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

BOW-STREET.

STEALING FROM THE READING ROOM OF THE BRITISH
MUSEIIM.—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. He 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 I'
Inspector Scott—l have, your worship. He is a literary
man, and I believe receives pupils at his residence two cr
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 ; becaule it is very 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 t. 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 uader extreme pressure of desti-
tution.

Mr. Henry—You, as a man of education, must know
that you 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.—Watson 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 Chandes- 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 60Ib.
On being searched the sum of XI. 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.