The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-19 00:00:00

POLICE.

Al A NSION-HOUSE.
Woolf Lee was yesterday brought before the LORD MAYOR, foe
a aveionti examination, charged with having committed an offence
ueder the Act called '• Jon.ohan Wild's Act."
The prisoner is son of Herman Lee, who was one of the most ex-
teosive•recrivers of stolen gaols in the country. He it was who
purchased the threat deal, immediately after it had been stolen, a
good many years ago. fhe son has gone by his real name. and
the assumed name. of Willi:an Leigh. J. H. Leigh, Gable, and
(/,ball, each of which he adopted in different neighbourhood*.
When the prisoner was pot to the bar, he addressed the Lord
Mayor thus t--••DI y Lord, I had order-al the attendance of a pro.
te•sional man in this case ; he is not present, but we Rhea allow
the examination to go forward, if you permit me to cross-examir.e
1.4. e witnesses•"
The Loan MAYOR said that he should wait until the Solicitor
should make his appestautice. The prisoner should not have it to
say d.at every advantage was not given to hint.
bee (with greet contidence and familiarity)—ll'ell, well, my
Loid, we'll go on with the case.
The ease was then proceeded with.
Mr. Fossiek, whose ►hop was robbed of umbrellas and other
articles, attended, and stated, in 'newer to twine questions put
to him by the Lord Mayor, as follows :—The prisoner called
im 04, and said be could get me pan of the property that had been
amlen from me. I did not pay him any mom y upon the OCC3SiIYI ;
but I raid, I was willing to do so, upon the recovery of the leo-
Petty and the prosecution of the thieves. Ile said that all
04 might be done, and he asked ate for some property like
tbrat Iribial had been stolen from us. We let him have
sinebrella, as a pattern, but we never saw him or the umbrella till

pow.

-----.-.- -
Lee-1 am ready to give up the umbrella. which I took merely
tonesist me in the investigation. (A laugh.)
The boan MAYOR observed to the City Solicitor, who at-
tended upon the occasion, that this case, he apprehended, did not
come within the meaning of the Act, as Alte kowsick hid given no
money.
The CITY SOLICITOR was of the same opinion.
31r. Penick further steted, that lie was present when the pri-
soner spoke to Mr. Prior, the silversmith, who had been robbed
eubsemirntly. Lee said to Mr. Prior that the stolen property was
at three different places ; and that, if he was sufficiently remune-
rated, he would produce it.
The LORD MAYOR—What did he say would be a sufficient re-
muneration ?-Mr. Foesick-He said he would be satisfied with
30/. ; to which Mr. Prior replied, that if the property was restored
and the parties brought to Justice, he should willingly give that
mum. Lee said, upon receiving this aesurance, that he thought
there would be no difficulty in fiading the parties, and bringing
them to justice.
The LORD MAYOR called upon Cowton, the officer, to whom
the prisoner had gone to make inquiries about the robberies, to state
the whole of the transaction before the City Solicitor.
Cowton said, that Lee had applied to him, representing him-
self as • person in the Secretary of State's Office, and obtained
from him a sovereign and a half-crown, under pretence of enabling
him to recover the property stolen front Mr. Fosaick aid from
Mr Prier.
Lee (to Ceston)-Allow me to ask you a question or two. Did
I rot distinctly tell you, that nothing would do, without prosecut-
ing the thieves, as well as recovering the property?-Cowton.
Certainly me, in the first instance. \Viten I told you that myself,
you agreed with me ; but the proposal never 060: wed with you.
Lee-Did 1 mot ray that it would be advisable to get a sample of
the thing, that were stolen, before we proceeded any further ?-
Coston. Yes, I admit that you did.
Irce-Well, that shows that my intention was a good one, al-
though it did not prove successful. Cl what offence am I guilty ?
The Loan Mevoe-You are here accused of obtaining money
under pretence of getting back part of the property that had been
stolen.
Drinkwater (who, Lee said, had sent hint to Cowton) stated
that the prisoner called upon him, mat asked him whether therc
was any reward for the two robberies? He replied in the negative,
but sent him for further information to Cowton. Lee told him upon
the occasion, that he knew *here Mr. Prior's plate was.
The LORD MAYOR-Do you know this prisoner?
Drinkwater said he did know him formerly ; he believed Lee to
have been • pawnbroker.
Lee-My Lord, I never slid 1 knew positively where the plate
was ; I only said I believed I did. Where, if I knew it positively,
would have been the use hi my wishing to get three warrants
Drinkwater and Cowton both declared that he said he knew
where the property lay.
The ahopnian to Mr. Capper, at whose house Lee met Mr. Prior
and Alr. Foesiek, said he distinctly heard Lee state that he knew
where 'the plate lay. Lee also said that he was an officer in the
Secretary of State's office, and above Gorton in power.
Mr. rossick-lie told us that he could search far stolen goods
without a search.warrant, and that he was far above all other offi-
cers.- (A laugh.)
Lee-I am willing to return the sovereign which I borrowed of
Cowton. Ile understood the business. He lent it to me. lie was,
in fact, to hate his expenses paid and balfolthe reward.
The LORD MAYOR—Is that the case ?
Cowton replied that it certainly was the case.
The Loan 31er oa admitted that bee had managed the case
with a great deal of ingenuity.
Lce-There is nothirg against me whatever. (A laugh.)
A publican, named Carruthers, stepped forward and said, that
his house had been robbed some time ago, and that Lee came to
him in a bustle, said he would take the thieves, staid up all night
in the house, and demanded to be paid for his trouble next morning.
The Conductor of the Bow-street Patrol stated that the prisoner
had pasted himself off as an officer of that establishment.
Mary Elliott, the wife of a watchman, stated that Lee demanded
ha. from her for having assisted her husband in taking a person In
the street. who was accused of having robbed the house. Upon
that occasion Lee carried a staff, and lie assumed the air of a
man in power, in tossing about the furniture.
The street-keeper at Islington stated, that upon one occasion bee
produced a staff, and said, 6* I ant Lee, of Hatton-garden, and I
demand your assistance in dragging along this woman," alluding
to a woman whom he searched. Lee, upon that occasion, on find-
ing that there was no stolen property about the woman, said the
thing was unimportant, and let her go. (A laugh.)
The Conductor of the Bow-street Patrol said, be hod sent to
Bow-street, to ascertain whether the prisoner was an officer • and
had received a total denial, signed by Bishop, Taunton, and the
other principal officers.
Lee-If Mr. Bishop was here, he would give me the very best of
characters.
The Conductor of the Patrol-The prisoner carried things with
so high a hand, that lie said before the people that he was my mas-
ter, and could punish me if I did rot do aslie desired.
The holm %%von, to the prisoner-Are you Lee, of Hatton.
garden
Lee-Yes; fourteen years ago I was sworn in at Hatton-garden.
(A laugh.)
The LORD MAYOR—WeII. I'll adjourn the ease till Saturday.
Lee-Not till Saturday ; that is my Sabbath; let it be Friday.
But you have no charge against me.
The holm Marott-You'll find that we have quite enough
against you.
The ease was then remanded till Friday.
SINGULAR CASE.-Two 'icemen, named Brown and Gordon,
were charged with having robbed a gentleman named Lane, of
three 51. notes of the Ipswich Bank. •
The prosecutor, In walking through Bishop agate-street on Se-
tarday night, was addressed by Brown, who took him by the arm,
and asked him very kindly to take a walk with her. He disen-
gaged himself, and Brown walked away; but he had rather a
I-rumble' in his trowaers pocket, and upon Pu
Ong his hands in, he
felt that his notes were gone. He immediately turned reund, a
saw her talking to a Captain of a ship. He put his hand upon her,
and told the Captain that she had just robbed him ; to which the
Captain replied, that nobody was more likely to do a thing of the
kind. She was then conducted to the watch-house, where she was
-searched, but no money watt found upon her. The Captain, how.
ever, described Gordon, who he said had suddenly left Brown,
when the latter spoke to him, and an officer was despatched after
the prisoner, who was soon afterwards found in Houndsclitch, and
taken to the watch-house end searched. While the operation of
searching was going forward, she made the meet desperate resist-
ance red outcry. The notes soddenly dropped near the spot where
she was searched, and ell who were present were convinced that
it was from her they had dropped.
The Captain stated that Brown, when she addressed him, said.
" I remember, Sir, having seen you before ; and I am very sorry
for the robbery I committed upon you some years mg.." She had
scarcely said the words, when Alr. Lane came up and accused her.
The Loan MAYOR—And were you robbed by her ?
The Captain- Exactly six years ago I was robbed by her of a
ler note, on the very spot where I met her on the night of this rob-
bery. 1 did not prosecute her, on account of the trouble and an-
noyeance ; and I never saw her since until Saturday night.
The two prisoners denied that they knew any thing about the
motes.
The officers said they were two of the most desperate thieves.
Nothing was too hot or too heavy for them. They had stolen hun-
dreds of pounds out of gentlemen's pockets.
They were then fully committed.
BOW-STREET.
Some time ago Mr. J. Dickson, a gentleman connected with the
Vige Bay Company, was brought bee:tee the M .gistrates of this
office, elierged on the information of Mr. %Yin. Taylor, of Craven.
street. terand, with intending to commit a breach of the peace, by
lighting a duel with John Sydney Taylor, Esq. of Darden-court,
Temple, banister, informant's brother. Mr. Dickson, it then up.
peered, had name notion to suppose that Mr. Taylor was the writer
of some articles width appeared in the Morning Herold a short
time previously, reflecting upon the conduct of the individuals con-
nected with the Vigo llay project, and ma e particularly upon the
character of himself (Mr. Dickson). Mr. Dickson having been (as
it was mated) unable in obtain an explanation from Alf. Taylor, he
applied an (lenitive term to the latter gentleman, and in consequence
each appointed a friend tearrange a meeting. elf. Steele, HA the"
friend of Mr. Dickam, and lilt. Murphy, a literary gentleman, on
Iseult* of Mr. Taylor, met (on a Saturday), and arranged that a'
meeting should take place on the same day at Norwood. The
parties did meet, but lily. William Taylor havitig in tie interim
given Information to the Magistrates here, they were arrested soon
after they had taken the ground by Ituiliven the officer, on a war-
rant, and brought up said held to bail. lnenediately upon their
arrest a proposition was made that they should meet as soon as poe-
slide at (Asia. wit:eh proposition was understood by alt. Steele to
be agreed upon on ad side*. On the unit day, however, atter the
examination had taken place at this office. Mr. Steele received an
intimation from Mr. 31urphy that Mr. Taylor lad departed upon
circuit, and teat he had desired him to say, that after what had
passed on Saturday, he (Mr. Te)te) should decline meeting Mr.
Dickson under any eitcoinstanete. A long correspondence fol.
Inwed between 3lr. Murphy and Mr. Steele, which the latter gen-
tleman caused to be published as an advertisement iu the Tyner
newspaper of Friday last. The No.of the Tinier paper, containing
the correspondence alluded to, found its way (we tip not know how)
into the bands of Mr. Balls, who, on Monday evenitig, desired
Rothven the officer to read the letters, and then asked hint whether,
in his opinion, they were calculated or iutended to provoke a breach
of the peace? liaitliven haring answered in the affirmative, Mr.
flails desired him to give an information on omit to that effect,
'Weil was done, and yesterday morning Mr. Dickson and Mr.
Steele were brought here on a warrant by Taunton.
Mr. netts, addressing Mr. Steele, said, " I hold in my hand.
Sir, the 7'inter newspaper of the kith inst., in .which I have read
several letters beating your name, anti, as I presume, published by
your authority, and which appear to me to have been publiehtd
with a view to provoke a breach of the peace."
Mr. Steele-I beg to inform you, Sir. that so far was it front my
intention to provoke a new breach of the peace by the publication
of throe letters, my object was, by publishing, to put an end to the
bustling foe ever ; and, as a proof of this dispositfon, I told the
Editor of the Timer that that was my object. I esnaidere.l
Taylor to be so degraded by his conduct, that if Mr. Dickson
would still place hiniseif in my hem's, I could as soon think of
allowing him to meet a person front the hulks.
Here Mr. HALLS interrupted Mr. Steele, and sald he would not
sit to listen to such an attack upon an absent individual. Such an
obserretion was highly improper, and cetild not be permitted in any
Court of Justice.
Mr. Steele apologized for using such language, aul hoped Mr.