The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-09-26 00:00:00

OLD OWLET; WiDIEJIDIT, SirTtliria

Willits* Smith was indicted for steeling from the
person of Jereintahleeppington, one iovereign„twe
half crowns, and two shillings, on the titlst of July
lust.
The Prosecutor stated, that he was •journeyman
copper-plate printer. asid that he winked for Mr.
Elie% of Castle-street, Holborn. On the day laid
in the indictment, about half-past one o'clock, a. m
as he was going up Leather-lime, he stopped at
the corner of a gateway ; he was perfectly sober;
he felt some one put his hand in his left-hand
breeches pocket; he turned quickly round, and
caught hold of the Prisoner's lintid as be was taking
it from his pocket, on which the Prisoner said.
" Here, you foci!, take this," offering him a
shilling, end four-pence in coppers, " and don't
make a noise." and then ran away. The Pro-
secutor cried out " Stop thief!" and the Pri-
soner was stopped by a Bow.itreet patrol. On be-
ing asked at the watch-house Whitt money he had
about him, the Prisoner mid that he only had Ss.
when lie left home, end he had expended a part of
it, and that he would forfeit his existence if • sove-
reign was found in his possession. On his being
searched, there were found upon him a sovereign,
two half-downs, four shilliety, and ten-pence in
coppers.

Cornelis* Norris, a broker residing in Leather-
lane.,And Keirnan, • Bow-street patrol, corrobo-
rated the testimony of the Prosecutor.
The Prisoner in his defence said, that, on the
morning sifter he was apprehended, the officer took
hint to it public-house opposite Hatton-garden po-
lice office, and they had a pot of porter. The
Prosecutor came in, rind the officer asked him to
drink ; he said lie would not, as he was going to
call for some porter. The officer then mkt(' him
if he (the Prisoner) was the man who had sobbed
him the night before; the Prosecutor said he was
not; on which the officer took the Prosecutor aside
and said something to him ; after which the Prose-
cutor swore to him at the office as the man who had
committed the robbery.
The RRCORDRR again examined the Prosecutor
and the officer, and they most positively swore that
no such conversation as that slluded to by the Pri-
soner in his defence ever took place between them.
The Jury found the Prisoner Guilty.
The RECORDER sentenced him to be transported
beyond the seas for life.

Joke Strange mud John Harris, two young men,
were indicted fo► stealing from the person of Mr.
Thos. Robinson, of No. 7, Britannia-terrace, City.
road, on the 7th of August, a gold waicli-chain,
two gold seals, and a watch key, of the value of 41.
The Prosecutor stated that about nine o'clock ou
the evening of the day laid in the indictment, he
was returning home from Finsbury-I(rue, going
alonyg the City-road, he heard some person call out
" Draw it now." The Prisoner Stump ran from
the corner of Castle-street, got hold of the Prose-
cutor's watch-chain, and pulled it with great vio-
lence ; it broke from his watch, the latter being se-
cured by a chain round his neck. The Prisoner
Strange then ran up Cam le.street ; he pursued him
for about ISO yards, and never lost sight of him
mita he was taken into custody ; he did not know
the Prisoner Harris until he was iii custody at Wor-
ship-street Police office. He had seen the watch-
chain and seals since.

John Green, a tailor, residing in St. Margaret-
street. Hackney-fields, stated, that he was passing
through Tabernacle-walk, near Castle-street, un
the night of the robbery; he heard the cry of
" Stop thief!" and made for the sound ; he saw
the prisoner Strange running, he seized hint by the
collar, on which he threw away the chain and seals;
the Prosecutor then came up, and a watchman
took the Prisoner into custody ; he did not know
any thing of the prisoner Harris.
Samuel Bridges, a constable, met the two Pri-
soners on the night kid in the indictment in eorn-
pauy with three other persona at the end of Chia-
well-street, nest to Finsbury-square; they weut
into the square and stood neur the railing, and ap-
peared to be conferring together; he suspected they
were about no good, and lie watched them, they
went towards the City-road; he saw the Prosecutur
pass them, and they looked at his chain and seals;
the prisoner Strange stepped forward. mud the word
ehik was given by one of the party, on which the
prisoner Strange snatched at the Prosecutor's watch
chain and ran down Castle-street; he followed him;
when they had got about twenty yards, some of the
party called out, D—n his eyes, knock him
down !" (meaning the Prosecutor), and one of them
aimed a blow at the back of Mr. Robinson's neck,
on which he, the witness, took out his staff. and
knocked him down, and followed in pursuit of the
hrisoner, Strange, who he secured ; about half an
our afterwards the prisoner Harris was brought to
the watch-house, and he knew him to be one of
those that had been in company with Strange.—
The witness produced the watch-chain, &c.
Mr. Robinson identified them to be his property.
Robert Ingram. a watchman of London-wall
district. stated. that on the night laid in the indict-
ment he saw the prisouer Harris and another person
running up Providence-row Dud some persons ft‘•
lowing them calling 4" Stop thief !" he pursued'
them, and never lost sight of Harris until he se-
cured him ; he lost sight of the other person as he
took another direction. Providence-row was only
two streets from Castle-street. When lie took the
prisoner Harris into custody, he told him it was
only a ink, he went quietly to the watch-house,
The Prisoner Strange, in his defence. ackuow-
iedged that lie committed the rubbery ; lie was
driven to it through distress; he denied that the
Prisoner Harris had any knowledge of it.
Two witnesses gave Inin a good character for
honesty.
The Prisoner Harris said he had been returning
from his work, arid he heard the cry of " Stop
thief !" end persons running, which also induced
him to run. He declared he was perfectly inno-
cent, and had no knowledge of the Prisoner Strange.
He called no witnesses.

The RECORDER summed up the evidence.
The Jury found both the Prisoners Guilty.
The RECORDER sentenced them to be transport.
ed for their lives.

Rickard Taylor, • boy 15 years of age. was in-
dicted for receiving and applying to his own use
the sera of I/. Is. 10d. the property of his master,

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