The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-23 00:00:00

THAMES.

A MOST lINGRATEPUL THIEF.--A coloured lad, who
gave the name of John Freeman, was brought before Mr.
Woolrych charged with stealing Sibs of beef, 2 shirts, a pair
of drawers, and other property, from the schooner Eliza-
beth, in the Regent's Canal Dock.
Mr. William Wales, mate of the Elizabeth, said the pri-
soner came on board on Monday morning last in a destitute
condition, and said ho was starving, and in want of a berth,
Some questions were put to him, and as it appeared he had
been a sailor he was provided with food and clothing, and
treated in the most hospitable manner. When the captain
came on board in the evening he allowed the boy to remain
on the ship and signed the articles of agreement to proceed
on her intended voyage. In the night time the prisoner
helped himself to the beef, shirts, drawers, and other pro-
perty, and went on shore in the ship's boat.
Alfred Nicholl, a police constable, No. 496 A, said he
found the prisoner in the Ratcliff Cross Refuge last night,
and on taxing him with the robbery, he admitted it, and
said he had disposed of the beef and one of the shirts to a
roan on Tower. hill. One of the shirts and the drawers were
found upon him.
Mr. Woolrych—Where are they ?
Witness—Here, sir; I made him take them off.
The prisoner, on being asked if he had any account to
give of himself, said that he was a native of St. Helena, and
that he had made a voyage in an American ship to Ham-
burg, where he was discharged. He fell into distress, and
was sent to London by the British Consul as a distressed
British subject.

Mr. Woolrych—And you were treated with kindness,
warmed, and fed on board the Elizabeth by very kind-
hearted people, and the captain agreed to take you to sea
with him. You are a most ungrateful fellow, and have
made a very bad return for the kindness shown you. I
sentence you to one month's imprisonment and hard labour.

THE NEW LIVERPOOL WATERWORKS
day afternoon, as some men were employed in
working at the foundation of one of the pillars which sup-
ported a number of arches constructed for por.-0a Mon
the purpose of
carrying some important portions of the new Liverpool
Waterworks, near the junction of Dudley-lane with the
5. gave way, carrying with
fall they severely—indeed,
number of the workmen, who
it is
flo ovfleet
aoornfe-dtireh,odeadta to the
thecthheesp fatally—injuredl 1
Royalalrnslulhdnaedfii
nrer
Infirmary. Three of the sufferers
were carried
are said to be in a very dangerous state.
SNAPPING OF A TELEGRAPH WIRE.—CURIOUS
ACCIDENT. —Yesterday morning, about nine o'clock, the
telegraph wires spanning the Thames from Cannon-row to
Meectsss
of t
e a d sy's t
efactorya
na er, g away the fore cabin
ryin snapped, falling across the
kof Citizen
funnel, overturning the heavy seats,
and knocking off the
ha
passengers. Luckily the vessel was eased on
nearing the pier, or the damage
d rs. esc
a r
might have been most

serious.
PAT " WORKING THE TELEGRAPH."—Slid an
Irishman to v. telegraph Operator •--" Do you ever
charge anybody for the address in a message 2" " No,"
replied the operator. " And do ye charge for signing his
name, sir ?" said the customer. '•No, sir." "Well, thin,
will ye please send this; I jist want me brother to know
here"—bearing the following—" To John M'Flinu--
at New York—(signed)—Patrick APPlina." Thq mes-
sage was sent as a tribute to Pat's shrewdness,