The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-14 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

SYSTEMATIC ROBBERIES AT THE APPOLONICON Rooms.—
Thomas Leigh Barnard, a respectably-dressed young man,
who gave the address 131, Regent-street, and described
himself as an assistant photographer, was charged before
Mr. Knox, with the following robberies :
Charles Butcher, 137 C, said—Yesterday evening, at half-
past six o'clock, I went to 101, St. Martin's-lane, the Appo-
lonicon Rooms, where gymnastics are carried, on and volun-
teers meet. I went into a back room used as a dressing-
room, where the young men hung up their coats. I con-
cealed myself behind some boxes, and at a little after
eight o'clock the prisoner entered the room. Shortly
after several young men came into the room and took off
their coats, &c., and hung them up. I then saw the pri-
soner, when the room was clear, go up to the coats and feel
the pockets outside.' I then saw him go up to a coat, put
his hand into the pocket, and take out a purse. He then
took the money out of the purse—two or three half crowns
—and put the money into his own pocket and the purse
back into the pocket of the coat. The prisoner then left
the room for a short time, and went into the large room
where the performances were going on, and about half an
hour after returned to the room. He then went up to the
coats again, and felt the pockets the same as before.
He then put his hand into the pocket of a coat,
and took out a purse and took some silver money
from it, but a person coming into the room, he put
both purse and money into his pocket. The prisoner then
put on his hat and coat and left the room. I remained
there for some time, and the gentleman managing the rooms
coming in I made a communication to him, and, on the
young gentleman coming into the room, they missed the
money from their pockets. I then left the place where I
had been secreted, and found that the prisoner had loft the
building. I then told the young gentleman who had been
robbed to go to Vine-street, and I went to 131, Regent-street,
and asked if the prisoner had come in, and was told by the
servant that he had not. I then waited a few minutes and
saw the prisoner come up. I then followed him into
the house and told him I was a police office; and that
I was going to take him into custody for stealing money
from coat pockets at 101, St. Martin's-lane. The prisoner
said he knew nothing of the matte; and he had no money ;
but on taking him to Vine-street I found four half-crowns
in his possession, and he subsequently said he had thrown
away the purse. On the way to the court that morning the
prisoner said it was a very clear case, and he could not
attempt to deny it. He also asked me what he had better
do, but I told him I could not advise him.
Mr. Knox—He is a member of the rooms ?

Butcher—Yes, sir.
Mr. Henry Wm. Hemsley, of 34, Newman-street, Oxford-
street, and Mr. Henry Brook, of 55, Gray's-inn-road, proved
missing from their pockets money.
Mr. Spencer, the manager of the Appolonicon Rooms,
said within the past six weeks, during which time the
prisoner has been a frequenter of the rooms, property
to the amount of 601. has been taken away, and in conse-
quence, for the protection of the members, the officer was
employed to detect the thief.
Mr. Knox—lt is a serious case. I think the best thing
I can do will be to remand the prisoner till Thursday next,
and probably by that time the officer—the robberies being
of a serious nature—may find out something else.
The prisoner was remanded.