The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-20 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE ROTIBERY.

Jam,: Thompson, IF 'Pions Thmnr.m, and Joseph Thompson,
were indicted for stenlie.g„ in the house of Thomas Potter Mac-
queen, Esq., M.P., a Highland dirk, repearl necklace, and other
property, to the value of 1,0001. and upwards.
'1 he evidence of Mr. Macqueen and his servants went to whew
that he and his family went into the country in December last,
leaving the honk in Park-lane in the care oftwo fcmale servants.
Mrs. Macqueen took jewellery with her to the amount of 2,0001.;
but that in question was left behind securely (as it was thought)
locked up. 'fhe house needed some ornamental repairs, and the
prisoners, who arc artists in that line, were ordered to execute
those repairs. 1S hen Mr. Macqueen returned to London soon
after Christmas, he found that all the drawers and other places of
deposit were broken open, and the valuable property contained in
them stolen. lie immoiliately applied at Bow-street, and had the
able assistance of liislicp and Avis, of Bow-street, who having
questioned the servants left in charge of the house, learned several
cirouinstancea as to the conduct of the prisoners while they were
employed there, that induced them to suspect they must have
committed the robla Tv. (land-bills were circulated, and the
officers, by unremitting inquiry, obtained tire following evi-
dence

D. Davies, residing in Jermyn-street, St. James's, dealer, dr
posed, that he purchased the dirk now produced from either James
or Joiepli Thompson, he could not tell which. They were both
together when he bought it. One of them had bought a seal-skin
cap at his shop a tiay or two before, and had then asked if he dealt
in •'• fanciful" articles, and he said he did some times; he then
said he bad a d;rk, which he had bought in Scotland, and which
he now wished to dispose of. Witness purchased the dirk for
305., and sold it next day for 21.
Mr. 3lacqueen proved the dirk to be his property, and said he
gave 3111. for the ornaments upon it.
William Hawkins, living at No. 2, Wardourstreet, Soho.
swore, that Joseph Thompson, the day after Christmas-day, gave
him a coat, which he pawned at his desire. He gave the money to
Joseph, and lie and James divided it between them. The coat pro-
duced by Avis, the patrol, was the same. Recollects seeing the
carved tortoiseshell snuffshox now produced in the possession of
Joseph Thompson.
Cross-examined—Witness was taken up oo a warrant from Row-
street, and was two nights and a day in custody before he made
any disclosures.
Moses Solomons, of No. f., Vinegar-yard, knows Joseph Thomp-
son, who brought a snuff- box and a cant-case to him, and left them
for sale, by commission, on the 4th of January last. Witness sold
the box to Mr. Hawley, in the Strand, for 21. 10•4. • and the card-
case to Mr. Fogg, in Regent-street. Joseph said he brought them
from India. 14 oars received ii. for his commission.
The snuff-box was identified by Mr. Macqueen.
NVilltam Grocer, shopmau to 3lr. Carnegy, a relines and dealer
in stones, swore, that he saw James Thompson at his master's shop,
and he had with him a pearl necklace with diamond clasps. He
saw Mr. Carnegy take out the diamonds from the snap and weigh
them. He agreed to give the prisoner 31. per carat for the diamonds.
Mr. Carnegy keeps crucibles, but witness does not know that they
are always warm. '
Cross-examined—Mr. Carnegy was taken into custody, but wit-
ness was not. The prisoner had been at the shop before.
Charles Carnegy is a (haler in gold and silver, pearls and jewels,
"or any thing of that sort that might come in his way." I live at
57, King-street, Soho, where I have resided for twenty-two years.
James Thompson has been in my house about three titnek Ile
I never said a ho or what he was, but he had sometimes sold mrsome
bits of gold and silver. I bought a pearl necklace, with diamond
clasps, from him. The diamonds I gave 31. per are for. One
was a very large diamond. He asked 2s. each for the pearls, and I
gave him that peace. I don't know what they were worth, for I
never bought any so large before. I have given 4s. bd. each for
pearls not worth half so much as these. I think Ilis. each would
be a fair trading price fur these.
Mr. Justice BEST—And you gave two shillings ?
Witness—Yes, my Lord. I was not obliged to buy them at all.
I took out the diamonds and weighed them. They weighed three
carats and some fractions. I sold the small diamonds for fol. per
carat. My wife took the peels to her mother's house, in West-
minster. Lt.:. use she said that some harm would happen if they
remained in my house.
(loss-examined by Mr. A tittY—The moment the officers cams
to me I acknowledged having bought the necklace.
Air. All.l.Elf—.A ye, I dare say you are a very honest man in
your own opinion, and I will take your word for it.
Mr. Justice BEST—It would be difficult, Sir. Alley, to persuade
any one else of that, I fancy. (A laugh.)
dir. 31.icqueen identified all the articles pruluced.
The prisoners left their defence to their Counsel, and a great
many wanesses gave them a good character.
3lr. Justice BEST summed up, and—
The Jury, after five minutes' deliberation, returned a verdict of 1
Guilty against the three prisoners, but joined the prosecutor in re,
comtuentliog them to mercy.