The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-21 00:00:00

THAMES.

A. DANGEROUS YOUNG Tmer.—Henry Pickett, a very
cunning young thief, well dressed, and got up in most ap-
proved style, and who put on an appearance of innocence
which would have deceived any but the most experienced
officers, was brought before Mr. Partridge, charged with
committing a very impudent robbery in a public street.
The prisoner is.not quite •12 yeare of age, .and he has been
in custody 20 times. Yesterday (Friday) afternoon a man
named George Smith, of No. 6, York-street, • Commercial-
road, East, was driving a horse and cart along Oxford-
street, Whitechapel, at the back of the London Hospital,
when his attention wcs called to the prisoner who was at
the back of the cart in the act of drawing some linen out of
a trunk. A white holland jacket was in his hand. The
prisoner, on finding himself discovered, immediately
called out to the driver of the horse and cart,
"There they go, sir, down that street, they have
been stealing your things." Very fortunately
the driver did not proceed in the direction indicated by the
prisoner. If he had done so the horse, cart, and £5O worth
of linen belonging to the proprietors of the London Tavern,
would have been taken away in his absence. The prisoner
was detained until Police Sergeant Wood, 16 K, arrived,
who took him into custody.
The prisoner made a very plaubible address in defence.
He said that that he observed some thieves pulling linen
out of a trunk in the cart, and interrupted them, and began
to replace the linen in the trunk. Observing the driver
turn round, he called to him and pointed out the direction
the thieves had taken. He considered it very harsh indeed,
because he had prevented a robbery he should be arrested
as a thief. He was respectably connected, and begged of
the magistrate to send for his father and friends, who would
feel most acutely his undeserved and degrading position.
Thomas Venables, an old detective officer, No. 141 K,
here stepped forward and said, " This boy is the most dan-
gerous thief in London.,' His appearance and manner is
so deceptive. He has been several times convicted for
petty robberies and picking pockets. He was convicted in
May last, and sentenced to three months imprisonment
and hard labour, and three years schooling in a reforma-
tory school for picking pockets at the South-Eastern rail-
way station. His father got him off and he was sent to
a reformatory. He is the cleverest young pickpocket and
thief we have.

Mr. Partridge asked the prisoner if he would be tried by
him (the magistrate) or at the sessions ?
The prisoner—Well, sir, I will be tried here if I am to
be tried at all. I was blamed for robbing a till in Devon-
shire-street. I can tell you the man who did it. If you
will let me go I will tell you of many robberies, and where
the people who did things:are to be found.
Wood—Yes, sir, ho told me outside the court he could
put me on to several chaps if I could square my evidence
and get him out a this. _ _

Mr. Partridge said so dangerous and incorrigible a thief
as the prisoner must be removed from society for a long
time, and sentenced him to be detained for three years in the
Fe!them Industrial School.

The prisoner uttered a dreadful oath on hearing his sen-
tence, and as he was being removed by the gaoler, stamped
his feet, gnashed his teeth, and exclaimed, " I should like
to cut your -- eyes out."
Mr. Partridge sail the prisoner's father would have to
contribute towards the maintenance of his son at Feltham
school. ,