The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-24 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

A BURGLARY SIWOULARLY---PREYEXTED.—Two fellows,
named Thomas Jotter and John Pipe, were brought up for final
examination on Saturday before the Sitting Magistrate, Mr. Alder-
man ANSLEY. The circumstances of the case against them were
singular, developing a well-planned extensive robbery, detected and
prevented by accident alone.
Mr. Kent, Russia merchant, has very extensive premises in
Falcon-street, Aldersgate-street ' • they are occupied wholly in
business ; nobody sleeps there, and his men generally leave their
employ at six o'clock at night. it happened, however, on Thursday
last, that one of Mr. Kent's men, who kad been sent out with the
waggon, left it in die street while he went ii.to a public-house to
drink, and in the interim some one had driven it off, and the car-
man, after much inquiry, getting no trace of it, returned to tell 3lr.
Kent of his disaster. He despatched people in all directians, and
the cart was ultimately found. These circumstances had kept Mr.
Kent himself, and several of the men, about the premises tall late
in the evening. About eight o'clock, Higgins, one of the men,
having occasion to go down into the cellar with a candle in his
hand. saw a man (the prisoner Jones) close by the dust-bin, which
was large enough for him to have hid himself in, but Higgins had
come upon him too suddenly, and knowing that he was probably
out of the hearing of any body, and suspecting that Jones might
be armed, he seized upon him without much parley. Jones struck
his candle out, and resisted violently. Higgins, however, still held
him, and hallooing " murder" with all his strength of lungs, was
very fortunately heard by some of the other men, who ran to his
assistance, and the prisoner was secured. Taylor, an officer, was
sent for, and on searching the fellow, found all the necessary im-
plements and accompaniments for housebreaking, viz., a phos
phorus box, matches, and candle, skeleton keys, a small and a
large crow-bar, &c. &c. As the premises are closed at six o'clock
generally, and would have been so closed that evening but for the
circumstance about the cart, the prisoner had entered and made his
way to the cellar -before that hour, and as it would have been un-
safe to have attempted anything till towards midnight, he had pre.
pared to enjoy himself in thy interval, and had accordingly brought
with him some bread and cheese, his pipe and some tobacco.—
With a view to detect his accomplices, who, it was expected,
would be making their appearance about the premises to be let in
by him, it was determined not to give the altrrn by taking him
off at once to the Compter ; and a temporary prison was accord.
ingly made of Alr. Kent's large iron safe, which they. cleared of all
its books and papers, and locked him in it. The prisoner took all
this very coolly for an hour or two, begging only, when they went
to give him air. that they would take him off at once to the watch.
house or the Cornpter, as he was getting so d—d cold and un-
comfortable, with which request they at length complied.
A good look-out was kept about the premises, and early in
the morning, before day-light, two or three fellows were seen
lurking about, and one, in particular, peeping occasionally through
the key-hole. The description of this fellow answering to that of
John Pipe, who had formerly been in Mr. Kent's employ, he was
sent for, and recognized by a boy of the name of Daniels, who
had seen him two or three times in the very act of peeping,
and John Pipe was accordingly taken into custody as an accom-
plice. lie, however, disclaimed all knowledge of Jones; and
there being no direct proof to connect him with him, he was dia.
charged, with a serious admonition from the Alderman.
Jones, under the adrift of a lawyer,looking personage, who
attended on his behalf. declined saying any thing in his defence at
present, and was committed for trial.