The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-25 00:00:00

AXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING,

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

(before Ur. Payne, Deputy Assietant•Judge.)

Henry PrencA, 22, shoeblack, was indicted for steeling
a puree and lfs., the property and moneys of Robert
Graham Fanner, from the person of Mary Farmer.
Mr. Henry prosecuted ; Mr. M. Williams defended the
prisoner.
Mary Farmer, wife of Robert Graham Farmer, 65, Far-
ringglomstrect. said on the afternoon of the 12th of Octo-
ber, at about three o'clock, she was walking in Oxford-
street, having the purse in her hand, when it was snatched
from her by some man, who ran away. The man who
snatched the purse was wearing a blue scarf. The purse
contained Ifs., and it was now produced.
. . •

James Bell, of 24, Little Queen•street, Long-acre, said
on the afternoon of the 12th of October be heard a cry,
and saw the prisoner running away. He afterwards saw
him throw away something, which a gentleman picked up
and gave to the lady. It was a purse. Some time after-
wards the prisoner wan given into custody.
In erces.examination by Mr. M. Williams, the last wit-
ness varied the evidence he had previously given, and
there were several discrepancies in it.
The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
Ann Morris, 43, hawker, was indicted for stealing two
bundles of celery, value la. 4d., the property of Morton
Bagley.
On the 19th of October the prisoner went to the
prosecutor, who was standing in Covent-garden Market,
and inquired the price of some bundles of celery. She was
told tis. a dozen bundles, but she did not make a purchase.
The prosecutor went behind a waggon to attend to the
unloading, when a little boy came and spoke to him, and
he saw about 20 yards off the prisoner, carrying away two
bundles of celery. As soon as she found that she was ob-
served she threw down the two bundles of celery ; but he
said he should lock her up. She tried to get away, but be
told her it was no use her doing so as she bad robbed him
before, and he was determined to lock her up. The pri-
soner afterwards said that she had bought the celery, and
had given Is. for it, but the price was Is. 4.1.
Edward Belcher, police-constable 63 F, proved taking
the prisoner into custody.
The prisoner, in her defence, said she had paid for the
celery, which was denied by the prosecutor.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty.
The prisoner was then charged with baying been pre-
viously convicted, to which she pleaded guilty.
Mr. Payne wished to know what the prosecutor meant
when he told the prisoner It was not the first time she had
robbed him.

The prosecutor said not long ago she had robbed him of
three baskets of mushrooms, but as he had got a good
many things about had he followed the prisoner he should
have lost things of much greater value.
The prisoner here muttered something.
Mr. Payne (to the warder in the dock)—What does she
say
The warder—Sim said to the prosecutor, " May my
widow's curse fall upon you."
Mr. Payne--Curses .M not usually fall upon persons who
have been robbed. You have been convicted before, which
you admit, and then when you are again detected you
wish your widow's curse may fall upon the man you have
plundered. This is a very bad offenoe,and I sentence you,
after your previous conviction, to be imprisoned and kept
to hard labour for twelve months. The market must be
protected against women like you.
The prisoner u she was leaving the dock said, " I will
kill him when I come out."

Pane—Bring her back ; which having been done,
he said, • I order you in addition to enter into your own
recogniamices in the sum of 201. to be of good behaviour
and keep the peace towards the prosecutor for six
months."
Prisoner—l can do it.

Mr. Payne—And I further require you to find one surety
in the sum of 211. for your good behaviour during that
period. If you commit any offence during that period
laour friend will have to pay VW. for you. I hope the chap-
in will attend to you, and that we shall find yours but an
idle threat, and that you will come out of prison in a
better state of mind than you are now in.
The prisoner was then removed to the cells.