The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-11-19 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

TZMPTATTOW TO TIIIETES.—/knfy Syria,-, a decent-look-
ing lad, about Id years ef age; was brought Into the office yester-
day, bet on: the sitting Magistrate. Mr. Alderman WAITO NAV,
by Bomb, a constable of Chap Ward, who said be had been cent
for that morning to take charge of the pri.oner for stealing a dozen
pair of stockings fruit Mr. Kipling's, the hosier, 47, Cbmpside.
The general-pm.ttman of that district saw the prisoner take the
stockings and give them to a man who was will him, who ran nff,
end escaped. The boy, however, wan I.ursued and taken. They
had not been able to procure the attendance of the postman, but
if his Worship would remand the boy, they would be sure and
get hint there to-merrow.
Mr. Alderman WAIT!' must know something more
shout this Knot. Where were the stockings taken tram ?
. .

James Brassington, Mr. Kipling** Lhopinatt, said he had put the
stocking* out only ten minute* before he missed them. They
were &Joan of Angola*, and worth 22a.
Ale. Alderman Warr rimaw—What do you mean by out?
\Vete they put Inc show outside the shop door?
llraasington said, No. They were placed about afoot within the
door threshold.

Mr. Alderman 1 raven/sax—So that anybody passing by could
stretch out hie atm atm: rencis them ? _

lAravvington— Yes, Mr, for they were Lot fastened.
31r. Alderman WAIT /I AN —Till% 1.. noett abominable. It Is
really holding out a premium for robbery. 11.02 place a tempta-
tion in the way of distressed persona, and I verily believe it is the
facility alone that induces this sent of robbery. Why, I will
venture to 14,/, Sir, that there are a thousand thieves passing up
and down Cheapvide every day of your life, and you place property
within their reach, without et en fastening it, sod that in so
public and crowded a situation. I wish heartily that there was
.once punishment for those who place property in so unguarded a
manner.

Brassington allowed it was Improper, but they must show
their goods like their neighbours, and the stockings were within
their own shop.
.11r. If erring, the Inspector of the City Police, who happened to
be present, said he had spoken to several trsdestnen upon this
very subject, and front all he could learn, they were perfectly
aware of the danger; indeed. he had been tell that they would
rather run the risk of losing goods occasionally, than not expose
them in that open manner.
Mr. Alderman Wallll3l.lN—l am afraid that is the ease. I
reprobated this practice when I was at the Mansion-house, in
the hope that it might go to the public an act as a caution ;
but it seems to have produced no effect. The Judges themselves
have expressed their strong reprobation of this practice from the
bench, and the Recorder uniformly refused to allow a prosecutor
his expenses in such cases, and yet all seems ineffectual.
The mother of the boy said he was an honest hard-working lad,
and got his living by telling articles of turnery ware in the streets.
lie himself protested that he had never been in confinement, or
brought up on any charge anywhere in his life before ; and neither
the officer who attends with the prisoners front the Compter, nor
any of the City Police, recognised lint person.
The Alderman told the prisoner he was very sorry for him, but
if he would commit dishonest acts, he nit•st take the consequences.
Then turning to the sheptuan, he said. " If it shall turn out that this
boy is really an hottest boy. I shall feel great difficulty and un-
willingness in conitaitting him, for I shall not be able to think
otherwise than that it was the temptation alone that induced him to
the robbery, and that he probably would hare never thought of
doing such a thing, but for the facility which presented itself to
him at the moment for effecting it."
The prisoner was then remanded for further examination this day