The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-10-28 00:00:00

MANCHESTER

HIGHWAY ROBBERY.—Yesterday, at the City Police
Court, Manchester, an Irishman named Terence Murphy,
was placed in the dock on a charge of having, on the 10th
of August last, stolen a watch-guard, chain, and silver ring,
the property of a person named Hatfield. Mr. W. P.
Roberts, solicitor, was for the prisoner. The prosecntor
stated, that he was going up Oldham-road on the night of
the 10th of August last, and that, when about Bengal-street,
the prisoner overtook him. He walked alongside of him
until at German-street, and then made a " grab " at pro-
secutor's watchguard. The prosecutor succeeded in retaining
possession of the watch, but the prisoner got off with the
guard, chain, and a silver ring attached to the chain. This
was a little before twelve o'clock at night. The prisoner
ran off down German-street. The prosecutor admitted that
he had had some drink, but not so much but that he knew
what he was doing. About eight o'clock on the morning of
the 11th of August, he gave information of the robbery to
the police' with a description of the robber. A respectable
female stated, that she and her husband were walking along
Oldham-road on the night in question, when their attention
was drawn to the prisoner, whose movements appeared to
them to be of an exceedingly suspicious character. Shortly
afterwards, they heard a scuffle, and then the prisoner ran
down German-street, followed by the prosecutor. The pri-
soner was the man, though he had not the same clothes on.
Mr. Roberts, for the prisoner, contended, that this was a
case.of mistaken identity, and called a witness, who stated,
that at the time of the robbery, the_ prisoner was at Wigan.
Subject to inquiry being made at Wigan, to ascertain the
truth of this statement, the prisoner was committed to the
Sessions.

WHOLESALE POCKET PICKING.
ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON, AND ASSAULT

WITH VIOLENCE

Yesterday, at the city police court, Manchester, the magis-
trates were engaged upwards of four hours in the investiga-
tion of charges of pocket picking, robbery, and assault with
violence, preferred against two men named John Hagin.
who calls himself an agent, and resides in Booth-street-east,
Chorlton-upon-Medlock, and Tames Steel, who is well known
to the police. The case excited great interest, in conse-
quence of the prisoners being suspected of having been
concerned in a great number of robberies recently committed
in omnibuses, at public auctions, &c. The case for the
prosecution was conducted by Mr. Beswick, the chief snper-
intendent of police ; Mr. Sowler, barrister-at-law, instructed
by Mr. Bent, solicitor, appeared on behalf of Hagin; and
Mr. Wheeler. barrister-at-law, instructed by Mr. R. Roberts,
solicitor, appeared for Steel.
The first charge gone into was, that the prisoners picked
the pocket of Mrs. Jenkinson, while in an omnibus on her
way from her residence in Bury-new-road, to the place of
business of her husband, Mr. William Jenkinson, share-
broker, Back King-street. The lady found that her purse
containing £23, was safe while she was in the omnibus, but
on arriving at her husband's office it was gone. She was
certain that it could not have been taken from her as she
was going through St. Ann's-square, and that it must have
been taken from her while she was in the omnibus. Both
prisoners sat near to her in the omnibus, and they were
dressed like gentlemen. The bench thought the evidence
not sufficient to warrant a committal on this charge, and
they were accordingly dismissed upon it.
The same prisoners were then charged by Mr. Beswick,
with having, on Sunday night, assaulted with great violence,
and robbed, in Vine Grove, Greenheys, a person named.
Enos Roberts, on his way home to his residence, Bridge-
street, Charlton-on-Medlock, and robbed him of a silver
watch, watch chain, a purse containing about seven pounds,
&c. The prosecutor was called, and stated that he was a
draughtsman in the employment of Messrs. Hall and Wilson,
ironmongers, King-street. On Sunday evening he went to
the Welsh chapel, in Grosvenor-square. He left the chapel
about ten minutes or a quarter to 8 o'clock, before the ser-
vice was over. He then went to the Cambria beer-house,
in John Dalton-street. About ten o'clock he left, and pro-
ceeded towards his own house. He had got half-way down
Lime Grove, or a little more, when a man bounced from an
open gateway to one of the residences, and seized hold of a
stick which witness had in his hand at the time. There
was sufficient light for him to see the features of the
man who came up. Witness had a dagger at the end of
the stick ; the dagger got loose, and a second man came and
seized his arm from behind. A third man came, put his
—a 1-4
He then began to lose all consciousness. The handkerchief
had a strong smell of horse dung, and witness felt as if he
was suffocating. Some time afterwards recovered himself,
however, and cried out " murder." His top lip was cut, so
that he could not talk. Shortly after a policeman and some
gentleman came up. He then felt very ill. It was the priso-
ner Hagin who seized the stick. Witness was removed to a sur-
geon's, where hehad his wounds dressed, and then hewastaken
home. He was quite conscious that Hagin was the man
who seized his stick. The other prisoner, Steele, seized
hold of hand, and he thought he was the one who gave him
a blow on the cheek. He had an opportunity of seeing him,
for he turned round and looked him in the face. Steele had
on dark clothes, and a guard that glittered. It was a gold
guard. He has not the least doubt that the two prisoners
were the men who assaulted and robbed him. He was
robbed of a patent silver lever watch, a silver guard, a purse
containing £6 18s. 6d., two sixpenny pieces, three penny-
worth of copper, and a pair of pebble spectacles in a German
silver case. He went into the dock this morning, and saw a
number of prisoners there. Besides the prisoners, there
would be a dozen or fifteen others. In the dock he recog-
nised Hagin and Steele as those who robbed him.
Mr. Beswick, chief superintendent of the police, stated
that when the prisoner, Steele, was brought to the police-
station he wore a gold watch and chain. He wont to Hagin's
house with inspector Maybury, police-constable Macdonald,
and others on Monday night. The house was locked up
when they got there, but shortly afterwards a charwoman
came and opened the door. From inquiries witness made
he found it was uncertain whether Hagin would come home
that night. He, therefore, placed two men inside the house,
and other officers outside, to prevent any one escaping.
When he got to•the Town Hall the following morning, he
found Hagin in custody. He gave instructions to the officers
to search the house. No property relating to the present
charge had been found. Steele's portmanteau was searched,
but nothing relating to the present charge was found there.
Mr. Sowler then addressed the bench on behalf of the
prisoner Hagin, and afterwards called witnesses to establish
an alibi. One of these witnesses, named Wilson, said, in
cross examination, that he first met the prisoner about a
fortnight ago. He then gave his name as James Davis.
Witness saw the prisoner Steele at Hagin's house the other
day. - - - - - - -

—Sir. Wheeler next addressed the bench on behalf of the
prisoner Steele; contending that under the circumstances
detailed by the prosecutor, it was next to impossible that he
should have been able to identify the parties.
After a brief consultation amongst-the—magistrates, the
chairman, (Mr. Callender) said they had considered the case
carefully, and paid very close attention to the evidence, and
they were of opinion that, though tho prosPentor's ovidouoo
was honest and upright, yet it was not sufficient for them to
commit. The opportunity of the identification was so short,
and the circumstances altogether so doubtful, that the mais-
trates did not cornipit, d,bvugu there was strong suspicion
..66aulitug LV Lae prisoners at the bar. The prisoners were
then discharged. •
Mr. John Maybury, inspector of the detective depart-
ment, and a police constable named John Porter, deposed to
the prosecutor coming to the office and picking out the pri-
soners from among several others.

Such is the enormous quantity of potatoes being
sent up to London, that there are at present about three
miles of trucks, loaded with this esculent, waiting to be dis-
charged on one of the railways. Potatoes are: bought up
hereabouts at about £5 a ton, and after paying about £2
carriage there is a profit to the Scotch dealer of about £3 a
ton.-11Torth, British Mail.

FREE TRADE FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY.—A public
meeting of the shareholders in this society was held on
Wednesday evening, at the Whittington Club, London, to
ballot for priority of members. Mr. Wyld, late M.P. for
Bodmiii, who presided,,entered at some length into the advan-
tages derived from freehold land societies in general. He
stated that, although this society had only been in existence
two months, it hail been enabled to enter into arrangements
for the purchase of several estates, and to enrol a large num-
ber of members. Mr. Martindale followed, in explanation
of the working of the society. He observed that in the
short time which had intervened since the establishment of
the Free-Trade Society the subscription amounted to
£40,000.: Two estates had been purchased—one at An-
nerly, close to the Crystal Palace, and the other at Camber-
well.

SAVINGS-BANE ANNUITIES.—The law relating to
these annuities has been altered by the 16th and 17th of
Victoria, chap. 42, which came in force on the 10th of Oct.
Annuities may now be contracted for at the National Debt-
office, any day between 10 and 8 o'clock, without any fee
being payable by the purchaser, or they may be purchased
of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National
Debt thraugh the agency of officers of savings-banks, who
may charge for an annuity under £6 a fee of 55., and for
every £5 55., up to £3O, 30s. The annuities are immediate
or deferred. The purchaser of a deferred life annuity can,
if he think proper, have the purchase money returnable to
him, if demanded, or, after his death, to his representatives,
provided no instalment of the annuity has been paid, or he
can purchase such an annuity without the, purchase money
being_ returnable The tables and, necessary forms can be
-obtained (gratis) at the National Debt-office, 19 Old-Jewry,

NORTH LANCASHIRE.—ADVERTISEMENTS
intended to be read by the Gentry and other
Inhabitants of North Lancashire should appear in the.
PRESTON CHRONICLE. Having been established above
forty years, it enjoys a large circulation among all classes.
Its scale of charges for Advertisements is moderate, having
been reduced einoo the abolition of the Advertisement Duty.
When pre-paid, which can be done by postage stamps,
Advertisements of 4 lines, or 30 words, are inserted for ls. 6d.,
and 8 lines, or 60 words, for 2s.—Published every Saturday
morning, at 23, Fishergate, Preston.
NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE.—For
ADVERTISING in this portion of the County of
Lancaster, the most eligible medium is the PRESTON
GUARDIAN. The last parliamentary returns show that
The GUARDIAN circulates .. . 6,019 copies weekly.
The
inpaper next in circulation pub-
lished North or East Lancashire ..1,211 ditto.
Charges for advertising: foiir lines, or thirty words, ls. 6d.,
prepaid ; eight lines, or sixty words, 2s. prepaid. No adver-
tisements on credit under 2s. 6d. each.

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Remittances, Ll and under, may be made in postage
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Office, 8, Cheapside, Market-place, Preston.

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