 Buitondtreet,
Clerkenwell • Henry Anderson. 16, 4, ;Waltham-terrace,
St.Paaeras ;Prank Portridge, T 2,14, Elstreastreet, corms ;
Rickard Porter, 17, 3, Brookagardthe, Clerken well, porter ;
Henry Berry, 18, 57, Beinettou-strest, Islington, carman ;
Thomas W7U.s, 16, 8, Phillips-buildings, Somers-town, shoe-
maker ; Henry Pengelly, b, Oambridgestrest. St. Penne,
man
I •Thomas Pieter, 19, Farendoacottege, James-
carstreet, slington, borethesper ; and John Sherman, 15,
18, Elstreastreet, Boolsratown, wen charged before Mr.
Tyrwbitt with tieing found in an secluded building at
Eistreastrest, Someratown, supposed for the purpose of
ooromittiog felony. They were further chanted with steal*
Mg front Mary.place, Somers-town, one hundred and a half
weight of sheet lead, value 11. 75., the property of the
Midland Railway Company.
Mr. Ricketts, solicitor, of Frederick-skeet, Graell.hlD.
rood, defended all the prieoners, with the exception of
Porter, Wills, Pengelly, and Sherman ; and Inspector
Grb-
sop, Y division, wskthed the nee oa behalf of the Com-
mistime:, of iolioe.
Polioatergerint George Parry, 14 Y, said, that from
information he received, the previous night, at about
• quarter to eight, he went to • house is Elstree-
street —• house that has lately been taken by the
Midland Railway Company for the purpose of pulling
it down—and totted the door fastened. Having pined
rk-
ad-
mission he went up two fights of stairs to the top wo
shop, and found all the prisoners there with the exception
of Sherman. The windows were all covered with pieces of
oil cloth to prevent any ore from the streets seeing the
lights and the fire bonne{ inside. The place was fitted up
as if for persons to lodge to, end the whole of the prisoners
were partaking of refreshment, consisting tepictures ofe, bread,
beef, and fish. Round the spartment weref
fighting men, Jack Shepherd, Claude Duval, and
other personages distinguished in the annals of crime.
There were also boxing gloves and single slicks.
He, with assistance, took the whole of the prisoners
into custody, and on going on to the rod of the adjoining
house be found that it had been stripped of the lead. On
telling the prisoners that he should charge them with
stealing the laid, Partridge, Froome, and Berry, said they
haul only been in the house • few minutes, and did not
know that there was enything wrong going on. When the
prisoners were at the polio* station be went to the shop of
Joseph Whalley, • marine store dealer, of 68, Ossulstonof
street, Souseratowa, and there found a large quaatity
lead which oorresposoled with that that had bees taken
from the root of the house in question. When he asked
the marine store dealer of whom he purchased the lead he
mid be could not remember. and when he saw the prisoners
be said he could not identify any of them. The marine
store dealer had paid Ts. for lead which was worth at least
In. or 19s. Wills said be bad 3d., and Penally 4d. out of
the mossy that the lead had been add for.
In answer to Mr. Hickok., the sergeant stated be knew
bony of the prisoners ae hard.working lads. He did not
know that any of them bad been siondoted. The house in
question was in • ruinous and dilapidated state. as were
most of the houses that had lately been taken by the Mid.
land Company. Although there were boxing-gloves in the
room none of the prisoners attempted to box him.
(A laugh.) The marine store dealer did not render him
any assistance, bat threw every obstacle in his way. The
lead be took from the marine store dealer's was nodes the

counter.
Mr. Tirwhitt rid the oonduct of the marine store dealer
appeared very suspicions, and there was very little doubt
that if he chose he could say who was the person who sold
him the lead. It was strange that the Midland Company
did not appoint sans proper person to look after the houses
they had punoad
The poltoe stated that some of the houses were in • dan-
gerous state. Many lade had been charged with petty
pilferinp from the Midland property.
Mr. Ricketts submitted that so fax as hie clients were
cowered thee* wee no evideoce to connect them with the
stealing of the lead, and therefore they ought to be dis-
charged. As for their being in the house for an unlawful
purpose, that was all moonshine. They had goes there to
bare a game and for amusement, and nothing more. He
bed witnesses io attendance who would show that they were
all hard working fellows, and therefore he (Mr. Ricketts)
hoped they would be discharged.
Mr. Tyrwhitt remanded Porter, Wells, Peppily, aod
Sherman for a week, end discharged the whole of the other
prisoners.