The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-25 00:00:00

THAMES.

DARING ROI3I3ERY IN A DWELLING-HOUSE. A
COURAGEOUS WomAN —John Middleton, an active youth
about 19 years of age, was brought before Mr. Woolrych,
charged with stealing a silver watch, the property of Mr.
Linklator Thompson, in his dwelling-house, No. 2, Alder-
ney-road, Stepney.
Mary Ann Potter, a young woman, servant to the prose-
cutor, said that yesterday afternoon she left her master's
house and went upon an errand for a short time. On her
return, and as she descended the area steps, she saw the
prisoner in the breakfast parlour. He looked through the
window at her and then opened the door. She stopped him
coming out that way, and ho rushed to the window, She
seized him and held him fast with the only hand she could
use, for she had a baby in the other hand. He got half
way out and threatened her, and she called aloud for help.
Some persons came to her help, and she then saw him throw
away her master's
wnattelehsh which was recovered. It was
hanging everthe
ma
eli in the breakfast parlour, and
the prisoner, in her absence, removed it, and would hare
gone away with it if she had not stopped him.
Mr. Woolrych—Your conduct is very good. You dis-
played resolution and great presence of mind.
Frederick M. Tap'ey, a lad, was on a visit at the house
next door to Mr. Thompson's, and heard the young woman
Potter calling for assistance. He went out and saw her
holding the prisoner very tightly. The prisoner was strug-
gling violently to get away, and was about to strike the
young woman when three men came and pulled him over
the railings of the fore court in front of the house. The
prisoner threw the watch into the garden of the next house.
It fell down the area steps, and the glass was broken,
Inspector Griffin, of the K division, said he took the
prisonere custody while he was struggling with severa
m
begged to be taken away and not torn to
pieces.
Ned the prisoner directly he saw him
andnd He he oVc
saidani‘ni t\ehagt, Middleton, is that you again." Prisoner
was a well-known tt ief and a very audacious one. While
with him he slipped from hi,
coat and also throw his cap off. He knew the prisoner
several men were struggling
had been convicted of felony, but he could not say when,
and requested a remand.

Mr. Woolrych—Thero must bo a remand here, The
prisoner is remanded until Wednesday.

The Earl of Glasgow has left the St. George's
Hotel,

12thone
csfaythse,—Fi"ji
chiefs,
THE FIJIS.—The Sydney Morning Herald of
re-
ceived from the Fijis that the country is considerably agi-
tated.lntelligence has been
Mathuata coast; and Mafu, the Tonga chief, is raising
forces with the view of suppressing his devastations. The
has been ravaging the
last-named chief is most anxious for a pacific arrangement,
and is understood to be supported by King George, of Tonga,
Marc
hEatthoeva,
who is alto desirous of peace. The new Consul, Mr. Owen,
who superseded Mr, Pritchard, has arrived, and has been
cordially received both by the Europeans and natives. The
missionaries are prosecuting their work with success,
although the mission at Fawn Harbour has been in great
peril through the ravages of Ratova. Hostilities are for the
time suspended. We regret to hear that the chief of the
Roman Catholic mission was drowned in last
January
while entering Rewa."

THE OUTWARD AMERICAN MAIL.—
TeIegram.)—QUEENSTOWN, Sunday.—The Royal mail
steam ship Persia arrived here at 9 a.m. to-day, embarked
mails, passengers, and the latest, telegrams, and proceeded
at 4 p.m. for New York. All well. (Renter's

Horrible 'Murder of a Wife and Attempted
Murder of a Son, by a Tradesman in the
Borou.gh-road.

This morning, long before the opening of the Southwark
Police Court, the streets were crowded by a mob of persons
anxious to witness the proceedings against Mr. Thomas
Ledbetter, an old established tradesman, for many years
carrying on business as a cabinet-maker at 21, Borough-
road, Southwark, who, it was alleged, murdered his wife,
and made a most determined attempt to murder his son, at
an early hour this morning. As soon as Mr. Combo had
taken his seat on the bench the primer was placed in
the dock. He is a very stout full-faced man, rather bald,
and 61 years of age, and seemed rather careworn and ner-
vous. His poor unfortunate wife was 59 years old, and the
son, who- is now in Guy's Hospital, not likely to survive, is
17, and unforturrately has been bedridden for a long time.
On the charge being road over to the prisoner by the
chief clerk, the prisoner said he was a cabinetmaker, and
had for many years lived in the Borough-road, near the
Bridge house Tavern, and he was sixty-one years old.
Police-constable 39 M was sworn, and stated that about
half-past seven this morning he was on duty in the Borough-
road, when he received information that a woman had been
murdered at No. 21. He entered the house, and in a back
bedroom upstairs he saw an elderly female lying on a bed
quite dead. In another room he saw a young man lying in
another bed with his throat cut in a frightful manner. He
was not dead, and he procured assistance, and he was re-
moved to Guy's Hospital, where he now remains. After
the discovery witness went across the road to Mr. Pugh'e,
chemist, where he saw the prisoner, trembling very much.
He told witness that he had cut his wife and his son's
throat, and he supposed they were dead. He said ho did
it with a razor. Witness then took the prisoner into
custody.

Mr. Combe asked if he had any further evidence to give
0-day. lie replied that he had not.

The prisoner, who remained perfectly silent, was then
removed until after the coroner's inquest, and he was im-
mediately conveyed to Horsemonger-lane Gaol.