The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-12 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

PLUNDERING ►N HOTEL PROPRIETOR.—AIM
Irishwoman, recently in a nunnery, was charged with
plundering her master.
Mr. Marten Wallac the proprietor of Wallace's Hotel,
Knightsbridge, said that the prisoner was recommended to
him in July last, and entered his establishment as a house-
maid. About six or seven weeks ago, in consequence of a
lady telling bim that' the accused was a ♦ery dishonest
person, he discharged her, and subsequently discovered
that he had been plundered of a quiditity of linen and some
plate. SOME silver spoons were subsequently brought to
him from a pawnbroker, with whom they had been pledged,
and he had also seen some table linen which had been iden-
tified. That also had been pawned at the memo shop as the

spoons.
A pawnbroker's assistant produced two table cloths. He
identified the prisoner as the person who had pawned them.
He knew her well.
Alexander Ruddy, 2 B, said that he had received infor-
mation of this robbery, and had been some time in quest of
prisoner, whom he apprehended yesterday at a concert at
Mary ,ebone. On searching her box he found two haml-
kerchiefs, which had since been identified by Mrs. Wallace.
Prisoner at first denied the robbery, but afterwards ad-
mitted that she had taken the things which had been found
Prisoner now said that those were all she had taken, and
pressed the magistrate to believe this,
The magistrate reminded her that she had at first denied
that sho had taken anything.
Prisoner now hoped that her late master would forgive
her, and, as an inducement, said he was very kind 'and
charitable.
She was remanded.

THAMES.
PAWNBROKERS AND SLOPWORK.ERS.—A poor and
wretched-looking Irish woman, named Catherine Minahan,
who carried a squalid infant in her arms, was brought be-
fore Mr. Cooke, charged with illegally pawning a pilot
coat, the property of which had been entrusted to her.
The prisoner was arraigned in this court with her hus-
band, 7 weeks ago, for pawning coats, the property ol
Messrs. Bousfield and Co., the extensive clothiers in St,
Mary Axe, and she was then convicted and sentenced to
three weeks imprisonment and hard labour. Her husband
was discharged on purely legal grounds, although there was
no doubt he had shared ai:d spent the money raised upon
the property. The prisoner was again arrested last night
' and Mr. John Smeaton, a gentleman in the service of
Messrs. Bousfield and Co., said that several coats given to
the prisoner to maks up had not been forthcoming, and that
the firm had been put to great loss and inconvenience by
the system of pawnbrokers lending money to the poor on
unfinished materials and work that had been made up. He
then proved the delivery of materials to the prisoner to
make up into coats in the month of December last.
Mr. Charles Cresswell, pawnbroker, of 88, Whitechapel-
road, produced a coat pawned on the 3d of December last
for 10s., which was identified by Mr. Smeaton as the pro-
perty of his employers.
A girl named Mary Connor said she pawned the coat for
the prisoner, who gays her 2s. 6d. for her trouble.
Kelly, 130 H, said the prisoner and her husband had ob-
tained materials from other tailors and alopsellers, and
pawned them.
George Mursam, foreman to a slopseller, said he had en-
trusted coats to the prisoner's husband. They had. never
been returned.
Mr. Smeaton said the coat which he had just identified

was only basted together, not finished. Mr. Cresswell had
given him an opportunity of looking over his stock, and
afforded every information, but he must complain of his

taking in unfinished work and new coats of such persons
as the prisoner and the girl Connor. It was contrary to
public morals and entailed great expense and trouble on
wholesale slopsellers and ethers.
Mr. Cooke quite agreed in all Mr. Smeaton had said. It
was unsafe for pawnbrokers to act in this manner. Pawn-
brokers must know that poor persons like the prisoner
could not be legally in possession of new and unfinished
tents• It was a dangerous proceeding for pawnbrokers to
lend money to the poor on materials entrusted to them. Ile
fined her Is., and 10s., the money advanced on the coat,
and in default of payment one week's imprisonment and
hard labour.