The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-19 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

A 4cl-o:int of volunteers and a woman, the keeper of
a low house at l'entonville, were charged before Dlr.
Barker with stealing one U. Hank of England note
from the person of William Cooper, of the Tavistock
Hotel, Covent-garden, signing himself on the charge-sheet
as s lieutenant of the 42nd Foot.

The complainant, who gave his evidence in n very ram-
bling way, said—l ant an olik.er in her Majesty's service,
and em now staying at the Tavistock Hotel, Covent-
garden. lam a heatenant in the 42nd Foot—well, no, I
was a lieute• ant, but I was cashiered about four years ago.
Last night I went into the Philharmonic Music-hall. I
was sober at the time, and went there about 9 o'clock.
There I met the woman in the dock. knew her shout
seven years and nine mouths ego as a prostitute. My
father is dead, and lam a gentleman, and live on the
money that was left to me. I wont in the Philharmonic.
hall by accident. as I am not in the habit of going to such
places.
Mr. Barker—What do you mein by going to the music.
hall by accident ?
The complainant—Well, I am in the habit of going to
the Argyle-rooms and the Alhambra. I went up to the
female prisoner and said to her. " Is your name .11;,;.•
She answered me, and I said, " I am very Sony I can't ask
you to drink, as I cannot get clu.nge of it 51. note." She
I then told me that she could find some one that could do it
for me. I took four 51. notes from my pocket and gave her
one of them, and she passed it to the male prisoner. I gave
him the 5/. note, and I swear he passed the note to the
woman, and I have not seen it since.

Mr. itarker—What do you mean by first saying that you
gave the note to the wonisn and that she passed it to the
man, and then that you gave it to the man, and that he
passed it to the woman Have you been drinking this
morning?
The complainant—l have bad nothing since half-past 9
this morning, and then I had some bitter beer. All that I
have described took place in the bar at the Philharmonic
Hall. I have known the female prisoner for along time.
Police-constable Farrell, 18& N, proved taking both
prisoners into custody, and they were sober, but the own
plainant had been ,innising, though he knew what he was
about.

Both the prisoners in the most emphatic manner denied
the charge, and accused the complainant of being drunk,
and behaving in a very ungentlemanly way. He wanted
them to go with him in a cab to the Haymarket. he
agreeing to pay all the expenses, and because they would
not du so, he afterwards trumpt.l up this charge against
them, and then gave them into custody. They saw him
with the notes in his possession, but what he did with
them they did not know.
. . . . .

Edwin 'Anderson. ►erman at the Philharmonic Music-
hall, said he heanl the complainant ask for change for a
51. note, and it was refused him because he was a stranger
and the proprietor of thehall was absent. That was about
nine o'clock, and about twelve o'clock the complainant
went out, and before doing so he put the 51. note in his
purse, and, making use of filthy and disgusting language,
said that he had got a W. note, and did not care who knew
it. When he had been absent about ten minutes the pro-
secutor returned and gave the volunteer into custody.
Mr. Barker said he did not believe the evidence of the
complainant, and he might say that as far as the male
pi:soner visa concerned he left the court without the
slightest stain on his character. Both the prisoners would
now be discharged.
There was a shout of applause at the decision of the
learned magistrate, which was instantly suppressed by the
officers of the court.