The Sun.
London, England, 1837-04-17 00:00:00

THAMES-POLICE.

On Saturday Mr. Slater, the principal officer of the
London Dock police, waited upon the magistrates, Mr.
Broderip and Mr. Greenwood, at their request, for the
purpose of refuting or confirming the truth of a report
which had gained extensive notoriety, and had found its
way into several journals, to the effect that two men, who
had been employed on board the ship Podi, from Trieste,
had died suddenly from the effects of a distemper contracted
by them while discharging a cargo of rags from the vessel,
and that others who had been at work in the same vessel,
had contracted a serious illness.

Mr. Slater, in answer to questions by the magistrates,
said there was not one word of truth in the statement, nor
bad he heard of a single case of illness among any of the
men employed in the dock.
Mr. BRODERIP—The article states that two men, named
Hai old and Lewis, were taken ill on board the Podi, and
died immediately after they were removed to their homes.
It is further stated that the plague was raging at Trieste
when the ship left. Have you made inquiries ? Has any
person employed on board the Podi, among the rags, been
attacked with illness or any infectious disease ? Mr.
Slater—Not one, Sir. I have searched the books, and can
find no such names as Harold and Lewis. They have not
been at work in our dock at all, nor have we lost a single
labourer by death for some time.
Mr. BRODERIP said the report had caused a great deal
of alarm, and he was glad there was no truth in it, or the
trade of the port of London might have been seriously af-
fected by it. He hoped the public mind would be disa-
bused on the subject.
Mr. GREENWOOD was surprised that such a report should
have found its way into the newspapers ; but there was
one circumstance which he wished to have explained. It
had been stated that a great quantity of rags were piled
up on the South Quay, near the Podi, and were in danger
of combustion. It was also said that they were in a filthy
state. Now lie bad been walking over the dock, in com-
pany with Mr. Ballantine, and had seen a heap of wet rags
a few yards only from the warehouses, and a steam arising
from them. It struck him and his colleagues there was
some danger of their igniting.

Mr. Slater said every precaution had been taken.
There were two watchmen and an engine stationed close
to the heap day and night. The fact was that a vessel
-,Luion with rags from Trieste was stranded on the coast of
F;a:,ce, and the cargo, which was saturated with salt wa-
ter, was transferred to the Podi. It had been found ne-
cessary to place the rags on the quay to dry, and they were
continually turned over. To show there was no danger of
Any infection, 50 men bad been engaged i❑ turning over the
rags. and not one had been affected in the slightest degree.
The. Magistrates were quite satisfied with Mr. Sla-
ters's explanation, and thanked him for his prompt atteudanee.

JAMES GREENACRE AND S ARAI

GALE.

(From the Observer.)
Scarcely was the blood of his murdered victim cold, be-
fore James Greenacre contemplated forming- another ma-
trimonial alliance. On the 23d of January last, just a
month after the niurtier and mutilation of the unfortunate
Mrs. Hannah Brown, he inserted an advertisement in the
front page of the Times newspaper, of which the follow-
ing is a copy :
" Wanted, a partner, who can command 5001., to join
the advertiser in a patent to brine-, forward a new-invented
inac;iiise of great public benefit, that is certain of realizing
an ample reward. Applications, by letter only, post-paid,
fu.- J. G., at Mr. Bishop's, No. 1, Tudor-place, Totten-
ham-court-road."
Among the answers to that advertisement was one from
a female of great respectability, whose name and address
we, for obvious reasons, abstain from making public, who,
ha% ing a little money at her command, indiscreetly wrote
to hint on the subject, and afterwards had two or three in-
terviews with him, without, however, coming to any ar-
rantp;ment. Greenacre, with that tact for which through-
out the proceedings he has rendered himself so remarkable,
clear iy saw that it would be more advantageous to him if
be could form an alliance with the lady in question, and he
ace )rdingly determined, without delay, to make her an
offer of his hand, which he did in a most specious letter,
written on Saturday, the 4th of February last, the very day
on which the inquest was held on the limbs of his murdered
ict an, and probably at the very moment while it was sit-
ting. The following is an authentic copy of his letter :
" February 4, 1837.
" Dear Madam,—Having had several letters in answer to
my ,advertisement, yours is the third to which I have applied
for aft interview, and is the last one I shall answer. I adver
tised. in the Times newspaper of the 23d of January for a
partner with 3001. to join me in a patent to bring forward a
new• invented machine, of which I have enclosed you a printed
specification from scientific gentlemen of property, each
curd, ms to co-operate with me in it ; but upon mature consi-
ders :ion, and by the advice of my friends, I have determined
not to throw away the half of this most important disco-
very for the trifling sum of 3001., as it certainly is worth as
inan• thousands.
" It is, therefore, my wish to meet with a female companion
with a small capital, one with whom a mutual and a tender
attachment might be formed, who would share with me in
those advantageous pecuniary prospects which are now before
me, Ind thereby secure the advantages of my own production.
" No man can have a greater aversion than myself to adver-
tisin r for a wife ; nevertheless, this advertisement was intended
to give an opportunity, by which I might make propositions of
an honourable nature to one whom I might prefer as a com-
panion for life. It may be, however, that the first impression
from our short interviews has left very different feelings to-
wards me than those by which I am influenced to write this
letter to you. I hope, however, otherwise, or at least that you
will not yield to any unfavourable conjectures relative to the
moderation o f my views, as regards the sum of money I named
in my advertisement. It is, I think, sufficient to convince you,
or any of your advisers and friends, that property forms but a
small share of my hopes and object, in turning my attention
towards a partne r for life.
" I am a widower 38 years of age, without any incumbrance,
and am in the possession of a small income, arising from the
rent of some houses,. I was 16 years in a large way of business,
which I relinquishe,i about three years ago, but have lost
much of my property by assisting others, and confiding too
strongly in the professions of pretended friends. Under these
circumstances, I am indoced to seek a partner or a companion
With a small sum, to co-operate with me in securing the ad-
Tuntages of this machine, which will be a great public benefit,
and which has long been attompted by many scientific persons,
and is certain of realizing a competency.
" Having given you this plait: statement of my situation, I
beg leave to add that my mind is thoroughly fixed upon
making you the future object of my affections and constant
:resard. If you should feel disposed to favour my sincere and
ihonourable intentions, I shall take the liberty of calling upon
yon, and hope that you will divest your mind of any idea
beyond that of the most sacred candour and honourable inten-
tions on my part. Should you feel disposed to communicate
any remarks on the subject by letter, I hope that you will
do so.

" Excuse the dissimulation by which I have obtained an in-
troduction to you, and believe that my present proposal is dic-
lated by every honourrble and affectionate feeling towards you.
I am, dear Madam, yours most sincerely,

" JAMES—GREENACRE."
" 6. Carpenter's-place, Camberwell, Surrey."
Nothit2,g• can more clearly show the character of Green-
acre than te fact, that, at the very moment he wrote that
letter, not 0.-tly was he cohabiting with his fellow convict,
Sarah Gale, bul was then, and is now, a married man, hav-
ing left his fourth wife, a young woman of considerable
p-n-sonal attractions, :,-ehind him in America. That fact
has, since his conviction, been ascertained by a gentleman,
who is acquainted with her family, calling on Inspector
F'eltham and acquainting hio of the circumstance, and
-who. at the same time, informed him, that she and
'Greenaere's son, by his first wit;:, were at New York in
:a state of distress, Greenacre hav,iog parted' from them
rat the corner of a street, without g;ving them the slightest
idea that he was coming to England. This information is
rwroborated by a printed circular issued by Greenacre,
satled " England and America. An raordinary and
imp lortant discovery," in which he professes, while in Aim.
i,!a, to hare discovered an herb, the juices of which, when
comb iced with the English coltsfoot, forms an " amalga-
mated candy," most efficacious in the removal and preven-
tion of • " coughs, colds, sore threats, hoarseness, asthmas,
aid si kortness of breath." He then states, that ." some

difficulty has been experienced in obtaining a regular sup-
ply of a well-selected quality of the coltsfoot to meet the
increasing demand of the public, and to obviate this in-
convenience J. G. has returned to England, where he in-
tends to manufacture his amalgamated candy, and supply
his own family in America with it wholesale, who will trans-
mit the American exotic to him in London."

At neither of the examinations nor at the trial did it ap-
pear how Inspector Feltham obtained the information which
enabled him so opportunely to apprehend the prisoners ; we,
however, understand, that while prosecuting his inquiries on
the evening of Easter Sunday, he ascertained that a gentle-
man connected with the family of one of his former wives
was aware of Greenacre's residence. He accordingly in-
stantly proceeded to that gentleman's house, who, on Felt-
ham acquainting him with the object of his visit, said," Mr.
Feltham, I will not stand between a murderer and justice,"
and, throwing his cloak around him, conducted the inspec-
tor to St. Alban's-place, where he pointed out the house.
On the morning after the apprehension of Greenacre
and Gale, and while Feltham and Pegler were engaged in
searching their apartments, a person knocked at the door,
which was opened by Pegler. Gn seeing the policeman he
inquired if Mr. Greenacre was at home, and on being an-
swered in the negative, and told that he was in custody on
a charge of murder, he expressed the greatest surprise.
Pegler then asked his name, when he replied " Tanner,"
and it has since been ascertained that it was Captain
Henry Tanner, of the Mediator, which sailed on Tuesday,
the 28th ult., from St. Katharine's Docks for Quebec. It
has also been ascertained that that vessel contains in the
" ground tier" four large chests, which had been placed on
board by order of Greenacre. Three of them are filled
with a quantity of very valuable tools and implements of
various descriptions, and the fourth, the contents of which
are not known, is supposed to be the missing box belonging
to the late Mrs. Brown, and to be filled with her property.
It is also believed that Ward, the carpenter of Chenies'
Mews, Tottenham-court-road, who was the person that
introduced Mrs. Brown to Greenacre, is also on board the
same ship, he not having been heard of since the identifica-
tion of the head and the apprehension of the two convicts.
It will be recollected that it has been stated by Mr.
Price, the counsel for the prisoners, that the child with the
convict Gale was not her own offspring. We are, how-
ever, informed that statement is not correct, but that in
the year 1833, while living with a man named Thomas
Gale, who was not her husband, and lodging at the house
of a Mrs. Riches, No. 69, Lyon-street, New Kent-road,
near the Elephant and Castle, she was delivered on the
30th of January in that year, by Mr. Hereby, a surgeon
residing at Walworth, of the child in question, who was
afterwards called George, and is now therefore turned four
years of age. Shortly after Greenacre's return from Arne:
rice she formed an acquaintance with him, and, in the
October of 1835, went to reside at his house in Carpen-
ter's-place. About five o'clock on the morning of the
17th of February, 1836, Greenacre called up Mr. Here-
by, and requested his assistance to his wife, as he alleged,
whom he stated to be in the pains of labour. Mr. Here-
by told him he would follow him immediately, and in
about ten minutes afterwards he arrived at Greenacre's
house, No. 6, Carpenter's-place, when he found Gale
was already delivered of a male child, which was lying on
its face and nearly suffocated. He immediately inflated its
lungs and used the other usual means for restoring children
in that situation ; and when he left the house the child was
doing well. Mr. Hereby visited Gale on the three follow-
ing days ; but from the first visit he never again saw the
child. On the 21st of the same month the body of a male
infant was discovered secreted under a clod of grass by the
side of a ditch near the well-known gate called the Half-
penny-hatch. A surgeon n bo was passing at the time gave
it as his opinion that it had been born alive, was about three
days old, and had been secreted about 24 hours. An in-
quest was afterwards held on the body, and the Jury, from
there being no marks of violence visible, with the exception
of the navel string having been untied, returned a verdict
of " Found dead."

Since their conviction a person of the name of Bowen has
made several applications to the police for permission to see
the furniture removed by them from St. Alban's-place to
the station-house, llormitage-street, Paddington, alleging
that it was his property. His story is, that shortly after
Greenacre's return to England, he (Bowen) fell into em
barrassed circdmstances, and believing Greenacre to be Lis
friend, he placed a pot (ion of his property under his care,
while he passed through the Insolvent Court ; but when
he applied for its restoration, after his release, Greenacre
held him in defiance, and refused to give the. furniture up.
The Commissioners of Bankrupts, acting under the fiat is-
sued against Greenacre while absent in America, have also
laid claim to the furniture and other articles found in his
lodgings, which, although of very trifling value, will pro-
bably be productive of much litigation.