The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-17 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

MANSION HOUSE.

Joh)* Beard. a young man of highly respectable appear-
ance. surrendered before Hr. Alderman Bealey, for further
es.unination, on the charge of loitering in the City with
intent to commit felony.

Mr. Wontner now appeared on the part of the accused.
It may be remembered that on the rst examination, on
Saturday. the evidence of Timothy Carroll, 5148 City, went
to show that while on duty at 10 o'clock on Friday night
last by observed the prisoner loitering in Wood-street,
Cheapside, entering the doorways and putting his hand in
the letter-boxes of several of the warehouses. Re ulti-
mately took the prisoner into custody, and on searching
him seven letters with different addresses, and sonic un-
opened, were found in his possession ; and besides, two
legal instruments, the one the draft of a will, and the
other a power of attorney. The matter was placed in the
hands of Detective-of oer Moss, who to-day produced the
following witnesses.
. . . .

Mr. Cigar Arthur Mason proved that he was clerk to
Mr. H. H. Wetenhall, of 13, Copthall-court, and that on
the 7th instant that gentleman expected by poet a power
of attorney from a Mn. Harley, residing at Gloucester.
The letter, however, never reached, and on inquiry at
the General Post-office no trace could be found of it.
The power of attorney produced (that found on the ac-
cused) was the instrument which bad been expected.
Mr. Joel Emanuel, solicitor, of No. 5, Austinfriars,
was next called, and proved that on last Tuesday week,
the 9th inst., he sent down to a client at Southampton
the rough draft of a will, which he expected to be re-
turned to him by post with as little delay as possible, and
not receiving it he wrote down to his client respecting it.
The reply was that the draft will had been duly forwarded,
but the witness had never seen it until it was produced to
him by Detective-officer Moss.
The constable Carroll was recalled at the request of
Mr. Wontner. and in reply to questions put by that gen-
tleman stated that when he 'exalted the prisoner in Wood-
street the latter said that he was waiting by appointment
for a friend named Walters, who wee employed in one of
warehouses. The constable further stated that he had
since seen Mr. Walters, who admitted that he had made
such an appointment with the prisoner.
In reply to Mr. Alderman Bosley,
Detective-oflieer Moss stated that the Post-office autho-
rities declined to prosecute, on the ground that they were
relieved of all responsibility by the delivery of the letters.
They would however give every facility, by the production
of the letter-carriers of the district.
Mr. Wontner, on behalf of the prieoner, whom be des-
cribed as being a highly respectable and well-connected
youth, expressed a hope that after hearing the explanation
he (Sir. Wontner) was instructed to give there would be
an end to this matter. In the first place, four of the letters
tuund ou him hid reference to contracts in his father's
trade, and with regard to one addressed to a Mr.
Newton, relative to a dividend on the Caledonian Railway,
it came into his possession in this wise. His father had
taken offices at Pinnefs-hall, Old Broad-street, on
1 their vacation bJ Mr. Newton, and since then several
letters addressed to that gentleman had been left there,
1 the letter produced among the number. The accused bad
put it in his pocket with a view to hand it to the house-
keeper, in order to its being given back to the postman,
but he forgot it. With respect to the possession of the
two legal instruments the accused gave this account.
While he was in Wood-street on the night in question he
was addressed by au apparently respectable man, who
stated that he was very '• hard up," and asked the loan of
half-a-crown on the security of these two documents, one
of which bore a se. stamp. The young gentleman acceded
on the promise of the applicant to meet him on Monday
to repay the money. and to receive back the two
documents. His client with a friend went the previous
night to the place named, but the borrower did not
make his appearance. He (Mr. Wontner) submitted that
his client had been duped by some designing man of a clam
with which the metropolis abounded, and when it was
known that the young gentleman bore an excellent charac-
ter he should hope this charge would not be pressed against
him.

lir. Alderman Begley said he could not forget the fact
that the constable had seen the prisoner pat his band into
several letter-boxes, and he should remand the case to
Saturday for the attendance of the letter-carriers of the
district.

Mr. Wontner applied that the prisoner should be allowed
to go at large on the s.,me
Mr. Alderman Beslcy said that to that course he had no
ob,Wetion.
The prisoner then I !ft the court with his father and
friends.