The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-05 00:00:00

TILE POLICE COURTS.

GOILWIALL.

TAostaa Bennett treachiiecr before Sir Henry Mugge-
Adis with the following cool and daring robbery :
It appeared that the prisoner was in the warehouse of
Mews. Short and Co., of Wood-street, Cheapside, when
one of the warehousemen saw him deliberately cross to an
opposite counter, take up a parcel containing a down pairs
of stockings, and after placing them under his arm be re.
turned to the counter where the warehouseman was who
had been watching his movements, and inquired of him
wltkila was the way out of the warehouse. The warehouse-
men directed kim, and then pot en his hat sad followed
him to the nearest pawnbroker's establishment, bat failing
in obtaining an advance upon the goods he cis auk mad
th warehouseman gave him into the custody of the first
policeman they met. When asked where he obtained
i the parcel, be n a very off-hand manner said he brought
if from Messrs. Stun and Co.'s, of Wood-street.
Sir H. Muggeridge said in the whole of his experience he
never met with such an histance of unparalleled coolness.
It was a most daring act to steal goads before a man's face
and then sak him to facilitate his escape by directing him
how to get out of the warehouse. Although he was not
known to the police it was evident he was not new to
offences of this description, and he (Sir Henry) therefore
committed him to hew to for trial.
The prisoner with the utmost indifference then left the
dock, and shortly after the business of the court was in-
terrupted by some person in the cells below singing most
vociferously. The gaoler was called up, and in answer to the '
inquiry about the extraordinary noise proceeding from below
said it was the prisoner,who was amusing himself by dancing
the ardor's hornpipe in his cell, and whistling and singing
sorts of tunes like a madman, and he could not keep him
quiet.
We have been requested by Messrs. Amott Brothers, of
St. Paul's-churchyard, to publish the following letter,
which has been addressed to them by Mr. Cohen, in refer-
ence to an application to this court for a summons under
the circumstances reported by us yesterday:
" 3, Spectack-alley, Whitechapel, Sept. 4, 1860.
" A report haying this day appeared in the daily papers
relative to an arrikation made by me at GUildball respect-
ing a purchase o a chain and key for one guinea of Messrs.
Amott Brothers, of St. Paul's-churchyard, I have to state
that since my application at Guildhall I have bed an inter-
view with Messrs. Amott, and they have most clearly proved
to my satisfaction that the chain and key 1 bought bad in-
advertently been placed in the glaas-case containing a lot of
gold goods, and were selected by me nod sold without any
intention to defraud or misrepresent. I have bad many
previous dealings with Messrs. Amott in jewellery, and
hoed always been highly satisfied with my previous pur.
chases from them, and have in every case resold the things
at a profit. Believing that the report of the application at
Guildhall isalculated to injure them if unexplained, I feel
it due to Messrs. Amott to offer this explanation.
" Witneres, " JOIRPH COHEN.
"G. M. Jutsum, 71, Whitechapel-road, solicitor.
"Robe. Peckham, 40, Ludgate-street, St. Paul's, soli-
citor."
BOW-STREET.

Williams Amos, aged 19, an associate of well-
known thieves, wee charged with stealing a parr contain-
ing 50a., from a young lady, on Monday evening, in Scot-
land-yard.
The prosecutrix, 3fias Annie Godfrey, of 26, Dorset-
eked, Westminster, deposed that at about 9 o'clock in the
evening she was walking towards home with bersister, being
then near the institution, u. Middle Scotland-yard, when the
prisoner rushed upon her anti snatched a small reticule or
puree out of her band with great violence, brooking the
strings, which were twisted round her fingers for security.
She called " Stop thief !" and followed the prisoner, who
ran towards Whitehall till she lost eight of him. Her purse
contained 'boot 2/. 10a. The prisoner was brought back in
custody, but the purse bad not been recovered.
Samuel Tate, No. 3, attendant at the Hackney-carriage
eland, deposed that he heard the alarm given, and seem
the prisoner running away, followed him till he was stop
by the sentry at the Horse Guards. The prisoner, on being
secured, and "I am ruined. It was through distress that I
did it." _ _ .

It wan found that the prisoner made a similar state-
ment at the station-house, adding that it was his first
offence. Although immediately searched the puree wee not
found upon him, and them ix no doubt that he threw it
away when he found escape impossible.
In answer to the charge the prisoner now rid he was in-
nocent of the robbery, and therefore knew nothing of what
had become of the purse.
Mr. Jardine mumitted him for trial at the next West-
minster Sessions.

COMMITTAL OF AN Ed-SHERIFF FOR FORGER r

Yesterday morning Mr. Francis Edward Shipley,
colliery proprietor, olt Mehra* near Nottingham, was
brought up on remand from Friday, before the Mayor and
borough magistrates, charged with forging s bill of exchange
for 671. 16s. upon Mr. Thomas Pacey, coal merchant, of
Fiskerton, near Newark.
The court was very crowded, Mr. Shipley being exceed-
ingly well known in the town, and up to the pemeut time
highly respected. The prisoner served the odice of sheriff
m 1 . _ .

Mr. Superintendent Raynor produced a bill of exchange
purporting to be accepted by a person named Thomas Facet,
for 671. its., dated May 26, 1660, endorsed by "F. E.
Shipley, jun.," "Shipley said Son," and "H. Pludaton,"
and made payable at Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smith's,
London. 'Witness had received the bill from Mr. Eaton,
the manager of Mews. Wright'. bank, Nottingham, and he
had apprehended the prisoner by wanaot at his house in
Bridksmith Gate.
Mr. Eaton laid be received the bill at the bank from Mr.
Suasion, who had an account there, and afterwards found
it woe forged.
Mr. Hudston, insurance agent and bill discounter, said be
became posseseed of the bill through a letter from the pri-
soner, which was as follows :
" My dear Sir,—You will oblige me by discounting the
enclosed bill of Pacey's, which is a good bill, and I also
enclose Mr. Eliott's.—Yours faithfully, F. E. SHIPLEY.
" P.S. Plasm send me a paper to ell up for my wife's
aasuranee. If you would only stop the 401. to-day for •
week you will oblige me."
Witness decimated the bill, which was in the hand-
writing of the prisoner. Cn the morning that the bill be-
came doe and was dishonoured, be had some conversation
with the prisoner about this bill and others. Prisoner ap-
Mnd&strews& Witness told him to be candid with
and tell him how many irregular bills were on his
(witness's) books, and promised to go to the Bank and with-
draw them. Prisoner then gave him • list, amongst which
was that of Percy's. By the word " irregular " witness
meant three which were not genuine either in amount or
with respect to signatures. He bad been in the habit of
discounting bills for the prisoner.
tipnu cross-examination witness maid he had never stated
that be did not care whether the bills were irregular or not.
When prisoner came to witness's once he brought with him
70/. in notes, which ware still in his (witness's) possession.
He discounted the bills at 20 per oast. per annum.
Mr. Thomas Poesy, of Fiakertoe, said the name upon the
bill was not in his handwriting. He never accepted a bill
for the prisoner in his life, and he had never had say
transaction with him.

The pmoner having been cautioned by the Mayor, Mr.
Coops, on his behalf, pleaded not guilty, and be was the■
committed for trial at the assizes. Mr. Coops applied for
bail, saying he could procure any amount, as the prisoner
had moved in a highly respectable sphere.
The Mayor said the magistrates would give no decisive
&newer at present, an there were a number of other charges
alpinist him.
There are five other charges of forgery %mine. the pri-
soner, which will be heard nest Thursday morning, the
parties being bound over to prosecute.