The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-14 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY, THURFDAY, JAN. 13.

These Sessions commenced this day at the Justice Hall, in the
Old Bailey, helnta Ate. Justice 1101.10 YD, Mr. Justice Wise.
Lee, the Lotto MAYOR. ItEconDen. Aldermen, &c. The total
number of prisoner% for trial Is one hundred and seventy.
Mary Lioyd and Mary Lott;la were put to the bar. on an in-
dictment, charging them with assaulting, on the lath of November
last. Daniel Allen, and taking from his person a gold pin, and one
shilling and sixpence in tilvrr, his property.
The facts of this case, as sworn to by the prosecutor, were, that
on the evening of the day in question, t.e was passing through
Chesterfield-street, when one of the prisoners forcibly drew him
into the house, the door of which was open, and then both pri-
soners robbed him of the propt'ty in question, accompanying it
with violence.
Mr. C. PHILA.' es and Mr. PRENDERGAST conducted the case
for the defence, and called a witness named Peter Hill, who
swore that he had heard the prosecutor state that he might have
dropped the pin. This was denied by the prosecutor most solemnly.
The witness also swore positively. that when the prisoners were
committed by the Magistrates, the charge only amounted to an
assault.
The witness was very closely cross-examined by Mr. BRODE-
RICK, who elicited from hint that be was the friend of Larkins
whom he had known from • child ; and that he had moved into
the very lodgings the prisoners had occupied on the day following
the robbery.
31r. Justice HOLROYD summed up the evidence to the Jury,
who found the prisoners—Not Guilty.
Wm. Pearce and George Score were put to the bar, on an indict.
rent charging them capitally with burglariously breaking and
entering the dwelling-house of William IA ilberforce, jun. Est;. on
the 16th of November, at the parish of St. Mary Abbot, Kensing.
tan, and stealing therefrom plate to the value of upwards of 60!.,
and various other property to a considerable amount.
The prosecutor is the son of the Member of Parliament, and
stated, that on the day in question he was called down stairs about
seven o'clock in the morning. by a servant maid, who informed
him that the house had been broken open during the night, and
robbed as stated. lye searched the house, and found the thieves
had got access to the premises through the garden, and that a win.
dow which looked into it had been broken open, a cupboard in that
room forced, in addition to several other doors, until they got
access to where the plate was kept. On searching the garden, he
observed footmarks which were measured by a piece of stick which
would be produced. In addition to the pla.e stolen, there were
two coats, and a nufnber of pairs of silk stockings, taken away.
Elizabeth Pearce stated. that she lived as servant with Mr.
Wilberforce at the time of the robbery. On the night of the 16th,
witness fastened the windows and locked the door on going to bed.
She had the care of her master's linen, and had seen some silk
stockings in the care of the officers, which she knew to belong to
her master, and to have been stolen at the time of the robbery—
Some of the atockinga were marked 4. Wilberforce," but the mark
had been partly obliterated since the robbery.
Ann Gad wick, also a servant to Alr. R iberforce, corroborated
the testimony of the last witness as to the discovery of the robbery,
and the subsequent proceedings.
W Burrell, an Officer, proved searching the lodgings of the pri.
toners, and finding in their possession a complete set of imple-
ments for house-breaking, and several pairs of silk stockings, which
were sworn to by Elisabeth Pearce as the property of Mr. Wil-
berforce. The witness had measured the shoes of the prisoners
with the piece of stick, and found them to tally.
[From the length of time that had elapsed before the prisoners
were apprehentled, and it not being proved that they were near the
premises, a doubt existed as to their guilt. The defence set up
was, that the stockings had been left in a small bundle at the
house, by a person who came to intptire for a ledgicg, but who he
was they protested they had no knowledge.]
Mr. Jeetice GaseLEE summed up the evidence, and tht Jury
found the prisoners Not Guilty.
SECOND INDICTMENT.
The same prisoners were again indicted for burg!ariously break-
ing and entering the dwelling.house of William Fair, at Shep-
herd's Bush, on the 27th of August last, and stealing property to
the amount of upwards of IX less property—Not Guilty.

THIRD INDICTMENT.
The same prisoners were again put to the bar on an indictment
charging them with stealing on the 10th of November, in the
garish of Ealing, a quantity of carpenter's tools, the property of
Thomas Eyles. The Jury found the prisoners Guilty.
. The Court did not go into the fourth indictment, it being near
tecieck.
NEW COURT.
Tb. CoMMoN SERGEANT presided during the early part of the
day. and was succeeded by the RECORDER.
IV. Keats was indicted for stealing various articles, the property
of his employer, Mr. Roper.
After tame discussion with the proseentor,
The COMMON SERGEANT inquired if. as the prisoner appeared
conseinus of his offence, his employer would consent to receive hint
again into his service ?
Mr. Roper answered in the affirmative.
The COMMON SERGEANT said, if the prweentoegsve an under.
taking to such effect, the best way would be for the prisoner to
plead guilty, ant, a nominal punishment would be inflicted.
The Jury accordingly returned a verdict of Guilty, and
The CoMMoN SERGEANT impressed upon the prisoner the
great obligation he was tinder to his muter. He should in future
be the best of servants. If anything of the kind were to happen
again, this could not be possibly forgotten.
',Poetic was put to the bar, charged with feloniously reedit,.
big certain goods, knowing them to be stolen, the property of Ze-
chariah Langley and partners. The goods consisted of a piece of
woollen cloth, measuring 21 yards, shawls, &c.
Mr. neon/Rice informed the Court it was not intended to offer
evidence spinet the prisoner, and he should therefore be acquitted.
Verdict accordingly.
Martha Baker NM indicted for stealing sheets and other articles,
the property of her employer.
Anna Hall, the principal witness, not appearing, her recogni-
sance was ordered to be entreated ; and the prisoner, after an admo-
nition from the COMMON SERGEANT, was acquitted and dis-
charged.
W. Brows and J. Symonds were indicted for stealing fifteen
pounds of beef, value five shillings, from George Cross, butcher.
The prosecutor stated that he kept a butchers shop in St.
tlar-
tin's-lane. The beef in questien was stolen on the 21st of Decem-
ber ; saw it a few moments before it NAM taken. His was an open
slurp, and the meat was within the reach of those in the street.
The COMMON SERGEANT lamented this. He thought that
meat would be preserved without such exposure.
W.Dozninico examined.—Saw the two prisoners on the day stated
in the indictment, walking up and down by the prosecutor's shop ;
saw the beef taken ; Brown took it arid gave it to the other pri-
soner ; they then walked away. Witness followed them ;
gave no alarm, as there was no person handy to take them. Caine
•up with them at Seven Dials, and gave them into the custody of
isenritk and Goodchild, the night patrol and watchman,
henrick and Goodehild corroborated the statement. Upon the
committal of the prisoners, they were ordered by the Magistrate
to take back the beef to the utor, who would not receive it,
as he could not swear the b to be his. After that it could not be
returned, as it became tainted, and could not be dressed.
The prisoners, when called upon for their defence, protested
their innocence, but called no witnesses.
The CoMMoa SERGEANT thought the prosecutor must have a
very tender conscience, from his refusing to take back the meat. If
any person told him that beef had been taken from his larder, he
would rot hesitate to take it, though he mold not swear tort. This
doubt. upon the part of Mr. Cross, as to the beef, may justify a
doubt upon the part of the Jury, as to the guilt of the prisoners,
and, if they felt this conacienuously, they should acquit; but. if
they were clear as to guilt, they were bound to convict the prisoners.
Verdict--Gatilty.
liteibte the REcoaDral
T. Lathingtoa was indicted for steak tg a watch, ribbon, seal,
&e. value 205., the property .f It. Sunman.
The prosecutor nutted himself to be a carpenter, residing in
Prince's-row; left his watch hanging over the Ore-place in his
parlour; it was missed at twoer three o'clock; saw it afterwards, at
the police office; was sure it was his; the prisoner was in custody
when he saw the watch.
Cress-examined by Mr. Bnonwa 'cr.—Prosecutor had no other
name besides that laid in the indictment. Knew the •atch by its
menesal appearance; did not know the maker's name; had no pri-
ests mark ; had it in his poseesion a year and a half.
Jane Sunman, the wife of the prosecutor, deposed, that upon the
11th November the prisoner, with whom she was slightly ac-
quainted, came to her house a little after two o'clock. He com-
•plamed of cold feet, and told witness that his master came to Lin.
Aso the evening before, and had sent him for a washerwoman, and
be would recommend her : this, prisoner said, was good news for
her ; she then procured a chair near the Ore, upon which the pri-
soner seated himself, and in a few moments he snatched the watch
Old rushed out, saying " good-bye, I will bring my master's
Ned at six in the evening." Witness pursued and overtook him
behind sonic new houses ; she charged him with the robbery, which
he denied; the watch was not found on him; it was found in a
Lady's garden, close to the spot where Ale overtook him.
Crews-examined by Mr. Rao/malice—Prisoner said he would
return at six with his master's card. She did not wait for that ;
did not think he took the watch to enable him to keep his appoint-
ment. He need not take her watch for that purpose; there were
docks enouyt. it' such were his intention.
Cline deposed, the prisoner was charged with the robbery by
Mrs Sunman ; he gave hint in charge to a constable ; saw the
week hut would not know it.
The Lady in whose garden the watch was found proved the
trot; found it herself: there was a noise in the street at the time;
give it to the constable.
The officer was examined. He proved his taking the prisoner
lee custody : produced the watch.
Cane being re-examined, said, there were many persons on the
spot where the prisoner was taken into custody.
The prosecutor hail no dontd whatever as to the watch being
hi propert y.
The prisoner, in his defence, denied his seeing the watch at all.
Mos. Sunman had not charged him with the robbery till he left
the house: she might have agcuseri hint before, and detained him.
He called George Blair, who deposed as to his good character
for seven or eight years.
The Recounr.ii charged the Jury. He was obliged to tom-
plaid bitterly of the structure of the Court; it was scarcely possible
is hear. He would recontmend a sounding board to be put over
the prisoner's head, that the Court might he enabled to beat him,
and he to bur the Court. Verdict—Gailty.
Livery iriaiante was charged with stealing a book called the
Court Guide. value six shiilings, from the shop of Mr. John Porter,
74, Pall-sushi.