The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-03 00:00:00

WINTER HOME CIRCUIT.

SURREY ASSIZES.

KINGSTON, DECISIIINIS 31.
BUROLA RY.
D. Ratter and 11. Edemode were indicted for a burglary and
robbery to the amount of 241. in the dwelling-house of John Peter
Boileau, Esq. at Mortlake, on the 14th of October.
Mr. ANDIIEWS conducted the prosecution, and Mr. RYLAND
the defence of Edmunds.
It appeared in evidence, that about two in the morning of the
15th of October, the mansion of 51r. Boileau, at Mortlake, was
broken open and robited of a time-piece, a cloth pelisse of one of
his daughters, two or three purses, containing some ancient coins,
and other valuable property. About six o'clock the time-piece was
found by a labourer in a gravel pit on Barnes Common, tied up in
a basket. The time-piece was removed, but the basket was restored
to its place, for the purpose of observing who came for it. Two
persons were placed on the watch, and about three in the afternoon,
the prisoner Butler, and a man named Thomas Parker, alias James
Quilter, were discovered to go to the gravel pit, and can y away the
basket ; they were immediately pursued and apprehended. In order
to support the indictment against Butler and Edmunds, the accom-
plice Parker was now admitted as an approver, and he stated that
Butler and himself had lodged together at No. 6, Pheasant's-
buildings, Gray's Inn-lane, and that on the 14th of October, Butler
proposed to hint that they should rob Mr. Boileau's house, which
he (Butler) well knew, having been brought up as a shoemaker at
Barnes. In the course of the afternoon he saw the prisoner, Ed.
munds, at a public-house frequented by thieves, called the Duke of
York, in the Borough-road. Edmunds was at that time a stranger
to him, but after hearing him read from a newspaper the account of
• robbery which had just been committed with great skill, he dis-
closed to Edmunds that he would be glad of his assistance, with
himself and Pudei, to rob Mr. Boileau's house. Being in want of
money, Edmunds immediately agreed to be of the party, and they
all supped together at Butler's lodgings, and having arranged their
plan, started for Mortlake at ten o'clock at night, having provided
themselves with the implements of housebreaking. They arrived
at Mr. Boileau's house at two in the morning, and proceeded to re-
connoitre the premises. Butler. who knew that the family slept in
the front part of the house, proposed that a breach should be effected
in the rear. After refreshing themselves with some gin, a centre
bit was immediately applied to a door leading into the garden, and,
having removed a panel, Edmunds crawled in, and, unbolting the
door, admitted his companions. Ile and Butler ascended the stair-
case, and brought down to I'arker the stolen property in question.
Before they could increase their booty they were disturbed by the
voice of Mr. Boileau's butler, and they immediately quitted the
house. Finding the time-piece too henry to carry conveniently in
• rapid flight, they put it into Butler's basket (which by the way
had been stolen from a carpenter, about a month before) and de-
posited It in a gravel pit, in Barnes Common. In their way to
London they stopped at the Nag's Head, Wandsworth, to refresh,
and thence proceeded on their journey. Edmunds parted company
in St. Georges Fields, with his share of the booty, and Parker and
Butler returned to their lodgings about ten o'clock. After break-
fasting together they agreed to return to Barnes Common and bring
the timepiece; they arrived about three o'clock at the gravel
pit, and finding nothing but the basket left, they were retreating
with speed, when they were overtaken and apprehended. Miss
Boilean's pelisse had been pawned at Mr. King's shop, in High
Holborn on the morning of the 15th, by a woman who gave her
name and address, " Mrs. Brown, Brook-street."
A great number of witnesses were called to confirm the accomplice
in his statement.
The woman who keeps the house in which he lodged, proved
that he, Butler, and Edwards, had met together on the evening
of the 14th, and went away at ten at night, and that Butler sod
Parker wine out the whole night, and did not return till ten the
next morning.
A handkerchief which Butler had dropped in hie retreat from Mr.
Boileau's house, was picked up by the side of the river ten days
after the robbery, and clearly identified to have belonged to him.
In other particulars, not necessary to detail, the accomplice was also
confirmed.
The prisoners said nothing in their defence, but threw them-
selves on the mercy of the Court.
Mr. Baron Ganacew summed up the evidence, and the Jury
having tound the prisoners guilty, judgment of death was recorded
pursuant to the statute.
The Assizes ended at five o'clock. None of the very numerous
capital convicts were left for execution.
As many as nine out of eleven persons charged with horse
stealing, were convicted during the Assizes, nn the Learned
Judge observed with regret, that this crime had of late increased to
an alarming extent in the home counties ; so much so, that he feared
it would be necessary to make a severe example, in order, if pos-
sible, to check it.