The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-04 00:00:00

THAMES.

STRIPPING CHILDREN OF THEIR CLOTHES,-ARTFUL
THIEVES —Matilda Taw the elder, aged 45, and Matilda
Taw, her daughter, 14, both well dressed, were brought up
on remand before Mr Paget charged with stripping chil•
dren of their clothes in the public streets.

There were six charges against the prisoners, but owing
to the tender ages of the little ones who had been robbed,
only one could be entered into, and in that case there was
evidence independent of the children that had suffered.
On Wednesday fortnight two children, a girl and a boy,
named Aubrey, whose father carries on the business of a
chemist and druggist in High_street, Poplar, were on their
way home from school, and were stopped by the pri-
soners, who took from the boy his seal-skin cape, and
from the girl her frock and boots. A milk boy
named John Biggs saw the children seated on the
banks of the river Lea Cut at Limehouse and crying. The
boy, who is only 4 years old, was without his cape; the girl
who is 6 years old, was without her frock and boots. Biggs
carried the little girl some distance, and her crinoline petti-
coat scratched his face and became so inconvenient that
he got rid of her, and gave her to a lady and then took
charge of the boy. The children were taken home to their
parents. The boots and frock were produced. They were
sold by the prisoners to a married woman named Mary
Seager, the wife of a shipwright dwelling in Poplar. ft.,he
gave is 9d for the frock, and 2s for the boots, The younger
prisoner represented to Mrs Seager that the things were
left in her mother's house by a captain's lady who
owed her money, and that she had no children who
could wear them. When the elder prisoner was
taken into custody by Ponsford, 260 K, she admitted hav-
ing sold the boots and frock to Mrs Seager. He locked
her up, and went to 33, Morant-Street, Poplar, where he
saw the younger prisoner, who said that a captain's lady
gave the things to a Mrs Penton, and Mrs Penton gave
them to her mother. The girl also said that Mrs Penton
lived in a street at the top of the Commercial-road. Par-
ticular inquiries had been made for Mrs Penton, who was
described as a tall lady of 30, but no such person was
knowd at the Poplar Music Hall or any other hall.
The elder prisoner also represented that her son was
a dancer and clown at the Poplar Music Hall and
other places. Ponsford took the boy with him to
all the places mentioned by his mother. He was quite un•
known—he was neither a dancer nor a clown.

Inspector Bruce, of the K division, said the woman was
known as Mrs. Tyler, and her husband was a ship carpenter.
The family were in tolerably easy circumstances. Some of
the robberies of children had produced much suffering.
There were children in court who had been stripped of their
clothing by the prisoners.

Mr. Paget—The children are too young to be sworn. Is
there any other evidence to connect the prisoners with those
robberies ?

Inspector Beare said unfortunately there was not. He
should mention that Mrs. Taw was known by the name of
Tyler.

Mrs. Seager—l know her by the name of Tyler,
The younger prisoner was first called upon for her de-
fence. She said, with an air of simplicity, please, sir, I met
a lady at the top of the Commercial-road, and she asked
me it I would have a frock and boots for nay sister's chil-
dren ? I said " yes," but I did not give them to my sister.
I sold them to Mrs Seager.
The elder prisoner, in defence, said—l can't say more
than my daughter. They were sent to me, and my daugh-
ter said she would sell them to get some money.
Mr Paget committed the prisoners for trial. He thought
this was a very important case— one of the most serious
cases he had ever heard. It was the worst kind of robbery
to strip little children. The evil had gene on to a sedum
extent. He would suggest that the Commissioners of
Police ought to adopt measures for a prosecution of this
case by the Solicitor to the Treasury. •-
Mr Beare—l will communicate your remarks to Sir
Richard Mayne,