The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-11-07 00:00:00

AN INGENIOUS ROBBERY.

An Ingenious robbery has, within the last few days, been prat.
tised upon Mr. Davie, a respectable Watchmaker, carrying us
business at 201, High Holborn. On Monday last a young mu
of genteel appearance and good address, with somewhat of a pro.
vincial accent, called upon it Davie, and stated that he had use
arrived from Worcatershire, where his friends resided, and where
he had served his time to a furnishing ironmonger and silversmith,
and that his object in coming to London, was to obtain an insight
into the business of a watchmaker preparatory to his departure tor
Russia, where lie was going by the advice and with the aunt-
ante of his friends, to open a concern in the " general line."
He wished, he said, to article himself to some respectable watch-
maker for a certain time, in order to obtain a sufficient knowledge
of the art, to enable him to protect himself from being imposed
upon by those whom he might employ in that department. With
this introductory explanation he offend himself to Mr. Davie,
and requested to know what premium be would require. Mr.
Davie, like a cautious tradesman, said, that before he stated hat
terms, or, indeed, proceeded any further with the negotiation, he
must convince himself of the respectability of the person with
whom he was treating, and requested a reference for that purpose.
The young man, without hesitation, gave the name of the lies.
Mr. Phillips, Rector of Dudley, in Worcestershire, who, lie said,
was his nearest friend, and was trustee to considerable prt.
perty to which he was entitled. Mr. Davie said he would write
immediately to the reverend gentleman, and the young mss
went away to the George and Blue Boar, where he said
lie was lodging. 111 r. Davie wrote accordingly to " the Rev.
Mr. Ph illips,". and during the interval that must necesearily duo
before an answer could arrive, the young man was regular in his
aaily visits, and appeared to conduct himself like &steady and re.
spectable person. On Friday morning a boy delivered a small
parcel, tied, settled, and addressed to Mr. Davie, and "carriage
paid" written on one corner, at the shop of the latter, andstated that
he brought it from the Bull Inn, Altigate. This packet contained a
letter addressed to Mr. Davie,ard small parcel addressed to "Mr.
Charles " the young man who hail applied to Mr. Davie. The
letter was dated " Dudley,Worcestershire," and signed" Phillips,"
and its contents were entirely confirmatory of the statement which the
young man hsd previously made to 111 r. Davie. The writer added,
that he wished to be informed immediately of lUr. Davie's terms,
as the sooner the agreement was concluded the better. By way of
postscript, the writer mated that he was in want of a handsome gold
watch, and he was willing to employ Mr. Davie to make it for him,
Ile wished it to be a handrome and good watch, and cared but little
about the price ; and as to the fashion, why he would leave that
part of the matter to Mr. Davie's own taste; but he should like
Mr. D. to beep it for a time after it was linishei, in order that he
might be assured it was a good one. The writer also stated that if
he teceived a favourable answer from Mr. Davie he would send
hint 50!. on account; and apologised for enclosing a parcel for
" Charles," which he requested might be handed to him as soon u
convenient. "Charles" was soon informed of the answer from
the supposed Rev. gentlemen, and seemed anxious to begin his new
occupation : he was permitted that same afternoon to take his seat
in tine shop by the tide of one of the ablest workmen. lie had not
been there long befnte he said lie had left his handkerchief at the
George and Blue Boar, and that he must just step and fetch e.
‘Vhen he went out, something like euspicion flashed moguhe
mind of Mr. Davie, but before he could think touch about the
matter. the young noviciate returned, and resumed his neat, Ind
Mr. Davie's suspicion vanished entirely of course. About hi
o'clock, however, in the temporary absence of the " operatives"
from the shop, " Charles" disappeared, and upon examination
of a case cont.inivg valuable gold watches, it was found thst
Ito had helped himself to three, of the price of fill. each. An
active pursuit of the fugitive was commenced immediately cc
various directions, but without success. As this spark may attempt
similar tricks in other quartets, we subjoin a description of his per.
son. Ile is about 23 years of age; 5 feet 10 inches in height: has
a fair complexion and light hair, and wears a lightish brown sun.
tout and dark trousers. There can be little doubt that the letter
purporting to come limn the .tlev. Mr. Phillips was a forgery, and
that the enclosure of a parcel for " Charles" was a mere expedient
to account for the conveyance of Mr. Davie's letter by couch instead
of by the post-office.

On Saturday an Inquest was held before R. Carter,
Esq. at the Pitts Head public-house, Pitts-place, Great
ford-street, on the body of a young man named Simmons, who wu
drowned a few days ago in consequence of en accident that he met
with while passing in a barge under the centre arch of London
Bridge. From the evidence, it appeared that the deceased, together
with his father and brother, were engaged in narlgaUg slugs
craft, heavily laden with goods down the river, on the turn of the ebb
tide ; that while the rot mer was pulling the bow oar, in pawing
through the centre arch, the tide running very strong at the time,
by some accident which was not explained, the father and bro-
ther hash g their backs to him at the time the deceased's head
came in contact with one of the starlings of the bridge, and
was thrown into the water. The relatives of the deceased beams
a cry, immediately missed him, but it was totally out of their
power to render him the slightest assistance ; the barge, impala
along by the force of the current, which was amaziugiy strong,
passed over the body of the unfortunate man, who did not rise to
the surface. On Friday the body of the deceased was picked up
posite the Custom-house, very much disfigured in consequence o:
the agitation of the water, caused by the high tides which have bra
prevalent since the accident happened. The body of the deceived
was, however, recognized by the relatives by a particular mark.
On examining the head, there also appeared to be the mark pro-
duced by the blow against the starling of the bridge, which there
him into the river. The Jury, without hesitation, returned 3
verdict of " Accidental Beath."

BIRTHS.
At the Vicar/17e, Hatfield, on the Ist instant, the sire of the no
Benjamin Peile, of a son.

On the 3d insiant, at kis house in .Montague•square, the lady 0
Henry Stone, Epq. of a son.
On the 3d instant, Mrs. George Corbett, of Northampton•slturr
of a son.