The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-10 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSION&

(Before Mr. Dowling, Deputy Awdstant Judge.)

Tim criminal business of the county was continued on
Saturday at the Sessions House, Clerkenwell-green. The
only magistrate on the bench vria Mr. Charles White.

John Connor, 21, ThonlasJohnstone,23, andJohnßartlett,
43, were severally indicted—Connor and Johnstone for
stealing 441 b. of lead, the property of Patrick and Co.,
their masters, and Bartlett for receiving the same, well
knowing it to have been stolen.
Bartlett surrendered in discharge of his bail, the others
were in onetody.
Mr. Cooper prosecuted ; Mr. M. Williams appeared for
Bartlett. The other. were undefended.
. .

- -
The prosecutors were Messrs. Patrick and Sons, builders,
of Westminster-road, and they were constructing a new
building at Knightsbridge, where Johnstone and Connor
were employed as labourers and scadoldmen. On the 2Cird
of August three rolls of lead were placed on the building
for the purpose of farming the gutters, and on that day
the lead was missing. It was stated that a workman who
wu engaged near the place heard a heavy fall resembling
the fall of lead, and some time afterwards three men were
seen carrying a large bundle, and they were traced to
Bartlett's shop, in New-mad, Chelsea. The next day a
policeman went to Bartlett's shop, and ho denied having
purchased any lead of the prisoners. A small quantity of
lad was found there but the identity of it failed.
Mr. Bevjeant Dow acid there was not sufficient evi-
dence, and under his ction the jury returned a verdict
of Not Guilty.
(Before Mr. Payne.). . .

James Wilkinson, 30, carpenter, was indicted for steal-
ing 11. the money of Stephen Pusey, in • dwelling-house.
The prisoner, who is a cunning-looking fellow, pleaded
not guilty.
Mr. Thomas Stephen Pussy said he lived with his father,
the landlord of the World's End Tavern, Chelsea. About
half-past two o'clock on Thursday, the 16th ult., the pri-
soner came into their bar and had something to drink. He
bad the stick (produced), with something white on the end
of it. He observed him trying to pat the end with the
white on into a glees, which was on a small shelf, about
six feet from the counter. There were some eover
in it. Prisoner observed witness coming towards him,
and in • great hurry he drew the stick away, and one
of the sovere*ns dropped from it on to the ground.
',Minn picked it up and put it into the glass again.
Prisoner ran off, and witness ran after him and overtook
him. With the assistance of the barman he was brought
back. Witness asked him what he bad been doing, and
Ise made no reply but trembled violently. The stick,
which he had still in his band, had a piece of wire and
a piece of putty fastened on to the end. Publicans bad
been plundered to • greet extent by such artful persons as
the prisoner.
John Bonney, 164 T, said he received charge of the pri-
soner ; he denied all knowledge of stealing a sovereign, or
attempting to do so.
When called upon by Mr. Hodgkinaon (the clerk),
The prisoner repeated the statement he made before the
magistrate, viz., that he knew nothing at all about it.
Mr. Payne, after commenting upon the prisoner's artful-
ness, sentenced him to be imprisoned and kept to bard
labour for 12 calendar months.
Walter Peaver, a respectable-looking man, surrendered,
he having been at large upon his own recognisanoes, to
answer a charge of stealing • watch from Mary Jane
Hastier.
The defendant, who defended himself, pleaded not
guilty.
The prolecntrix, living at No. 9, Bloomsbury-street, said
her watch was safe in her room just before the prisoner,
who has a workshop at the back of the house, cams into
it on the 3rd of August to measure a looking-glass for some
brackets. Shortly after he wee gone she missed her watch,
and immediately gave information to the police and
charged the defendant with stealing it, which he stoutly
denied.
The prisoner, who is • man of considerable intelli-
gence, cross-examined the prosecutrix as to her previous
life, and her answers were by no means satisfactory. He
then called witnesses who had dealings with her, and they
said they would not believe her on her oath. He after-
wards called witnesses who proved that he was an honest,
hard-working man.
The jury, without hearing the summing up, said they
had all made up their minds to acquit the prisoner.
Mr. Payne said be quite agreed with the verdict.
The prisoner thanked the jury, and hoped they had
acquitted him honourably.
Defendant was then discharged.
It may be stated, in fairness to the accused, that the
prosecutrix admitted she had led anything but • moral life.
Rosa Field, 28, described as of no occupation, was in-
dicted for stealing a watch and other articles from the
person of Benjamin Watts.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor met the prisoner, who asked him to have
something to drink, which he did. He lost his watch and
some other article while in her company, and it was con-
clusively proved that the must have been the thief.
The jury found her ditty.
Mrs. Howe, one of the principal warden of the female
prison at Westminster, proved that the prisoner was an
old thief, and had before been convicted of felony.
Mr. Payne sentenced her to two years' imprisonment
with hard labour. _ _ _ . .

The Prisoner—l beg your pardon, my lord, I wish you
would give me five years instead. I should be so very much
obliged to you.
Mr. Payne—Oh, no. Take her away. We do not sit
here to accommodate prisoners.
The prisoner was then removed, looking disappointed at
the result of her application for penal servitude.
- - -

Joseph Payne, 42, blacksmith, was indicted for stealing
10/., the moneys of John Thomas.
The prosecutor said he lived at No. 47, Model-buildings,
City Garden-row, and had no occupation. He had pre-
viously known the prisoner. On the morning of the 29th
of August be was removing his goods, and the prisoner
assisted him in doing so. He moved a chest of drawers
for prosecutor from a cart to his room, and
there were ten sovereigns in one of the &ewers.
He had seen them safe there two or three
hours before. The drawers were carried up into the
room separately. The money was rolled up in paper, and
after the prisoner was gone the money was missed. The
prisoner was not seen by him again until he was brought
by a policeman. The carman unlocked the drawers. All
the money was marked, as he marked it himself about the
early part of the month of August, and he always marked
his money. The seven sovereigns produced were amongst
those he marked. _ . . . .

.----.----.
Police-oonstable George Harris, 276 0, said that from in-
formation received be vent to a public-house in Maccles-
field-street, and from there he went to the prisoner's lodg-
ings in City Garden-row. The priainer jumped out of win-
dow when ha went in, but witness went down stairs and
found him under a board in the yard. He called in the
prosecutor, and told the prisoner that he was charged with
stealing ten sovereigns. He said that he had not got them.
When asked why he had jumped out of the window, he
said that it was to pursue a brother-in-law, who had struck
his mother.

John Baxter said be lived at No 29, Macclesfield-street,
City-road, and was a licensed victualler. About five o'clock
on the afternoon of the 20th of August the prisoner
entered his house in a state of intoxication, and pulled out
several sovereigns. Witness advised him to give them to
him to take care of, and accordingly he gave him seven
sovereigns, but he did not say where he got them from.
He kept them in a separate till until the police-constable
came, when be gave them to him.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty.
Mr. Payne sentenced him to hard labour for twelve
month?.