The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-04-27 00:00:00

14rbii•eatot 'stalking near St. Clement's Church,
Strand, heard a man call mitts that his pocket was
picked i he saw the Prisoner running, and another
man followed and overtook him, when the Prisoner
drewa kaife upon him, nd swore he should let him
go ; in the mean timea he had dropped the hand-
kerchief, and a little girl, who saw the transaelion,
picked it up.
The Court sentenced him to seven years trans-

portation.
William Planner and James Ow, two sailor-boys,
about seventeen years old, were indiaed for having
in their possession 381 b. of cordage, belonging to
the King's stores, they not being contraaors.
Mr. Guitar v, for the prosecution, observed, that
an indiament of this nature was not at all common
in that Court. From the immense consumption of
cordage in His Majesty's navy, frequent plunder
had occurred, which rendered it necessary to have
an as of Parliament passed, and the cordage was
afterwards male in a particular manner, with a
white thread run through it, the contrary way ;
therefore, in order to prow° the cordage, and
from the impossibility of detefting the thief, or pto-
secuting parties, as receivers of stolen goods, the as
had made it a felony for any person to have such in
his possession ; and, from the frequency of the of-
fence, a further aft was passed about five years ago,
making this crime a particular felony, liable to se-
vere punishment.
The Etas of this case were as follow : About
eight o'clock on the evening of the Sth of April, Mr.
Faint, the Surves or and Police-Officer of the River,
saw the Prisoners rowing a hoar up from near Black-
wall ; there were three other persons in the boat ;
and he discovered that something was concealed un-
der a wet sail ; upon examining it, be found the
cordage in que.tion, which he immediately knew to
belong to the King's stores. Uponenqttiry, be was
informed by the Prisoners, that they had been at
Woolwich, and while creeping (dragging the both
tern of the river) between a hulk and a 6e gun
ship, they found the cordage. The other men
knew nothing about it. The value of the c-rdage
was about two guineas ; and, from the frequency
of this pre tine, it was essentially necessary some
example should be made.
Ihese falls being proved, the fury found both
prisoners—Grate ; but, from the good character
which had been given of William Plummer, who
was the chief support t): his widow mother, the
Jury recommended him to mercy.
William Ilemity was indiaed for receiving a cop-
per boiler, knowing it to be stolen.
There was nothing of notoriety in this case; but
the prisoner himself was the companion of Hay
wood, who was executed lately at Newgate, and
conduaed himself with .o much hardiness upon the
scaffold. The prisoner was tried along with Hay-
wood, for tutting and maiming, and was ariquitteo.
He was afterwards apprehended and tried at the
Old Bailey for a burglary, of which he was also
acquitted ; the indiament having charged the break-
ing into the dwelling-house, and the evidence only
pfoviiig the breaking out.
The robbery of the copper boiler was committed
on F: id.ey, the Prisoner was tried for the burglary
on Saturday, and discharged, and, on Sunday
morning, at six o'clock, he was apprehended with it
in his possession.
The Jury found him Geiho, and the remit order-
ed him into close custody until they should consider
of his punishment.
The brother to this man is the person who was
committed a few days ago to gaol, on suspicion of
the murder of a Serjeaat of the Guards, at Tuthill-
fields.