The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-02 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

9[ANSION•HOUSE.

A respectable looking man, named Edward Reader, was
brought before Alderman Sir R. Carden, in custody of
Chula. Brown, a detective officer, charged with steahng a
valuable gold watch, the property of Alderman Carter,
which be had been entrusted with by that gentleman
to Mail%
Henry Christie, foreman to Alderman Carter, who
carries on business as a watchmaker in Cornhill, stated
that the prisoner had been in his employment for about
nineteen months, and he was employed upon the premises
in doing repairs. In July last he gave him a gold watch
to repair, and after some time be asked the prisoner for
the watch, and he said he had brought It down stairs,
and that it must have been mislaid. Inquires were
made which left no doubt that the prisoner most have
made away with the watch, and on Thursday witness
went to the residence of the prisoner accompanied by
Alderman Carter's son, and he again asked him what had
become of the watch. The prisoner at tint stoutly denied
knowing anything about the watch, but when he was told
that this was of no use, and that they were certain that he
bad taken the watch, he admitted that he bad pawned it,
and said that the duplicate was inaredarze in the back
room, and he found it there, and it to have been
pledged at the shop of Mr. W , a pawnbroker in
Clerkenwell, for 6!.
. .

The prisoner said that he was promised forgiveness if
he told the foremen what had become of the watch.
Mr. Christie denied that this was so, and said that what
took place was th►t be told the prisoner that if he did not
give them any trouble, he would intercede with the alder-
man to deal leniently with him. The prisoner promised
to come to see the alderman on Friday, but he did not do
so, and directions were then given that he should be taken
into custody upon the present charge. The prisoner re-
ceived a very good character when he came into the
service of the alderman.

Alfred Lewis, ahopman to Mr. Woods, a pawnbroker, in
Clerkenwell, proved that the prisoner pawned the watch
in July, and received 61. upon it at different times. He
said he had known the prisoner several months, and he
was constantly in the habit of pawning and redeeming
watches.
Sir R. Carden asked the witness whether he did not con-
sider it suspicious that a person like the prisoner should be
dealing with such a large number of watches?
The witness said that it did not create suspicion, be-
cause he considered the prisoner was a watchmaker in •
small way of business.
Sir R. Carden told him he could easily have ascertained
whether this was so or not, and that by the course be had
taken great facilities were afforded for offences of this de-
scription. He added, that if the employer of the witness
had been present be should have made much stronger ex-
pressions to him than he had done.
The prisoner being asked whether he desired to have the
ease sent to the Old Bailey, or be dealt with at once, said
that he would rather hare it disposed of at once, and he
would therefore plead guilty.
Sir R. Carden said that it was • very sad thing to see a
man who appeared to have borne a good character placed
in such a position, and, taking into consideration the con-
sequences that would necessarily follow, the sentence
would not be severe as it otherwise would have been.
He then sentenced him to be imprisoned and kept to hard
labour for four months.