The National Register.
London, England, 1818-01-25 00:00:00

Tii u rtsimY.

Joseph Robinson, aged indicted for grand larceny, being
charged with stealing a siletr spoon, the property of John Barns,
alto keeps the house, 33 .ineoln's-inn-lields, of the Vcrulam,l2lo.
The tact., of this case Lace Uctn before our readers more than once.
The Jury Mum' a verdict Guilty. but strongly recommended the
pei:oner. to mercy on account of his age.
Otte of the Coy officers here declared that he knew the :•risoner
well, and had done so fur nearly 20 years. Ills name was not Ro-
binson, but Drutlierwu, anti he had btaln iu bit John Lubbueles

JAN.

bank. id .vas an old thief. hand bean concerned in many rob-
beriet-and parti....ilarlv that of stealing the clock frenfthe Hottee of
`...).‹.n0t1i. It was teat a very short time that he had b2en out of
Tad-.
the Common Sergeant told the prisoner that he would certainly
be transported fo 7 years. The prisotaT shook his head and retinal.
Thomas ?WIT and James Turner were .oamvieted of stealing two
bushels of coals, the property of .lo,eph TaAliatal.
The verdict having been recorded. the p msecutor begged to re-
Comm .nd tile pri ;ono to mercy, giving, fib reason, that he believed
this to Iv their fir,t thfence. }laving, !towel Cr, repeatedly suffered
through similar depredations, he was determined to prosecute the
Set person lie detected.

Vie Recorder intimated that he had acted with great propriety.
the prosecutor then requested that the Coati. would dear a state-
Welt of rather ax extraordinary nature which he 1: ad to make. The
Cturt acquiesced, and he proceeded to stue. that the present trial
hawing been expected to hare taken place on Mtintliv let, lie was at-
knifing in the yard opposite the Court wit his witnevses . • and while
they wpm there, two persons, who stated themselves to be COOStllbleA,
Caine up to his principal witness, and one of them said, that he had a
warrant against hint for stealing some hay, and they both intiontliately
dragged him away to Nlary.le.bone watch house.
The Recorder asked whether the prosecutor knew the partici ?
"the proiecutor s sid, that he believed one of the names of the offi-
cers was Collins: 'rhis was net Collins the city officer, but an officer
he bettered, beloagingi• Mary .le-bone.
Th.: Recorder olwerred, that the Grand Jury had been discharged,
and rmcsnuiended the prosecutor to indict the officers for the assault
non session, Cr to make a complaint before a Magistrate, antl Au ob-
lain a warrant against them, _

Thi...tecommentlation. we believe, wall complied with.

STATE OF WEIVGATE.

Sessions-house, Old Bailey, London, lan. 10.
TO the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, and other his Majesty's
Justices, presiding at the COurt of Sessions now holden at the Old
Bailey.
We the Grand Jury-of the city of London, having reported
the several bills of indictment presented to us in due form,
and Losing informed by the proper officer, that no others are
forthcoming, do wait upon the Court for the purpose of re-
ceiving our discharge ; at the same time, we wish to observe
she great pleasure we have derived, in perceii ing that no
bill has been found by ns for murder, new any one of a crime
of a peculiarly atrocious nature ; a circumstance very grati-
fying to the Jury.
In the progress of our duty we visited the prison of New.
gate, and especially directed our attention to the state of that
prison ; and we lament to record, that from the great influx
of prisoners, it is hardly possible to keep them in a state of
wholesome cleanliness, a circumstance we deeply deplore, as
putting together all descriptions of offenders, au evil easily
obviate,' in the opinion of the Jury, (and in which opinion
they are borne out by Mr. Brown, the keeper of the prison,)
it more space could be allotted, whereby a classification or
the prisoners might be t fleeted to the evident improvement
of their health, comfort, and morals.
The vast number of juvenile depredators in confinement,
and the melancholy circumstance of four being under sentence
of death in the condemivd cells, and in irons, the youngest
only nine years of age and the oldest' twhive;conneeted with
the circumstance of very many of them previous to trial as-
sociating with the _profligate, hardened, and abandoned,
presents to us the idea of the improbability of a return,,
which a more judicious and attentive confinement might pro-.
.

The deplorable situation of the male prisoners, with respect
to clothing, particularly the juvenile part, made a melancholy
impression on our minds. Many were without shoes or
stockings, others without shirts, and one almost in a state of
nakedness-circumstances we earnestly recommend to the
considcrat• of those who arrange and manage the general
business of the prison ; and we are of opinion that the gene-
ral health of the prisoners of both sexes would he materially
improved, if an allowance of soap was granted for that .put-
pose.
lu visiting the infirmaoy, the Grand Jury feel great pleasure
in announcing that every necessary attention appears to be
paid to the sick, anti those in a convalescent state, and to the
general health of the prisoners.
We further beg leave to state to the Court the gratifying
pleasure we received in witnessing tilt exertions of Mrs. Fry
and-the ladies who so kindly assist her in attendieg to and
instructing the fonale prisoners, whose reformed deportment,
and cheerful acquiescence to their wishes, demonstrated with
a force no language ciao describe the affection these unfurtu-
rate women entertain for there humane, intelligent, and active
lrtualrsi JOHN GANN, •
Foreman of the Grand Jury.

FRANTIC CONDUCT OP A SoLDIER: On Sunday, daring
the time of divine service, the neighbourhood of Westatin.
*ter was thrown into the greatest alarm and confusion, by a
soldier of the Coldstream guards, who was running about
the streets in a state of madness, breaking the windows of the
inhabitants,and committing other acts of violence. lo one
bind he carried his bayonet, and in the other a large knife,
which he kept brandishing to the terror of the inhabitauts,
.and defying any person to •take I • . His conduct at length
became so outrageous, that tile neighbours, fearful it would
be attended with fatal consequences, sent information of the
circumstance to the officers on duty at Horse Guards,
and presently after a detachment (Without ten or twelve men,
under the command of serjeant awn, was sent to secure
•the tuifortunate inalkiaC. They 'mid him as described run-
ning about in a state of madness, and although he refused to
surrender to any civil authority, yet he no sooner saw the
soldiers than (as if recollecting Ins situation -; he threw down the
murderous instruments, and rushing into a house, dew up
stairs and threw himself front the third flour into the street,
by which he h"oke his thigh. and was u•herwise dreadfully
'hinted. The tirctonstance drew faint the s ectatorsu mo.
mentary bunt of'horror- The sergeant and his followers
were the first te approach the unfortunate man, whom they
recognized to be one of their companions in arms,
owned
.Baker. He was so dreadfully hurt, that it was found neces-
sary to have him conveyed to the Westminster Infirmary,
where hc.lies without hope of recovery. •
ATTEAIrTLOSCICIDE.—OiI Sunday night last, a young WO-'
Man. maned Rebecca Archer, Was charged by a Mr. Long
with stealing his hat, and she was consequently taken to die
watch house ()ISt. George's, Southwark, whet c she suspended
herself oy her garters from the grating, she was immediately
cut down, but two hours elapsed before animation was re.'
stored. sine was taken the follostang morning before a Surrey
Magistrate, cud Mr. Long mit appearing te prefer the charge;
-she • o.;:illaittCli to hard labour for one month.
On Nednesilay morning, M. Shaw' of Hull, who had been in a
poor state of health tot some time, fell down opposite the Slap public
houses is Church Lane, anti (Ind on the !pot. Ile was 37. yeats of
ads.

Vl* NATIONAL ItEGIS'X'ZIL

• POLICE.
GUI LrPH ALL.
A youth of genteel family and comiectintsa, 15 years of
age, was on Weilneaday, chaired with breakiug and entering
his sister's apartments, and stealing a quantity of wearing
apparel The landlord of the house in which the prisoner's
sister resides sinit.4 that on Tuesday evening, hearing a
noise, he placed himself upon the watch, and' observed the
prisoner issue from the apartment occupied by his sister, who
was theu absent, with a large bombe under his sum. On
being interrogated, he seemed much confused, and said he
was going to take the bundle to his sister; but afterwark's Con.
fessed that be did mot know where to find her. The ister
an interesting married female, about 29 years of age, Wrts so
deeply affected as for smile minutes to be unable to speak.
She at length stated, that her brother had been a Midship-
man in the Navy ; but having been discharged at the con.
elusion of war, his mother had since apprenticed him to a
hook binder. His master had, however, of late beau unable
to find sufficient employment for him, and he was compelled
to come home to his mother. To add to this, the latter had
lately failed in business, and was barely able to support him.
His behaviour had been uniformly respectful ;lad attentive to
his parent until within these few days, when lie suddenly
became rough end abusive in his conduct, and had stopped
twice all night from home. Enquiries had Lean made; and it
was ascertained that he had formed a connection ss ith several
bad characters, at whose instigation it appeared the present
offence was committed. During this recital the prisoner was
bathed in tears, and said nothing in defence when called upon.
The Magistrate having ascertained from the sister that she
did not intend to proceed against the prisoner, discharged
hi.n, with a suitable aihnonition, and banded bin over to the
care of his mother.