The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-09 00:00:00

DIARYLE'BONE-OFFICE.

Yesterday, four men, named Gro;ge Smith, Edward Varney,
William Twiild!c, add Reuben Buck, all noted characters, being
under the surveillance of did police, were brought up for final exa-
mination, charged with stealing an immense quantity of leaf} from
the premise% ov.llr. Wingrove, a linendraper, at Hammersmith ;
and Samuel White, a dealer in marine stores, at Kensington Gravel-
pits, was charged with receiving the same, knowing it to have
been stolen.
Mr. Ha R it attended for the receiver.

Thomas Shellsworth, a Bow-street patrol, stationed on the Ux-
bridge-road, near Sheppard's Bush, stated, that about 8 o'clock
on the morning of Friday, the 2-tth of February last, he was in-
formed that four auspicious-looking fellows had gone down the road
just before, each carrying a loaded sack. In the course of the
morning he heard that the shop of a Mr. Wingrove, a linendrarur
at Hammersmith, which is detached from his dwelling, had been
unroofed of all the lead, consisting of nearly six hundred weight,
by thieves, during the preceding night. Witness at once sus.
pected that the men who had been seen on the road were the plun-
derers, and that the sacks they were carrying contained Mr.
11'ingrove's lead. From various circumstances, together with BORIC
private information h: received, he was led to believe that the
property was in the possession of the receiver White ; and he ac-
cordingly applied at this office for a warrant to search his pre-
mises at Kensington Gravel-pits, and Morris the officer accom-
panied him in fits execution. In the shop they found upwards of
5 cwt. of sheet-lead, in pieces, exactly corresponding with that,
stolen from Mr. Wingrove's. Witness seized the whole of it, anti
took White into custody, who admitted having purchased the lead
in different quantities, and at different periods, within the last two
months, but of whom he could not tell, and declared his total ig-
norance of its having been stolen.
Mr. Wingrove, the prosecutor, stated that on Thursday, the
23d tilt., about six o'clock in the morning, his servant came to his
bed-room door and said that the rain was coming into the shop in
torrents through the roof, and if it was not remedied, the stock of
linen-drapery would be spoiled. Witness immediately got up, and
looking out of his bed-mom window, which overlooks the shop,
he discovered that the roof had been nearly stripped Mall the lead
during the night.
A plumber, residing at Hammersmith. stated that he was em-
ployed afoot two months Pillq. by,Mr. Winzove to roothisoltop
with had,.Which took nearly six hundred weight, Oud hetaretted
tile pieces lett in White's possession with those left on the roof. ri
ascertained that they corresponded exactly, a circumstance wit b
enables him to swear that the lead produced is the sante, or part,
itotett from Mr. Wingrove's.
Robert Almond, a labourer, stated that on Thursday morning,
the 23.1 ult. he saw the prisoners, with the exception of White, ge.
ing down a cross.road leading from Hatnmeratnith to the Gravely
pits, carrying. sacks, which appeared to contain a great weight.
Witness mentioned the circumstance to the patrol shortly after.
Edward liedgelow, a constable of Hammersmith, stated that he
apprehended Varney and Twindle at the Coach anti Horses at Ham-
mersmith, a day or two after the robbery.
All the prisoners denied the charge, and Mr. HanstEß, for the
receiver (White), endeavoured tosshake the testimony of the wit-
nesses, but he failed, and

Air: ii,swa;:sox (the Magistrate) committed Smith and
TiVindle for the felony, and While tot the receiver ; and ordered
Buck and Varney to be brought up for re-examination to-morrow
(this day). •