The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-10 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY, SATURDAY, ArIIL 8.

DARING ROBBERY.
Claus flahkem. a Dutchman, was tried by a Jury consisting of
half Englishmen and half foreigners, fur stealing in the dwelling.
house of Mr. John George Fearn, eighty gold rings, virtue one
hundred pounds. and other property. The prisoner, about six
o'clock on the evening of the 16th of March, entered the shop of
the prosecutor, who is a jeweller in Cornhill, and asked the shop.
man to shew him some mourning rings : he tried several on his
fingers, and asked to look at others, as they were too small. The
shopman was in the act of reaching over the tray of rings, when the
prisoner snatched up the first tray that had Leen shewn to him,
containing rings, value 120!. and ran out of the shop. He was
pursued down Pope's Head Alley, along bombard-street, and was
secured at the bottom of Sherborne.lene ; but he had nothing in
his possession at the time lie was stopped. The tray was picked
up in the street, and also about one fifth of the rings. The shop-
man spoke with confidence as to the identity of the prisoner.
The prisoner, in his defence, said that lie never was in the shop.
Witnesses were called to character, and no man could receive a
better. It appeared that lie was in the employment of Walton
and Co. sugar bakers, up to the night of the robbery ; that he was
courting a daughter of a respectable tradesman, and was on the
point of marriage.
The RECORDER summed u 9 the case; and said, if the Jury
could entertain a doubt of his bring the person who committed the
capital felony, they would pronounce a verdict in his favour.
Verdie.—Guilty ; but recommended to mercy on account of his
former character. _ _

The RECOIIIM it seriously admonished him to prepare for the
worst.

HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

J. G. Ilfunns and 7'. Lindsay were indicted for assaulting Isaac
Dove on the highway, and stealing from his person a silver watch
and three sovereigns.
The prosecutor was almost insensibly drunk on the evening of
the 21st of March, and left a public-house in Gravel-lane, %I ap-
ping.
Several boys stated that they saw one of the pristpers push the
prosecutor down, and that both of them rifled his pockets.
The prisoners were found Guilty of steaiing from the person.
HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

John Chick and (tome Burke ;sere capitally indicted for as-
nutting Thomas Wardle on the highway, and stealing from his
person a watch, tic., value Ili guineas.
The prosecutor, on the night of the 7th of March, was passing
along Chiswell•street, and Chick pinioned his alms, while Burke
snatched his watch from his fob. Burke got away • Chick scuttled
with him, kicl:eil !inn, and ran away: was pursild. and was taken
in a dust-hide in Grub-street, into which he had leaped to uvnid
capture. Burke was taken next day in a skittle ground, in a cellar
at the Salmon and 11411 public-house, with a number of bad clia-
Meters.
Mr. L.tw asked a witness what sort of a dust-hole It was ?
What I have seen in the streets.
Mr. Justice PARK-0 yes, we sec them in the neighbourhood of
Grub-street. (Laughter).
Mr. LAW-1 never was there to see them.
Mr. Justice PANIC—The worthy Alderman (referring to Mr.
Alderman (rood) on the Bench can tell you that he has seen the
dust-holes. (Laughter)
Prisoner-1I was in haste going home.
Mr. Justice PARK—lately, Gentlemen of the Jury, it was
hardly his way home to joint' into a dust-hole. (laughter).
A witness--I went to the skittle.g7nuel to apprehend Burke, be-
cause it is a place of resort for no,-.rt,ntit
Mt. Justice PAtx•—Goad GA, do you hear that; who are the

Magistrates of that ;district ?—The Worship-street, your Wor-
ship. (Laughter).
Mr. Justice PARK—Take a note of that, Mr. Shelton ; how hor.
rible, that such places for harbouring thieves should exist in •
cellar. (Laughter).
Witne.a examined by Mr. Pm L LiP9-1 never represented this
notorious place to the Magistrates.
Mr. Justice PARK—It is an abominable place, and it is theffluty
of the Magistrates to know of the ex stance of such places, and to
sunpress them. I will sec to it.
The Jury acquitted Burke, and found Chick Quilt,.