The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-05 00:00:00

Yesterday, at Bow-street Police-couTt, Charles King,
a police-constable of the C division,NO7 39, who has
been attached to the force several years, and has usually
clone duty in plain clothes, was brought up in custody of
Inspector Durkin and Sergeant Langley, charged with
having been, in a great number of cases, the accomplice
of convicted thieves.

During the detention of the prisoner at the police-
station, before the examination commenced, he made a
desperate attempt to escape from the custody of the
sergeant, but he was speedily overtaken and secured
with the assistance of other officers.

It was understood that the prosecution had been
directed by the Police Commissioners, in consequence of
certain disclosures which had been made from time to
time by the young criminals confined in the House of
Detention, several of whom were brought to the court
under the charge of the prison officials to give evidence.
A. statement of the preliminary inquiry was handed up
to the magistrate by Superintendent Pearce.
John Reeves, a well-dressed youth of some intelli-
gence apparently, was then examined. He said he was
14 years of age, and knew the nature of an oath, al-
though he never took one before. He knew that it
bound him to speak the truth.
Mr. Hall—But do you know what will happen to you
if you tell a lie.
Witness—l shall be punished.
Mr. Hall—But I don't mean in this world ; I mean
hereafter, in the world to come.
Witness—Yes ; I shall offend in the eye of the Al-
mighty.
Mr. Hall—Let him be sworn.
Examination continued —I am now a prisoner in the
Westminster Bridewell. I was sent there on the 2d of
May last. I was tried at the Westminster Sessions for
picking pockets, and sentenced to two years' imprison-
ment. I know the prisoner King. He was a policeman.
lie first knew me as a pickpocket. About this time last
year I met him by appointment at the Luke's Head pub-
lic-house in Little Pulteney-street. Two otherboys were
with me, named Donovan and Arrendon. He said he
would show us a place where we could get some money—a
place where there were lots of ladies. It was a few days
after Christmas. King went with us through Berkeley-
square to the Serpentine, in Hyde-park. King pointed out
a lady to me in Berkeley-street, and I picked her pocket.
I got a purse containing 31. 155., all gold except ss.
King told me that he knew I should get a skin from
her. I got it by putting my hand into her dress. I gave
the money to King, as well as two other purses which I
succeeded in getting from ladies, one just before and one
afterwards. The money was equally divided between
King, me, and the two other boys, about an hour after,
at a public house where we took refreshments. After
this we went to the Serpentine, and King took us up to
the bridge, where a great many ladies and gentlemen
were looking over at the skating which was going on
there. He said there were plenty of people there that I
might got something from. Ile pointed with his stick
to a lady and gentleman who were leaning over the
bridge, and I and the other boys went up to them. I
picked the lady's pocket of a purse containing half a so-
vereign aid 7s. King was about four yards off at the
time, and saw me do it. He then beckoned to us with his
stick, and when we were a little way off he took the purse
from me, emptied it, and put it into the hole of a tree. He
gave the money to Donovan to mind till we could get some
more. He told us it would not be safe to stop any longer
on the bridge, but said we might do something under
the bridges, where there were a great many people
under the arches. We went down there, and I picked
a lady's pocket of a handful of loose silver. I did not
count it, but passed it over to Donovan. I could net
do anything more there. King said it was a measley
sort of place, and it was no use stopping. The money
was divided about 7 o'clock the same evening at a public-
house in Chelsea. It was the large public-house oppo-
site the cab stand, about three doors from Sloane-street.
Donovan and the other boy were much older than me.
I was never tried for any of these offences. I first men-
tioned them about a month ago to Mr. Lawrence, one
of the officers of the prison. I mentioned some things
about King to one of the visiting magistrates. I was
never promised any reward or forgiveness for what I
told, and never expect any. The next day after going
up to the Serpentine we met again, by King's desire, at
the Luke's Head, and he took us to a bank, at the
corner of a street, in Pall-mall. Donovan and Arran-
don stopped two or three ladies there, but I could not
-get anything from them.
.11r. Hall—lt seems that you were always selected to
Psfl?kertehe pockets. Was that because you were con-
ic!,wiiitet,:e !most expert hand
Bank
smallest ha hand. ; I was more up to it, and had the
people are always, looking "
, we
Went
to Not being able to do anything at the
with us ther©•
a woman. We dividead pure
of St. Martin's-lane, neart
in at
where crowds of
I got ilg in at the pictures. King was
with 2/. 9s. 9d. in it from
After
that church, and the purse
public house at the corner
wtehwerent to the Inclosure,
was thrown away.
in the park, but we got nothing
before I
Ii was taken up
in April, and committed for trial bye. magistrates.
U to that time, ever since January,. Z
constantly with me. He was with me
was taken. He met me, Donovan, Ar e d y
rtheemedgea had
been
named Pranks, at half-past 8, in Regent-sil'enel a boyn said he had some business to attend to, and went towards.e
Vine-street. We got a gold lever watch once, hen King was with me, from a lady in the New-road. King
took me to the place, and Arrendon showed me theg
lady. It was a wedding party. Arretidon had the
watch to sell for us, and he said that he sold it for V,
The money was divided between him, King, and me,
My companions were not taken into custody with rue,
• They escaped.