The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-06 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

A young man, nameifiiir;ri(ioie,;as yesterday brought be-
fore Sir R. Bin?: tg by Ledbittet, the police constable, into whose
custody he had been given by Sir Henry Wright Wilson, Ban.
a Magistrate for the county of Middlesex, for stealing two
suits of clothes, the property of the said Sir Henry Wright Wil-
son. The prosecutor had applied to the Chief Magistrate for a
warrant to apprehend the prisoner, but Sir IL Birnie declined to
grant one, and adopted the milder course of issuing a summons,
which was given to bedbitter, who attended at Sir H. W. Wilson's
house at Chelsea at the time that the defendant was appointed to
call for some money due to hum ; hut when he dill appear he was
given in charge by the prosecutor for felony. The defendant was
apprenticed to the prosecutor from the Foundling Hospital, and
Lewis A. Petit, Esq. one of the Committee, and Mr. Livesley, the
Secretary to that Institution, attended to watch the proceedings on
his behalf.
When the young man was called forward to answer the com-
plaint of Sir H. Wilms, who sat on the bench, Sir R. Birnie, with
a view. as It seemed, to make the ease as short as possible, In.
formed the gentlemen front the hospital of the circumstances under
which the defendant appeared before him. He was apprenticed
for seven years to Sir 11. W. Wilson, sea servant, and there was a
stipulation in the Indenture tae was the custom with the hospital),
Vito at the expiration of his apprenticeship his master should
furnish hint with clothes to the value of hve pounds, in order
to enable him to go to another service. Now it appeared,
that when the term had expired, Sir FL W. %Mum chose to retain
the defendant In his service, where he remained for some years,
and when hie term of free service began, Sir Henry gave him the
quantity of clothes stipulated for in the indenture, arid Fonoeived that
hi fitting him out fto remain in his employment he had lust as
much performed the contract to if the defendant had gone into

another family. The defendant lately left the service,
and took
with him two suits of livery. claiming them as his own. These
were the short facts ; and the only question, as it appeared to him
(Sir R. Birnie) was, whether the clothes were the property of the
prosecutor or of the defendant.
Sir H. W. Wilson then in a loud tone, and greatly in the form
of a set speech, stated his case, in spite of repeated intimations
from the Chief Magistrate that it was only a waste of time. Ever
since the defendant came into his service he had been regularly
supplied with two suits of clothes a year. His evaislishment were
wall
ostl.applied with clothes twice a year, as Burkit, his tailor,
wh
o had u worked for his family—no inconsiderable one in this coon-
,l try—for 35 years could testify. The defendant, when hc first
came into his service, received presents of linen film Lady Wilson.
and when his apprenticeship expired he wall furnished with a suit
of clothes according to the terms of the indenture. When those
clothes were worn out he had more, and so on until he left the fa-
mily, and then he chose to take two old suits with him, on the
pretext that lie (Sir H. W. Wilson) had said that he would make
him a present of his liveries whenever heleft him.
Mr. Petit, after several interruptions 'from the prosecutor, who
seemed pecaliarly impatient of any remark from that gentleman,
I asked how long the defendant remained in the service after the
terns of apprenticeship had expired.
Sir 11. W. ‘Gilson answered five years.
Mr. Petit—And so, Sir Henry Wilson, after being faithfully
served by IL.s young man for twehe years, you think it right to
bring hint here under a warrant for felony, because he took away a
few old garments.
Sir It. Maxis: said there was no warrant. He told Sir Henry
Wilson that servants had a notion that they were entitled to the
cast off liveries, and however mistaken the young man might be, it
could hardly he said that he had committed a felony. He (Sir It.
Birnie) therefore merely granted a summons.
Sir H. Wilson—So you see, Sir, there was no warrant.
Sir B. Bin N IE-1 must say, however, that Sir henry applied
I for a warrant. _ _

Mr. Petit said, that warrant or no warrant, the defendant was
brought there in custody, and at the suit of the prosecutor.
Sir H. BIRNIE said he did nut consider the young man in cus-
tody at all.
Sir 11. Wilton said the simple question was, whether lie was
entitled to the clothes or not, lie would show that he had fur-
nished the derentiant with a suit of the proper value when his term
of apprenticeship expired, and that he never promised that he
shatild take his liveries with him when he left the service.

Mr. Burkit,;fiTtaibr,;;; then called, anti that he
charged five guineas per suit for the detendant's liveries, and that
he did not know of Sir Henry Wilson's making any promise of the
kind alluded to.

Sir H. Wi!son-then made several obsesvations about the kindness
which he said the defendant had experienced in his family, and
the presents he had received, and said he might have remained, but
he was obliged to discharge him for bad behaviour.
Mr. Petit—Discharge him ? Pray was it not at his own desire
that he left your service? -
Sir H. 11 ikon said he believed it was.
Mr. Petit—Did he give you warning, or you him ?
Sir H. Wilson said the delendant.gsve warning.
Mr. Petit—And yet you talk about flhcharging him.
Sir H. Wigan said he had behaved very ill, which the defendant
denied. •

Sit R. BIRXTE said the clothes had better be prndueed.
Mr. Petit-0 ! yes, let the old clothes be produced by all means.
Sir H. Wilson—Old clothes ! You may talk of old clothes as
mach as you like. I don't know whether you keep servants or not,
but— -

Mr. Petit—l don't attend here to answer questions.
Sir IL {{'ikon—There is no occasion for irritation. We are not
met here for irritation.

Mr. Petit-1 am not come here for irritation, as yon exprese it,
but simply to watch over the interests of the young man. It is the
practice of the excellent institution of which I have the honour to
be a member, never to desert those who have once been under its
care so long as they deserve protection, but to continue to them
in their maturer years, the same fostering kindness which they ex-
perience in their infancy. I certainly could not help feeling a
little hart when I heard you talk about your discharging him, when
it appeared that lie discharged himself. And with respect to the
clothes, it appears that you would have sent him into the world
naked after twelve years of faithful service.
Sir H. Wilson denied that he would have done so.
Mr. Petit—Why you did not know that he had clothes to wear,
or a place to put his head in.
Sir H. %%Ilion repeated his denial, and again said that the de-
fendant had behaved very
Sir R. BIRNIE said he observed, on the hack of the indenture,
*certificate of good character, signed by Sir Henry Wilson.
The clothes were now produced. They consisted chiefly of
jackets and breeches, certainly very considerably the worse for
Wilson's_wear. By Sir 11. ilson's desire they were handed over to Mr.
Burkit' who seemed by no means anxious to have the charge of them.
Mr. Petit said he hoped Sir H. Wilson was satisfied, now that
he had got his old clothes.
Sir R. BIRNIE had for some time evinced a great desire to put
an end to the inquiry, and he now said that the question before
him was a very simple one. The young man had taken away the
clothes, Improperly perhaps, strictly speaking, but he had done so
under the notion that he was entitled to them • and there was not
the slightest imputation even of constructive felony.
The defendant was therefore discharged.
Mr. Petit—Young man, you are now liberated, and you will go
forth from this office with a character perfectly pure and unsullied ;
for, as Sir Richard Ilirnie hu said, there was not the slightest
pretext for an imputation even of constructive felony. I will just
add, that so well rtatistied am I With the reedit of this inquiry,
and so convinced am I of the goodness of your character, that
if you want a aituatfon' or assistance of any kind, I will give it
you with all my heart.
There had been a pretty stmng Manifestation of feeling by a ra-
ther numerous miditory throughout the inquiry, and when the last
remarks were made, there was a very loud expression of applause.
several times repeated, In of the efforts of Sir It. Butwaz to
check it.
MAR I.IIOR OUGII-ST R Err.

Ronnwav charac-
ters, of the names of If illis. Williams, Farman, and Mead, were
brought to this office yesterday, on suspicion of being concerned in
robbing the house of Lord Loraine, 36, Vpper Brook-street, on
Tuesday night.
Lord Lovaine's butler deposed that, about ten o'clock on Tues-
day night. having occasion to a neighbouring hotel on a momentary
business, he left the area gate open, and upon his return found that
there had been stolen from the hall three travelling coats, two
travelling cloaks, and two pelisses. In the pocket of one of the
mats, his own property, was a pocket-book containing a 30/. pro-
missory note and several valuable memorandums.
One of the footmen deposed, that while the butler was out the
bell rang, and, upon his answering it, a person, whom he was con-
fident wan the prisoner Williams, Inquired which was Gilbert-
street. Witness informed the prisoner that the street inquired for
was opposite, on which he went away.
Mr. Dv E H —Are you confident that Williams is the person who
made the inquiry ?
Witness—l have no hesitation in saying that he is.
Seholetield, the officer, deposed that in consequence of the in-
formation he had received, he proceeded to Lord Lovaine's house,
and examined the area-gate, which had no appearance of having
been forced. He then went to Willis's house in Gilbert-street,
which lie found Williams entering with a bottle of wine, and
knowihg the whole of the prisoners to be suspicious characters, be
brought them to this office.
The prisoners, in defence, denied all knowledge of the robber:,
and Williams said the servant was mistaken in his identity, for
that lie had not been in Brook-street on the day in question.
Sir. Dv En observed, that although appearances were very much
against the prisoners; yet the evidence was insufficient to warrant
aity further proceedings against them. They must therefore be
discharged. The prisoners were discharged accordingly.

AN AFFECTING EVENT.—It seldom falls to OUT lot to
recite a more affecting death than the following :—Franklin
Shippe and his brother Calvin, Of Shrewsbury, in this
county, started very early on the morning of the 18th
inst. with their dog and guns for the mountains in pursuit
of game. They did not use the precaution, either to
take refreshments with them, or any breakfast before they
departed. They notwithstanding climbed the mountains
with unusual dexterity eager, probably, to participate in
the chase. After wandering a considerable part of the day,
land being rather bewildered, they attempted to return, but
soon found themselves much exhausted, cold, and fatigued.
Franklin soon found himself so much so, that he could
proceed no further, and Calvin, rather than leave his
brother to perish, proposed to take him on his back,
. and attempted to get out of the forest—but on trial,
soon found this impracticable, and the last resort was for
Calvin to leave his brother, and save himself if lie could.
Franklin had by this time become incapable of utterance,
from cold and fatigue, and Calvin was hardly able to
travel. However, the latter broke up some branches, and
inaile a bed for Franklin, placed him on it secured the dog
to his feet in order to keep them from freezing, and took
leave but with very little hopes of seeing him again alive.
It was then nearly night. Calvin, after wandering; -until
he was about to yield up, providentially came across some,
of the neighbours, and pursuit was immediately made
for Franklin, who was, after much fatigue, found. But
not until the vital spark had nearly flown. Ile was only
seen to gasp once or twice ! The dog was found wh. r hg
was left, and exhibited marks of great affliction by bowline
and licking the remains of poor Franklin. Some further
assistance was obtained, and the deceased was conducted
through a very difficult passage to the place he left so
cheerfully in the morning. Calvin has recovered, and in
addition to the above particulars, we understand he says
that they would both doubtless have been enabled to have
saved themselves if they, had only taken a crust of bread,
.and that lie proposed to rill the dog to satiate hunger and
give them strength, but Franklin was unwilling, and said
lie had rather perish himself. The deceased was about
twenty-t el years of age.-4iulland (Vermont) Herald,
Nov. 29.