The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-03 00:00:00

BOW. STREET.

STEALING FROM THE READING ROOM OF TEE BRITISH
M usEum.,—John Jones, a respectably dressed man, about
48 years of age, was placed at the bar on remand, charged
with stealing a number of leaden paper weights from the
reading room, the property of the Trustees of the British
Museum.
James Scott, one of the inspectors of police on duty at
the British Museum, said on the 29th of August last the
prisoner was stopped as he was leaving the building and
asked if he had any property on his person belonging to
the trustees. Ho said "It is no use denying it. I did
take it," and at the same time he drew the paper weights
from his pocket.
Mr. Henry—Have you made any inquiries relative to
the prisoner ?
Inspector Scott—l have, your worship. He is a literary
man, and I believe receives pupils at his residence two or
three days a week.
Prisoner—l only yielded to the pressure of extreme
poverty.

Mr. Henry—lt is of the greatest importance that an in-
stitution like the British Museum should be most strictly
protected. You are not like an ignorant person. You
must know that you were abusing the privilege which was
accorded you.

Mr. Harding (the solicitor to the Museum)—l leave the
case entirely in your Worship's hands, feeling perfectly
certain that while you deal mercifully with the prisoner,
you will do all in your power to protect such an institution
as the Museum.

Mr. Henry—Have you any witnesses who saw the rob-
bery committed ; became it is vary important it should be
widely known that no person can visit the reading-room
without some one of the attendants watching his move-
ments ?

Mr. Harding—Yes. We had no less than five persons
watching the visitors to the room that day.
Mr. Henry—Let me hear the evidence of one of them.
Hugh Castor, an attendant in the library department of
the British Museum, said—Last Saturday, in consequence
of the loss of a number of paper weights, four persons be-
sides myself were placed to watch the visitors to the read-
ing-room. None of the watchers could be seen. About 12
o'clock on the day in question he saw the prisoner enter the
reading-room, and as he passed some of the tables
he laid his hand on the paper weights. He finally took
his seat at M table, and then having taken out a book he
placed the weight on it to keep it open. He eventually
took the weight up, and having placed it in his coat pocket
he left the apartment. Notice was instantly given to the
police, and he was taken into custody.
Mr. Henry—What have you to say to the charge ?

Prisoner—The only answer I can make is that I was in-
duced to take the article uuder extreme pressure of desti-
tution.

Mr. Henry—You, as a man of education, must know
that sou have abused the privilege that was granted you.
I feel, however, notwithstanding the recommendation to
mercy, that I cannot sentence you to a less punishment
than three months' imprisonment.

ROBBERY BY A SERVANT.—Wateon Harvey, carman,
was placed at the bar charged with robbing his employer.
Mr. Tucker said he was a house decorator, and carried on
business in Holborn. The prisoner was in his employ as
carman, and this morning he was told to take the cart to
some works that were in progress at Clapham, and bring
home whatever the foreman gave to him. He received ten
large pieces of lead, but he only, on his return, accounted
for nine, but the tenth, or missing piece, was discovered
secreted in the cart.

Police-constable 57 F said the prisoner was given into his
cnstody this morning in Chanties- street. When he was
charged with stealing the lead, he denied it, but said he got
it from a house in the Strand, and that it was his own. He
afterwards said he got it from a man at Clapham, who had
given it to him.
In answer to the charge the prisoner said it was true he
was sent this morning to Clapham by his master, and when
he got to the place where he was directed, a man proceeded
to load his cart with lead. After he had brought down 9
large pieces, he threw in the 10th, and as it was a little bit
he (prisoner) asked if he could have it, as he was hard up.
The man told him he might sell it if he liked.
The lead in question weighed upwards of 50 or 601 b.
On being searched the sum of £1 12s. was found on him.
Mr. Henry thought that rather a large sum to be found
upon the prisoner, and remanded him for further inquiry.

- -
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY BY A. SERTANT.—THE LOVE OF
FINERY.—Fanny Woodley, a young woman, servant to
Mrs. Rebecca Webb, cheesemonger, of 109, Tottenham-
court-road, was charged before Mr. Knox. with stealing
money to the amount of £7O from her mistress.
Miss Webb, daughter of Mrs. Webb, said the prisoner
had been in her mother's service about six months, and in
consequence of a suspicion she (Miss Webb) entertained on
Tuesday last she marked about £4O in sovereigns and half-
sovereigns, and placed them in a cash-box in a drawer of
the sitting-room, and locked the drawer. Yesterday, about
one o'clock she gave the prisoner the keys to go to the
room to get some sugar. Shortly after the prisoner came
down, leaving the keys behind her, and on going upstairs
she (Miss Webb) found the keys hanging from the lock of
the sideboard, and in some time after counting the money
in the cash-box, a 10s. was missing. Becoming a little
alarmed she sent for a neighbour, told her of the robbery,
and a constable was then sent for and the prisoner taken to
the station.

Mrs. Caroline Rayner, of 108, Tottenham-court-road,
said the prisoner refused to be searched, but on putting her
hand into the prisoner's pocket £6 10s, was found wrapped
in paper.

Miss Webb identified the money as some she had marked.
William Young, 62 C, said he took the prisoner to the
station, and after she had been cautioned by the inspector
she said she had taken the money from the cash-box. He
afterwards searched the prisoner's boxes, and found £53105.
in gold, ls. in silver, and some coppers, a gold chain and
locket, a gold pencil case, a coral necklace, and about £2O
worth of new dresses (one of them silk).
Inspector Hubbard said there were also five pairs of new
boots and several new dress pieces.
Mr. Knox said the prisoner would go for trial, and would
no doubt be punished for the offence ; but, at the same time,
Miss Webb must not forget that by letting the prisoner have
her keys at times, she had placed temptation, which had at
last become too strong, in the prisoner's way.
The prisoner was then committed for trial.

ITS—Tliis Day.

MARK-LANE.

IMPERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES. —Wheat, 458 9d;
barley, 33s
35s 10 d ;d oats, 22s 8d; rye, 33s 9d; beaus, 39s 6d;
and peas,
THE Six 9
WEEKS' AVERAGES. -- Wheat, 46s Od ;
barley, 31s od ; oats, 23s Od ; rye, 34s 3d ; beans, 39s 8d ;
peas, 35s 6d.
ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.--Wheat, 74,121;
barley, 2,006 ; oats, 6,583; rye, 191; beans, 1,139; peas
649 quarters.