The National Register.
London, England, 1820-12-10 00:00:00

OLD B.IILEY SESSIONS.

.•••••••=Oll.
On Wednesday these Sessions commenced before the
Lord Mayor, the Recorder, Mr. Justice Bayley, Mr.
Baron Graham, &c.
James Anderson, aged 21, was capitally indicted for
breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Thomas
Saunders, on the night of the 14th of Nuvetnber last,
with intent to steal. Guilty—Death.
DARING GANG 07 BUR•LARS:—.SamueI Jones,
`William Dunn, and %Vllliam Grady, were capitally
indicted for burglarious) y breaking an" einumg the
ttwelline,-house of Lacy Watkins, widow, and stealing
therein a watch, and 21. Bs. in money, her property.
Considerable interest was excited by this trial, in
consequence of the prisoners being three of the gang
who were rescued front the custody of Marsden, the
Marlborough-street gaoler, on their way to prison. The
following facts were proved in evidence :
Mrs. Watkins is an aged woman, and keeps a grocer's
shop in Shepherds Market, Mayfair, and about seven
o'clock in the evening of the 2 s t of Novembi r last, the
prisoner Jones called at the shop, and desired her to send
two pounds of tea to the house of Dr. Hearns, in Cur-
son-street, immediately. She said at must be a mistake,
as she did not serve that gentleman, but Jones assured
her it was right. He then went away, but Mrs. Wat-
kins, still suspecting the order was a lubricated one, sent
her porter to the house to inquire. The porter had only
left the house a few minutes, w hen the shop door (which
shut only with a latch) was again opened, and live
young men walked in. At that time Mis. %Vatkins and
her son, a young lad aged fifteen, were the only persons
present in the shop. Three of them went straight on to
the parlour, and one of them took a watch from the
wan:le-piece, while those who remained in the shop
reached across the counter, and taking out the till, rift ed
it of its contents, consisting of 41.85. in silver and coo-
per. Mrs. Watkins ran and locked the parlour dOO r,
fastening the three men in, and then made an alar
There was a door, however, in the parlour leading into
the street, and they effected their escape; the two men
in the shop running Out of the shop door at the same
time. A gentleman's servant, who was in the kitchen,
came up un hearing Mrs. Watkins call, and he pursued
the prisoner Jones, whom he saw running from the
house.
A butcher named Coulson, who was standing at his
shop door, saw Jones running, and calling out " stop
thiel 1 there he goes I"—but Coulton, knowing that no
other person had passed, wisely concluded that he must
be the thief himself, and took him. He was taken hack
to Mrs. Watkins's shop, and immediately reeuBnised by
bet as the man who ordered the tea. A few minutes
after, as Cuulton was standing again at his shop dour,
the other two prisoners, and a lad named ,Murray, (who
was rescued and is still at large), came up to him and
asked him what had been the matter? lie said, "
think you are part of die gang," and with a most praise-
worthy promptitude and courage, he seized the three,
and detained them until persons came to his assistance.
Mrs. Watkins and her son prbitively identified Dunn
and Murray, as two of those wiao entered the shop,
but they could not speak with cettainty to Grady.
Mr. Baron Garrow, in his charge to the Jury, stated
that die entering the home after dark, only by lifting up
the latch, was as much a burglary as if the greatest
force had been used to effect the entrance. The Learn-
ed Judge afterwards said, that he was thus particular in
explaining the law of the case, because, in the present
state of the ittetri,polis, he thought it could ma be too
widely promulgate, in order to check the system of
plunder that was practistd with so Innen impunity.
'lnc Jury fauna the prisoners Jones and Dann—
Guilty, death; and acquitted Grady.
Mrs. Watkidi recommended the convicts to mercy;
and Mr. Baron Garrow sail, the recommendation
should be forwarded to the proper quarter; but he
wished very much Out this would not excite any strong
hopes in the minds of the prisoners, for they would pro-
bably be disappointed.
Rossuates.—Jatues Reeves and Joseph Johnson
%vete capitally indietedfor a highway rubbery upon the
person of George Salt Tuck.
Mr. Tuck was passing along the Strand one morning
in October last, when he WaS surrounded by a gang of
tight or ten fellows, amongst whom were the two pri-
soners. One gave lima a push, which forced !Mu against
two others, who seized his arms, and the prisoner Reeves
drew out his watch and handed it to Johnson. Mr.
Tuck secured them in spite of the efforts of their com-
panions, who Lea: hunt severely. Johnson had the
watch itt his lms,,,sion.
The two prisoners were found Guilty—Death.—.Aged
17 and 18.
James Hunt, a boy of id, was next tried on a charge
of robbery on the highway. Guilty—Death.
The Jury recommended hint to mercy, on account of
his youth.
Mr. Baron Garrow ordered the ptiMICI to resoana at