The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-05 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.

DEATH OF MR. COMMISSIONER FANE.
This morning information was received of the somewhat
sudden death of Mr. Commissioner Fane, which took place
at Weymouth yesterday evening. The learned Commis-
sioner had been in a very feeble state of health for some
months, but latterly he appeared to he improving.
Mr Registrar Winslow, who has been acting as Commis-
sioner, announced the melancholy fact to the gentlemen of
the bar and the profession, and, in doing so, evincel much
emotion. He said that apart from other circumstances, he
thought it would only be a proper mark of respect to the
memory of the deceased gentleman to suspend the business
of the court for the day. The o,ases of last examination and
discharge would be adjourned till to-morrow.
Mr Bazley, on behalf of the bar, expressed ruuch regret,
and concurred with the course adopted by the learned
Registrar in adjourning the court.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE,—This day.

BOW STREET.
STEALING LEAD FROM THE SAVOY CHAXEL.—Three
men, labourers in the employ of Mr Myers, the builder, were
placed at the bar charged with stealing upwards of 3 cwt.
of lead, and a man named Fincher, a marine-store dealer,
residing in White Hart-yard, was charged with feloniously
receiving the same,
A youth, named Westwood, in the employ of Mr Rou-
mien, the architect, seeing the men carrying the lead away,
told his master, and afterwards he watched and distinctly
saw each of the men leave the churchyard with lead in his
possession.
Mr R, L. Roumien said ho was an architect, and his
offices wero at No. 4, Lancaster-place. Yesterday afternoon
he was looking out of his office window, from which he had
a clear view of the ruins of the old chapel, and he then saw
the workmen who were employed in removing the lead from
the top of the building, putting large pieces of it round their
waists, going away with it, and then returning, after a
short absence, to their work. He could not identify any of
the prisoners.
Mr John Pethybtidge said he resided at No. 4, New
Hampstead-road, and was a clerk to Mr Roumien. About
11 o'clock a man came into his master's offices and said that
the men employed at the Savoy Chapel were taking away
some lead. He then looked out of window, and saw Savage
take some off the gutter, put it round his waist, and then
go off the premises with it. About ten minutes after, he
saw Savage and Ellis dividing some money. After that,
about 4 o'clock, he saw Cook leave the premises with a
basket covered with a red cloth. A police-constable was
present in our offices, and he then watched the prisoners,
and found the lead was taken to the shop kept by
Fincher, in White Hart-street. In the earlier part of the
day he had seen the two prisoners, Savage and Ellis, divid-
ing something which looked like money.
The prisoner Ellis here declared it was tobacco he was
giving Savage, and not money.
Mr Roumien taid he felt almost positiva it was money
that was divided, because the men kept moving their hands
backwards and forwards as if engaged in counting it.
Cook said he should like to ask Mr Roumien if he saw
him on the wall of the church.
Mr Roumien replied he did not.
Mr Vaughan told the prisoner witness had not said he
did.
Cook said the witness had said he saw three men taking
away the lead, and himself and Cook and Savage were the
only persons e mployed on the premises.
Charles Lane, office-keeper, said—About half-past nine
yesterday morning his attention was called to the prisoner
Cook hiding pieces of lead under the burnt wood lying in
the churchyard. He saw he afterwards hid lead in those
different places. One piece appeared to be about 81bs or
10Ibs. He (Cook) watched the foreman turn his back, and
then he picked up the lead about 10 o'clock, and left the
churchyard with it tied up in a red cloth. He told Mr.
Roumien about the circumstances, and at four o'clock he
saw him again leave the churchyard with lead in his pos •
session. He had previous to this seen'one of the men, he
believed Ellis, throw some lead into the premises of Mr.
Finney, which were destroyed at the fire but were now
being rebuilt. The three prisoners have been engaged in
olearing the ruins of the church ever since last Tuesday
week. Towards the close of the day, after some more lead
had been taken away, he saw the prisoners in close con-
versation, and making signs, indicating, ho supposed, that
soma one was watching them.
Inspector Avery, of the F division, said last evening he
sent an officer to make some inquiries relative to some lead,
and he went himself to the Savoy Churchyard and saw
Ellis and Cook. While he was waiting he saw Savage
return to the building with an empty basket, and on asking
him where he had been, he said to get a glass of ale, He
charged the men with stealing the lead. After taking the
three men to the station-house, he went to the pri-
soner Fincher's; shop, No. 11, "White Hart-street, and
asked him if he had recently bought some lead, He replied
he had been buying lead all day long. He was asked to
produce his book, which he did, and therein were two
entries made on the 4th ; one represented 1 cwt. 1 quarter
Albs. to have been purchased, for which £1 Os. ld. was
paid, and the other 2 owt. 2 qrs, 141b5., for which he had
paid .E 1 11s. 91
Mr Vaughan asked what was the name of the seller'

'"Witnetio :said it was put down as a Mr Brook, builder
6, Southampton-street, but he could find no such person.
He (witness) asked to see the lead. when it was shown to
him. He took the prisoner to the station-house, and
charged him with feloniously receiving stolen property,
tend left an officer in charge of the lead. In answer to
questions, Fincher told him he had sold a traveller about
1 cwt. of lead, but he had no entry beyond that made on a
piece of paper.
Cross-examined—He had been to the prisoner Pincher's
twice during the day, and on the first occasion he told him
he was charged with receiving the lead, knowing it to be
stolen. He left the prisoner's shop the first time without
leaving a constable in charge, but he was not absent maw
than 10 minutes. He never told Fincher that if he had no
received stolen property, at all events he was in the unlawful
possession of it, and that he would get three months' im-
prisonment. The charge was not at first entered at the
station as one of unlawful possession. The prisoner did
did not say if you have any charge against me, take me at
once to the station.
Police-sergeant F 31 said he went to Lancaster-place,
and from out of the second floor back window he had a
view of the Savoy churchyard. He saw Cook carry away
a basket covered with a piece of crimson cloth, which ap-
peared to have been a portion of some covering of the
church. He returned in about 10 minutes, and then having
entered conversation with the other two prisoners, they
went into the church. He then went down and asked
Cook if he had any business to carry away the lead, when
he said he had. After he had taken the three prisoners to
the station, he returned to the church, where he found a
jacket belonging to Ellis, in the pockets of which were 131 b
of lead.
The general foreman in the employ of Mr Geo. Myers,
builder, of Ordnance- wharf, Lambeth, said the lead; stolen
from the Savoy Church was the property of his employers.
He did not know the prisoners, but he knew they had no
right to sell the lead. The property stolen in its present
state was worth LtB or £2O per ton.
Henry Smith said he was foreman of the men employed
for Messrs Myers. He knew the prisoners. They were
engaged on the works for restoring the Savoy Church. All
lead taken off the building ought to have been :taken to
the store house. The three prisoners were the only persons
engaged yesterday in the removal of the rubbish.
Mr Lewis, for the prisoner Pincher, contended there was
nothing to show he had been guilty of any irregularity.
The whole of the prisoners were fully committed for
trial, but Fincher was admitted to bail in his own -
recog-
nisances of £2OO and two sureties of £lOO each.