The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-17 00:00:00

POLICE.

BOW-STREET.
On Saturday evening a well-dressed young man of the Jewish
persuasion, named Somnel Beloteo, brother of the pugilists of that
name, was brought before Mr. DI 'want:LT., charged on suspi.
coon of committing a robbery upon the person of Mt. James COX.
head, a professor of music, in the pit avenue of Covent-garden
Theatre. The prisoner was fully committed for trial at the Old
Bailey.
While this case was being heard, an elderly gentleman, a
foreigner, complained that he had just been robbed of his watch,
and a purse, containing thirty soyereitms, in the pit avenue of the
sante theatre. lie was going in with his friend, when one man
pressed against his stomach, while two others pushed him from
behind. When thus hemmed in, his hat was nearly knocked off;
aid he raised his hands to protest it. Ile had scarcely got into the
theatre when he found that his pockets *ere completely empty.
In the course of the evening another Gentleman complained of
being robbed at the same place.
Robes, Collins, a simple-looking youth, was brought on a war.
rant, charged by Major-General Alexander Dyes, of Abbott's
Langley House, Herts, with stealing a suit of livery, a livery
great coat, and a hat, the, property of the General.
General Dye. stated, that the prisoner had been his footman
about nine months. There was a stipulation that he should have a
suit of livery, hat, &c. every six months, and that the old suits
were mire Ins perquisite. He had a new suit three months ago,
and on Wednesday (we understood, but the General spoke in an
extremely low tone of voice) he left the house at six in the morn.
in, without arty previous warning, taking his livery with him.
The prisoner wept occasionally, and when asked what lie had to
say, declared that he thought the things were his perquisite, or lie
should not have taken them.
Mr. M rwsitt:r.L said it was not very unlikely that be had taken
them under such an impression. but he should be informed that he
was quite wrong, and that he was as much guilty of stealing as if
he had taken way Mtn kindid ptyperty.
The pdrionald he Ina ftd sorry- for having done such a thing. and
be hoped the General would forgive him.
The prisoner's brother offered to resters all things to the
General.
Mr. Altxsstvt.t ordered the prisoner to be taken out, and then
put it to General Ovee whether he intended to prosecute or not ?
The General replied in the affirmative.
Mr. M Nano r. said there could be little doubt that the prisoner
bad acted under a mistaken notion of right, and, perhaps, the warn-
ing and fright would be a sufficient punishment to him.
Gleneral l)yce said he should prosecute, unless Mr. Illinahull
could punish him summarily.
Mr. 3I txsitc T. I. said he had no power to punish him, unless by
remanding him for a few days, and that he was unwilling to de.
Ile was always anxious to avoid sending a man to prison if he pos-
sibly could. It contaminated him in some degree for the rest of his
life, and sometimes deprived him of the power of earning his
bread honestly ever after. Perhaps the General would make up
his mind by the evening (this examination took place in the
morning.)
The General wished to hare a longer time, and Tuesday next
was at length agreed upon, General Gyee observing that he sup-
posed the prisoner would be confined in the mean time.
Smith suggested that the prisoner :could be sent to a watch.
house, as being preferable to ajail, until Tuesday.
Mr. MINSIIUL L ordered him to be conveyed to a watch-house,
and having previously directed the livery hat to be taken from him,
he now said, that, perhaps, the General would allow him to wear it
through the streets, as he had no other here.
General Dyee—Yes, but understand, I do not make him a pee.
sent of it.

The iiiisocer was then taken away.
HATTON:GARDEN.

lirsotwtirws' AssitattEs Youxas--Jeart Gafrife appeared
upon a summons, to answer the complaint of Dominichine
soli, for unlawfully obtaining an organ (his property), which bit
valued at eighteen guineas.
The office was crowded to excess with Italians, anxious to hear
the decision on a question which was not only interesting to them,
but to trades-people in general. Several interpreters attended; but,
like many great commentators, they rather increased the obscurity
of the subject. At length Mr. Smith, solicitor, of Golden-square,
came forward, and explained to the Magistrates the circumstances
out of which the present case originated. He stated that about eight
months ago an Italian, named Moguls, an extensive organ-builder,
applied for the benefit of the Insoit'ent Debtors' Act; but on the
hearing of his petition, he (Mr. Smith) was employed to oppose
him, on the ground that a few days before he went into prison he
made a nominal sale of most of his property to complainant, thereby
giving, at all events, an undue preference, in consequence of
which the Court sentenced him to six months imprisonment. The
defendant was appointed assignee; and on searching after the pro.
perty which had been fraudulently made away with, he found the
organ in question, in the possession of a third party, which he de-
tained, that he might convert the sale of it to the benefit of the
creditors at large. The complainant, however, claimed it, on the
ground that tie had paid for it in the regular bona fide dealing ; and
that the detention of it under such circumstances amounted almost
to felony.
The Magistrates, however, took a different view of the case.
Tbey concaved that, under such circumstances, an assignee acting
for the general interests of the creditors, could not be supposed as
endeavouring to convert the property. to his own private advantage,
and that he was authorized in resisting the claim, until that claim
be legally established, which could only be done by an action
at law.
Mr. Smith, in corroboration of the Magistrate's decision, further
stated, that complainant, a few days ago, applied to Sir R. Thuile
for a searth.warrant under the present circumstances, which, how.
ever, Sir Richard refused to grant.
The case was accordingly dismissed.