The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-07 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS, Aug 6.

NEW COURT.
(Before J. E. Johnson, Esq.)
Thomas Richards, 27, a fine-looking man, lately
in the service of the South-Western Railway Com-
pany as a policeman, and George Whicher, 28, de-
scribed as a clerk, were indicted for stealing a dia-
mond ring, worth £5O, the property of Alcide Henri
Maubut. The latter prisoner was also charged with
being concerned in robbing him of a valuable gold
watch under very extraordinary circumstances.
The prosecutor, a young French gentleman, said
he was an artist, residing for the present at Clap-
ham. About half-past four in the afternoon of the
18th of June last, he went to the Waterloo Station
for the purpose of proceeding to Havre via South-
ampton. Ile had his luggage with him, and a
small travelling bag swinging from his shoulders,
which he kept locked. On his arrival at the sta-
tion he saw the prisoner Richards dressed in police
clothing, and he told him where he wanted to go.
Richards said he could not go that day—but he
would if a boat did not go from the South Eastern
Station that evening. He took witness's luggage,
however, into the cloak-room and booked it, and
considering that be had been very kind to him he
asked him iF he would partake of a glass of ale.
Richards replied that he would, and they quitted
the station and entered the Victoria Tavern, next
the theatre, where they had some ale, when
Richards introduced Whicher to him as his brother.
Richards then said to him, " Why did you not leave
your bag with your luggage." Witness tooldit from
his shoulder, unlocked it to take something out,
and having locked it again, he handed it to
Richards to take to the station. At that time he
knew his diamond ring was in the bag. It had
two cameos mounted in silver and studded with
diamonds. While Richards was gone Whieher asked
him to drink some ginger beer with him. He tasted
it, and finding it nasty handed it back to him. He
then sat down, when a man rushed in and spoke
something to Whicher, at the same time asking
what time it was. Witness took out his watch to
tell him when the fellow snatched it, broke it off the
ring, and bolted out of the house with it. He ran
out immediately, but the man was gone. He, how-
ever, saw Whicher, and was inclined to knock him
down, as ho must have had something to do with
the robbery. Witness went with Police-constable
8l L, to the Waterloo-station, and examined
hYulig,
iosbag in his presence, when he missed his ring,
which he valued at £5O. He never gave that to
Richards, neither was he in the least under the in-
fluence of liquor.
In cross-examination by Mr. Lilley, prosecutor
said he saw Mr. Towers, the landlord of the public-
house, and his barman, when he entered, and
Richards recommended him to leave his watch with
them, but he declined to do so, believing he was in
honest company. Richards did not come back after
taking his bag away.
Mr. Frank Towers, landlord of the Victoria Ta-
vero, said he recollected the prisoners and the pro-
secutor coming into his house about half-past 5 in
the afternoon. The latter had a leather bag slung
from his shoulders, and Richards asked him why he
had not left it with his luggage. The prosecutor
unlocked the bag, felt in it, relocked it, and handed
it to Richards, who took it away. Some time after
that he heard that soiree man had rushed in and
stolen the prosecutor's watch. The prosecutor and
Whicher left then, and about half-past 8 Richards
came in and said, " You have done a nice thing for
me, I shall lose my situation."
Nicholls, the barman, recollected the parties
coming in, and Richards leaving with the bag. A
man with a felt hat came in and asked the gentle-
man the time, and as he was telling him the man
rushed out again, and then he was told the watch
had been stolen. The prosecutor was perfectly sober.
Robert Young,
51 L, said that on the evening in
question he was on duty at the Tower-street police-
station when the prosecutor told him he had been
robbed of his watch at the Victoria Tavern. Wit-
ness afterwards went to the Waterloo station and
saw the prisoners together. They then went to the
cloak room, and the prosecutor unlocked hie bag
and missed his diamond ring. On discovering that
he went to look alter the prisoners, but they bad
gone. Witness returned to the public-house, and
picked up the ring of the watch, and after that be
charged with stealing a diamond ring from a gen,
it, and decla_ree
atthiPeaPnian's travelling bag he denied
trehheenndetd Richards, and when told that he was
er had such a thing. Witness searched
him, and among a bunch of keys he found a
y
that unlocked the prosecutor's bag, Witness did
not apprehend -Whicher until the 14th of July.
South
Mr. Thos. Bent, the superintendent of the