The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-10 00:00:00

HATTON.GA RDE N.

Tns ROBBERY examination took
place at this office on Saturday, before ALAN S. Lento, Esq.
respecting the extensive robbery of jewels, committed on Sunday
evening, the 2d instant, at the house of Thomas Downes, Esq.
No. 31. Great James.street, Bedford-row ; the particulars of which
are already before the public.
/dr. Downes, accompanied by the ladies of his family, and some
male friends, attended.
Holland, the discharged footman, underwent a long investiga-
tion, with closed doors; the particulars of which, of course, we
are not enabled to give; but we could learn that nothing new was
elicited which can in anywise tend to the recovery of the property
stolen, which is estimated at nearly 6,0001. value. The prisoner is
a well-looking young man, and,was fashionably dressed, in a
suit of black clothes, with some handsome jewel ornaments about
his person. We could learn that he conducted himself through the
examination with unexampled firmness, and seemed quite as fait
to the entire proceedings, which, since him apprehension, it had
Inez judged expedient to adopt.
The pnsoner's wife, Jemima Holland, is also in custody on
suspicion, as an accessary after the fact ; she was also had up for
examination.

......
The female cook, who admitted the prisoner Rolland to the
house on the night of the robbery, and who is known to have co-
habited with him previous to his discharge from Mr. Downes's
service, and to have been in his company on the previous night, Is
in custody as an accomplice.
Another man, named Allen, has been taken up under suspicious
circumstances, being found at Holland's residence, in Hackney.
road, the morning after the robbery.
31r. Hu MPIIRIXO attended as Solicitor fur this man, but was
not suffered to be present during the examination of the other
prisoners.
They were all re-committed for examination on Tuesday, which
will, it is presumed, be the final one —in the interim they are
placed in separate prisons, with strict orders to the jailors to suffer
no communication with the parties, unless under a special order
from the committing Magistrate.
REAL IVAIIT AND LUXURIOUS APPETITE.—Two cases,
treading on the heels of each other, were heard at this office, on
Saturday, which very distinctly mark the variety of crime, or rather
the variance of cause that produces criminal effect. The respective
decision in each case lea comment on itself. We take them in the
order in which they were heard. The first, which we hare truly
designated " Real Want." was decided by Mr. LatwO ; the
second, which is not miscalled " Luxurious Appetite." was heard
before Sergeant SELLON.—" Look on this picture and on that"—
Real ll'ant.—Thontas Bryant, a miserable-looking old man,
was charged by a baker's journeyman, with stealing out of his
basket, which he had set down for a moment at a gentleman's door,
in two quartern and one half-quartem loaf,
value 2s. 4d.

Fagan, the square-keeper, proved that he found the bread. or at
least a part of it, on the prisoner's penult, which he (Fagan) now
produced, the prisoner's hunger having caused him to devour part
of the half-quartem loaf almost on the instant.
The baker proved that he had lost that quantity of bread, and
identified that now produced as being the same.
No one knew him as an aid offender.

The evidence wax taken down, and the Chief Clerk intimated
that the case wax made out.

Mr. Laic: c —Does the prisoner choose to make any defence ?
Prisoner.—lt was distress, Sir, that drove me to the commission
of the crime. I had not tasted food for two whole days hefore,
and was fainting with hunger, when I saw the basket of bread
before me—l took it I own, and —(Here he burst into tears.)
Mr. Larwo.—What are you
Prisoner.—l served for ten years in the 9th Regiment of Foot,
and was discharged sic years ago. I have no provision on earth.
Mr. LA I N G.—Then how do you get your living
Prisoner.—By doing any little job I tan get in the streets in the
way of porterage.
Mr. I.starn.—bet him be committed. .

;hie -p-aTtie;rweieiheWbO:urClo-v—er-,--iind the wretched man was
sent for trial. _ _ .

LuzurioNs Appetite.—A young fellow (the name we for.
get) whose ruddy cheeks, and plethoric habit, certainly did not
evince much abatenance, from the good things of life, was charge/
before Mr. Sergeant SiLLOW, with stealing, on Thursday'tist,
from the shop of Mr. Rolfe, pastry.oook, Lamb's Conduit-street, a
Twelfth Cake, value Os. 6d.
The theft was provad by a young lady who sat in the parlour
at the time, and eeidng the prisoner take it off the counter,
alarmed Mr. little, who pursued ifAu into an alley, and the cake
was found at his feet.

The prisoner's mistress, who keeps a coal shed, came forward to
speak to his previous good character for two years that he had been
in her service. It being a festival time, he received permission
to spend the evening with his moth r, and the supposition war,
tharbe intended to make the cake • part of their entertainment.
The mistress, in conclusion, stated, that he wu not in want of
any necessary whatever, as she found him board, washing, and
lodging, and allowed him 3a. per week wages.
Mr. Rolfe, the prosecutor, observed, that although this state.
ment of the prisoner's mintrins. was an agravatko 01 the clime,

inasmuch as he was not actuated by want, yet in consideration of
the. good character he had previously sustained, he(the prosecutor)
with the Magistrate's permission, was anxious to withdraw the
prosecution.
Mr. Sergeant SELI.O)r, after some consideration, observed, that
he should accede to the prosecutor's request, but certainly the cir-
cumstances under which the robbery was committed, did not en.
title the prisoner to such clemency. " Want—real want," ob.;
served the Worthy Magistrate," is not a sufficient excuse for the
commission of theft; though it often is, and indeed should be,
eorsidered as a strong palliative. Let your present escape, young
man (to the prisoner) not encourage you to similar offences in fu-
ture, but rather let it be s warning to you, and be thankful to the
prosecutor for the lenity he has shown in not pressing the case.
He was discharged.
No comment is necessary on these decisions, further than the
facts show themselves. The man, advanced in years, destitute of
any earthly support, who had served his king and country for ten
years—and stole a loaf to support life, was committed ; and the
youth, full of blood, of strength, and ►igour, amply supplied with
every comfort, and still plundering for more, was discharged !

QUEEN-SQUARE.
James I(Peormack, a private in the Coldstream Guards, and
flew, White a respectable shop-keeper in Chelsea, were brought
up before the Magistrates, charged with assaulting Richard Dunn,
an auctioneer, living in Arrsbella-row, Pimlico, on the King's
highway.
The prosecutor stated, that he was returning home about twelve
o'clock on Wednesday night, when near Charlotte Chapel, in
William-street, he was jostled by the prisoner M`Cormack, who
immediately plated himself in a boxing attitude, and having some
time ago been robbed of a valuable gold watch in a similar man-
ner, he was not disposed to fight, but gave him in custody of a
watchman. White, the other prisoner, also showed light, when he
was likewise taken into custody.
Al`Cormack, in his defence, stated, that he was returning home
very peaceably, in company with his wife and child, and as they
were passing Charlotte Chapel the prosecutor abused him without
the least provocation, calling him a d--41 scoundrel of a drum-
mer; that he had had him taken to Bow-street twice before, and
would have him up again : he further added a very insulting
epithet to his wife. fie was given in custody with the other man,
who was an entire stranger to 'him. When they got to the watch.
house he preferred a charge against the prosecutor.
White said that he was passing by at the time, when he observed
the prosecutor shamefully abusing a woman, who had an infant in
her arms • he merely asked why he ill-used the poor woman, when
he was also given in charge to a watchman.
Mr. John Emery, the constable of the night, said he received
the charge against the two prisoners, who were perfectly sober,
whilst the prosecutor was exceedingly intoxicated.
Several watchmen who were present corroborated Ir. Emery's
statement. _

.....
The Magistrate observed, that as several witnesses had sworn
positively that the prosecutor was intoxicated, he must believe
them. He should, therefore, fine him ss. for being drunk, and
he must make compensation to the prisoners, who were discharged.
The prosecutor denied being drunk ; he, however, paid the tine,
and threatened to indict the parties for perjury ; at the same time
refusing to make them any compensation.