The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-14 00:00:00

POLICE►.

GUILDHALL
A DARTWO Ronan R TAKE X.—An attempt,
seven days, was made early on Sunday the second within
mornittg to break into the
shop of Alr. Morris, linen-draper, South-east corner of Fleet Mar-
ket,
and one of the villains was secured ; but the watchman, in ,
consequence of the hurts he had received not being able to we'd, I
the prisoner's examination was deferred till yesterday. Mr. lit: si-
1.11 IIEYS attended as his Solicitor.
The prisoner, a very powerful young man, gave his name Joseph I
Thomas Boyce. John Finnan; the watchman, who appearol
with his heat' and arm bound op, stated, that a little before five I
o'clock in the morning, on his trying the door of the fishmonger's
shop, which adjoins Mr. Morris's, be found it open, and saw two
men standing against the back doer. He went in, and they Mime- Il
diately closed the door, and shut him in. One of them, however,
more intent upon escaing, ran out of the hack door. The other
(the prisoner) exclaimed, " I'll do for you; now you are here I'll
serve you out,"
turned the blow, whit' i die former picked up a heavy crow-bar, and
turned
him a blow with his fist. Fishburn re-
struck him violently with it on the head and on the arm. Fish-
burn finding himself thus unequally matched, cried out lint mercy,
and said, " don't kill me quite." A parley ensuel, and the pet-
aoner told him to sit down on a block at the further end of the shop,
threatening if he stirred it should be worse for him. Having thus,
as he supposed, secured the distant.* of the length of the shop, the'
prisoner started off down the market. Fishburn, though covered
with blood, and completely maimed in his right arm, ma-
naged to spring his rattle and pursue him as fast as he was
able. Two watchmen, whom the rattle had alarmed, joined
in the pursuit, and the prisoner, after a desperate resistance,
was ultimately taken in Shoe.lanc. On examining the premises,
some of the bricks had been taken out of the wall which divides
Mr. Morris's from the fishmonger's shop, and a few minutes more
would have been suffuient to have enabled the villains to make
their entry through. Another crow-bar and a dark-lantern were
found in the shop. Thirteen shillings and some halfpence were
missing from the till of the liAbitionger, and that exact sum was
found upon the person of the prisoner.
Mr. Humphreys had suggested that some other persons should
be placed with the prisoner at the bar, as he understood that the
watchman would not be able to identify him. Fishburn, however,
identified him positively, amid woo explained the reason for Mr.
Humphreys' suggestion, by stating, that the prisoner's girl had
been with hen at the hospital that morning, and offered him 91. not
to swear to him, promising, in case he complied, to make it up 31.,
but that he had rejected the eras.
The prisoner's solicitor advised him to make no defence et pre.
sent, and he was accordingly committed to take his trial for the
robbery, and &detainer to be lodged against him for the assault
upon the officer in the execution of his duty.
The Magistrate, Mr. Alderman C. Ssit i T it, praised highly the
courageous conduct of Fiahbum, and directed a statement of the
case to be sent to the Common-Council of the Ward, with a recom-
mendation from himself, that such vigilance and deteruxination in
the execution of his duty might slot go unrewarded.

ROW-STREET.
Swat-STZALlNO.—Yesterday a nry long examination took
place at this office, before Sir R. Bras tr, of three men who have ,
been some weeks in custody, and have undergone revere( examine.
lions, upon charges of stealing a large number of swans, some the
property of his Majesty, and others that of the Vintners' and Dyers'
Company of the city of London. The prisoners were James and
Miens Smelling (brothers), and Samuel Ilabers, alias Dolby. A
gentleman attended as Solicitor for the Crown, and the legal advisen
of the two Worshipful Companies also appeared for the proem.
tion, _

Those majestic birds, which are so great an ornament to the
Thames above a remain point inland, are almost exclusively the
property of his Majesty anti the two companies above-mentioned;
and the utmost pains are taken to preserve them. The King and
the Companies have each a swan-marker, and other officers con.
netted with the preservation of these birds; and it is the delight of
the worthy citizens who belong to these companies to take excur.
Pious at certain seasons of the year to inspect and mark the swans.
The birds, either dead or alive, however, are too profitable' as
marketable commodities, to escape the attention of those who are
willing to make money in any way that presents itself; and there
are a number of persons on both aides of the Thames, called
swan-hoppers, who make a considerable sum in the course of the
year by this kind of depredation. Daring the late winter, so great
a number has been stolen, that serious apprehensions were en-
tertained that the whole race would be densoyed, unless the
thieves were speedily brought to punishment Bishop, one of
the principal officers, and Avis, a patrol, were employed by the
propnetnrs and after en infinite degree of labour they succeeded
'ln apprehending the three prisoners, and a man named Jaw Rorke,
all inhabitants of Chantey, in Surrey. They had not long been in
custody before John Retake expressed a desire to tell all be knew,
and he made a long confession. He stated in substance, that a
few months ago, at a time when he was in great dissent, and had
made an unsuccessful application to the parish for relief, the pri-
soner James Snelling came to him, and told him that be could
put him in a way of getting a few shillings. He asked
how P the reply was, that be knew where there were some
swans to be got easily. Rage, however, said he would have
nothing to do with it, land Smelling went away. In two or three
days he maw Wake again, and told him he was a d-41 fool not to
earn • few shillings whim he could. without any risk of being bust
for it, and Roake at length eoreiented to join him. They and the
prisoner Haines went that night and caught several swans, which
J. Snelling took the sent morning to beedenhalLmarket, and left
with Mr. Stevens, a sehisman there, upon commission, receiving
something on account. His father was in the habit of sending poul.
try to Mr. Stevens, se that he had • perfect facility of getting rid of
them, Mr. S. sup them to be the property of the old man.
They went upon subsequent occasions and killed a number
of swans, which were disposed of in the same manner. For the
Brat mph* Raab get three shahs's, and for subsequent ones simi.
Lar sums ; and upon the last occasion, when William Snelling
misted, and when they got eight swans, he gut no more than ss.
He remonstrated, but could get no more, and he therefore refused
to have any share in their future swan-bopping expeditions. They
were very soon after apprehended.
SOM. of the stolen swans, which can easily be identified by the
proprietors' marks, were traced to Csataing's a bird-fancier, in
Hatimstead-road ; to Halms, in South Moulton-street ; and to
Captain Henniker's, Ashdown Park, Sussex, by all of whom they
had been purchased from Mr. Stevens.
The three prisoners declined saying anything, and were fully
sommitted for trial.
MARY-LA-BONNE OFFICE.

_
FTJIIT oe A lilon.—.Yesterday, as MT. OILITVITM, the Pre-
siding Magistrate at this office, was disposing of the usual official
business, his ems were ensiled by the most deafening clamours,
and a man and woman rushed into the justice-moat, in a pitiable
state of agitation. The female, in appearance, displayed the effects
of excessive ill usage, and, on presenting herself to the notice of the
Worthy Magistrate, she, In a manner the most incoherent, ex-
claimed—" Oh, my God ! for mercy sake, save me !" and so saying
sunk into her husband's arms, who seemed himself incapable, Irons
some cause or other, to articulate.
Mr. Geier yrs asked the meaning of this strange wens
Welians, an officer of the establishment, said, that the two per-
sona had rushed into the officeJobby to escape an immerses mob
who were after them, hooting in the most outrageous manner, and
giving most striking and unequivocal marks of their determination
to tear them to pieces.
The Magistrate inquired the cause of this popular displeasure?
The officer explained, that the two persons before him were man
and wile, rained Cayzer, and had been indicted by the parish of
St. Mary-la.bonne on charges of a series of cruelties towards three
of the woman's children by a former husband. The Grand Jury
having found the bills true, the individuals were called upon by
their sureties, as is usually the case, to render themselves prisoners
to answer the charges preferred against them ; and yesterday, it
being known that they must appear and surrender at Clerkenwell
prison, the neighbours caused a crowd of persons to assemble to give
them a reception, and to inflict on them a summary punishment.
The crowd ins increased, and their feelings worked upon by the
vociferation, of several itinerant venders of street publications ; one
of which, in the shape of a copy of verses, detailed, in distorted
terms, the charge against the parents, who, on presenting themselves
in the street to proceed to the Sessions House, were assailed on all
sides by the inturiated multitude, and they were, for the safety oil
their lives, compelled to sea refuge in the police office, whither the
populace had followed them indicting, on the way, the most out.
ragecus violence.
This detail excited very great surprise in the office.
Mrs. Came having-somewhat recovered, exclaimed, " What am
Itodo ? I can't venture out to surrender to my bail; if I do, I
sholl be torn to pieces; it is all a conspiracy against me ;" and she
declared that for the last two or three days she had been obliged to
barricado herself in the house to prevent the attacks of persons
who lay in wait for her. Her husband confirmed this story, and
said that his lodgings were now open, and he supposed that every
thing he hell would be stolen or destroyed; all his wife's apparel
had been torn or her back. The woman here held up the remains of
some article* of dress, and displayed several severe bruises and
contusions on her head and face; both her eyes were dreadfully
discoloured and swollen: all this violence she had received front
the mob.

Mr. 13 arprurar said, that it was disgraceful, and it was intoler-
able that such catch-penny publications, detailing accounts in
such false ICflllll. should be allowed.

%Vellum., the officer, said, that he believed that an individual was
present who was instrumental in exciting the mob to this fury, and
pointed out Mr. Henry Decaiane, a respectable tradeonan of Great
Barlowvital, as the person to whom he alluded.

Alt. Decalaite stepped forward, and very indignantly repelled
the actusstion. Ile said that from a feeling of humanity, he
had taken the woman's children into his house, verily believing
that by that course he had saved their lists. On evainining, he
found it to be absolutely necessary, for the sake of public justice,
that a prosecution should be commenced against Mrs. Caper, and
he accordingly caused her to be secured.
Atter sonic other conversation, the Magistrate directed Mr.
Hewitt, the chief officer, to take care no further violence was offered
the two persona. This respectable officer accordingly procured a
coach and sent them to Clerkenwell prison under the escort of
Wellans.
. .

The children, who according to the witnesses were so horribly
ill-t-eatcd. are now in the care of the parish officers, who have un-
dirtaken the prosecution of their parents.