The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-25 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

Yesterday having been appointed for resuming the investigation
against several individuals charged with receiving hops, (the pro-
perty of Messrs. Price. and Thomas, hop factors,) knowing them to
have been stolen, this office was crowded by parties interested in
the proceedings.
Mr. Thessiger attended for the prosecution, which we understood
wan instituted by the majority of the hop-factors residing in South-
wark, and Mr. Andrews for the defendants, whose natnesare as
follow :—Jemee Howe, Jbsrph Nelson,. JaniCS !Maynard, James
okrlin, and John Nutting, all of whom appeared to be respect-
able men.

The principal evidence against the defendants is that of a man
named Foy, who was some time ago warehouseman and form=
in the employ of Messrs. Price, who considered him a confi-
dential and trustworthy person, until discoveries were mode which
ultimately prosed that their ood opinion of trim was founded in
error. Considerable quantities of hops were missing from the
warehouses of the firm in Whitecross-street, and also in Redcross-
street, Southwark, over which Foy had the complete control. Upon
the discovery of the deficiencies he was suspected, and ultimately,
together with a man named Simmons, who was charged as the
receiver, committed for trial at the last Kingston Assizes tOr
stealing the hops 61) missing. Upon that occasion Foy was
acquitted, but Simmons, the receiver, was found guilty and
sentenced to be transported. Subsequent to the trial, the indivi-
dual who had a narrow escape of conviction gave itdomtation to Ida
former employers, by way of making reparation for the injuries he
had committed upon their property, against the present defendants,
all of whom he charged as the receivers of hops, knowing them to
have been stolen. _

The evidence against Nelson, one of the parties suspected in the
charge, was in substance as follows :—Foy stated that he was
acguaiuted with the defendant, who was a miller—that in a con.
vermilion with that individual, at the Talbot Inn, he said, " Foy,
if you furnish me with hops, I will furnish you with money.'
Foy admitted that he agreed to the proposal, and forthwith sent
him a pocket of hops, worth at that period Int. for which he
(boy) only received AL The hops, he acknowledged, were the
property of his employers, who did not authorise hint to dispose of
any. Foy added that the defendant was aware that the transaction
was nut sanctioned by the Messrs. Price, and he therefore must
have known that he was receiving stolen property. The evidence
of boy was strengthened by that of a witness named Jones, wbo
proved that he cam-jell hops marked " boggle and Co." by order
of Foy, to the defendant's premises; and 31r. Thomas, one of
the partners in the firth, stated that several pockets of hops,
Marked as above, were stolen from their warehouse in Redcrosw.
street.
. . _

Atter a lengthened discussion between the Counsel engaged on
both sides, in w hitt 11r. A sine-I:Ws contended that the evidence
of such a character as Foy should not be receive(' in any Court
of Justice, the llapistrate derided that the ease against
Nelson was sufficiently established to warrant their• sending
him before a Jury, for purchasing the hops knowing them to
have been stolen. The defendant WWI then held to bail, I • self in
the sum of lOW., and two sureties of 50/. each, to answer the charge
at the Asshes.
The next case gone into was against the'defendant Wakelin.
Foy, upon being examined, after having stated that he was not
authorised to dispose of any of hisemployers' properly, deposed that
he was acquainted with Wakelin, with whom he had some transac-
tions itythe month of March, last year, when that person pur-
chased from him one pocket of hops, marked Levert and Co.,
for which he gave him (witness) 5/. Their place of meeting was
at the Talbot, and also at the British Lion public-hoese, where
matters were arranged between them. Foy added, that the defend-
ant must have been convinced at the time he brutgla the said hops
that they were not his (Foy's) to dispose of, and that the firm did
not authorise their hors to be sold for half the money they
were worth. And another circumstance, he added, which proved
that the defendant must have known he Was receiving hops out of
the premises without the authority of the owners was, that the two
pockets which were sold to him for la were sent to him at un-
semonable hours. _ . _

....
Jonc,., the porter, proved that he carried the pockets of hops to the
derendaot's premi..es. and Mr. Thomas stated that several pockets
of hops marked as above were missing (rout their stock.
For was here examined by Mr. AN nitgirs, and in reply to the
questions put to him, admitted that he had sold his employers'
hops to six or seven Individuals without their sanction or know.
ledge ; that he was tried at the last Kingston Assizes for stealing
the hops, and acquitted • and that the receiver Simmons, who had
purchased them frotu hint, was convicted and sentenced to trans-
portation.
The Magistrates observed, that the case against Irakelin was
equality as strong as the one that preceded it, and therefore they
shoulddett with it precisely in the same wanner, and send it beton
a Jury.
The examination of the charge. ogOiTt ths Tibor 4TyT4TTJT
postponed until nest-Tuesday. * • -
•

CORONER'S INQUEST.
lr A LTC T !NO SVlClDE.—Yesterday evening all Inquisition wad
taken, at the Mitre, in Slitre-street, Altigate, before T. SHELTON,
waled with the Coroner to the late residence of the deceased .o
Eetinlem itan, aged 34 years. Coronet,
onthebod O
body
of
In the .Very
Mr.
.Sipion Levy, a Hebrew
gentleman, being sworn, they p, 0.
St. James's-place, for the purpose of viewing the body. it put.
seined an spoiling sight, the head being nearly severed from the
shoulders, and in other respects dreadfully mutilated. On tbeur
return, the' following witnesses were examined touching the melee.
chtdy catastrophe :
Mr. Moses Phillips stated that about a fortnight ago the en.
fortunate auleide ctrne to his house for the purpose of taking en
apartment. li'itness let hint a furnished room on the first victor,
and at the time he appeared very low and dejected. In answer
to questions witness put to him, he said he had come from :lien.
cheater, where he had left his wile and family, cnnsisting of five
children ; that lie was a merchant, but had become insolvent °ping
to the late failures, and being much embarrassed he had tome up
to London for the purpose of seeking the advice of some Mends.
but found they could render him no ussisrance; that he was reductdp,
the gtcatest poverty from a slate of affluence, and was unable tore-
turn to his family, who were looking for his arrival with the utreug
anxiety. they being tinder thegreatest privations ; that thus situated,
he was driven almost to a state of distraction. Witness attesnred
to condole with him, rind assured him he would render Min
any little onsistance In his power. On Thursday Inn the
deceased, front the distress of his mind. was confined to his
bed, and towards evening he became delirious, anti frequently
called out—" Oh ! my poor wife and children." Within
sent for medical assistar.ce, and he was attended by a pro.
ressional man. About eleven o'clock at night, witness left
the deceased's bed-chamber for the purpose of fetching hint seam
gruel. The deceased at this time was more calm, and manned in-
clined to dose. On witness's return to the room a most shocking
night presented itself, the deceased was lying prostrate on the Hoer.
with h a throat severed from car to ear, and the blood Hewing
ously front the wound. The deceased seamed 'lithe lifeless. 1,-.
notwithstanding witness loot no time in sending for filr. lieu, the
surgeon, who promptly arrived and pronounced the deceased quite
dead.

Coroner—Pray what time elapsed from your quitting the mom
till your return ?—Witness—As rear as I can judge, ten or twelve
minutes.

Juror—When you first discovered the deceased in tie s•.ate de.
scribed. were there /toy knife or razor near hint ?
Witness—lies. a razor VMS lying on the floor, near his
hand, coverd with blood.

Juror—Was he visited by any friends while he resided in
house ?

Witness—None that I am acquainted with.
Coroner—Ham there been any papers or letters found in the
ceased's room, or about his person ?
Witness—Some papers were discovered in his portmanteau, and
a letter in Hi pocket addressed to a Mr. Laing, of Manchesser.
The Jury expressed a wish to hear the contents of the lener,
which was produced, and read by the Coroner. The following ,s
a copy

" London. Jan. 18. 1828.
" Dear William—l have come to London in yam ; I am is
badly situated as ever ; I can never return to Manchester mot..
Never mind, I suppose the fates have decreed it so; but ire
poor dear wife and children-1 shall never sea them more. Oh
it distracts me to think of them, but it must be so."
Here the letter ended, and appears to have never been posted, as
it was not sealed, and it was without any post-mark.
Mr. Henry Frett, of Jury.street. Aidgete, surgeon. was rest
called. This gentleman being a Quaker he refused to be sworn,
consequently his assistant, who knew vs much of the botiness as
his employer, was sent for and examined. He gave his name
David Dodd. He stated that he accompaned Mr. Fmt to the
apartment of the deceased, who wry quite dead. Witness was
about to examine the wound, but was prevented by wane gentle.
men present, who said it was customary with the Jews never to
have tilt it bodies touched after they became defunct. Witness in
consequence did not persist, as he evidently saw that the deceased
bad ceased to live for some time.

The Conorren thought the conduct of those persons very im-
proper if such a custom prevailed among the Jews it was a very
gross one, and ought not to be abided by.
The evidence being closed, the CORONER said he thought it a
clear case of insanity : and the Jury being of the same epinion
they returned a vcrtlict —'6 That the deceased destroyed himself
whilst labouring under temporary derangement."