The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-31 00:00:00

MANSION-HOUSE.

DARING RORBERY.—Two women named Rogers and
Wilson were placed at the bar charged with highway rob-
bery.
The prosecutrix, a lady named Bancroft, said last night
she missed the last train from Poplar to Fonchurch•street,
and in consequence she had to walk the distance. When
she arrived in Bishopsgate-street, she met the two prisoners
one of who was crying. They asked her to give them a cup
of tea, and the tale they told was such a distressing one
that she consented to give them what they required, and
they took her to a coffee shop, but she did not know the
name of the street in which it was (Widegate-street).
Rogers (beginning to cry)--011, my gracious I—why, it's
all false.
Mr. Good—Don't make that noise. I suppose you think
you are not known.
This remark took the prisoner by surprise, and she then
assumed a very impudent manner.
The witness then proceeded with her evidence. She took
out her purse to pay for the tea, and there being about 12s.
in it, she supposed it attracted their attention, for imme•.
diately on getting into the street the prisoner Rogers struck
her between the eyes, and Wilson, she supposed, tool: the
puree out of her pocket, and having emptied it, threw it on
the ground. The half of her return ticket was in the purse.
The female searcher at the Bislaopsgate Police Station
found some silver on the prisoner Wilson, and also the half
railway ticket.
. . .

-
Rogers—The old woman was quite overcome with drink
I never touched her. The few boys who were round her in
the street must have had her ha'pence.
Wilson—l never took her money. The railway ticket
she threw at me while we were in the coffee-shop.
The gaoler said Wilson had been convicted at the Old
Bailey, and both had been many times summarily convicted.
Wilson—There's a mistake about that.

Rogers—l never was convicted in my life.
The Lord Mayor committed both prisoners for trial.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

THE ORGAN-GRINDING NUISANCE.—Antonio Capatali,
an Italian organ player, from Saffron-hill, was charged be-
fore Mr. Knox with annoying Mr. John Frederick Stan-
ford, barrister, of 7, Langham-place, by playing an organ
in front of his house.

Mr. Stanford said—About half-past five yesterday after-
noon the defendant came and played in front of my house,
7, Langham-place, and as I am much engaged in literary
occupations, I am much annoyed by these men. I requested
the defendant to go away, and after a few minutes he did
so, but came back again and played on the other side of the
house. At last I saw a constable, and thinking I would
make an example of the defendant, I gave him into cus-
tody. The defendant—who I believe understands English

—then became very violent, and got a mob round my door.
I went to the Regent-circus, and obtained another con-
stable, and then the defendant was removed.
Mr. Knox—Defendant, do you understand what has been
said ?

The defendant did not, or pretended not, and ML, Knox
explained it to him in Italian.
Mr. Stanford—Although I ordered him away he refused
to go.

Mr. Knox—You are engaged in an occupation which
renders silence necessary ?
Mr, Stanford—l am.
Mr. Knox—That is one of the requirements of the act,
which says illness or any reasonable cause.
Collins, '295 A—The defendant was given into my custody
for annoying the complainant. He was not playing when
I took him into custody but sitting on his organ. The
defendant was 'very violent. _ _

Mr. Knox—These men are a most abominable nuisance,
I am well aware ; but the question is, whether the defendant
is rightly in custody or not. Had the man been playing
when the constable came up, he would have been justified
in taking him into custody. The right course for you, Mr.
Stanford, will be to take out a summons against the man
and have him punished that way.
Mr. Stanford—lf the act is strictly carried out, I shall
have no protection whatever, as the moment 1 go for a con-
stable the men put down their organs and pretend not to
be playing. The men begin at a quarter to nine of a morn-
ing, and continue all day —either at the back or front of
my house, and I am obliged, owing to the irritation it causes
me sometimes, to go out of the house. I am annoyed almost
as much as Mr. Babbage, and to wage war with the men is
almost au impossibility.
Mr. Knox—l am most anxious to relieve you, but I wish
to do so strictly in accordance with law. I will therefore
grant you a summons, and if the man does not appear, a
warrant shall issue.
The defendant was then discharged.