The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-01 00:00:00

BURGL:ARY•.

Yestertlayit man nrimetTNilfiam Janus WAS brought before tlie
11agi•trute, M. SWEACY, Esq. charged with breaking into the
bouae of-31r, Fenton, hiodeted of the sign of the %Viadmill, in
Broughtem.lne, Camberwell.

Airr:Fenton stated thet he retired to rest the previous night, ghee
having femened the euors and windows of the house. About four
o'clock the next morning (yesterday) he was awoke by the loud
barking of a dog that he kept at the star of the premise:. At fird
he conceived that the noise from the dog was produced by hearing
the labourers going to work ; but the herklng cent inning, he (Mr.
Fenton) Immediately got out of bed and opened the window, when,
en looking out, he perceived a large shovel aid a basket under.
neath the tap-room window, on the pavetnent. lie lost no time in
dressing himself; az.d on proceeding down stairs he discovered that
the Ilium had been broken into. ti:e thieves having effected an en-
trance by boring thronelt the tep-room situ:tem. and then cutting
out .a pane of glass with a glazier'. diamond, which gave sufficient
spare for fir introduction of a man's body. On going toward+ the
bar be cdep found that the door of it had been forced open by means
of a centre-bit, but luckile for hint (he said) he had taken the pre-
endtion on the over-t ig'tt to carry up the till and its contents to the
bid-room. During the time Mr. Fenton was esseining ids pr.-
mists, he heard detinee shouts of Stop thief." lie immedietey
joined in the pursuit of a man who turned out to be the prisoner.
and who was taken into custody in Cellingwood-street.
A man named Collins stated that about four o'clock that morn-
ing, as he was proceeding along the etreet in which the compli.M.
ant resides, be perceived that one of the shutters had been bored,
and a pane of glens cut out of the window. Ills attention was at-
tracted by this circumstance, as well as from hearine the incessant
barkinge of a dog Within ; he accordingly approached the tap-room
window, and on looking through the space that had been cut, he
plainly observed three men busty engaged in Mr. Fenton'a bar.
ransacking the drawers and cupboards. fie instantly gave the
alarm, upon which the three met., one of whom was the prisoner,
escaped out of the house into the street. They all ran in tlie direc-
tion of Collingwood-street, and the prisonee, being less swift in his
movemetts than his companion, was apprehended, aver a smart
chase, in the above street.
The Magistrate having inquired whether it was daylight at the
time of the breaking leo the house, and beii;g answered in the
affirmative, lie observed that the prisoner could not be proceeded
agairst for the burglary.
The Magistrate then asked Mr. Fenton what property he missed
from his hituse, and whether any had hem found on the prisoner's
person when he was searched.
Mr. Fenton said that the lower part of hie house had been com-
pletely rnneecked, but none of the property was carried off in conse-
quence of the thieves being disturbed.
Mr. SwAßEY—Then as that is the case, and to save you the
trouble of prosecuting at the Se:sions (addreseieg Mr. Fenton+. I
shell deal with the prisoner under the -Vagrant Act, and send hint
to Brixton to hard labour for three months.

Mr. Fenton took occasion to appr'ze the Magistrate of the nume-
rous gangs of thieves that Infested the neighbourhood in which he
resided ; scarcely a night Timing, he raid, that the most barefaced
robberies were not committed ; indeed, he observed, so daring were
the gang, that no persons line safe in their own houses.