The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-09-19 00:00:00

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bLD n4ILEY, WSDIIISDAY, SEMIIIIIIII Id.
Thomas Coetereg was indicted for stealing seventy
yards of black silk, the property of Thomas B.
ifitanbridge, out of his dwelling-house in St.
Leonard's, Shoreditch.
The Prisoner was a stuntman in the employ of
Mr. Stanbridge, an eminent silk-dresser, who had
received the silk in question on the 11th of March
last, from Messrs. itinim, for the purpose• of its
being dressed. W he'll the silk was sent tor by
Messrs. Loam it wail missing, and suspicion falling
on the Prisoner, who had then quitted the service
of Mr. Stanbridge, be iris taken into custody, and
on searching him a pawnbroker's duplicate was
foond ou him fur part of the silk, which it appeared
he had cut and pledged at tiro different pawn.
brokers, on the 4th and 20th of April. Oue of the
duplicates he gave to Mr. Harrold, with whom be
lodged, for his rent, and he informed him that he
had taken the piece of silk in part of a bad debt.
The case was clearly proved ou the part of the
Prosecution.
The Prisoner. in his defence, pleaded extreme dis-
tress, being reduced from • respectable situation
in life, and *ring a wife nod four young children
dependent on himlor sapport.
The Prosecutor and several other respectable
witnesses gave the Prisoner a good character for
honesty.
Mr. Justice BEST regretted that it was a painful
duty which they had to perform; but he feared, as
there was no doubt of the fact, the good character
which the Prisoner received could there weigh no-
thing; hut he would take care that it should be
made known where it would have effect.
The Jury found him Gouty, but recommended
him to mercy, in which the Prosecutor strongly
joined.
Mary Agnes Louisa Butler was indicted for
stealing in die dwelling-house of Robert Colterell
351. in Bank of England notes, and a pen-knife, the
property of William Drewe, ou the 10th of August
last.
The Prisoner, when placed at the bar, was al-
lowed the indulgence of • seat. She was genteelly
dressed, and was of extremely interesting appear-
ance. She appeared about 0 years of age, and
seemed in an advanced stage of pregnancy.
Mr. ADOLPHUS stated the case for the prosecu-
tion, and called the following witnesses:—
Elizabeth Cotterell examined—"" I live at
29, Surry-street ; I receive boarders and lodgers in
my house. The Prisoner came to lodge with me;
she had known her before for a short time. The
Prisoner said she had been io France, and was
going there again shortly. She stated that she had
got married. and was then Mrs. Butler. She came
to lodge with me, and had been eight days with me
before she was taken up. I had • lodger and
boarder, a Captain Drewe. commanding a West
'inhuman; his desk stood in the dining-room. At
a little after 14 o'clock on the Saturday, I went to
bed, leaving the Prisoner alone in the drawing-room.
About half an hour afterwards, I came out on the
landing-place, and met the Prisoner coming up
stairs. She laid hold of the bannisters of the etairs,
and made • noise, and appeared much agitated.
I asked her whet she made so much noise for. She
said she was tired. Afterwards I heard a noise,
and, opening my door, I found her at my daughter's
room, asking for a light. On the following day
(Sunday), about two o'clock, I came down, and
saw Captain Drewe's writing-desk in the usual
place; and, going to lift it, I discovered it was
open. The Prisoner, at that time, was gone out.-
I took the desk, and locked it up. Captain Drewe
had gone out on the Saturday night, and he re-
turned on Sunday. I did not see him till he ap-
peared at the breakfast-table on Monday morning.
I gave him the desk, and, in consequence of some-
thing which passed, a Bow-street officer was sent
for, who searched the house. Mrs. Butler was iu
bed, and, during the time he was making the
search, I went to her bed-room, and stand with her
she got up, and was dressed, when I let the
officer in. Two St notes were found in the rosettes
of the bed furniture. In her drawers was found a
clasp of a pocket-book which belonged to the Pri-
soner. It was then detached from the pocket-book,
though a few days before 1 had seen it with the
poe ket- book.
Cross-examined by Mr. ALUM—I have been
married seven years. Mr. Cotterell is a convey.
sneer, and resides in Camden, in Gloucester.
shire, and comes to town four or five times a year.
His name is Hobert Dover Cotterell. Mrs. Butler
had complained on Saturday that she bad lost her
pocket-book, in which was the key of the drawer in
which she kept her night-clothes.
Mr. Cotterell was called. He said his binatiras
Robert Dover Cotterell.
%Vas. Drewe examined—l am • master-mariner.
I lodged in Mrs. Cotterell's house; on the 26th July
I received 150/. from Prescott and Co.. among them
was sixteen notes of 5!. Ou Saturday, the 10th of
August, I had seven of those notes in my
possession; I was going out on Saturday even-
ing. and in the Prisoner's presence I placed
them in my desk, and locked it, in which
state it was when I went out. Mrs. Cotterell's
daughter, a gentleman named Bristow, and
the Prisoner, were in the room when I left it.
returned on Sunday, about one o'clock. and went
out again in about twenty minutes. I slept out
that night, •nd cume home next morning at eight
o'clock. Mrs. Cotterell produced my desk, which
I found open. I missed my pen-kutfe, and on
looking further I found the notes were gone. I
went to Bow-street, and fetched Ellis, an officer.
All the servants, and Mrs. Cotterell, were searched.
I was called into the Prisoner's room when the mo-
ney was found. She disclaimed all knowledge of
the two notes, but said the sovereigns were
her own.
Mary Ann Ashmore examined.—On the 10th
August I was in the service of Mrs. Cotterell. Mrs.
Butler went up to bed about half an hour after my
it
mistress went to bed; she rang the bell for me
afterwardr, and asked me for her pocket-book,
which she said she had left on or under the bed;
she said she had the key of her drawers in that book,
and could not get her night clothes out. Next day
she told me I must look for her pocket-book, as she
had not a farthing of money but what was in her
pocket-book. She said she had foond the key of
her drawers on the carpet. She went out that day,
and returned betweesi nine and ten o'clock at night.
James 111 s examined.—l am a Bon-street WS-

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