The National Register.
London, England, 1815-04-09 00:00:00

ATTEMPT TO STEAL THE CROWN.

Ft:PTHER PART icutAns.
Abent two o'clock on Friday. an attempt WWI Made by a respect •
2ye lo,•king woman, to steal the Crown train the Regalia at the
'Tower. Alihoot!' the railing fronting the public part of the chem.
H. is made of strong cast iron bars, she had the temerity to make
a .!,itch at it, and sucreeded in breaking off Some of the jewels,
d to a groat amotiot ; but in consequence of the precautions
vl,ich have been taken since Colonel Blood's similar attempt, she
was unable to escape, and was conveyed to prison. On Wedne,thy,
the prisoner underwent examination at the Lambeth-street Police
(Arc. nix. Eloise Stackling, deputy keeper of the regnita in the
To,.er, deposed, that, on Friday last, about one o'clock, the !Il•i-.
some asked to see the regalia. She proceeded in the usual way, pn
came to the crown ; this is contained In a case. and•is never
taken out ; she opened the ease, anti held it With bath hands, on the
ale of a table, except when she was obliged to disengage one halo!,
to pint out particular jewels. She bad just been describing the
"olum minura, a jewel of great value," when the prisoner thinst
het hand through the centre bar 'of the grating, and seizing hold of
the centre bow of the crown, pulled with great violence to draw it
forth. Witness put her hand at the top of the bow and bottom of
the crown, to preset se it, wliiic the priso;'er kept struggling with
greater violence to get it away. This'struggliog•continued for about
five mlnutes,"abd site at length gut the crown from her grasp. She
then pat the crown at a distance behind her, tdipt the bolt at the
entrance, secured the prisoner, Ind called for assi(tance. When
help wavolifained, she sent for the Governor ; but the Warden bay.
iii conic in, a Constable was Rent for, who took the prisoner iflto
custody. She was scotched, and about 5!, in money was found upon
her; there were'also some papers. In the struggle there were two
boas Ofthe CrOwn bt oken from the socket; a string of pearls was al,o
lmiken which rolled upon the door, some intitte the railing, and some
outside, where the prisoner was. They were eimsequently picked up.
1.,) the witness, assistt d by the Governor.—The prisoner being called
meat for defence, said that she was a widow. residing at No. 3,
tilioti-stet et, Apoll Gardens; she was a olik-woman. Being asked
by the Magistrate why she came so fir from home. she replied, she
very alien went to Thames-street to buy salt herrings.—Then, said
the Magistrate, what in,lncesl you to go to the Tower ?—A. I went
04 Friday purposely- to see the lions ; no one ssas with me ; I then
went to see the crown.—How came you to snatch that Wick from
the keeper ?—A. I thought it a pity that so valuable a thing should
remain there, while half the nation was starving for want of broad !
I wished also, at the time, fis take the %%lode of what was there,
and give it to the. public ?-I,V ho told son to do this, or Y% Ito was it
Put that good thought into your head?--'t. I heel no adviser what.
ever.—J. Brett, .a constable, deposed to having taken the prisoner
into custody. Wh-n he was conveying her aseay in a coach, he a ked
her why she had made 811 attempt to suite on the crown, soil why
She ought not as well Wife laid hold of one of the lions? she said, she
Was not such a fool = she knew better titan that.--A remark being
made by. another Officer, that it was treason to steal or destroy the
Crown ; she said. in return, no one had ever lost their lives vet for
attempting the life of Inc King.:--Upon being asked by the 711agis•
trate to state more particularly who she was, she said she was a
Welch woman, from Cirmorthenshire. AbOnt ten years since. she
parelored some ground trom Mr. Hooper, of the Apollo (hardens ;
sad abort five years ago built a small house. in which she resides, aHd
which had 'Arcady cost her 1201. She was to have paid 1501. ifor
ot:ier houses anti property wore stolen tom her by ejeetinents, exe-
rulious, &c. and her losses amonnted a least to 5001. ! She lievt r lawl
ally idea of stealing the Crown until she saw it, and then was only
herdhal by the motive already stated. Drles toot recollect that she
(.;r thought of providing for the poor mitil aeti.---Nlr. Swift, the
1.-vprr of the Jewels in the Tower, being oat of town, the prisoner
remanded.—She is generally suspected to be iLsave.

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ACCID,

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