The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-02 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

MANSION-HOUSE.

John Phipps, 21, describing himself as a bell-hanger,
and Bdivarat Baker, 19, labourer, were brought up
in custody, and charged before the Lord Mayor with
attempting to break into the house of Thomas Harrison,
28, Martin's-lane, Cannon-street, city, with intent to
steal therein.

From the evidence of Detective Sergeant John Moss,
corroborated by that of Constable Obee, it appeared that
in consequence of some information received by them,
the officers proceeded on Sunday night, about half-past 8
o'clock, into Cannon-street, when they saw the two
prisoners together in company with another man, not in
custody. The two prisoners turned out of Cannon-street into
Martin's-lane, and climbed over an iron gate 8 feet high,
while the third man walked up the lane. The officers
waited at the end of the gateway or passage for about
twenty minutes, when the man in charge of the house,
No. 28, in the lane, and let out in chambers or offices,
came oat, and from what he stated the officers requested
him to remain with them, and in a short time the pri-
soner Phipps attempted to climb over the gate back spin
into the lane, but was stopped by the other prisoner, who
called out " Wait." On this, at the request of the officers,
the housekeeper unlocked thegate, and on entering the pas-
sage they found'there the two prisoners, who, in reply to an
inquiry what they were doing there. Phipps said that they
had come there to, lie down to rest for • little while. They
were both secured and conveyed to the police-
station, when on being searched there was found on
Phipps a small but neatly-constructed crow-bar and
a couple of skeleton keys, one of which was found to open
the door of No. 28, occupied by the housekeeper, In-
spector Harrison, and also the doors of several offices
within the building. It was also found that the door of
No. 27 hail been attempted to be forced by the removal of
a key which had been left inside the lock, and the marks
on the door corresponded with the sharp end of the crow-
bar found in the possession of the prisoner Phipps, who
gave as his address the White Horse-chambers, Fetter-
lane. The other prisoner had no address or fixed resi-
dence. The officers both expressed their belief that the
prisoners had not only been in custody, but had already
been convicted of felony.
The prisoners, who declined to offer any explanation or
to say anything in their defence, were remanded for •
week for further inquiries.

Two widow., named Donovan and Foley, came before
Mr. Paget to complain of the " St. Patrick's United In-
sureties Sick and Burial Society" (the head offices, 10.4
Duke-street, Liverpool), of which their deceased husbands,
both Irishmen, were members.
The first Raid she was entitled to 31. 10a. on her has-
band's death, and on applying for the money she was told
she was out of benefit, because the arrears were not paid
up. The fact was that when her husband was ailing the
collector, expecting his death, did not call for the weekly
contributions.

Mrs. Foley said her husband was only 2d. in arrear when
he diets, and instead of 71. for which he was manned only
1/. was paid to her. There was an arbitration clause in
the articles of the society.
Mr. Paget expressed his inability to assist the applicants,
who retired very much disappointed.