The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-08 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

Geo).9e Walter Base, li), clerk, was indicted for stealing
the sum of EN. 2n. 2d., and two cheques, each for the
sum of 201., the property and moneys of Joseph Mills, his
master. The prisoner pleaded guilty.
This was a most daring robbery. The prosecutor is an
ironmonger, and keeps • post-office in Russell-street,
Bloomsbury, and he took the prisoner, who had just left
Ongar Boariling•school, into his service, his father being a
highly respectable man. A few days ago, the prisoner
(then having only been in his situation ten days) decamped,
helping himself to all the money and cheques he could lay
his hands upon. A description was circulated throughout
the postal district of the stolen cheques, and one of them
was presented in Liverpool for payment. This was
stopped, and also the person who presented it, and a tele-
gram was sent to London. Mr. Inspector Garford went
there and apprehended the prisoner and the other man,
but the former only was prosecuted. The cheques were
recovered, but none of the money, and, according to the
prisoner's statement, it appeared that he had been enjoy-
ing himself in Ireland, where he had spent the whole.
Mr. Serjeant Dowhng said this was a very bad case,
when they found • young man, but 16 years of age, and
who had only left school a week, plundering his employer
of a large amount of money. The sentence upon hint was
six months' imprisonment and hard labour. If he did any-
thing of the kind again, this would be remembered, and he
would go to penal servitude for a long term of years.
John Brennan, who was convicted last sessions of steal-
ing a watch and chain, value 6f., the property of William
Ed, from his person, was brought up for judgment.
Mr. George Lockyer, sessions officer, said he had made
inquiries. and found that the prisoner was in the employ.
ment of Mr. Archer, a silk-dresser, No. Zi, Worship-street,
on the 17th September last, and remained until the lit of
December. He had no complaint to make of his honesty,
and the prisoner left of his own accord.
Mr. Berjeant Dowling sentenced him to be imprisoned
and kept to hard labour for nine months.
William IL paid., 28, clerk, was indicted for stealing
200 ounces of gold and silver wire, the property of Henry
William Johnson and another, his masters. The prisoner
pleaded guilty.
Mr. F. H. Lewis, who appeared for the prosecution, said
the prosecutors had lost 700 ounces of silver and gold wire,
which the prisoner had stolen from them, and was worth
300/. He had falsified the entries in the books, by inserting
in the first instance, say a sale of 72 ounces of wire, and
then afterwards adding a "1 " to it, so making the appa-
rent sale 172 ounces.

Mr. Johnson, in answer to a question by Mr. Serjeant
Dowling, said he had a very good reference with the
prisoner, who was their clerk. The only money the
prisoner received came through the post, as all their
customers lived in the country. He recommended the
prisoner to the mercy of the court.
Mr. Serjeant Dowling, after commenting upon the con-
duct of the prisoner, said it sapped all the foundations of
mutual credit, and sentenced him to be imprisoned and kept
to hard labour for two years. As the prosecutor bad re-
commended him to mercy it was highly creditable to that
gentleman, considering the loss he had sustained through
his misplaced confidence.
Darid Pool, 34, clerk, was indicted for stealing cheques
to the amount of 173/.. the property of Thomas Mosdell
Smith, his master. This amount was made up by several
indictments. The prisoner pleaded guilty to all the in-
dictments. _ _ .

--Mr. ilesley prosecuted ; Mr. Collins appeared for the
prisoner.
The prosecutor carries on business as a wax and tallow
chandler and melter in High-street, Kensington, trading
under the name of " Francis Tucker and C 0.," and the
prisoner was in his service as clerk, entering about four
years ago at a salary of 30s. a week, which sum was after-
wards increased to 120/. a year, with a residence. It was
the prisoner's duty to fill up cheques in favour of personate
whom his master was indebted, and having obtained the
signature of the prosecutor or his son, to hand them to a
clerk for the purpose of their being sent to the creditors.
On the 29th of September the prisoner absconded without
giving any notice that ho was about to leave to his master,
and in consequence an investigation of his accounts took
place. On comparing the cheque book with the entries in
the ledger they did not at all correspond, the cheque often
exceeding the amount set down in the ledger, or no entry
whatever of the particular sum being found there. In
some instances when open cheques were given to the pri-
soner he filled them up for a sufficient sum to cover pre-
vious defalcations, and got a publican in the neighbour-
hood, to whom his employer was well known, to cash
them.

The pruioner also pleaded guilty to an indictment charging
him with having been previously convicted at Belfast on
the 20th June, 1861, for felony.
Mr. Begley said that :IS the Assistant Judge bad tried
another man, named Charles Sheen, for a robbery from the
same firm, he should ask that sentence should be deferred
until next sessions, when the Assistant Judge might be
able to attend.

THE POLICE COURT&