The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-17 00:00:00

A WHOLESALE CONFESSION.

There is a manufactory near St. Petersburg, at
which about 2,000 hands used to be employed.
On a week previous to a certain Easter Sunday,
while confession was going on, in order to take as

.ttle time from Mammon as possible, the machinery
was stopped in sections, and the people were per-
mitted to go in batches according to the nature of the
work they were employed at. Weavers confessed
together at one time, spinners at another, and so on.
Connected with and adjoining these works was the
church where confession took place, and a private
passage led from the works to the church, by which
the penitents passed into the church; having con-
fessed, they went into the street by churchthemairkn
e
entrance to go home. Now in Russia all w oPoPle
searchers
are strictly searched by male
aanced female
of employment ;
as they pass out from their place
but, in confessing
_the
church
the rch by the pri-
vate way to confess a year's sins inlump, the
diereeacetonto, when these particular
workpeople went
right of search had never been enforced. But on a
certain day- the director of this factory received a
hint concerning this omission, and took his measures
accordingly. At 11 o'clock a large batch (400 in
all) of women,' young and married, girls and old
wives, left their various posts, and took their way
across the yard, with demure and penitent looks, to
the private entrance, where they were admitted as
usual, filling the stairs and passages, When all
were inside the bottom door was bolted and guarded.
Means of escape being thus cut off, the front rank,
on approaching the door of communication with the
church, found half a dozen searchers, backed by as
many policemen. The first two women searched
were stripped of a largo quantity of valuable mate-
rial secreted under their clothes, in their boots—in
fact, wherever they could stow it. Each had as
great a weight of plunder as she could possibly
carry. The work of searching went on, but the
mass of women on the stairs and in the passages got
scent of the presence of the searchers. The word
was passed, a peculiar sound was heard as of many
Persons dressing and undressing, and in a few
minutes the women were all standing as innocent
as lambs, and as harmless as doves, up to their
knees in material, valued according to an after com-
putation at £5OO. This had been going on for
years. But let it be remembered that the people
are not taught morality and honesty as part of their
religion.-411 the Year liound.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-April 16.

WORSHIP-STREET.—Wm. Beland, a young
man describing himself as a journeyman baker out
of place, was charged before Mr. Leigh with steal-
ing ils. 4d. from the person of Henry Fluke, resid-
ing in Old Fora-road, Bow.

The robbery occurred on the night of the 6th inst.,
when the prosecutor,while in company with a friend,
was, while passing through a street in Spitalfields
on his road home, seized from behind and held round
the throat with such tenacity that, as he alleged, he
could not speak for the space of two minutes after-
wards, and was unable to resist the rifling of his
waistcoat pocket, which was turned inside out, the
contents fortunately consisting of the small amount
mentioned. Three men were engaged in the out-
rage, and all escaped ; but the prisoner, who was
sworn to as being one, subsequently was appre-
hended at a coffeehouse of very doubtful character
in the Kingsland-road. He denied his guilt, and
was fully committed to the Central Criminal Court
for trial.

James Connor was charged with stealing a deal
box containing various property belonging to Thos.
Sadler, of Earl-street, Finsbury.
This robbery occurred on the 15th inst., when at
an early hour
,in the evening the prosecutor's wife
left the house, securing the door, but not the front
parlour window. On returning at 10 o'clock she
perceived the sash up and missed the box in ques-
tion ; circumstances also tended to show that the
robbery had but just previously been effected, and
about five minutes after 10 o'clock, Rouse, 145 H,
while on duty in Whitechapel, met the prisoner
with the box on his head hurrying forward. The
account of possession not being satisfactory, the
thief was taken to the station-house.
Mr. Leigh ordered a committal for trial at the
sessions. This class of offence is again frequent.

WESTMINSTER.—A few days ago John Jen-
kins, a middle-aged man, was charged with inter-
marrying with Elizabeth Bates, his former wife
being then and still living.
The accused was first married on the 29th of
May, 1847. at Trinity Church, Bristol, in his own
name, to Jane Bray, and secondly on the 9th of
December, 1855, at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, in
the name of John Chapel, to Elizabeth Bates. The
second wife, who knew he was married, led him so
wretched a life, according to his own account, that
he determined to rid himself of the incumbrance
and undergo the punishment of the law in pre-
ference to being further troubled with her. To
effect this he induced his brother to procure the
certificates of both marriages, give him into cus-
tody, and employ a solicitor to prosecute him, and
he was remanded until yesterday, preferring con-
finement in the House of Detention to liberation
upon bail ; but when he again appeared before the
magistrate, it was stated that the ease could no
further be proceeded with as both witnesses to the
first marriage were dead, and nobody could supply'
the defective proof, under which circumstances
Mr. Paynter discharged him.
Prisoner had no sooner emerged from the dock
than he was followed by his second wife, who was
in court waiting for him.

SOUTHWARK.—Wm. Harwood, a sullen-look-
ing lad, about 17 years of age, was brought before
Mr. Burcham, charged with stabbing his mother,
Sarah Harwood, and threatening to murder her.
The complainant, a middle-aged respectable-look..
ing female, who exhibited a wound on the right side
of the face, said she was sorry to saythe prisoner was
her son, and one of seven children left her by her
husband to maintain. He had a most violent tem-
per and was continually in the habit of insulting
and beating her. On Monday he came home
and commenced abusing her, and when she remon-
strated with him, and begged him to keep quiet,
he snatched up ali the crockery within his reach
and threw it at her. He then seized a knife from
the drawer, and flew at her, saying he would mur-
der her. In her endeavour to get away from him,
he stabbed her near the eye. She immediately
came to this court and obtained a warrant.
The prisoner, who seemed much excited, said it
was all lies what that woman had stated. He never
touched her.

Mr. Burcham remarked to him that such conduct
on his part was not at all seemly from a son to a
mother.

Prisoner—Oh, she is a bad one, and will say any-
thing.

Mrs. Harwood here informed his worship that
his conduct was so bad that she could not put up ti
with it any longer. He actually called her a bad
name and all her children bastards.
Prisoner—And that's true. You know it. Pat
not going to put up with your nonsense.
Mr. Burcham was of opinion that the lad could
not be in his right senses. Here was a respectable
woman bringing up a large family in as careful a
manner ad possible, and attaeked in a shameful
manner by one of her sons. He should remand
him for a week, and send directions to the gaol for
the medical officer as well as the chaplain to pay
some attention to him.
The prisoner was led away laughing.

COUN7RI MARKETS:

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BOSTON—APRIL 16.
The supply of was limited of both red and white wheat,
but the demand ruled brisk, and prices were at Is advance
on former currencies. Barley scarce, with a steady trade,
and fully is dearer. Oats in limited show. Beans and
peas at late terms.