The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-10-27 00:00:00

DARING FOOTPAD ROBBERY.

Thomsen Hans, Thomas Hughes,
tend John Swills, were put to the bar, charged oil an
indictment with assaulting and prating in fear
Thomas Perkins, nod taking from hint, against his
will, a watch arid other property, in the parish of
Wlladen, on the night of the 26th of September.
It appeared by the testimony of Mr. Perkins,
that on the night in question be was returning to
Wilsden, at which place he resided. when he was
accosted by three persons, who said, •4 D—n you!
have you got any money ?" Prosecutor said, 61 he
had not, and hoped they would not use him ill."
They then proceeded to rob him of the property
named in the indictment.
Samuel Lack. an officer of Bow-street, deposed.
that in consequence of some information received
at the police-office, he was directed by the Ma-
gistrates to go with several other officers, namely,
Woodbury, Limbrick, and Chapman. to the Hat.
row-road, where they succeeded iii taking into
custody, the four Prisoners. Upon Smith be-
ing laid hold off, he attempted to fire off a pis-
tol. The witness then succeeded in wrenching
it from him, and also the taking of several articles
from his possession ; also a knife that Mr. Perkins
identified as being his, taken from the person of
Eaton. The Prisoners were afterwards brought to
town in custody.
Limbrick corroborated the evidence a( Lack;
and Chapman produced a loaded pistal,„Stiedt fse
proved having taken from Hunt. , , Ua
Woodberry produced two silver purses that he
lad taken front the Prisoners, Smith and Hughey.
Trraton, in bis defence, said be bad bought the

it nife in Gee'e-court, for which he had given nine.
pence.
Mr. Justice PARK did not consider the evidence
affected any dale Prisoners bet Eaton. lie would
not therefore cull on them for a defence. mod should
recommend an acquittal a• applied to them.
The Jury, after a leg, tumults cunsultsin ti, se-
locoed a venlic► of I.stilty. Deg* aeontat Eaton,
and ■cquitted the other three.
Hunt, Smith, and thighee, were then put on
trial, charged with robbing Etienne Dirlio, surgeon
to the Duke Decazes, of.) IN. pole, six If. note■,
fourteen shillings in silver. a Kohl watch, a box-
emit, and other properly, on the 47th of Septem-
ber, in the parish of Harrow, in the county of
Middlesex. •
It was stated by the Prosecutor that in the after-
glows of the day ranted on the indictment he was
driving to Harrow, to the re.iileoce of the Duke
Deraxes in a one horse chaise, when lie was
stopped by the three Prisoners. who demanded his
money, at the note time producing a pistol. They
then took the property named in the indictment.
On his requesting them to leave htro his coat. as
he was unwell, one of the party, which he believed
to he H iiglies. called out to Eaton t" " blow
his h__y brains out if he did not make haste."
He would not, however, swear positively to the
persons of the Prisoners, although hr believed them
to be the men; he had not seen any of his property
except his handkerchief, which briug produced,
he identified it.

The Police officers ',Nee the saute testimony as
in the last ease.

Hunt, on his defence, said he bought the hand-
kerchief which Mr. Births said was his ; he 'lnsight
it seven the since in Monmouth-street for two
shillings. Theoilies prisoners declined making any
defence.

Mr. Justice PARR summed up, remarking that
that the evidence was not so conclusive against
Smith and Hughe► a 4 sg.iiust Hnnt.
The Jury, after a short consultation, returned a
verdict of Guilty against Thomas Hunt, and ac-
quitted the other too.
The Prisoners were then again put on their trial.
charged with ar•aulting Joel Mike, and taking
taking front his person a silver watch and pro-
perty, with a bunch of keys. l'his prosecutor
swore positively to the person of Hughes, and the
Jury returned a verdict abiding the whole of the
Prisoners Guilty.
These men formed part of a gang that had com-
mitted depredations iu the vicinity of Loudon for a
great length of time.