The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-02 00:00:00

THE ALLEGED ROBBERY BY A GENTLEMAN
AT THE if ESTMINSTER PALACE HOTEL.

Mr. William Henry Oakes Warren, described as
a gentleman, of Harronden, Kent, who stated that he was
the son of General Warren, and who was on Saturday
charged with stealing a coat and three books from the West-
minster Palace Hotel that day, was yesterday surrendered
by his bail for further examination on the said charge at
the Westminster Police Cont.

Mr. Wiseman, from the office of Messrs. Freshfield, soli-
citors, attended to prosecute ; Mr. Holt, solicitor, defended
the prisoner.
Mr. Holt—l am in a position to show the respect►bility
of my client, and have several gentlemen hers to depose
to it. _ _

Mr. Wiseman—Before Mr. Holt calls any wallows I
have other testimony to produce against the prisoner. I
have here Mr. Alfred Warner, manager of the Craves
Hotel, who will prove that the prisoner went to the Craven
Hotel, ran up a long bill, and, having done that, ran away
without paying it. I will also show by Mr. Warner that
property was everyday missed oontemporaneonal7 with the
appearance of the prisoner, and that the missing of pro-
perty ceased with his departure.
Mr. Belts declined, however, to bear this evidence, as it
did not concern the specific charge before the court. He
also said that at that stage witnesses to character would
not avail, and that unless direct evidence were given of the
prisoner's possession of &coat of the same kind as that taken
from Dim by the porter, he should feel it his duty to send
the came to another tribunal.

Mr. Holt—Mr. Warren called at my office on Saturday
morning, and my clerk well recollects his wearing an over-
coat ; that was about a quarter to one, and this coat was
taken from the hotel at a quarter ;wit one, and I have
also other important testimony in my client's favour.
Julien Grit, clerk to Mr. Holt, of John-street, Bedford-
row, said Mr. Warren called at the office on Saturday, at
• quarter to one. He had on a dark blue overcoat, double-
breasted, with velvet collar and silk front facings. He
received a letter addressed to him under care of Mr.
Holt. _ _ .

The overcoat described by this witneu corresponded with
that taken from the prisoner.
Upon being requested by Mr. Wiseman to look at the
ordinary frock coat prisoner bad got oa this witness would
not swear that that was not the great coat he described,
it being faced with silk, and double-breasted ; he said the
(wet he saw Mr. Warren in was very much like it.
Mr. Clement Le Neve Forster, a gentleman residing at
Truro, said—l know Mr. Warren. On Thursday evening
last I saw him. Be had on • great mat with a velvet
collar. I did not notice the coat particularly ; mine and his
were together, and I took up his by mistake. We were at
Hampton court at an hotel. I also saw it early on Friday
morning. We bad been to • ball there. I was also with the
prisoner at Wandsworth on Friday evening, from eight till
a quarter past ten o'clock, at • friend's house. I did not
see his overcoat then. I have not seen him sinoe until now.
There was • marriage at Hampton-wick on Thursday, and
he was a groomsman. I believe he slept at Kingston on
Friday night. He slept there on Wednesday night at as
hotel. I slept at Kingston on Friday night. I don't know
where he went when he left me.

Mr. Wiseman—l will show that on Friday night the pri.
soner slept at the Grosvenor Hotel under another name. I
have abundant testimony that on Saturday morning he left
the Grosvenor without any over or great coat, for when be
was gone some one went up into his room and there was
his greatcoat, and it is there now. I have sent for it.
Mr. Selfe—That is a material fact io the case, but the
uopaid bills can bare nothing to do with it.
George Parsons, hall porter at the Grosvenor Hotel, said
—I know prisoner perfectly well. On Friday nightat about
7 o'clock he came to the hotel and took a room in the name
of Crighton. He came with a black bag and baggage. Ido
not know anything about the overcoats he brought with
him. I believe he sent a messenger to the Craven for a
coat. I remember seeing him leave the hotel on Saturday
morning between 9 andll9, or perhaps alter 10,' nest 11.
When be left he had no great coat on or with him ; only as
umbrella. He was dressed ss be is now. I have been at
the hotel three years, and I car, from my experieoee is
seeing persons enter•sod leave, describe their dress. lam
certain he had no great coat on.
The coat was produced from the Grosvenor, but was not
such as described by the prisoner, or anything in appearance
like that mentioned in the charge.
. .

Mr. Holt (in explanation)—The prisoner had two coats, a
greatcoat and a travelling coat, when he arrived ; this is one,
and the other he took into the Westminster Palace Hotel
with him, and, as you no, this mentioned in the charge
was takes in substitution for it.

Mr. Selfe—That is just the thing I don't see. (Laughter.)
The witnesses heard on Saturday were then cross-examined
by Mr. Holt, the prisoner not having been professionally
represented at the first hearing of theme.
Mr. Heathfeld, owner of the coat stolen from the West-
minster Palace Hotel, said be left it on a side table in the
coffee•room on Saturday morning. It bad three books in
the pockets, and there were two other books, one particu-
larly heavy, lying on the top of it. When witness left the
hotel he told the porter where he had left his coat, and the
porter said it would be as isle there u in soy pert of the
house.

Mr. Selfe said that this 'video°, was very important,
and although he wa4 reluctant to mat any one to incon-
venience, he was afraid be mast trouble Mr. Heathfield to
be a witness,. - -

Mr. Wiseman Bud that an application was now made
against the prisoner for a mound on behalf of the Craven,
the Charini,•cross, and the Grosvenor Hotels. There was a
charge of a serious nature against the accused respecting
the Craven. After staying there a few days he decamped,
but being subsequently met with by one of the establish-
ment and accosted for his bill, he gave a draft on some
unknown person in payment with a stamp upon it to
increase its effect. The hotels had been put on their guard
against the accused.
Mr. Holt was about to address the magistrate on behalf
of his client, observing that it was quite a mistake about
this coat, when Mr. Sella said—lt will be useless to address
me on the subject. I shall send the prisoner beyond all
doubt for trial, and it will be for a jury to say whether he
is innocent or guilty.
On the question of bail being discussed, Mr. Sells said
that he had taken merely nominal bail on prisoner being
charged at a late boor on Saturday afternoon, because he
did not like to send him to prison, thinking there might be
some mistake, and that the matter might be open to satis-
factory explanation. He must now require him to find two
sureties in 5001. each for his appearance on Friday.
Mr. Le Neve Forster and Major Croswell entered into
the required sureties, Mr. Self. intimating to the latter
that he did not mean to suggest for a moment that in this
case the prisoner would not duly surrender, but he had bad
reason recently to enforce the recognisance. by three
months' imprisonment of the party who had become bail ;
sad if the accused did not appear, this would be enforced.
The prisoner was then remanded until Friday next.