The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-11 00:00:00

THAMES.

EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERY BY A SOLDIER AT SHORN-
CLIFFE.—Francis Hayward, aged 26, a private in the 2d
battalion of the 25th Regiment of Foot, now stationed at
Shorncliffe, was brought before Mr. Selfe. charged with
stealing a gold Geneva watch, the property of an officer of
the regiment.

On Sunday night last the prisoner met with a woman of
the town, and, after treating her, accompanied her to a
house, No. 2, Devonshire. street, Commercial-road, where
he remained for the night. On the following morning the
prisoner handed a very small gold Geneva watch to the
woman he had met the night before, and requested her to
raise a loan upon it. She gave the watch to Mary Lye,
the landlady of the house, who offered it in pledge at
the shop of Mr. Falkard, a highly respectable pawn-
broker in the Commercial-road East, who has been
mainly instrumental in bringing many offenders to
justice. Mr. Falkard immediately detained the woman and
the watch. Mary Lye at once stated how she obtained the
watch, and the prisoner was sent for, who said ho bought
the watch of a corporal in his regiment, and demanded that
it should be given up to him. Mr. Falkard persisted in
detaining the watch, and requested the soldier to call upon
him in a few days, and if his story was correct, the watch
should be delivered to him. The prisoner made use of
some harsh langnage and left the shop. Mr. Falkard wrote
to the adjutant of the 25th Regiment at Shorncliffe on the
same day, and gave a description of the watch. The
adjutant answered the letter, and stated that such
a watch had been stolen from the apartment of
an officer of the regiment three months ago,
and the police had been in search of the prisoner ever since.
Yesterday (Friday) the prisoner was seen to enter Mr.
Falkard's shop again, and he was followed by Inspector
Griffin, who immediately took him into custody. The pri-
soner again stated that he had purchased the watch of a
corporal in his regiment, and in verification of his statement
produced a letter with the Folkestone post mark, and dated
Jan. 9, 1862, upon the envelope. This letter was no doubt
written in answer to one sent by the prisoner to the writer,
for the purpose of deceiving Mr. Falkard and the police.
The end of the first leaf of the letter was torn off, and the
writer's name with it. Inspector Griffin handed the letter
to Mr. Selfe, who read all that was left of it as follows:
" Shorncliffe, January 9, 1862.

"Dear Friend,—l am very sorry to hear that anyone
should doubt your word, but if they don't believe you, you
can refer them to me, for I sold you the watch for a sove-
reign, so I hope you will satisfy them. I was in hopes of
being able to buy it of you again, but if you are obliged to
part with it I cannot help it, but I don't know what I shall
tell my father when I go home if he asks me where it is,
but I don't know whether I shall go home or not yet—so
no more at present from"

Mr. Selfe believed there was an accomplice in the rob-
bery, and it was quite evident for what purpose the letter
just load was written.

Mr. Stephen Bnrnett, assistant to Mr. Falkard, pro-
duced a small gold Geneva watch. It was a valuable ono,
made by Grohe of Wigmore-streot, and worth 10 guineas.
The prisoner told him he bought it of a corporal for £l.
Inspector Griffin said that after cautioning the prisoner
he made the following statement, which was taken down in
writing :—" I bought the watch of Corporal Caleb Wil-
liams, No. 4 Company, 2d battalion 25th Foot, for a sove-
reign. I asked him what it was worth, and he said £2 or
£3. I did not ask him where he got it."

Mr. Selfe said the conduct of Mr. Falkard and his assist-
ant was deserving of great praise. He requested Inspector
Griffin to continue his inquiries, and obtain the attendance
of the officer who lost the watch. He then remanded the
prisoner until Thursday next.