The Express.
London, England, 1860-07-05 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

GUILDEMZ.

llrnry Smitimo4 who described himself as a clerk, but
refused his address, was charged with the unlawful posses-
sion of a stolen cheque for 18/. 10a. &L
Joseph Hunter said - lam a City porter, andgenerally stand
at the end of Bartholomew-lane and Throguiortou-stroet.
Yesterday about ten minutes to two o'clock I was in Thing-
morton-street, when the prisoner came up to me and gave
me a cheque for 18/. 19s. Bd., drawn on Messrs. Praed's
bank, in Fleet-street, and asked me if I would get it cashed
for hon. I asked him how he would like it, in notes or
gold,
l and he said " Bring gold." He then asked me how
I should be, and on my saying about three-quarters of
an hour he east he would meet me at what is called the
Auction Mart Tap, in Bartholomew-lane. I presented the
cheque at Messrs. Freed's, and I thought I got the money,
for they gave me a parcel to give to the person who sent
me. On my ratan' to the Auction Mart I could not find
the prisoner. I left word at the bar where I was to be
found if he willed in my absence, and about half-past three
o'clock the prisoner mato up Bartholomew-lane and called
out to rue, "Have you got that money!" I said I had,
and as I was handing the parcel to the prisoner a gentleman
came up and seized him, et the same thee asking me if the
prisoner was the person who soot me with the cheque. I
said he was ; and that ia all I have to do in the case.
.

Mr. Chas., lyringbani Praed said—The cheque produeed
was presented to me by the last witness, but having pre-
viously received information that the cheque had been
stolen I directed a parcel to be made up, which was given
to the porter, and then I followed him. In Fleetwtreet I
lost sight of him, but I obtained the assistance of a police-
man, and took a cab to Bartholomew-lane, where I again
saw the porter, and after waiting about 21.) minutes I saw
the prisoner accost the porter, and ask him if he had the
mosey for the cheque. I was standing close bellied him
at the time, and while asking the porter if he was the per-
son who sent him with the cheque 1 banded him over to the
custody of the policeman.
Police-constable 341 i mid-1 took the prisoner to the sta-
tion, and on the way he said he could account for the
cheque which lie hod given to the porter to get cashed.
At the station he said he had to meet a person at the
Weavers' Arnie; Southgate-road, that evening at seven
o'clock, to baud over to him the money. He gave me a de-
scription of the man, end I went there at the time, but
found no one answering the description he gave me. He
refused to give his address or that of his friend he said be
had to meet. I found on him three daplicater relating to
two gold Albert chains and a silver case.
Thus. Smalley, of Staintomplaue, Shooter's-hill-mad,
Blackheath--I received the cheque produced froni Mime
Adelaide Fane, by whom it is drawn. I had it safe in my
portmanteau on the lit of last month. On that day I was
proceeding to Bla,,kheeth by the train which leaves London-
bridge Station at five o'clock. My portmanteau, with other
luggage, wag on the platfurm of the North Kent law, and
I was standing close by them. When the ten minutes to
five train was leaving the station I went to get my
ticket, leaving my luggage on the platform. I returned iu
less than three minutea, and not finding my luggage where
I left it, I turned round and then discovered it on
a truck, and the head porter said he placed it there, but ray
portmanteau was gone. The whole of the train was imme-
diately searched, but no trace of the missing portmauteau
could be discovered. In addition to the cheque pmiluced, I
had three 5/. Bank of England notes, a cheque for 51. on
Cue and Co., two severe*us and two half-sovereigns, be-
sides weariapplrel, and other property. have stopped
the notes and the cheque at the Bank.
Joseph Monk said-1 am head porter at the North Kent
Railway station, at London-bridge. I was on than platform
of the railway station at the time stated by the last witness
(ten minutes to live, ou the Ist of June), and I saw near the
NNW a portmanteau and three other parcels. I placed all
four on one of the company's trucks. A gentleman spoke
to Ms Amply, and sated what I was doing. I said, I put
them on the tn.* to wheel them up and gut them labelled.
He said they were nut going by that train. About two
minutes titer, Mr. Smalley inquired fur his portmanteau,
hut it could not be found. The gentleman who spoke to me
about the luggage in Mr. Sualley'a elevate was very like
the prisoner. HHa speaking sharply to me wadi me thiuk
it was his luggage, and throw ins off my guard.
Alderman Rose remanded the prisoner for a week, to as.
eertein if he were known to the police.
It is supposed that the prisoner is one of a gang of railway
plunderers, who had committed very serious depredations
at the different stations in London for some time past ; and
in order to facilitate his identification we give his descrip-
tion :—Age, 21, but looks older ; height, 5 feet 8l inches ;
to and rather curly MOAT hair ; ooniplezion very fresh,
and eyebrows and lashes very fair indeed. In figure he is
very straight and thin.