The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-19 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

MANSION • HOUSE.
11. wry Russrll (labium who was, up to Friday last. a
I clerk in the employment of Messrs. Barclay, Bevan. and Co.,
'
1 of Lombarcts•reet, bankers, was brought before Mr. Alder-
man hunter, charged with having stolen, on the 15th in-
stant, It., and on the morning of Friday 21. 10s., m the
banking-house.
Mr. Edward Diana said—l am c'erk in the house of
Meson. Barclay and Co. I know the prisoner. On Thurs-
day the 15th inst. he and I were paying money at the same
counter. I was standing at my desk when the prisoner
acme up to me, before 2 o'clock, and asked me some ques-
tion at connected wish business. He was standimg on my
light hanl side, dose tome. My till, which is on my right
hand side, was partly open. lam under the impression
that he had a cheque in his hand, but do not remember
whether Le spoke to me on the subject of that cheque. I
made up my account on the evening between half-past 4
an 4 6 o'clock, sad I found a deficiency of 11. It has not
been an uncommon thing, I am sorry to say, at that side of
the house. I have always been on the best terms with the
prisoner.
Mr. L.lward Gooding, also a clerk in WWI. Barclay
and Co.'s house, said—On the 15th instant 1 was paying at
the same counter as the last witness and the prisoner. I
saw the prisoner talkiLg to Mr. Dizon on his right hand
side he had a cheque in his left hand ; I saw one of the
prisoner's hands in Mr. Diaisn's till, ant I made a commu-
nication some time afterwards to Mr. Dutton, the manager
of that department. Yesterday, shout a quarter to 2
n'clock, I asked the prisoner where some blank cheques
were kept, end he came towards my desk to show me
where they were. Ile opened a drawer close to my till—my
till was open. When he came to the drawer, one of his
hands was closed, and I 'eked him what he Lad in that
hand. Ile ha I passed his left hand close over roy till, and
that induced me to ask him. He said what he had in his
hand was his business. I seized his arm, and a scuffle
ensued between us, but he by main force got away from
me. Mr. Mitchell, our cashier, was at the further end of
the counter, and the prisoner paved his own desk and went
as far as Mr. Mitchell's, and I followed him. I accused Lim
of having something in his hand, something which did
not h.dong to him. I said 1 had found hint with his
hand closed, and I wanted taste what was in his band, and
Mr. Mitchell asked him why he refused to open his hand.
lle then immediately opened his hand, and there was
nothing in it. The paper I produce was not M the pri-
soner's hand when he opened at. There was about a mi-
nute between the prisoner's going away from my till and
my speaking to Mr. Mitchell. I then went and spoke to
one of the limn on the subject. The prisoner was sent fur,
and I told the partners what I had seen and what had
transpired. I balanced my money last night, and found it
21. 10s. short._ _ _

Cross-ezanatned by Mr. nobler—lt has sometimes hap-
pened that a cheque has been overpaid by a small sum. At
times we have got the money back, but very seldom ; such
a circumstance would make the clerk's private balance so
much detHent. It would be an unintentional deficiency on
the part of the clerk.
Mr. It. C. L. Bevan said—l am a partner in the house of
Barclay and Co. Yesterday afternoon, in consequence of a
commuxieation from Mr. Gooding, I sent for the prisoner.
The prisoner said Mr. Gooding accused him. I told blest was
afraid the accusation was too true. I can't exactly remem-
ber what he said in answer. I asked him how it was pos-
sible for him to account for refusing to 'show what was in
his band / lie said he had something in his hand, and
atter. ards Le said he had nothing in has hand. The state-
ment that be had something in his hand war made by the
prisoner in the presence of Mr. Gurney Barclay.
James Bradley (officer of the Mansion-house)—l took the
prisoner into custody last night at six o'clock, and 1
searched bin and found upon him a purse coutainicg 51.
10s. in gold and Os. 10d. in silver. There was no loose
money in his pocket.
Mr. Mohler submitted that there was no evidence at all
against his client. It was admitted that deficiencies fre-
quently took place in consequence of mistakes, by which
clerks overpaid the customers. There were no booking-
houses in which errors of the kind were not made, and an
imputation had been cast upon the gentleman at the
bar, in consequence of two ordinary occurrences. Ile re-
presented that it was absurd to suppose that a gentleman
who lived in high respectability, in the service of an emi-
nent banking-house for 18 years, would sacrifice his charac-
ter and family by such acts as those attributed to him, and
called upon the alderman to discharge the case.
Alderman Hunter said he considered that Messrs. Barclay
and Co. were perfectly justified in the course they had
adopted, as the case was one of very great suspicion. lie,
however, was of opinion that, taking into consideration the
long term of service of the prisoner, and the good character
he mut bars maintained for so long, it would be his duty
to dismiss tl.e charge.
The prisoner bowed to Alderman Hunter, and said "I
thank you, sir," and left the justice-room.