The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-11 00:00:00

APRIL 11, 1862.

POLICE---THIS DAY.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET THIS DAY.

EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT OF A SOLDIER.—CHARGB
OF ROBBING Two GENTLEMEN.—SamueI Johnson, a
private of the Scots Fusilier Guards, was charged before
Tyrwhitt with robbing Mr. Drummond Wolff, secretary to
the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, resid-
ing at present at St. James's-place, and also Mr, Arthur
Otway, a magistrate of Middlesex, residing at Langham-
house, Langham place.
Mr. Otway said—Last night about 12 o'clock, I was in
Langham-place, in company with Mr. Wolff on our way
to the Admiralty, where I was going to sleep. We
were waiting for a cab, my friend having my valise and
an umbrella in his hand, when the soldier came up to
me and caught hold of me, and asked me to give him a

pot of beer. I had one hand engaged, and with the other
pushed the soldier away, saying " Be off with you," on
which he said, " If you don't give me a shilling I'll stick
to you the whole evening." I saw the drift of the fellow's
remark, and was determined to give him into custody, and
said to my friend in French, " Let him come on with us
till we get a policeman." The soldier then caught hold of
my friend in a similar manner, and threw himself upon
him, saying " Give me some beer." My friend told him to
be off, and pushed him away as well as he could, when the
prisoner said, " I'll cut you down," and struck my friend
over the shoulder with a stick. He then seized my frietal's
umbrella and money bag which my frond was carrying for
me. At this moment I saw a policeman coming, having
got nearly as far as Conduit-street. I called the constable
and told him to take the prisoner in charge, when he made
off, but was caught by a constable near Burlington Arcade,
several persons having taken part in the pursuit.

Mr. Henry Drummond Wolff confirmed *r. Otway in
every respect.

Mackney, 313 Al proved stopping prisoner with the um-
brella and bag in his pcssession. On being searched at the
station a pocket handkerchief, the property of Wolff, was
found in his possession, and a purse and some rings.

Mr. Tyrwhitt said it was a considerable importance to the
public. The prisoner, a soldier, followed the gentlemen
about, after demanding money of them, and then robbed
them, and he had done more, for he was found afterwards
to have picked the gentleman's pocket of his handkerchief,
which was not at first missed. It was quite necessary that
the public should be protected against fellows of the pri-
soner's description.

It was stated by Sergeant Stephens that a gentleman
called at the station and said be had seen a soldier hustling
a foreigner near Hanover-square a short time previous to
this affair.
Committed for trial.

OMNIBUS TRAFFIC AND THE EXHIBITION.—Henry
Saunders, conductor of omnibus 7303, appeared before Mr.
Tyrwaitt to answer the complaint of Inspector Coombe, D
division, for unlawfully stopping his omnibus within the
circumference of the Regent-circus, contrary to the regula-
tions made by the Commissioners of Police to prevent ob-
structions in the said place Of public resort.

It appears that in consequence of numerous complaints
from. persons of their inability to cross Oxford-street, near
the Circus, owing to the stopping of omnibuses on the cross •
ing, and with a view to facilitate the increased traffic during
the Exhibition, the Commissioners of Police have lately
issued a notice, of which the following is a copy :—Police
Regulations to Prevent Obstructions in Regent-circus. In
order to prevent obstructions by metropolitan stage car-
riages stopping to take up and set down passengers at the
Regent-circus, Oxford-street, notice is hereby given that
no stage carriage shall stop within the circumference of the
Circus, nor within seven yards of the lamp-posts at the
crossings on the east and west sides of the circus."

Inspector CJombs said that in addition to a copy of the
notice being sent to each omnibus proprietor, the printed
notice was conspicuously posted in the Circus, so that every
conductor and driver might be aware of it. A constable
was also placed there to warn the men, but notwithstanding
there had been several infringements of the regulations,
and some of the men seemed determined to set the authori-
ties at defiance.

Mr. Tyrwhitt said he wished it to be publicly made known
that the regulations would be enforced. The Comm's-
sioners of Police had very properly made the regulations,
and he should take care to have them carried out, for if not,
as it got near the time of the International Exhibition, it
the omnibuses were allowed to stop within the Circus, the
thoroughfares of London would not be passable. The de-
fendant was then fined ss. and costs.