The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-14 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS

The case of the prisoner seemed to excite some sympathy.
The son of filr. Porter proved that the book in question was
upon the counter of his father's shop; did not see the prisoner take
the hook ; heard his mother's alarm; followed the prisoner, who
ran up the street as far as No. 99 : there we took him, and took the
book from his pocket.
Absalom King joined the last witness in pursuit of the prisoner,
and corroborated his testimony.
E. Hanby. the officer to whom the prisoner was delivered, pro-
duced the book, which wasidentified by Porter as that stolen front
his father.
The prisoner. when called upon for his defence, said he was per-
fectly satisfied with the fairness of his trial, but hoped, if mercy
could be extended, it would be to him. The act he committed
was the consequence of distress—it was the consequence of necessity.
He had suffered many severe trials in looking for work.
The RECORDER asked if he had any witnesses who could prove
he hail followed an honest livelihood before.
The prisoner said his friends were in Lancashire, 200 miles off.
He had earned • livelihood by writing fur tradesmen and draw-
ing for builders.
The RECORDER, upon finding the age of the prisoner to be 1.2,
inquired if the Society for affording relief to the destitute would
receive him.
It was answered that the prisoner was not precisely the descrip.
tion of persons to whom relief was afforded, but if his Lordship
recommended the prisoner, he would of course he received.
The Recoanen desired that the qualifications of the prisoner
may be stated to the Society. lle would be useful in keeping their
accounts.

Jame: Foley was put to the bar, charged with robbing Mr. W.
Cox, surgeon, of his watch, seal, Ike. in the street, near Pimlico.
Prosecutor deposed, that as he was crossing the street near his
residence, he observed two men near him ; instead of going on,
one of them, the prisoner, turned of the pavement, and extracted
the watch front his fob with such expertness, as led him to believe
him an old practitioner. Witness missed the property, celled out
••• stop thief," and the two men ran. He pursued the prisoner, and
with the assistance of two other persons took him. He could not
be mistaken in the men, as lie never lost sight of him but for a
moment as he turned a corner.
Two other witnesses confirmed the prosecutor's statement.
The prisoner made no defence. Ile was found Guilty.
The RECORDER, in paniing sentence, said it was evident he
was a practised thief, but he could not be allowed to act thus with
impunity. Ile would perhaps see his accomplice before he left the
country, and he shookl warn him that if he persevered in such con-
duct, it would bring hunt to hin fate, or to worse. If a struggle had
taken place in depriving the prosecutor of his property, he would
be liable to suffer death. The safety of the public and his own
required that he should be transported for life. .
John hfaiters, a striking inner= of early depravity, was in.
dieted for robbing (files liadmain, 20, New Bond-street, of ten
handkerchieli. The prisoner, though tried before for felony, did
not seem to be more than twelve years of age.
James Snmner was in the employment of Hiles Redrnsin, linen-
draper. The prisoner came into the shop on the 9th December,
and asked for a yard of galloon, the price of which was three ball-
pence. He was not served by witness, but by another person in the
shop.
Nightingale, the led who served him with the galloon. received
from the prisoner sixpence, and gave him change; he discovered
he had given him a halfpenny short, and followed prisoner for the
purpose of giving it to him. Upon approaciling him. the prisoner
ran away, and concealed himself behind a coach ; witness went up
to him to give him the halfpenny, and then perceived his master's
property, which he distinguished by the private mark.
Tile property was produced and identified.
The Jury returned a verdict of Gailty, and the prisoner was
sentenced to seven ytstrs transportion.
Richard Shy was charged that lie, a servant. authorised to re-
ceive money due to his master, did feloniously steal and embezzle
the sante, to the amount of two half-croaps, two shillings, and one
sixpence.
Thomas Butling, baker, of Charing-cross, deposed, that pri-
soner was his servant, and was in the habit of receiving money,
which he accounted for according to the time he received it ; from
the daily customers he accounted daily, and weekly from the
weekly customer". Upon the 2d of October, Mr. Watkins, a cus-
fomerowed him 21.55. lid.; the account was disputed, as the party
said it was paid to the prisoner; this he could not deny, as receipts
were shown in his hand-writing. Prisoner left his service without
notice.
Margaret Watkins deposed, she paid the prisoner the bread ac-
count due to T. Bulling, and got his receipt, which she saw him
wri e.
Tne REconDFR said, the charge was for embezzling two half-
crowns, two shillings, and one sixpence. The last witness swore
she paid him in silver the sum of 7s. 6d., and therefore the indict-
ment was correct, an one of these coins must be paid to make up
this sum, and one would be sufficient by a late Act, as the servant
who embezzled money received for his master, was to be indicted
as if be had stolen it; previous to that the remedy was by action
against the servant.
The Jure returned a verdict of Guilty.
Louis Abrahams was indicted for stealing various valuable ar-
tielcn, brooches, nine gold rings, gold watch, chain, scent box, ail.
ver buttons, two guineas, and twenty pieces of silver coin, the pro-
perty of Henry Bryan.
Sarah Isabella Bryan, the wife, deposed to the fart of the rob-
bery. These articles, with at least 1001. were niseed in a waggon,
to be carried from Carnon-street to Mile-end, on the feh of Deem.
bet. The box was missed before the packing up was finished ; she
saw all the property that day at the Lambeth-street office ; the pri-
soner was in custody ; did not see the prisoner near the waggon ;
put the articles herself into a trunk.
Cowdery, an officer, saw the prisoner running with the box;
he pursued him into the house, 29, Albion-street; found the box
broken and thrown into the fire, but it was not consumed, as he
had the fragments. The prisoner escaped from Albion-street, and
was taken in Bedford-street.
Cross-examined by Mr. LAW--Saw the prisoner before, and
knew him though running.
Another officer proved the same facts.
The Carman proved he put the trunk, without being ordered,
into the middle of the waggon.
31r. Law lamented that the Carman had put these valuable
articles into such an exposed situation, as it threw temptation in
the way of the unfortunate prisoner, and reduced him to his pre-
sent situation.
The prisoner made no defence, but be called witnesses to
character.
Sir. Braham, engraver, knew the prisoner since his infancy ; he
bore an excellent character. The prisoner's father was a jeweller,
and dealer in diamonds, of great opulence, and the highest respec-
tability ; he was at present confined to his bed through indis-
position.
Mr. J. Braham, and 11r. 31illingen, bore testimony to the same
effect.
The RECORDIR in his charge called the attention of the Jury
to the circumstance of the prisoner's taking the box from the mid-
dle of the waggon ; this was, in his opinion, a proof of the pri-
soner's being a confirmed thief.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty.
Upon Mrs. Bryan's recommending him to mercy—
The RZEORDZIL said, that more good temper and kindness
were showed in prosecutions, than were useful to the public.
He could not attend to the recommendation ; prisoner was a de-
termined thief, without necessity or temptation. lie would sen-
tence him to transportation for seven years.
Sarah Jones was indicted for stealing from the person of
Preston. _ _ . .

The prosecutor deinised that he went into a rocm at the Phea-
sant, with the prisoner, and gave her a quartern of gin ; he was
perfectly sober, as much so as he was then ; prisoner sprung upon
him, and took forcibly from his person two notes of the Steroid,
and one of the Birmingham, bank ; :I'm then ran sway.
Morant, the brother of the proprietor of the Pheasant,
swore the last witness was so stupid and insensible from lntoxica.
tMn, that he could give no account of the transaction.
This statement was positively denied by the prosecutor.
The Constable who apprehended the
_prisoner, and forced from
her mouth the notes, which Win identified by the prosecutor, cor.
rohnrated the statement. . . . _

The conduct of Morant appeared in such a light to the RE.
CORDER, that he ordered him to remain in Court.
The Foreman, on returning a verdict of Gwihy against the pri-
soner. expressed it as the opinion of the Jury, that the witness
Abram was guilty of gross perjury.
The COURT was of the same opinion, and gave orders for his
prosecution, and directed the constable to represent the Pheasant
at the next meeting of Magistrates, for the purpose of shutting up
the house.
The officer said he had rcaion to believe the witness was affected
in the head, otherwise he could cot have sworn as lie did.
In consequence of this representation the Court did not order the
prosecutiou ; it would be satisfied with the committal of the wit-
ness at present.