The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-12 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

BOW-STREET.

CHARGE OF SENDING THREATENING LETTERS
TO PRINCE ALBERT.

Edwin Bates, of 10 Welbeck-street, Cavendish square,
was ;.nought before Mr. Jardine, upon a warrant, charged
with sending a threatening letter to his Royal Highness
Prince Albert.
The prisoner, who has been frequently at the Mansion-
Louse and Bow-street on similar charges, underwent a
year's impriaonment in 1850-51, for sending lour ktters to
the Prince, demanding the meanie of completing certain
mechanical desigus of unprecedented importance to the
cation. Since his last confinement (in default of the requi-
site sureties), he has taken the lease of the above hou,e ;
and the officers stated that lie had found the :nears of
furnishing it handsomely, and fitting up certain rooms with
some description of machinery designed for the ultimate
ace nnplishment of perpetual motion.
On bsiffig placed in the deck, the prisoner, who is a tall,
dark, well-dressed man of about 45, turned towards the
reporter's box, and demanded an interview with the
representative of the public press. He then addressed the
ni.igivrate in a menacing tune and manner, telliEg his
worship that his conduct that day, when fully kunwu
to the public, amain deprive hint of his scat upon the
bench.

Ozcasimally, during the evidence, the prisoner spoke
with the greatest possible excitement, screaming at the
top of his wire, and literally choking with passion.
Mr. Lund, the superintendent of • the F division, stated
that he proceeded yes'erds) afternoon, in c•.ompany with
lusper ter Shaw, of the thteetive force, to execute the war-
rant, and, after watching the house some time, they saw
him leave 10, Welbeck-street, and walk tawards the shop I
of a Mr. Reynold., where they joined him. Witness cam-
municatcd his business to tho prisoner, and falluwed him
into the built parlour of his house.
The prisoner—My studio, if you please.
Witness—He began to tr.lk in a very strange way, staring
that he porsessed some invention which would piece the
British crown in his power, and was worth 100 millions.
He admitted that he had written a letter to Prince Albert,
and said that he would use his influence, as the King of the
Jews, to get Mr. Jardine, the magistrate, discharged from
his seat, for he had persecuted him before.
The prisoner (with vehemence)—l said that Mr. Jardine
shall suppress hie title, or his title shall suppress him.
(With scorn)—What right had you, Mr. Jardine, to insult
me by sending me a sovereign ? I did not want your mo-
ney, and Ido not want Prince Albert's. I have no impro-
per feeling towards the Prince.
Mr. Jardine—l shall be glad if you can =sic.. it appear
so. But I think there are passages in the letter which ad-
mit of a different construction.

The prisoner—What passages ?
Ills Worship then directed the letter to be read. It was
addressed to H.R.H. Prince Albert, Buckiagham•pslace,
and was as follows:
" 10, Welbeek-street, March 8, 18.53.
" Prince,—l desire an immediate reply, as 1 wish to go
to the Continent to deposit specifications of the great pitint
new engine and motive power in hydrogen—inventions that
will greatly change the art of war, and keep the peace of the
world by the love of mankind.
"I regret that cash was not sent to me lut week. The
letters now speak of 2,0001.; one of which may volubly
be for the Crystal Palace Company. I may depend upon
the honour of the writer, who is well known to the Lord
Mayor; but lam troubled in regard to time. I want to
start directly. I have urged, therefore, that the I,OOW. may
be sent to me immediately after your royalhigkneas receives
this letter. _ _

" I must not be trifled with.
"The writer may suspect that the Queen, who prefeeses
to aid met of genius and advance science, will immediately,
from the privy purse, advance 1,0001.; but perhaps the
foreign patents will not, for even several of the inventions
required as much as 3,0001. lam most anxious to obtain
the 1,0001. first mentioned.
" Rational acts aro not always on the side of royalty.
Lord John Russell stood in the late prosecution three times
bet,veen the royal mercy and an innocent man, whom God
now makes the champion of truth, with plane no mortal
being eau know of. My inventions are worth more than
the incomes of the crowns of Europe ; and it would be to
fly in the face of the All-wise Dispenserof good gifts to leave
the foreign patents any longer in danger of being lost.
" They buried the warrior ou my birthday.
" Power will be mine. I anxiously look for an immedi-
ate answer. And I have the honour to be. Prince, your
H.R.'s obedient servant, EDWIN BATES.
" To H.R.H. Prince Albert.
" P.S. I will answer any inquiries thatyour Royal High.
ness may immediately direct to be made. I should not have
written again if the first advance of cash had not been
made, or if your Royal Highness had written me a de-
nial."
The prisoner—lt is impossible for you to understand that
letter without seeing these (producing several). I there
speak of letters—in a handwriting well known to me. The
handwriting of Masteru2an, I will swear.
Sergeant Smith, of the Detective Force, Scotland-yard,
stated that he was in Castle-street, Oxford-street, on Thurs.
day evening, when the Queen, with Prince Albert and the
Royal children, arrived at the Princess's Theatre. The
royal entrance is at the back of the theatre, in Castle-street;
and among the crowd assembled on the occasion to see the
Royal patty witness saw the prisoner standing opposite.
Witness watched him closely, but could not say if he (the
prisoner) saw the Prince.
The prisoner—There were several carriages there. Why
is this mentioned ? I was not three for any improper pur-
pose. Did I look as if I was looking after anything ?
Hr. W. D. Burnaby, the chief clerk of the court, depo-
sed that the prisoner was charged on the 21th July, 1853,
with seeding four threatening letters to Prince Albert.
He was convicted, and in default of procuring the required
sureties to keep the peace, was committed to prison for tho
term of twelve months.
The prisoner made a long rambling statement which
embraced nearly every recent topic of interest in the news-
papers. His occasional viulence was quite alarming.
The prisoner was remanded for evidence as to his state
of mind, but it is maid that his manner is always rational
in the presence of mAlical men.