The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-08-11 00:00:00

FEMALE PICKPOCKETS.

HAITON•GAILDEN, AUG. 10.—Mary Keane, a woman about
eighty years of age, June Smith, a woman aged seventy, and Ro-
bert Clarke, a dark complexioned stout-looking man, were brought
up on the llowing extraordinary charge.
The female prisoners were most genteelly attired, and had an
appearance of respectability.
Mit Elizabeth Upjohn, a venerable old lady, residing in St.
John'tbsquare, deposed, that on the preceding evening, ss she was
coming down Wilderness-row with her grandson (a child), she ob-
served the prisoners to pass her, then slacken their pace, and fol-
low her. She had frequent occasion to stop to call the child to her,
who was wildly running about, and in every instance the prisoners
were close to her side. When she reached Albemarle-street,
Cletke.n well, she was asked by a man (the constable who took the
prisonaes) if she had lust anything. She then discovered that she
had lost a steel purse containing four sovereigns and thirteen shil-
lings.
Angslaus Bertram, a foreigner, deposed that he is a constable,
living in Soho; that he saw the prisoners with another man, shout
one o'clock in she day, in Oxford-street, trying the pockets of se.
vend old ladies ; lie watched them during the day, and observed
the prisoner Keane, in Albemarle-street, put her hand into the
prosecutries pocket. He followed the party, and shoved them all
into a chandler's shop, where the prisoner Isearie dropped the steel
parses
A painter, named Robinson, corroborated the above statement.
Mr. Roonas, the presiding Magistrate, observed, that he had
never before heard of female pickpockets, and inquired if any of
the officers or constables knew the parties.
•Gokon, a constable, stepped forward, and gave a most amusing
history of the parties. He said that they were notorious characters,
and the ladies regularly attended some place of worship on every
Sunday evening to commit their depredations. Two Sundays ago
the party went to the Welsh chapel, in Wilderness-row. As an
elderly lady was coming out she was accosted by the prisoner
Keane, who begged to know the name of " the sweet man" that
preached. " She had been told it, but being rather deaf she did'
not distinctly hear it." The lady gave her the name of the" sweet
man," when the prisoner instantly complained of being very ill
from theheat of the chapel, and begged to take the lady's arm.
The civility was granted, and the other prisoner, Jane Smith, got
•at the other side of the old lady, and the man, Robert Clarke,
walked in front impeding their progress. In a few minutes both
pockets of the lady were rifled, and the invalid and her friend
vanished. Cotton further stated, that on the last day of the proces-
sion of the Welsh charity children the same party were extremely
busy in (}ray's Inn-lane. The old lady, Mrs. Keane, had got her
hand into the pocket of another old lady, the depth and dimensions
of which were such that she could not extricate her hand before
she was detected.

Mr. Rot /kits ()barred, that he never met with a case exhibiting
such a well arranged system.
The prisoners declined making any defence, and were fully com-,
milted for trial.
111ARY-I.A-BOVNE OFTWE, AUG. 10.—john Raker, the man
who was fined 40,. and reprimanded by Mr. Hatrirtvit at this
office on 'Tuesday, for assaulting a lady of the name of Donlon!,
was- again brought up on the complaint of Asher Sampson, ,'
of Idecester-square.
Mr. Sampson stated, he was a day or two since psssing through
the 'l'yburn Gate, where the defendant Is toll-collector, and offered
him the toll; the defendant demanded if he sou in his own gig,
and was the hone his own ? He answered in the affirmative, and
was surprised on hearing the defendant with an path exclaim,—
" You lie ;" and without the slightest provocation, or the most re.
mote idea on his (Mr. Sampson's) part of giving any, the defend-
ant abused him in the most scurrilous language, frequently giving
him the lie, and thswatoning to pull him out of the gig. For this
unprovoked outrage Mr. Sampson took out a summons against him
for his applauds raday, bat said, haring obarred to %ha

Morning papers of the day that he had been punished for anotbar
'offence, anffwiwcenvniitted to gaol, therefore 4te would forego his
case, as he wished not to proceed harshly against a prisoner.
Mr. RawListao et observed. the man, lie understood, wag only
fined, and not held to bail, and as he was in attendance, ant!had
heard the statement against him, he should like to hear his defence.
Baker's detenoc was principally an accusation of abusive conduct
egainst Mr. Sampson; with respect to the other conviction, he ca-
-1 tarred himself wrongfully convicted.
lil r. it Aw LlS:sow said, be did not consider it any such thing, fr,,,,ft
' the specimen of him given by Mr.Sompson, and if he were inciinsd
he could not review another Magistrate's decision, although
might guide him in his opinion upon this case. It was quite nuts.
*rice enough to have tolls almost. he might say, in public strecs,
as the New-road could only be called one, without having the nui,
tree of abusive persons at them. Therefore, in order to protect the
public, he would convict him it the full penalty of M.
Baker declared he never could pay it, he must go to prison ; he
had a wife and six children to support.
Mr. Sampson interceded for him
_solely on the account of lds
children. _ . _ . .

The Magistrate said he would attend to the intercession so kiod;‘,
made, and mitigate tl:e penalty to W. upon condition that to
should make a public apology in the Newspapers.
Baker, at first, refused to do this, but at length agreed, &Ail:4
he had no other altctnative.

UNION HALL, AUGUST 10.— Ififilant Ks/arks, a man of
robust appearance, and very decently attired, was brought up it
custody before L. 11. ALLEN, Lsq. for a final examination,
ellacged as a common impostor, under the following circumstances:
—One of the Overseers of the parish of Christchurch stated that
a few days ago as he was proceeding along Blackfriars-toad, the
prisoner addressed him. soliciting relief, declaring that he was in a
most deplorable state of poverty, having three motherless children
dependent on hint for support, who were at his miserable abode
anxiously waiting his return for victuals—that he had not a penny,
in the world, and that they all must die from actual starvation
unless some humane and charitable person assisted them in thei;
deep distress. The prisoner asserted that he bad a brother in at.
fluent circumstances who refused to administer to their wants, and
utile conclusion of his well-dissembled tale burst into tears. The
overseer, notwithstanding the apparent truth with which he depict.
ed his misfortunes, doubted his veracity, desiring him to follow to
the workhouse, where his present wants should be relieved, and as.
sistance given to him for his children ; he, however, showed a da.
position to start when the workhouse was named, but was secured
by the pariah beadle, who found on his person, besides vilify
amounting to fourteen shillings, a bundle of letters, sitty-twe to
number, addressed to noblemen and gentlemen, soliciting charity,
land describing his distresses and that of his children in the moo
forcible manner. The letters were in his eosin hand-writing. but
copied front an original not his own composition, which wu found
in his possession. None of them visaed, witlx the exception
of a few intended for wealthy persons, who were known by
characters of this description to distribute charity in proportion to
the tale of distress submitted to their inspection, and these epistles
only differed front the rest in the word " starvation" being fie.
quently introduced, which it seems cannot be too often repeated by
impostors in their communications to the humane, as it is a phrase
that unifonnly makes a great impression in their favour, and gene.
rally certain of commanding a good round sum. The prisoner was
remanded after the first examination, and it has been since ascer-
tained, on inquiry, that none of the circumstances set forth
in his letters are facts, but that the whole have been fabricated for
the purpose of exciting charity in his behalf. lie has been living
principally by sending begging letters to the affluent since the year
1821, previous to which date he was employed ass mechanic, but
having once tried the experiment of living on the bounty of others
be gave up his industrious pursuits, and lies stuck ever since to the
vagabond life described.
Tire Magistrate committed him for two months to hard labour
II the House of Correctinn. _ _

Sir Wizard attended at this Office, for the put.
poise of giving information of a most daring attempt that hitt
beat made that morning, between the hours of two an ! thus
o'clock, by a gang of robbers, to break into a house in the occupa.
San of Miss Dcnnett, situate opposite Orove-place. North Driven.
One of the gang, it seems, entered the house; but being heard be
some of the servants, made his escape out of the window. An
alarm was given, which the watchman hearing, ran to the spot. sad
was only in time to see four or five men running off, whom he fired
after. A pair of list shoes and a chisel were found on the pre.
muses.

LAMBETH-STREET, AUGUST 10.—John lade, a respectable
looking man, holding the situation of clerk in one of the East India
Company's warehouses, was brought before the sitting Magistrates
on a warrant, charging him with the commission of a most violent
assault on his wife, as the fair complainant styled berself.
Mrs. Faille stated, that about ten years since she had the misfor.
tune to lie wedded to the defendant. A few months had scarcely
elapsed when she was subjected to the most cruel and unmanly
treatment, and to such an extent did it proceed, that at length she
was compelled in self-defence to go into service. There she re.
mained for a considerable time, until indisposition obliged her to
leave it. The only alternative she then had was to apply to het
husband for protection and support; but on her first application,
instead of meetirg with which, he attacked her In the most barba-
rous manner. violently assaulted her, and in fine kicked her in'n
the street. This it was width now compelled her to apply to their
Worships.
The defendant replied, that the woman, styling herself his wife.
had no more chum on him as a husband for protection, than
even his Worship himself.
Magistrate—ls she not your wife? I have here a certificate nf
your marriage, to which there is the attestation of your father as a
subscribing witness.
Defendant—lt is all true, but nevertheless, I am not her Wale:
husband.

Mrs. Faule, who during these interrogations appeared to be
waxing wroth, looked angrily towards the defendant, and ex-
claimed, Oh ! then I suppose that you wont the whole secret dis-
closed, do you, and forthwith proceeded to give the following very
extraordinary history of their connexion. In the year 1:107, Mn,
F. married a Mr. J. Donovan, a weriltliy tradesman in Shadwell,
with whom she lived in harmony and happiness until ISO, when
Mr. Donovan unfortunately became enamoured with a female
servant then in their service. and to such an extent did this
infatuation reach, that he disposed of the entire of his sem
perty, eloped with, and subse9uently married, the object of his E.
tachment, leaving her (Mrs. 1..) quite unprotected and unprovidol
for. The present defendant was, previous to her marriage wlth Mr.
O. her most ardent admirer, and being single when her hasbtsd
deserted her, he again renewed his addresses. After marked arta-
ticn on his part, and a serious consideration on her's, as to the like-
hood of her reclaiming her former husband (Mr. D.), she con.
armed to their union, provided it could be so accomplished 1519
evade provisions of that' most cruel (as she denominated it) of all
England's 141 m—the law against bigamy. Iler former husband
Mr. D. being then in town, he was cansulted on the subject, and,
after a great deal of consultation and difficulty. a document, of
which the following is a verbatim copy, was drawn up and duly
executed by all parties.
" August 21. 1815.
" This day, it is agreed between Joseph Donevan, on one pant.
and Susan Donovan on-the other. that they do both voluntarily con-
sent and agree. to a final separation, by legal sale in the tank-
market of Smithfield,' in consideration whereof, I, Josepla Thom'
van, have voluntarily received the sum of ss. of Mr. Johtt Fax,
purchaser, and therefore, I say, received in fbll of all demands.
4:.0 5 0 " JosEPtt DONOVAN."
Mrs. F. alias Mrs. D. concluded by saying, that in compliance
with the above the sale bad taken place, and they were of course
married.

In answer to some questions from the Magistrate the complainant
said. that in 1817 her first husband, taking with him his wife and
family, went out as a settler to the Cape of Good llope. and that
she had since ascertained from the best authority that be was po
longer in existence.
The Magistrates observed, that they had heard many very extra-
ordinary disclosures, but that the present far exceeded anything that
had ever come under their cognizance. They feared that the com-
plainant's claims on the defendant as to matrimony were bet
very slight ; however, as that was not the question before them.
nor the one on which the defendant appeared, they must decline
giving any opinion; but an assault had been clearly proved. and'
therefore the defendant must find bail to answer it or any otl4
charges that may be brought against at the ensuing Sessions.

RTHS,
On the Bth instant, in llanallton-pince, the Countess Gower, ofi
daughter. •
On the Bth Instant, at Hackney, at the house of his mother, al
lady of G. W. Markmurdo, Esq. of a son.

MARRIED.
On the 9th instant. at Bmxbourn, Harts, Charles James Bart',
Esq. of Yarmouth, Norfolk, to Harriet Oswin, only daaghtero.
John Lutyena, Esq. of Burton-street, Taviatock-square ; end u
the same time and place, Wm. Harley, Esq. of Hoddesdelo
Jane, only daughter of the late Wm. Capper, FA(q.
On the Bth instant, at St. 31argaret's church. NVestminstel.
NVhish, Artillery (Bombay Establishment), to ram'
II 111, eldest daughter of Hannibal Sandys, Esq. of Great Que‘%*
street, Westminster.
On the 9th instant. at the parish church of Mary-la-Bonne. IPA
Sandford, Esq. of Chesaington-lodge, to Agnes, third dauglar
Jyhn Ewart, laq. of Edinburgh.
On the oth instant, at Mary-la-Bonne church, G. Mandel. Dq'
of the Portuguese Embassy, to Emily, youngest daughter 0(t
late Adm. Stone, of his Moot Faithful Majesty's service.
berf
On the 9th instant, at St. Matthew's, Brixton, J. E. Pia'.
Esq. of the Stock Exchange. to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of II A
Devey, Esq. of Tunbridge, Kent.

DIED.
On the 18th of July last, at her house in the Minster-ysal.'4'
in the 96th year of her age, Mary, relict of the late Colonel lloga
Morris.
At Kensington Gravel Pita, on Friday morning last, after a fee
days' illness, Mrs. Calcon, the widow of the late Dr. Calcon.
On the 6th instant. in her Stith year, four days after the birth
her 9th child, Harriette, the wife of Mr. G. 13. Child, of FillOg'
ham, near Lincoln.
At her house in Edinburgh, on the 31st ult., Lady Dabell, relict
of the late Sir Robert Dalzell, Bart. of lions.
' On the 7th instant, at Clifton, Thomas, second ton °U.ln'4
Chaplyn, Esq. of Little Hadhono, in the county of Herts.
At Ilythe, on the 6th instant. after a short illness, •uvr.
of Brunswick-square, relict of Robert Morris. Esq.
On the Bth instant, in Chiswell.street, in the 2341 year of hiel3f.e.''
Thomas, eldest son of Michael Bland, Esq. of Monlague•P
Russell-square.
Printed at TH R BRITISH PRESS Office, by J.W •041111°Y'
111, Scrawl, and published by 11..Cairxox, VIPs Pte'