The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-23 00:00:00

CHARGE OF ROBBERY AND RECEIVING.—DanieI
Brookman, an inmate of St. George's Workhouse, was
charged before Mr Knox, with stealing 481bs of horse-hair
of the value of £3 16s, the property of Messrs. Holland, up-
holsterers, 33, Mount-street, Grosvenor-square, and Thou
Whitehead, the keeper of a marine store shop, at 44, Gil-
bert-street, Oxtordestreet, with receiving the horse hair,
well knowing it to have been stolen.
Mr Edward Lewis, appeared fur the prosecution, and
Mr Lewis, jun., of Ely-place, for Whitehead. •
Binstead Webb, 112 C—Yesterday afternoon about four
o'clock, while in company of Dawson, 301 A. 1 saw the
prisoner 13rookman in North Audley-streot with a large bag
of horsehair on his head. Suspecting something wrong
we followed him into Gilbert-street, where he entered a
marine store chop, kept by Whitehead. I looked in the shop
and saw Brookman go into the parlour and put down the
bag, and take off the straps, I then Went into the shop
and asked Whithead fur some brass brackets for roller
blinds. Whitehead said he had not got any, but that I
could get them round the corner, at the same time
following me to the door. I then rpoke to Daw-
son and afterwards went into the shop again with
Dawson and found Whitehead and Brookman in a
dark corner of the shop. I said to Whitehead " What is
this man doing here ?" Whitehead replied, "He has just
called in on his way to take some hair to the workhouse."
I then asked what he had put down in the parlour, and he
sa'd "Nothing." I then saw the bag of hair, the strings
being undone, and asked what it was, and Brookman said
" Some hair I have got from Messrs Holland to take to
the workhouse to be picked." I asked Brookman if he was
in Holland's employ, and he said he was not, but that he
was an inmate of St. George's workhouse, and that
he could go into Messrs. Holland's shop and take as
much hair as he liked. On telling Brookman I should
take him into custody for stealing the hair, he said it was
all right, that it was given to him, but afterwards he said
he took it himself, Messrs. Hollands being exactly opposite
the workhouse, On the way to the station, Brookman said
he was only a poor workhouseman. On being searched at
the station £1 15s 101 d was found in his possession.
Dawson, 301 A, after corroborating Webb, said—White-
head said he had just called Brookman in to take some
horse-hair to the workhouse to be picked, at the sane time
producing a pile of bills showing that he frequently sent
hair to the workhouse to be picked. Brookman said he
had gore in to rest, and to have some tobacco. I told
Whitehead I should apprehend him for receiving the hair
knowing it to be stolen, and he said the bag was never
opened, and that he did not know the contents. When I
went in the bag was at the end of the shop, and not in the
parlour.

By Mr Lewis, jun.—l found several bags of horsehair in
the shop, and Whitehead said it was that he had picked.
John Lines, taskmaster at St George's workhouse, said—
Brookman is employed to collect hair to be piked, going
from place to place ; and it is his duty to take it back after
being picked, but he had no right to take it anywhere else. I
was not aware of his having any money in his possession
yesterday. A man in his position was not likely to have
15e in his possession.
George Hood, in Messrs Holland's employ—lt is my duty
to give out the hair to be picked. I know Brookman by
his coming for it. I did not see him yesterday. Brookman
had never taken hair before without my knowledge. I have
examined the bag produced—it contains four dozen lbs. of
hair. The amount taken to be picked is three dozen lbs.
always.
Another person in Messrs. Holland's employ proved
seeing Brookman on the premises, and that the hair was
worth is. 6d. per lb.
la answer to Mr Lewis, jun., Lines said he had never
found anything wrong about Whitehead's dealings.
Mr Lewis, jun., having addressed the magistrate cn
Whitehead's behalf, calling Whitehead's daughter to prove
that Brookman, on entering the shop, said he had come for
hair, and that Brookman was never in the parlour, but at
the end of the shop.
In answer to Mr E. Lewis, the last witness said no money
passed between her father and the prisoner Brookman. The
bag was not examined, neither was it opened, as she did net
know what it contained. Her father had told her in the
morning that he had spoken to Brookman about fetching
some hair.

Webb, in reply to a question, said Brookman was only in
the -hop half a minute before he entered.

Mr Knox said he did not think that time enough had
elapsed for a dealing to have taken place between the pri-
soners. There was evidence to show that Whitehead was
in the habit of having hair picked, and that Brookman was
in the practice of fetching it. Whatever his suspicions
of the affair might be, he did not think a jury would con-
vict Whitehead, and therefore he would not send both pri-
soners for trial. He would discharge Whitehead, and com-
mit Brookman for trial,