The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-01 00:00:00

CLERKMWELL

James Merrick and James Stone, two well-known
thieves, were charged with picking the pocket of a woman
on Pentonville-hill. _ _ _

The evidence went to show that a crowd of persons had
assembled near the top of the hill to witness a performance
that wu going on. The complainant attempted to pass,when
one of the persons pushed against her. The other prisoner
began dancing in front of her, for the purpose of attracting
her attention. While this wu going on she felt a hand in
her pocket, and immediately afterwards the prisoners ran
off. The complainant then missed her purse, and gave an
alarm. The prisoners were followed and taken into cus-
tody, but the purse could not be found.
kr. Barker committed the prisoners for trial.
A dirty-looking fellow, aged 51, who gave the name of
Francis Brannan, • labourer, residing in George-street,
Golden-lane, was charged with committing a rape on the
person of • little girl aged eight years.
Mr. H. Allen, prosecuting officer of the Associate Institu-
tion for improving and enforcing the Laws for the iletec-
tiou of Women, watched the case. . .

The unfortunst4s child give her evidence very clearly, and
there could not be the slightest doubt of the fearful offence
that had been committed.

Mr. Barker committed the prisoner for trial.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

William N"rrott was charged with robbing several gun
and pistol makers. There were three charges brought for-
ward, in which the evidence was complete.
The first case was for stealing a revolver, value It, from
the shop of Mr. Woodward, 34, St. James's-street. An
errand boy, named Talmadge, saw the prisoner enter the
shop on Wednesday last and stoop down. He did not sus-
pect the prisoner at the time, as he was a gun•sight maker,
and had worked for Mr. Woodward. After he had left the
shop, however, he missed the revolver from beneath the
counter. It was afterwards found at the shop of Mr. Boyce,
Theolald's•road, pledged for 30s. The other cues were
of a similar character, and he was fully committed on all
the charges.
SOUTHWARK.

(7,n rice Holden. Ro Eli:n Hoekley were
charged with robbing Mr. Thomas Oldfeld, a country trades.
man, of upwards of 30/.
The prosecutor, a middle-aged man, was an auctioneer at
Sheffield, and a few dart ago he came up to London on busi-
ness. On Friday night he was in the Borough, and at a late
hour he met the female prisoner end accompanied her to her
house somewhere in the Mint. Several women came into
the room, and he treated them to wine, and lay down for a
short time. A little after 3 o'clock he woks up and
then perceived that his money, amounting to 301., in gold
nod some silver, was all safe in a purse in his pocket. The
female prisoner and the two men came into the room,
and he took out his parse and paid the female for the
use of the room. Holden immediately ruahed upon
him, seized him by the throat, and forced him back on
the bed while another woman rifled his pockets. The
female prisoner stood with her back to the door to prevent
anyone coining in, while Holden forced him down. Assam'
as the woman had rifled his pockets and left the room,
Holden released him, and they all ran out of the place,
having closed the door behind them. Witness smashed the
windows, and going in pursuit of them he saw Holden
stopped by a constable. Hunt had done nothing, but he
stood by all the time witness was robbed.
Mr. C,ombe said that the evidence against Hunt was not
sufficient to warrant his detaining him ; but he remanded
the other prisoners till Saturday next.
✓,J,n Fitzgibbon, a respectable looking man, was charged
with converting to his own use upwards of 100/. received
on account of his employers, Messrs. Davey, Thompoon,
and Alder, coal nierchanta, Old Barge•house-what,
Lambeth. _

Mr. Gilbert Alder, one of the partners, said the pri-
soner bad been some time in their employ as collector,
at • salary of 100 f. a year. It was his duty to collect
money from their customers, and pay over to one of the
partners the same daily as he received it. Latterly some
differences were found in his eecounta, and he absconded.
Witness then communicated with the police, who, after
considerable trouble, succeeded in tracing the prisoner.
la looking over some cf the accounts, they found that
he had received sums of money as per invoice, but
in a vast number of cases he had accounted for very little
more than half. He (Mr. Alder) asked for a further re-
mand, to enable them to go through the accounts more ac-
curately and to produce witnesses who had paid the
moneys.
Mr. Edwin objected to a remand. The prisoner had been
in custody a week, and he thought the prosecutors bad bad
sufficient time to collect evidence, but if his worship
should think proper to remand him, perhaps he would ac-
cept bail for his future appmmoce.
Mr. Combo said he ehould rentaud him certainly ; but
he did not think it proper to accept bail at present.
Mr. Alder said that if bail was accepted they would never
see the prisoner agaiu, as the officer had some difficulty in
catching him. lie tried, in fact, to make his escape.
Mr. Comb. then remanded him till' aturday.
LAMBETH.

William Walsh, a little fellow, not quite ten years of
age, was charged with stealing 13s. lid. out of his father's
pocket.
Mrs. Walsh, a decent•lookiog woman, reminded the ma.
gistmte that five week, ago the prisoner had been charged
at this court with breaking open a box and stealing
therefrom 2/. 104., the savings of herself and her hus-
band for many month,. His worship on that ocasaion
thought him too young to send to prison, and on hi, faith.
fully promising not to repeat the offence, she took him
home, but finding no signs of amendment, she was obliged
to keep him without his clothes. On the morning before,
while she (witness) and her daughter were at chapel, he
made his way to his father's bedroom, and took 13s. 6d.
from his father's pocket.
The young offender, who appeared perfectly indifferent in
the matter, merely said be was sorry for what he had done.
Mr. Elliott observed that it was very foolish on the part
of the parrots to leave any money within his reach, and
committed the young rascal for two months.