The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-06 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

MANSION-HOUSE.
JoAn HoegAton, 19, mad William Ceans,22, ware brought
before the Lonl Mayor en a charge ef highway :clammy.
Mr. Beard, solicitor, defended Cann.
On Saturday night, at twenty minute' to twelve, Alfred
Cotton, a pawnbroker's a:latent, was paining through the
Minorite when he was pounced upon by three men who
MOM out of a court. One of them snatched away part of
his watch chain, and Houghton held him by the col ax,
and prevented his Meeting in pursuit. The prosecutor
shortly afterwards gave Houghton into custody on the
aerie of being concerned in the robbery, and Cann was
apprehended outside of Biehopsgate station, and identified
by a witness named Green as the person who committed
the theft. Mr. Beard, however, produced evidenes to
show that, so tar as regarded his 'Bent, It was a mss of
mistaken identity ; and the prosecutor himself stated
that he did not believe him to be the man. Under these
circumstances Cann was discharged.
A second charge was then preferred against Houghton
by a gentleman named Alfred George Level, who stated
that while walking along Eldon-street, Minorite, on his
way to Finsbury-square, at a quarter to eight on the even-
ing of Wednesday, the 29th ult., four men came from
under an archway, and two of them held his arms whilst
the others relieves' him of his watch and chain. They then
ran off, and prosecutor followed two of them down • paw
sage, but was unable to overtake them. On returning to
Eldon-street his watch was handed to him by a gentleman
who picked it up on the spot where the robbery had
taken place. Ho ton he distinctly recognised as aloof
the men who stood in front of him and took his watch
chain.
The Lord Mayor inquired of the witness whether he did
not make fight.
Mr. Lovel said the thing was done too instantaneously.
They were under a lamp, and he did not know what they
meant. There were people not five yards off either way,
who thought they were "larking."
George Agar, the chief warder in Holloway prison,
proved a number of convictions against the prisoner, the
last one being at the Central Criminal Court in July, 1866,
when he was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, which
expired on the Rth January last.
The Lora Mayor committed him for trial on both
charges.
GUILDHALL
Men Price, the woman who was charged at this court
on Saturday with stealing the clothes of William Norman,
an acrobat, while he was performing at the Cogers%hall,
in Bride-lane, was again placed at the bar before Alderman
Canton for further examination.
Mr. Martin, the chief clerk, said this was a very bard
use for Norman. He had been robbed of all his clothes,
and in the pocket of his trousers was the duplicate of
another pair of trousers which had been pledged at Mr.
Cartland s, In Shoe-lane, and he at one went to the
pawnbroker, gave him notice of the robbery, and eked
him not to art with them, and the pawnbroker did part
with them in spite of the notice.
William Norman, in answer to the magistrate, said he
gave notice at 20 minutes past 9 o'clock on Saturday morn-
ing that he had been robbed, and requested them not to
part with the tronaers, but the assistant, to whom he
spoke, said that if anybody presented the ticket he would
let him have the trousers. He did give them to somebody
on Saturday night.
Alderman Cauaton mid that it was his opinion that if
the man who presented the ticket had been stopped, they
might have .aught the thief.
Mr. Cartland mid he heard nothing about it until Mon-
day morning. His assistant said that Norman did not
give a proper description of the trousers, and would not
wait for them to be brought down. Norman on the other
hand, said he did, and he (Mr. CartlAnd) aid not know
which to believe of the two.
Alderman Causton said it was very hard for the prose-
cutor to be robbed as he had been.
Mr. Cartland said it wee, and he would have much plea-
sure in giving him a new pair of trousers for the pair his
'resistant had allowed to be taken away.
Alderman Canton said be was glad indeed to hear him

soy so.
The worthy alderman then ordered Norman to receive
1G s. from the poor box as some compensation for his loss.
Nothing further was discovered regarding the prisoner,
and after being cautioned she was discharged.