The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-01 00:00:00

EXTENSIVESYSTEMOF ROBBERY AT LORD

WFFIELD'S .H4NSION.

Yesterday, it Marlborough-street, a young man named Merl
ring, in the employ of Messrs. R. M . and C. Joined, the crud.
nem- builders, at No. 2GI, Oxfonl-street, and clerk of the works
that are now extensively going on at the Mansion of Lord Suffield,
in Park-lane, was brought before Mr. CONANT. the Sitting Ma-
gistrate, by two of the Cow street patrol, charged with having
committed the following extensive robbery, and Mary Ann King,
his wife, a well-dreesed female, was chargod as an accessary.
William Fudge, one of the Bow-street patrol, stated that about
six o'clock the preceding evening, as he and his panty were Foram.
bulating Bond-street, his attention was arrested by the male pri-
soner carrying a basket on his shoulder, which, although of a di-
niiantive size, appeared to be of a great burthen. Suspecting the
contents to be plunder, he stopped him, and on sea.ching the has-
ket, he found h filled with lead, well packed, and zeightng nearly
one hundred weight; it consisted of lead pine, and sheet Iced, suen
es is used in gotta*. The prisoner's wife has in her possession about
161 b. of the same metal. Witness questioned the male prisoner
to his possession of the materials; and, after some hesitation, he
said that he was is the employ of Messrs. Jearrads, and that he
had brought the lead from Lord Suffield's house, which he de-
scribed as scraps end cuttings, for the purpose of raising a few
shillings. Witness told him that he shouk, detain hint ; upon
which ho turned tahis wife, and said, " I told you honesty was
the best policy." To which she replied, " You fool, why didn't
you say. you was carrying it to Mr. Jearrad's. The officer men took
both prisoners to the watch house, and afterwards gave informa-
tion to Means. Jearrads.
J. Webster, another of the patrol, stated that after the prisoners
had been taken into custody, he gave information to Mr. Jearrad,
and went that morning to Lord Sutiield's house, where the prisoner
and his wife resided, and on searching their bed-room they disco-
vered upwards of two wain:ore of the same description of property :
some was stowed away behind the bed, and a large nuantity WAS
packed in a hair trunk very curiously, and as tight AS it it had been
books.. A chest of drawers were also tilled with the same metal,
the whole of which was claimed by Mr. Jearrad.
Mr. C. Jmrrad was now examined: he commenced by stating that
King had been in his employ for the last six years, and till he be-
came acquainted with the female, who he understood was his wife,
he had conducted himself with great propriety, and a more ingenious
anti deserving young man could not be found ; but since his con-
nection with the woman, hie disposition bad undergdne a very great
change, and he feared rat he had been led into this disgraceful act
by her counsel. Having the alterations and repairs in my Lords
Barfield's town-residence to perform, he had, in consenucnce of
the prisoner's apparent integrity,appointed him Clerk of tueWorks,
in which situation he would have the direction or two hundred
artisans. Ile (Mr. Jearrad) had, as an encouragement, advanced
his salary ; and, in order that he should be on the spot, as well as
for his own comfort, he allowed him to occupy an apartment in
wing of his Lordship's mansion. Mr. J. further said that he had not
entered into any contract with Lod Suffield, and all the old
materials were to be retun:ed to him (11r. J.), for which he was
to give his Lordship credit. Wednesday last was what is termed
a clearing up ;" that is, to clear the premises of all the old mate.
rida,end,amongst other things placed in the cart,under the direction
King, to be conveyed to itlr. Jcarrad's premises were about
See lbs. weight of old lead. Witness considered this quantity to
be a very small return, and when the officer entered to give him
information of the prisoner being In custody, he (Mr. Jeurad) was
making arrangements to search the prisoner's habitation, well
knowing there must have been a larger ;quantity. Mr. Jearrad
concluded by saying, that it was impossible for him to estimate the
loss he had sustained by this description of peculation. During
the erection of the new church in Langham-place, he was plunder.
ed of upwards two tons of old lead. He was therefore determined,
if passible, to put a stop to depredations by making an example.
dlr. Co Nate r asked to whom the lead actually belonged.
Mr. Jearradeaid, that he was accountable her all the old materials,
no matter of what description, and of course any defalcation that
took place in that kind of property, he was amenable to his herd.
ship ton Therefore the leed might he considered as his property.
The prisoners were then called on for their defence.
King said he was directed by Mr. Jearrad to remove the lead
(which had been found in his hed.room) front its original place, for
better safety.
Mr. Co water—But did Mr. Jearrad tell you to cut it to pieces,
and conceal it in your bed-moni, and is the trunk and drawers ?
The prisoner said, he did rot.
Mrs. King declared her innocence althgether of the transaction.
hlr. CONANT ordered both to be remanded till Tuesday, but
observed, that there could be no case against the wife, who must be
considered in law 'shaving ceted under her husband's direction.
They were then conveyed to prison.

The late conviction of Captain Christopherson, of Mary-
port, for putting seamen ashore in the Gulf of St. Law-
rence, has produced a circular from the Nary-office, point-
ing out the conviction and the law as laid down by tha
Lord Chief Justice, and intimating, that notice thereof
had been sent to all the consulates abroad, in order that
masters of vessels may take warning.
It is stated, on the authority of a Gentleman in Boston,
who regularly keeps a meteorological table, that the weather
on Christmas-day was not so cold by two degrees as it was
en ibe X3d of June last.