The Sun.
London, England, 1830-03-23 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

Yesterday James Matthews, a lad apparently about fif-
teen years of age, was charged before Mr. Alderman
SCHOLEY with robbing his masters, Messrs. W. and C.
Wilkinson, cabinet-makers, 11, Ludgate-hill.
Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, one of the firm, stated that the
prisoner was an apprentice for about three years past. Va-
rious brass ornaments belonging to different articles in their
factory have been missing for some time, and on Friday last
Mr. Wilkinson carefully examined the warehouse. In an
upper room he found concealed under a sideboard a quantity
of brass ornaments, consisting of castors, fork-fastenings, tcc. ,
belonging to tables, sofas, sideboards, and other articler.
A person was set to watch who should remove them, and
in the evening the prisoner was seen to take them away.
Mr. Wilkinson put several questions to him, in his replies
to which lie admitted that he had been in the habit of
taking property of a similar description, and mentioned an
ironmonger's, in the New-cut, Lambeth, named Lambert,
where he had been in the habit of selling them. A search-
warrant was obtained at Union-hall, and Mr. Wilkinson,
accompanied by Jefferson, an officer of that establishment,
went to Everard and Lambert's, in the New-cut, where,
without producing the search-warrant, every facility was
afforded them. Several articles were found on the pre-
mises, which Mr. Wilkinson identified as his property.
John Clarke, a young man from Everard and Lambert's,
identified the prisoner as the person who sold the articles at
their shop.
The lad's connexions are very respectable, and a lady,
who stated she was his aunt, came forward in a state of
great agitation, and entreated the Alderman not to send
the prisoner to trial. She said he was an orphan, and if
the complainant waived the charge, the lad would be sent
to sea.

Mr. Wilkinson made some private communications to

the Alderman, who said he was extremely sorry he could
not comply with the lady's request, for he felt satisfied the
ends of justice required him to send the prisoner for trial.
He was accordingly committed to Newgate.
WORSIIIF-STREET.

Yesterday Mr. Lewis Alexander was brought before
Mr. BitoucitroN for further examination, charged with
having attempted to shoot his father, Mr. Alexander, a
livery-stable-keeper, in Chiswell-street, Finsbury.
The prisoner, when placed at the bar, evidently ap-
peared to labour under great depression of spirits, looked
remarkably pale, and there was a slight discolouration un-
der his right eye.
Mr. BROUGHTON referred to his notes, and recapitu-
lated the previous testimony given.
Mr. Alexander, sen., reiterated his former statement,
and on his cross-examination be admitted that he had, on
the morning of the 15th instant, struck the prisoner in
the yard of Swan-with-Two-Necks, Lad-lane, because
the prisoner had said there publicly, as well as at Tatter-
sall's, that he (Mr. Alexander) had four stolen horses in
his possession ; and when he hearsl that his son intended to
shoot him he went over the way to his residence for the
purpose of ascertaining the fact, when his son levelled two
pistols at him, and having no chance of escape be rushed
upon him and seized the pistols.
Police constable Kelly, G, 152, heard the report of a
pistol, and he immediately ran in and seized the prisoner.
Serjeant of police, G, No. 1, was at the watch-house
when the prisoner was brought in, and he then used the
most horrid imprecations that he would shoot his father
even if he were to be hanged for him, and he repeated the
same threats after he had been before the Magistrate.
Joshua Armstrong, am officer, said that on his bringing
the prisoner to prison he (the prisoner) used the most de-
termined threats against his father, and in consequence of
what the prisoner said in his hearing, as well as in the pre-
sence of the Governor of the House of Correction, be
(Armstrong) did not think the life of the father safe.

Mr. BROUGHTON (to the prisoner)—As long as sanity
remains I can never forget the horrid imprecations and
determined resolution with which you threatened to carry
your murderous plans into execution before you left the
bar the last time you stood before me. I must regret that,
from the statement of the Governor of the House of Cor-
rection the same murderous propensity still haunts you.
There must, however, have been some providential inter-
ference in your attempting to take away the life of the man
that gave you life, for if the pistols had been loaded with
intent to murder no Jury could have saved you if found
guilty.
The prisoner, who was dreadfully agitated, said, that he
bought the pistols with the intention of intimidating his
father rather than with an intention of taking away his life.
Mr. BROUGHTON was glad to see the prisoner had
adopted that line of defence, for when last there his de-
meanour and words were of a quite opposite nature.

The prisoner said that a complete conspiracy bad been
laid against him for the purpose of destroying his property,
for he had brought into the concern upwards of 1,000/.
Mr. Harmer said, that the prisoner's father-in•law had
given bills to the amount of 1,093/., with his &tighter,
and that the profits of the business of last year, exclusive
of bad debts, appeared to be upwards of 700/., and that
the intention of the parties had been to oust the prisoner
cut of the concern, but there had been no intention on his
part of taking away life.
. _ _

- Mr. Norton said that a bond for 1,0001. was passed, and
upon judgment being entered, bills to the amount of
1,0931. was passed by the father of the prisoner's wife,
who was brother-in-law to the prosecutor, and who lived
in Jamaica, to which place the prosecutor wished the pri-
soner to retire, and that he was at all times ready to enter
into an amicable arrangement of their differences. The
hills so given were not yet paid. There were 500/. to be
paid by the son to the father for the purchase of a third of
the concern, and 500/. after for his share of the profits of
the business ; and, notwithstanding the great losses that
had taken place, the father was then ready and willing to
allow him 6001.

The prisoner said that, notwithstanding the fictitious
statemeats of bad debts and false returns of losses, the busi-
ness produced 2,0001. a-year.
Mr. Norton said that in fourteen months the prisoner,
independent of his lodgings, had draws out of the con-
cern 4001.

The wife of the prisoner, an interesting-looking young
lady, here stepped forward, or was rather called forward,
and said that her husband was alio her cousin. Her
father was a merchant in Jamaica, and she was then
without a protector.
Mr. BROUGHTON said that, if the prosecutor was one
hundred times a greater rogue than what his son repre-
sented him to be, still it was no justification of his shoot-
ing him. But, as it appeared it was altogether a family
quarrel, he would recommend the intervention of some
mutual friends to as to allay the unfortunate differences
that at present unhappily existed; at the same time, as
the capital charge had been abandoned, he could not, con-
sistently with his duty, under all the circumstances of the
case, part with the possession of the prisoner until he
would give security, himself in 200/., and two sureties
in 1001. each, with twenty-four hours' notice of bail.—
The prisoner was then removed.