The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-19 00:00:00

THAMES,

ROBBERY IN TIIE ST. KATHERINE DOCK.-William
Halls, a young man, was brought before Mr. Partridge,
charged with stealing eleven cigars, value is. Gd., the pro-
perty of the London and St. Katherine Docks Company.
Mr. J. P. Mumford, superintendent of the United Dock
Company's police, said the prisoner was employed on the
cigar floor as a preferable labourer, and must have been in
the employ of the company for some time, as he had been
lately promoted. Yesterday evening, between four and
five o'clock, the prisoner was brought before him by a
watchman named Cumming, who said on his hearing that
he had been directed to bring him to his (the superinten-
dent's) office, for eleven cigars were found upon
him. Witness asked where they were found, to
which the prisoner replied—" I am a great fool. I had them
in my trousers, pointing to his legs at the same time.
Chester found them, he must have seen me put them there."
Chester was the acting foreman on the cigar floor. The
prisoner also said, "Do forgive me, don't lock me up."
In answer to the Magistrate the witness said that cases
of cigars would necessarily be opened on the floor where
the prisoner was employed.
Mr. Partridge asked the prisoner what he had to say to
the charge.
The prisoner—Why this. They are damaged cigars.
I found them on the floor. I did not take them out of a
box.
Mr. Mumford—Those are good foreign cigars, worth
ls. Gd. without the duty.
The father of the prisoner said his son was brought up a
respectable boy, and could not help what he did. The man
who searched his son encouraged him in all that was bad.

'Mr. Partridge—That ought not to be said.
The prisoner's father said he and his son did not drink.
His son was 12 months in the hospital in consequence of
an accident he received in the dock.

Mr. Mumford was recalled, and said this was the first
time the prisoner had been charged with any offence ; but
he had been for some time suspected, and other boxes had
been opened and plundered of cigars.. A claim was made
yesterday on the company for loss sustained by a robbery
of cigars.
Mr. Partridge said it was lamentable that the prisoner
had given way to a sudden temptation and robbed the
dock company. He should be justified, he thought, in dis-
posing of the case summarily. He fined the prisoner 405.,
which ho immediately paid.

Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day.

Market quiet and depressed. Sales, prob4bly
2,000 bales.

The Late Gale.

During the heavy gale of wind on the 14th inst., the
schooner Thomas, of Liverpool, was observed on the Dog-
gerbank, near Wexford, with the sea breaking over her.
The Rosslare lifeboat, belonging to the National Lifeboat
Institution, was immediately launched, and proceeded to
the wreck, from which the lifeboat took off the crew of
four men and a pilot and put them safely on board a steam-
tug. The large lifeboat at Wexford of the National
Institution had also a few nights previously put off
in tow of a steamer to a large ship on the Black-
water Bank, but before the arrival of the lifeboat the vessel
had fortunately succeeded in getting off. The Institution's
lifeboat at Lahore had also put off in reply to the same sig-
nals of distress. The expense of both boats' crews is up-
wards of £32. In such cases, with signals calling for help,
it will not do for the lifeboats to falter for a moment,
because if life were sacrificed from' the delay of the life-
boats on such occasions, the responsibility would be very
great on those who direct their operations. Again, the
lifeboats sometimes put on board vessels in distress some
of their own hands, who are thus frequently the means of
saving both ship and crew, as was the case on Saturday
last at Holyhead. But then the noble fellows who are thus
left short-handed in the lifeboat oftentimes incur great
risk from being unable to manage her.
WALMER, NEAR DEAL, Jan. 16.

During a strong gale and heavy sea on Friday night (re-
ports Admiral Cannon) the Walmer lifeboat of the National
Institution was launched to the assistance of a vessel
in the Downs, which was observed burning blue lights
as signals of distress. The lifeboat proceeded under
reefed sails in the direction of the vessel, but finding, on
approaching her, that a Walmer lugger had taken charge,
and that the lifeboat's services were not required, she re-
turned to the shore at half-past ten p.m. and was hove up.
The lifeboat had her full service crew of 15 men, and also
threo men and one coastguardman assisting to launch. The
expense will be £l5 10s. The vessel proved to be the Blue-
bell, of Shoreham, laden with coals. She had been so
seriously damaged by being run into by another vessel that
the crew feared she was sinking. Both vessels seem to have
suffered considerable damage, both having been taken into
Ramsgate harbour.