The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-13 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

(Before Mr. Bodkin, Assistant• Judge.)
George Brown, the wholesale plunderer of gee fittings
from public-houses, wee put upon his trial this morning, on
• third charge, vii. of stealing some gas fixtures the property
of John Overend.

Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Tindal Atkinson, were the counsel
in the mem ; the prisoner was defended by Mr. P. H. Lewis.
The prisoner was found guilty on this charge. The theft
in this internam was committed at the British Queen, in
Peedinandsgreet, Hempstead-road. The prisoner went in
and called fora glues ale in the tap room, and the bar-
man forgone reason kept an eye upon him. Having, how-
ever, to en into the kitchen for a moment, the prisoner
took the opportunity afforded by his absence to tear down
the gas fittings, which he concealed under his coat
and decamped. The barman on his return found the
primmer gone, and missing the ps pipes at
the same time went after him. Fortunately he
caught him and brought him back, when he took the fit-
tings from under Ilia coat, and asked to be let go. He was,
however, given in charge, and about thirty similar clones
were then brought against him. He had made this him
regular business; and though, as old metal, the worth of
the pipes was not considerable, they being mostly tap-room
fittings, yet, when fixed awl in use for their required pur-
pose, they were of coarse as valuable to the owner as if
newly put up. In the cane of Mr. Wilby, of the Crown,
Winchester-street, the consequences were, as already stated,
of a most serious character ; sn explosion took place, 19
persons were injured, and Mr. and Mrs. Wilby were
severely burnt, and had their hair scorched. On this case
he was acquitted, although it was distinctly sworn
that when the prisoner went into the tap-room the gas-
fittings were there, and that from the time he left until
the explosion occurred no one else had entered. The jury,
however, adopted the suggestion that, because three hour;
bad elapsed, some one else " might " have gone in and
stripped down the pipe and got away unnoticed, and ac-
quitted him. The prisoner pleaded guilty to one charge on
Monday, and being convicted on the present,
Tho Assistant-Judge said he did not think that, at the
time the prisoner committed these thefts, he contemplated
the terrible consequences which might result, and which in
one instance did ensue unfortunately', from what he did ;
but, at the same time, lie must have been well aware of the
inflammable nature of gm, and the risk of danger incurred
by en escape of it even in a small quantity. The court had
power to give two years only, under the statute, on each
indictment ; end therefore, feeling it a case in which the
wftralty of the law ought to be inflicted, the sentence
be two years on each charge on which the prisoner
bad been convicted, and be would therefore undergo four
years' hard labour in the Rouse of Correction.
The prisoner was formerly barman at the White Lion,
Leather-lane, and was known to the police detectives of the
G division, one of whom proved, the prisoner when charged
with the offence at Mr. Wilby's in August having declared
he had not been in London since May, that he saw end
spoke to him in Baldwin's-gardens on the 25th of July.
(Before Mr. Payne.)

Elizabeth GoodAew, 26, wax indicted for stealing a bag
containing • variety of articles the property of Emily liaise,
sod also for stealing • carpet bag cootainiug 6/ worth of
property, belompug to Fli..beth Goodhew. The find
named prosecutris resides at Pinner, and while at the Loo-
don and North-Western station, Euston-square, she lost •
bag, and complained to a constable who had noticed the
prisoner about the first-class waiting-room. On a subse-
quent day the prisoner was taken there on another charge,
when she had on • dress which bad been in the stolen bag.
She gave the name of Goodhew, because she bad in her
possession two handkerchiefs marked with that name, and
she was also wearing a jacket, which were portions of the
contents ef • bag lost at the London-bridge station, and the
property of • lady residing at Sittingboome, in Kent, whose
name was Goodbew.

The jury found her Guilty. She belonged to a gang
of thieves hanging about railway stations.
Mr. Payne sentenced her to two years' hard labour on
each case, the terms to run concurrently.
Anne Swatkin, 49, was indicted for stealing an umbrella,
the property of Ralph Baines. The prisoner used to go to
houses on pretence of inquiring about a situation as domes.
tic servant, having previously ascertained that one was
wanted, for the purpose of stealing anything she could lay
hands upon in the passage. The prosecutor in this ruse
lived at 1, Oxfordderrace, Upper Holloway, and the theft
was committed precisely in the way stated, the servant
having left her alone for a moment while she took her me-
rge to her ntistrees.
The prisoner was found Guilty, and it was proved that
she had had four years' penal servitude, besides which
there was a great number of other cases against her.
Mr. Payne sentenced her to six years' penal servitude.