The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-11-18 00:00:00

GUILDIIALL

EITINSIVE 1101311211 Y BY A SEI: VAN T, INSTIGATZII HT
THE REtEIVE R.—Another instance, if such were wanted, to
chew that if there were no receivers there would be no thieves, and
that to the facility with which stolen property may be disposed of is
to be attributed the lamentable frequency of robbery by servants,
occurred at this office yesterday.
Join Therms Godfieg, a lad about 15, :Wry Eark, an old
woman who keeps a sort of chandler's shop in Creed-lane, Black-
friars, and Johrs Eark, a grown young man, her son, were charged
before the Sitting 31agistrate. 31y. Alderman IParr it max ; the
tint for stealing a considerable quantity. of brass articles, and the
latter two for receiving the same, knowing them to be stolen.
The history of the case was somewhat curious. Eark, the son,
had offered for rale, about eight or nine days ago, at the shop of
3lr. Roper, Snow-hill, a manufacturer in metals, a quantity of
brass of various descriptions. Mr. Roper is trot in the habit of buy-
ing old metal, but judging from the nature of the articles that they
had been stolen, be said nothing to excite suspicion, but readily
bought them, for the express purpose of tracing out the robbery.
He made inquiry among the trade, but could obtain Donate of any.
body having lost such articles. In a day or two Earle called again
with another parcel of similar articles, and as Mr. Roper had learnt
out who he was, and as the parcel was not very considerable, he
bought this also, in the came cautious manner, and continued his
exertions to discover from whence, as he supposed, they had been
stolen, keeping the total distinct from everything else, that
he might identify it, when he should discover the thief. On
Tuesday, however, Earle came a third dote, and judging all
safe, fr;m the facility with which Mr. Roper had purchased of
him before, now brought a load of upwards of 1101ba. weight.
Mr. Roper now felt that the robbery was of too extensive a na-
ture to be permitted to go on any longer, and accordingly had him
taken into custody. The articles, en inspection, were found to
be parts of the machinery used in the manufacture of telescopes,
and other optical instruments, as well as tools used in that busi-
ness. This discovery naturally led to an inquiry at Messrs. Dol.
lend's, extensive makers is that line, in St. Paul's Church-yard,
who were able to identify the articles as their property, and as har-
ing been stolen front their premises. The lad, Godfrey, who is the
son of a workman in their employ, that has been with them up-
wards of twenty rears, And has lately been taken into their service
himself to turn the wheel of a lathe, was charged with the theft.—
Ile at lint denied it stoutly, hut the officers beteg sent few, he con-
fessed having stolen the property, and disposed of it to the old
woman, the prisoner, Earle's mother.
As there was nu evidence of the stealing, besides the lad's own
confession, which however voluntary, could be evidence only as
against himself, end no proof against the receivers without his tea-
umony, it was judged of most importance to punish the receivers,
and Godfrey was accordingly admitted as witness, and being sworn,
said 'dist he knew dirs. Earle by being sent on errands to the shop
by his rather and mother ; that sloe learnt fn.nt hint where he was
in employ, and told her if lie could bring heron.), thing she would
give hint threepence or fourpenre a pound fur it, and that he ac-
•:ordingly took the articles at VntiJUS MOM, and sold them to her
at her own shop. He had taken her articles six or seven times,
and selected front those produced such as he remembered to have
Eiden rt,tl sold to her. .

Mr. Alderman AVAITIIMAN questioned the lad very closely as
to the origin of :hit convection with the old woman, and he
distincly swore that ahe first spoke to him upon the subject; that
hit tiking the articles was wholly in consequence of what she said
to him, and tli:.; he should not have thought of doing much a thing
but from her miggevion. Ile had no acquaintance, he said, with
her ?on, the other prisoner, but he was present in the whop two or
three i'lll42* when he ((lodfrey) took articles there to sell. That lie
SAW hit motlicr boy tkem, and took some of the articles up, and
examined then, at the time.

Mr. I icsirp,e Helicon!, who identified the articles, said, that as
metal alone, such as were old were worth 7d. a poond, and the new
twin Ifid. to Is. a polnd, according their quality: but as menu.
lactated art:tles they wire worth to him several times the amount.
John Earl o, in his defence, denied knowing any thing more of
the transnet ion than that he was sent by his modlcr to dispose of
the metal.

.....
The mother said she knew nothing of the boy, and had bought
the articles as old metal, and given a fair price for them.
There beiug among the articles produced some that did not
belong to iDt. Uuilontl, and of which Godfrey had no knowledge,
it was obvious that something like the same system of depredauon
was being practised, and probably by some other servant, at the
old woman's suggestion; and the two parcels bought by 51r.
Roper, nut being at the office, the prisoners were remanded for a
further examination to-morrow.