The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-21 00:00:00

POLICE.

ROBBERY AT ST. GEORGE'S HOSPITAL
Alas L 110R01701144T RE ET.-01 Saturday William Mnvninr,
an outpatient of St. George's Hospital, was brought before Mr.
Dyer, en suapieinn of having committed various thefts in the in-
stitution, and par;icalatly as to taking two cases of surgical instru-
ments.
Thomas Charlton, the porter to the hospital, stated that the pri-
soner had been some time an out-pensioner. Lively two cases tf
surgical instruments had been stolen from the surgery, which he
suspected the prisoner to have taken. One of the gentlemen's hats
had been removed from the place in which he left it, to a stove in
the waiting-room, where it had been found by mere accident. The
stove has a front that screws on, when a fire is not wanted, so that it
would serve as a closet. After finding the hat in the stove, witness
screwed the front up to the extent of the worm of the screw, with
a determination to watch the thief who might go to the stove for the
hat. That morning the prisoner came and asked for the surgeon,
,ho was not then in the way. There was a boy in the waiting-
room, whom the prisoner sent up stairs for a roller and bandage, to
afford him the opportunity of looking into the stove in his absence;
after which the prisoner went away without having his leg dressed.
11 itIICPS went into the room, and found that the stove had been un-
screwed. The prisoner was stopped, and given into the custody of
Turner, the beadle. He had been at the hospital the day the hat had
been removed to the stove:- As it was very likely the prisoner took
the eases of instrutr.ents,witness wished to have a warrant to search
his lodgings.
Valentine, the officer, said the prisoner was a known thief, and a
regular associate of thieves.
Mr. DYER thought time was good ground to grant a warrant,
and remanded the prisoner for further examination.

TIIE BEGGARS' AMANUENSIS.
Henry Sparing, a deformed little cripple of four feet high, who
writes petitions for the beggars and defences for thieves, and acts
their general instructor on all cases of moment, brought up Thomas
Kinnard, his landlord, on an assault warrant.
The complainant is so shockingly &famed that-Mr. Dyer said
he was an improper object to be suffered in the street. His body is
twisted sight and left, and his legs lock at every step, so that he
shuffles only five or six inches at a move. Though he does not tusk
charity, yet by placing his back against the rails, and supporting
himself on his stick, many well.disposed persons Ore him money in
pity of his deformity. Sparing applied at the 'Ace on Friday for
a warrant to he granted him gratis. pleading his poverty, thott.rh
veer decently dressed; but the Magistrate undetstanding the habits
of the applicant, refused the warrant without the lee, with the ob.
serration that if his complaint turned out to be well founded. the
money should he returned to him. On Saturday Sparing and his
landlord attended.
Sparing said he owed his landlord 10s. for rent, for a lodging in
George-yard ; that he paid him 4s. fid.. all the money he had, when
Isis landlord broke into Isis room, on Wednesday, turned his things
out of the place, broke his bedstead to pieces, and knocked his head
against the wall.
Valentine said the complainant was the constant companion of
thieves, harbouring them, giving them advice, and writing pea-

tions and letters fi;them.— --
Kinnard paid he had wanted to get rid of the complainant for
some time. lie had a art of characters always in his place that he
did not approve of. Sparing offered him pawn.tickets for the rent,
which he refused, but let him take away part of his things. Know-
ing that the complainant had money, he (Kinnard) told him if he
did not pay he would seize his pods, when the other toll him he
was not going, and should not pay him till he went. Afterwards
Snaring gave him a ,hilling, and ultimately 3s. 6d. more, and he was
thrust out of the room by one of his companions, named Collins,
who told Sparing to go to the police office and swear his life in dan-
er. Defendant forced his way tow the room to g.-. 1 his hat, but
did not assault him.
Mr. DY Ell t 3 Sparing—You know I have reprc'iended you
twenty times, and promised you an asylum for life, to keap you out
of the streets. It is astonishing to me that the officeni do not take
you up for begging.
Sparing—l do not beg, your Worship; I get a good bit of money
by writing.
Mr. DYER—You may not ask for money ; but placing your
back against the rails when ladies are passing i. all the same thing
—that is begging. I shall discharge the warrant.
Snaring—ls he (the landlord) not to pay the expenses?
Mr. Man—No. I have discharged the warrant.
AN INCORRIGIBLE BEGGAR.

Samuel Murdie, an old beggar, well known for the last ten years,
was brought to the office by the officers of the Mendicity Society.
In his pocket was found a book of pictures and memoranda, one a
registet of 21 commitments to Brixton, Bridge-street, Bridewell,
and Tothillstields, fur various periods, from seven to twenty-one
davit. He had a counterfeit sovereign and a bad sixpence.
lie was committed to gaol for one month.
CURIOI7S ACCUSATION. . .

......
Wm. Dalknwrr was brought up on a warrant, charging him
with taking Miss glary Ann Gray to Mitcham fair. keeping her
out all night. attempting her seduction, and calumniating her "fair
fume," by an assertion that she was his whenever he pleased.
Miss Gray, a girl about three and-twenty, said the defendant in-
vite] her to go with him in his chaise-cart from Kensington to
Mitcham fair, which she consented to, on his promise to bring her
bark safe. NV ken they got to Mitcham, he took her to a house,
saying the people were friends of his, and would let her sleep with
them ; instead of which, he endeavoured to persuade her to sleep
with him, and becati‘e she would not he struck her in the side. She
slept with the people of the house, and while they were walking,
out next day, he told a young man who was behind them that he
could have her when he pleased. Sht had known him two or three
months. _ . • _ _ _

Dallemon said he went to her on Sunday afternoon, and asked
her if ,he would go to the fair, when she told a young girl to my
she would. On Tuecduy he took her in his cart to Mitcham, where
they stopped oil night; she slept below and he up smiirs. lie never
put the question to her about sleeping with hint. It he meant any
thing bad, there was an opportunity on Sunday night. She re-
mained with him all next day, when he brought her back. He ne-
ver told the young twin what she had stated. She had run away
from her father and mother, who had asked him to persuade her to
return.

Mary Ann admitted leaving her parents, whom site was deter-
mined never to live with again.
Mr. DYER thought the complainant's conduct very strange, in
staying all neat day with him, and asked what her object was in
taking nut a warrant.
Miss Gray said she only wished to be preserved from further mo.
lestation. _ . .

Mr. DYER said the warrant ,hould be kept open for one month,
and if Dal amore molested her in that time, he would hold him to
bail.

Ana Arnold. a wretched-looking woman, of about GO, was
charged by Mr. Charles Smith, No. 2011, Piccadilly, with making
a disturbance and raising a mob at his house on Friday night. He
stated that she was a distant relation to him, and was perpetually
annoying him and other branches of the family.—lle had done every
thing in his power to settle her comfortably in the country, :nit 10
no purpose. She constantly got rid of every thing, and return& to
town. It was very hurtful to his feelings to make soch a complaint;
but he was willing to make any arrangement to make her coin. •
((triable. provided she would cease her abuse snit annoyance.
Mr. DYER remarked, that he could do nothing but hold her to
bail, and asked her how she could Ju.,tify herself for such miscon.
duct ? She replied, that when she we.tt to complainant's house she
had no intention of making any disturbance, und promised to keep
from his house in future.
One of the Beadles stated that she lied been in his:custody several
times within the last twelve months on the same charge. She ws
ordered to find trail.