The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-05 00:00:00

THE HOTEL THIEF.

It will be in the recollection of the readers of the
Ezprear, that some time since • very duhing-looking
ll.ine was apprehended and committed to prison, at Ply-
mouth, for trial on a charge of stealing a gold watch and
ten (avian gold coins from the bedroom of N. Gailberdi, •
French gentleman, who has since gone to the coast of
Alfrica, and who, at the time of the robbery, was, with the
prisoner, a coffee room guest at Elliott's Royal Hotel,
Plymouth.
On Friday, the prisoner, Frederick Hermatansen, was
brought up for trial at the Plymouth Borough &Lesions,
before W. C. (Rowe, Q.C., the Recorder; but he having
been subeequently charged with stealing some NitiCiti of
clothing from Mr. Wintle, an hotel keeper, at Bristol, and
as some difficulty about making out the right of property in
the article stolen at Plymouth, alt'sough Mr. Elliott paid
M. Gailbardi the value set upon tic articles, the indictment
of stealing from Mr. Elliott was abandoned.
Ile was entered upon the calendar as Frederic Herr-
maunsen, and as being able to read and write well, and was
charged with stealing, on the 15th Jan. last, one cloth great
coat, one block cloth coat, and other articles, the property
of John Wintle. Mr. Cox prosecuted, and Mr. Lopes de-
fended the prisoner.
Mr. Wintle—Was an isokeeper ; kept the Full Moon at
Bristol. On the 14th and nth Jan., prisoner was staying
at his hotel, occupying a bedroom there. Did not see him
in his room. Lett his house on the evening of the 15th
Jan. Nov day missed a brown great coat, a black psletot,
a black dress coat and waistcoat, a black pair of toasers, a
satin waistcoat, and three other light waistcoats. Had seen
these things in his bedroom a week previously.
By Mr. Lopes—There were fifteen or sixteen bedrooms in
the Full Moon. There were five or six persons staying at
the hotel at the time. Prisoner was living in his coffee-
room.

George Hicks, police-constable. apprehended the prisoner
on the 311th of January, at the Bedford Hotel, Tavistock.
Found in his possession two coats and • satin waistcoat
(produced). Told the prisoner he took him up on the
charge of stealing from an hotel in Bristol. Brought back
the prisoner to Plymouth, and lodged him in the borough
gaol. On the 12th February found in his carpet hag and
portmanteau a frock coat, and a black coat and a satin
waistcoat (produced). Prisoner denied the charge, and
:aid he bad sold his watch and bought the two coats for 31.
Edward Harding (boots at the Royal Hotel, Plymouth)—
Saw prisoner at the Royal Hotel on the 27th January.
Prisoner occupied No. 39. Saw him also at the hotel on
the morning of the 28th.
Mr. Winne identified the clothe, produced in court as the
property he had lost.
The prisoner was found Guilty, and a former conviction
was then proved against hint by Mr. Baonant, inspector of
the 11 division of metropolitan police. The prisoner, under
the name of Carl Frederick Kharn, had, at the Central
Criminal Court, pleaded guilty to four indictments.
The Recorder said the prisoner appeared to be an incor-
rigible offender, and making every allowance for his igno-
rance of the law as a foreigner, still it was his (the Recor-
der's) duty to sentence him to be transported for seven
years.