The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-09 00:00:00

POLICE.

MANSION-HOUSE.
A tradesman who resides in lamb's Conduit-street appeared
before the Lord 3layor, on Saturday, for the purpose of informing
his Lordship that he hail been imposed on by • person who
passed for a Spaniard, but whom, from circumstances which had
lately taken place, he believed to be a Jew. A few days ago this
person called at his shop, and, after much apparent dilfictilty, made
himself intelligible. He stated that he had been in India, and
that he had just arrived in this metropolis, and wanted some
clothes, far which he was ready to pay in the coin of his country.
He then produced five or six Spanish star pagodas, said he had a
great number of that coin, and was desirous of getting rid of it for
the current money of this country. The applicant looked at the
coin, and perceived they were good. He, however, for the purpose
of making "assurance doubly sure," gent his wiFe to a jeweller in
the neighbourhood to ascertain the value of the coin, and the
Spanish customet remained in tie shop looking over some articles
of dress. The intilligenre from the jeweller was, that the pagodas
were genuine, anti worth about 7s. a piece' he advised the appli-
cant to give 6s. The Soapier& as soon as lie was informed that
his order for clothes should be executed, pulled out pagodas to the
amount of 151. and put them into the hands of the tradesman, who
gave him clothes to the antount of 101. and St. in English money,
after having duly compared the coin with what had been exhibited
to the jeweller, a+ he thought. but it happened that the Spaniard
bad contrived to put others in their place, and after he left the house
it was discovered that all the coin he had paid to the tradesman was
copper gilt, and not worth three pence.
GUILDHALL.
Eliza Matilda Morris, an elderly female, a reputed fortune.
teller, residing in Great Sutton-street, Clerkenwell, and Sarah
Barham ...rt, a woman of the same age, who has been many years
housekeeper to Messrs. Wiltshire and Massey, Manchester were.
housenten, 113, Cheapside, were charged with being concerned in
an exter.sivo system of plunder on the property of the latter
gentleman. Buchanan appeared much alarmed at her situation,
and in the course of her examination suddenly lost her sense of
hearing, as she declared, and it became necessary to accommodate
her with a chair.
lllr. Wiltshire stated that, about August last, he discovered that
a number of pieces of Irish linen and cotton prints had been
stolen. and be ',pelted to Harrison, the 31aretialman to assist in
detecting the thieves. After watching all the shoptnen and portent
by turn; for ecinie time without effect, the officer advised a thorough
search through the servants' boxes, &e. in the house, which was
accordingly made, except as to the prisoner Buchanan's trunks, in
whom the greatest confidence had been placed. This search proved
fruitless, but one of the shopmen and a porter were di/inns:mt. The
goods however, still continued to disappear, sometimes twenty
pieces in • week, till on Thursday afternoon, a woman called at
their warehouseand stated that she had a lodger of the name of
Morris, a fortune-teller, and seducer of servants, whom she sus-
pected to be in habit of receiving goods stolen from their premises.
Upon this information a warrant wow obtained, and the prisoners
taken into custody.
Anthony Harrison, the Marshelman, deposed that he discovered
nothing about the person or boxes of Buchanan to criminate her,
whets he executed the warrant; but in a bureau at Mrs. Morris's,
he found 66 duplicates, which he bad mat had time to inquire about;
the few that he had seen were not part of the stolen property.
Phillis Johnson, of 39, Great Sutton-street, the female who had
given the Information, was then swots. She laid Morris came to
lodge in her lise about the middle of November, and in a short
time commuoicated to her in the mime of a conversation, that
Mrs. Buchanan, • particular friend of hers, was a most kind and
benevolent woman and had been the principal support of herself
and husband during a long illness ; that when she was unable to
give
give her money she would her pieces of cambric, prints and
cottons, which she (Morris) was in the habit of pledging, first tear-
ing each piece into proper lengths for garments, and taking care
not to carry two pieces ofone pattern to the same shop ; and she felt
perfectly safe from detection, because as goon as she reached home
she burnt the duplicates ; and if site could sell the article in pledge
before its year had run out, she had only to make the usual affida-
vit before a Magistrate, that she had lost or mislaid the duplicate,
and then she got the property into her hands again. Morris never
mentioned the name or address of Messes Wiltshire, or of their
housekeeper, Buchanan, but spoke of them by their initial letters,
as Alta. 11. and Mr. W. On Wedneeday night, however, she got
a clue ; Mrs. Morris sent her daughter to fetch away • bundle
from Messrs. Wiltshire, and the firm having removed from the
Poultry to Cheapside, the girl came back and said she could
not find the house; upon which her mother scolded her,
and witness heard her say that if she bad looked up at
the shutters she would no doubt have teen s board, notify-
ing where the business was then carried on. Next day she
went in search of the board hermit; found such a one with
a name beginning with W, in the Poultry; saw Mr. Mae-
. say, one of the partners, and stated the same particulars to him
as she had now done to the Magistrate. At the time the
officer made the search at Wiltshire's, Mrs. Buchanan came in
great haste, in a coach, to Mrs. Morris's, as the latter informed
her, and every thing belonging to those gentlemen was at once
destroyed.
Morrie, in her defence, slid that she had never destroyed
• duplicate ; and she would defy the proof that she had ever
pledged an article that did not belong to her. Her husband had
been two years and a half in a dying state, and she was, in con.
sequence. greatly distressed. She had mortgaged an annuity of
' 501. to Mr. Whitehead, of Burlington-gardens, and had received
assistance from Mrs. Buchanan, but never in any other way that.
by clothes and money. What the female witness had said was
' totally false, and the pretended information was given in conse—
quence of a little tiff between them.
Mrs. Buchanan only said that the last witness sad told very
great lies.
Mr. Alderman SCHOLEY remanded the prisoners for several
' days, to give time for inquiry amongst the pawnbrokers and in

out various ether slims, to the amount of '2OOl. but wh:eh he was
not at present able to establish.
Thomas Little, a I ad, pay-clerk to Messrs. Swan and Edgar,
deposed that he paid the 'Meaner the sums of 101. 4s. and 91. 10s.
in sovereigns and silver.
The priviner, who appeared a gond dent affected, declined mak-
ing any defence, when he was eoliamtted.

UN lON-II A LI..
On Saturday, a gentleman, who gave his name Smith,
presented himself before the Sitting Magistrate, and, mani-
fesfing great impatience fo be heard, rroceeded to make the &I-
lowing complaint :—Some weeks ago, lie siated;that a valuable
superfine top coat was stolen out of his gig, while he was in the
act of knocking at a friend's dour in Illackfriarn-road. Ile neither
liesrd of nor POW his garment since, until that morning (Saturday),
its 11.! was walking abng Itankside, he was surprised to see it upon
the hack of a very respectable-looking man. At a distance he
knew it to be the ime stolen from hint, but to make doubly sure,
before he accused a man of having his coat, he (applicant) drew as
near as possible and examined it minutely, the buttons, the seams,
th collar, and cloth of which he could positively Swear to. flay.
ing ascertained this point be) and doubt, he addressed tfie person
wi.h his property on the imbjeet, lint received no satisfaction either
one way or the other; however, as he was determined on following
op the business, he took sonic pains and trouble in ascertaining the
name and address of the individual, whom he learned was an opu-
lent man. residing in Lamlf eth.
Tne Magistrate here interrupted the applicant, saying, "Surely
you dont't suspect him, then, or istratirg year cost ?'
Applicant—' No. Sir, I don't thmk the gentleman stole it; but
I think and know he is the receiver of stoke property."
The Magistrate—" Well, and
_what do you want me to do for
you ?"
Applicant—" I hope. Sir. you will grant a warrant against the
person of whom I con: plain.'
Magistrate—" Indeed I shall do no such thing; the coat, If it
was your's, which I think rather improbable, may hive grine through
the hands of six or seven different persons before it rams into the
possession of the individual against whom you stem to be anxious
for a warrant for felony."
Mr. Smith said that he was not desirous of having the person
who held his coat apprehended as a thief; all he wanted was that
he might be compelled to appear at this office by summons, or same
such process, to explain the Manner in which became by the coat.
The I%IAG IST RAT r. told the applicant that he would issue no
process whatever against the person complained of. It was ridieu.
loos, lie observed, to make such an application here. If, said the
Magistrate, yon are perfectly convinced the coat is your own, and
can bring forward evidence to that effect, you can proceed against
the party by civil action for the recovery of your top-coat.
Tie applicant, on leaving the office, evidently disappointed, re-
marked that he was fearful, should he commence a civil action for
the recovery of the coat, the expenses attending such a mode of
obtaining redress would be more than it WNS worth.

A CHIMNEY-SWEEP SUFFOCATED. 1,4

An inquest was held at Clapham workhnove, on Satunity aftee.
noon, before 31r. Franks, Coroner for that part of the D:teby
Lancaster whirl' is situated in Surrey.. and a highly re,peemble
Jury, touching the death of John Anderson, a little boy, id"
years of age, whu was suffocated in a chimney the preceding
morning.
The circumstance has excited considerable sensation in Clapham,
and a report prevailed that there was a want of precaution on Ths
part of a man named Ward, whose evidence will he Hound
in not rendering the poor boy that assistance which he fright on
discovering his perilous situation. it seems that nn Thumby
night the kitchen-ehmitey of Mr. Gain, a butcher. of Clapham,
was discovered to be on fire, and after many efforts tl e fire was pm
`out. A quantity of salt was thrown down the ch:rnner, and a
piece of strong cloth, well wetted, was put over the top, to pre.
vent the flames from coming out. The cloth was not removed
until the following morning after the accident, and the poor Isd`t
life became sacrificed, it opinion, through the inattention of WATG,
whom the Coroner and Jury highly censured.
The examination of the witnesses lasted many hours, of which
the following is the substance :
. .

clriltion deposed. that the deceased was in his employ,
having been with him about a year. On Friday morning at Kis
o'clock the deceased and Andrew Ward went to sweep Mr. Gain's
chimney. A little after six Ward came to acquaint witness that
the deceased was groaning in the chimney. Witness was in bed at
the time, but instantly got up, and desired ward to return and
render the lad what a,.istance he cont.'. Witness passed ti'ard oft
the road, and on arriving at Mr. Gaina', found George }tallier was
then in the chimney ; and on being asked if the deceased spoke, an.
awered in the negative. witness having got on the outside of
the chimney, commenced taking off some of the stones. Aker
a few minutes had been thus occupied he anceieded in discover.
ing the deceased, whom he took in his arms and curial
down, laying
.him on snme straw. A surgeon was sent for.
Some water in the mean time was thrown in the poor boy',
face, and some rags were burnt near him. The smoke from
the linen went to his nose. When he was lying on the craw
he groaned. This was after he had been oat of the chin_
ney about five minutes. The surgeon was some time heave
he arrived. It is not an uncommon thing to Rend persons up
chimney when it is on fire. Wimeas saw some fire in the chimney
when he took the lad nut. In the opinion of witness had he bees
present he could have saved the hay's life. If an alarm had bees
immediately given when the boy was heard to groan in the chim_
ney, and proper means had been taken, he might hare been ra_
stored to animation. The flue was very hot. and most likely the
lad fainted, and fell down, and there laid until he was taken out.—
His health was generally very good.
'hr Samuel Solders, a surgeon residing at Clapham. stated that
on Friday morning he received a message to go and see a boy who
Was said to he dead in amsearance, at Mr. Gain's. Witness west
with as much has as palate, and on arriving there saw the de.
ceased lying on sonic straw, seemingly dead. From what 'One's
collected the led must have been dead some time. His extremities
were nearly cold, and his eyes assumed a deadly hue. Witness
endeavoured to inflate the lungs, and had recourse to friction, and
took a few ounces of blood from the Jugular vein. Ile remained
with the deceased until eight o'clock. without perceiving any signs
of returning annimation. He went the deceased when he was taken
across the way to the workhouse. There did not appear to be any
bruises on the deceased. Witness bad no doubt whatever but the
boy died front suffocation.
Ambrose Ward examined.—l am a jouraeyman sweep. On
Friday morning a watchman desired me to go at five o'clock sad
sweep a chimney at Mr. Gains's. I understood that the chimney
hal been on fire the night before. The deceased accompanied me.
I and the boy were let in the back way by Mr. Gaine's house.
keeper. On entering the kitchen I perceived a large piece of
carpet hanging over the fire-place. This I took down, and then
saw a quantity of salt in the grate. I said to the boy—" John,
don't you go up if there is any fire in the chimney." lie did not
mind what I said, but went through it. I did not force hint
up. After the boy had ascended, Mr. Gain, who had come down,
told me that the chintney.te'p was covered up. The lad
had a.cended then about five minutes. When he was in the chim.
ney he asked for some water to be got ready by the time that he
came down. I suppose he was then half way up. Some beer was
got ready for him. lie made a sad groaning, and came down the
chimney as far as the slant. I took off my jacket and went up.
I called to him twice or thrice, and he answered. I could not get
up to the slant. I was very much frightened,. and thought it best'
to go home to acquaint my master in what situation the boy was.
Mr. Gain's maid-servant was present when the lad groaned. I did
not alarm any one ; but merely said that I would go home and
fetch my master. On my way home, I met George Henley, and
begged him to go and assist Jack, for I feared he was stork in the
chimney. When the boy was lying on the straw 1 saw him open
his eyes. The lad could not get out at the top.
Hy the Jury—l knew it was dangerous to have a cloth at the top
of the chimney. I did not know how to remove it, not being ac-
quainted with the way out.
One of the Jurors—You ought to have gone up, and b? Deglett-
ing to do no the boy's lite hoe been saerificed.—Witness, I will
never be guilty of the like again.
you take the machine with you ?—No, Sir.
Why did you not 7—l cannot tell.
Let this be a warning to you, and never go to sweep a chimney
that has been on fire without your master.—lt shall be so.
Elizabeth Allen examined—l am servant to Mr. (lain. On
Friday morning I got up about half-past six. When I went into the
kitchen the boy was sip the chimney. He said, in my hearing, to the
man below that the chimney was very warm. The deceased was crying
and he asked foe some water; his master, who was then present,

desired me to get him some bier, which I 'did, and the min pat it
on the chimney-piece, until the boy should come down, be said.
The boy cried very much indeed, and the man below told him eat
to cry, but come down. There was a great rumbling in the chim-
ney, and I did not hear any more crying. The man pulled his
clothes off and went up in haste, using an oath, and saying,
that he would fetch the boy down. After he had been m
the chimney about two minutes, he returned in L hurry,
and said that he would fetch his master, as the lad was stuck
in the chimney. I asked him if there was any danger, and he re-
plied that there was not—(Several of the Jurors here expressed
great indignation at Ward's shameful misconduct.]—The Mall
went away, and left the poor lad in the chimney. Some of my
master's men who were in the kitchen went to listen at the chimney
on my saying that I thought the boy was ill, and they said they
could hear him groan. One of the men went into the shop and
Raid, " I think the lad is dying up the chimney."—tOne of the
Jury here exclaimed •6 good God, what neglect !I--My master was
upstairs when the man listened at the fire-place. On his coming
down and listening, he said, that he could not hear any thing.
Some of the men thought the lad was asleep. My MUM wished
somebody to go and take some stones from the chimney-top. A
little boy had by this time arrived, and he ascended the chimney,
Mr. Wilson came soon afterwards. and ran to the top of the house,
accompanied by my master. Mr. Wilson presently brought the boy
down into the kitchen. (The witness here bemme so affected that
she could not proceed with her evidnce for several minute.] The
lad was placed on some straw. Mr. Wilson cried very snitch at
the accident, and called for some vinegar, with which he rubbed
the boy's temples.
The examination was here suspended a short time, in cons&
quence of one of the jurors being told that a lire was raging at his
house. It however turned one to be unt-ue, and he presently re-
turned. The report having originated through a neighbour's chim-
ney having taken fire.
Witness is continuation. The Doctor sent word for us to prepare
a warm bath to place the deceased in when he arrived. The bath
was not ready when the surgeon came.
As Ambrose Ward, in his examination, had not mentioned a
rd about the de, ised hr led when in the chimney, it was

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