The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-04 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

MANSION HOURS.

A young man, who had to give any name, but
who was recognised by Agar, the warder of the City pri-
son, as a notorious thief, named Jolts Betts, and who had
been frequently in custody for robbery, was yesterday
brought before the Lord Mayor charged with stealing a
watch the property of a person named Charles Cadge,
residing at Colebrook-terrace, Mile-end.
The robbery was one of a very daring character. The
prosecutor was walking with his wife in Graoechurch-
street about 11 o'clock on Thursday night, when they met
the prisoner, who looked the prosecutor fall in the facie,
and then made a rush at him and snatched his watch from
his pocket, breaking the guard, and ran off. He was pur-
sued, and • cry of " Stop thief!" was raised, and upon
the prisoner turning into Crutchedfriars he was met by
Inspector White and one of the City constables, who
stopped him, and ho then threw the watch away.
The prisoner, who had conducted himself in such a noisy
and violent manner before the case came on that it was neces-
sary to remove him, made such a noise while the witnesses
were giving their evidence that it was with very great diffi-
culty anything theysahl could be heard. Upon being asked
his name he replied that he should not tell his name unless
they frave him half • pint of beer, and he commenced
shouting and singing • Champsgne Charley."
The Lord Mayor told the prisoner to conduct himself
properly.
The prisoner—l shan't. I want half a pint of beer. I
have had nothing this morning. Look at my tongue.
(Laughter.)
The Lord Mayor, when the evidence had been com-
pleted, told the prisoner that he should commit him for
trial.

The gaoler, Partridge, was then about to remove
him, but he made a most desperate resistance, and
it required the exertions of several constables to
get him out of the dock and down the staircase
leading to the cells. As he was going down he made
a most desperate kick :at the glass partition which gives
light to the lower part of the building, but it was too
thick for him to break it. He was then placed in a cell
by himself, but he had not been there long before he
smashed everything that be could lay hold of, and armed
himself with a large piece of broken glass in one hand and
a piece of leaden pipe which he had succeeded in wrench-
ing up in the other, and he threatened with frightful im-
precations that he would murder any one who approached
him. At this time he had divested himself entirely of his
clothes with the exception of his shirt, and he stood facing
the door of the cell, armed as above described, in the
attitude to strike down any ono who entered. This state
of things being reported to the Lord Mayor, directions
were given that he should be secured and at once con-
veyed to Newgate, but it was evidently a very difficult
matter to carry out these orders. The moment the
door of the cell was opened the prisoner made a violent
blow at the gaolers and the constables who bad
oome to their assistance, and it was evident that he
intended some serious mischief. After the parties bad
been in this position for several minutes, the prisoner
appeared to feel that be had better relinquish his design
of violence, and he called out with an oath that if they
would give him half a pint of beer he would give up his
weapons and not commit any further acts of violence. As
the best course to be taken under the circumstances, and
upon his declaring that if his request was complied with
he would fulfil his promise, a small quantity of porter
was handed to him, or rather placed on the floor of the
cell ; but the prisoner said be would not give up his
weapons until he had tasted it, and discovered that it was
"all right." Having done so, he threw out the missiles
that he was armed with, and he then sullenly dressed
himself and was subsequently conveyed to Newgate.