The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-17 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIcy'ENCE.—Tan. 16.

MANSION HOUSE,—John Linton, who was
brought before the Lord Mayor on Wednesday,
charged with uttering a forged request for money,
with intent to defraud Mr. Bidwell, of Teignmouth,
in Devonshire, was again brought up.
The prosecutor, it appears, resides at Teignmouth,
and has a son who is at sea, and on the 7th inst.
received a letter purporting to be written by his son,
and signed Nicholas Bidwell, stating that he had
been wrecked off the coast of Africa, and had the
day previous been brought home to London in a
steamer. He had lost all his clothes, and had no
money to buy new ones, and had been told that he
would not be able to get his money for a month.
Would his dear father send him ,E 5 per return of
post, in order that he might get some clothes to see
his dear brother and sister, and he would repay it
as soon as he received his pay P Mr. Bidwell hay
ing received a letter from his son only a few days
before this stating that he was is Calcutta, knew
this second letter to be a forgery. He accordingly
communicated with the police, and was advised to
send a post-office order, which he did, to the post-
office in the Minories ; but, owing to the initials of
the Christian names having been reversed by mis-
take, the order did not agree with the advice ; and
Mr. Fox, who keeps the money order office, and who
identified the prisoner as the party who presented
the order, would not pay it on that account, and
advised the prisoner to write to the party he had it
from, and request him to get the initials altered,
which he did, and Mr. Bidwell received the letter.
Walter Bashford, superintendent of the Devon
constabulary, came up to London, and waited at the
Sailors' Home until the prisoner went to call for a
letter which was there, addressed to John Linton,
Sailors' Home. He took him into custody, and
found the letter, which was from the prisoner's
father, who is also a resident of Teignmouth, upon
him. The letter stated that his father had seen Mr.
Bidwell, and he had informed him that some one at
the Sailors' Home had been writing to him in his
son's name for some money. His son was then in
Calcutta, and the letter was a forgery. He hoped
the prisoner was not in any way mixed up in the
matter. It also stated that Mr. Bidwell had sent a
Post-office order, and whoever went for the money
would be detected. The Post-office order was like
wise found upon the prisoner, and Mr. Fox iden-
tified it as the same that was presented to him by
the prisoner.
The prisoner, who acknowledged that he wrote
the two letters, was committed for trial.

BOW-STREET.—Robert Ready, jun., a youth
of about 17 years of age, was brought before the
chief magistrate, Mr. Hall, charged with having in
his possession a loaded pistol, with intent to shoot
his father, Mr. Robert Ready, a copyist at the
British Museum.

Police Sergeant Scott, A 2, deposed—This after-
noon, from information I had received, at about 3
o'clock I went to the room in the British Museum,
in consequence of a dispute between the prisoner
and his father. I received the pistol, bullets, and
wadding, from the witnesses now present. The
father refused to give the prisoner into custody, or
to give evidence against him.
Mr. Hall said it would be absolutely necessary
that the father should be ,examined.
Sergeat Scott said the father was in attendance
in the waiting-room of the court.
Mr. Hall then ordered the prisoner to be removed,
and sent for his father.
Mr. Ready immediately presented himself, but
expressed himself extremely reluctant to give evi-
dence, urging that it was very hard for a father to
prosecute his own son.
Mr. Hall had the strongest sympathy with the
very natural feelings of Mr. Ready, but in this
case Mr. Ready had a duty to perform, not only be-
cause he was bound to forward the interests of jus-
tice and the administration of the law, but even for
the sake of the unfortunate lad himself, to whom
it would be most dangerous and injurious that he
should be allowed to threaten his father's life with
impunity. It would also be a most frightful example
to Mr. Ready's other children if their elder brother
was permitted to go on in such a course. Ultimately,
though with great reluctance and undisguised emo-
tion, Mr. Ready yielded to the advice of the worthy
magistrate and consented to give evidence.
The prisoner was then again placed in the dock.
Mr. Ready deposed—l am a copyist at the British
Museum, and the father of the defendant, who is
employed there under me. I was there this after-
noon, and had occasion to request him not to take
copies of anything under my care; and having
reason to believe that some coins and cameos, the
property of the Museum, were about his person, I
taxed him with having them, and I was about
searching his person when he took out of his pocket
a pistol (producing a single barrelled pocket pistol).
I seized it with my hands, and we struggled for the
possession of it for at least 20 minutes. I was nearly
overpowered when the witnesses now present came
to my assistance. I have heard a statement of a
threat used against me by the prisoner, and from
that and what has occurred I apprehend that I go
in danger of my life, or that he will do me some
bodily harm unless he is restrained by the law.
Mr. Edward Gerrard deposed—l am also em-
ployed in the British Museum, in a room next to
Mr. Ready's. Hearing a great screaming in Mr.
Ready's room, I went there, and found Mr. Ready
struggling with the prisoner. On my asking what
was the matter, Mr. Ready said his son had
attempted to shoot him. I then assisted Mr. Ready,
who succeeded in taking the pistol produced from
the prisoner. I handed it to Mr. Tilley. I asked
the prisoner how he could be so bad a boy as to
attempt to shoot his father. He said he had carried
the pistol for some weeks, intending to shoot his
father. I saw the pistol unloaded, and the bullet,
wadding, and powder taken from it.
Mr. Edward Fred. Tilley—l am also employed

at the British Museuin. I received the pistol from
the last witness. It was loaded. I:extracted from it
the bullet, wadding, and powder produced. Mr.
Tilley further stated that a bullet similar to that
found in the pistol, and also 20 percussion caps,
were found upon the prisoner.
The Prisoner—l have nothing to say to do me any
good.
Mr. Hall said it was difficult to find words to ex-
press his feelings with regard to this painful case,
He must express his strong approval of the conduct
of Mr. Ready. That gentleman ought not to be at
all ashamed of, or sorry for, is conduct in this case
in which he had performed a distressing but inevi-
table duty. He (Mr. Hall) fully believed, terrible
as it might appear, that the prisoner had really
conceived the determination of taking his father's

life, and it was necessary to place him under such
control as would effectually restrain him from com•
mitting so horrible a crime. The prisoner must find
two sureties of £5O each and enter into his own re-
cognisances of £BO to keep the peace for six months.
The prisoner, who in the early part of the exami-
nation maintained an air of indifference, was much
affected by the observations of the worthy magis-
trate, weeping and sobbing apparently with much
emotion.
Bail not being forthcoming he was removed in
the prison van.

MARLBOROUGH-SIRE ET.—Wm. Lucas and
Thos. Johnson, two fashionably-dressed young men,
were placed at the bar before Mr. Tyrwhitt charged
with stealing two bags of copper coin, the property
of Mr. Kerner, baker, New Compton-street.
Police-sergeant Cole, C 23, said he saw the two
prisoners in a dog-cart in Regent-street. Knowing
their characters, and being aware that a great num-
ber of robberies had lately been committed by per-
sons answering the description of the prisoners,
he followed them. He traced them into Brewer-
street, and there Johnson got out, leaving Lucas to
drive the dog cart. Two other persons joined John-
son, and they walked on, following the dog-cart.
The three then went up to Lucas and held a short
conversation with him ; one of the party turned
round and looked witness hard in the face. He took
no notice, but went down a street, and met the
party again in Compton-street. The prisoners and
the two other men held a short conversation at the
corner of Frith-street, and then one of the party not
in custody went into a baker's shop in Compton-
street, and in a few minutes came out with the
master of the shop, and went into a public-house,
the others following behind. The prisoner Lucas
drove up to the baker's shop, and got into conversa-
tion with a female who was minding it. The pri-
soner Johnson went into the shop, and in a few mi-
nutes came out and put something into the dog-cart
and then got in, and both drove off. Witness rushed
forward and seized the reins. Lucas jumped out and
ran off, but was knocked down by a blow from a
mallet given by a carpenter who was passing, and,
Johnson was detained by Mr. Hall, of Wardour-
street, who had been called upon to assist the police.
Both prisoners were taken to the station-house. In
the dog-cart were found two bags containing about
£2 worth of copper coin, and also a jemmy. Before
anything was said to Lucas, he remarked to witness
that he had never gone into the shop, and that he
knew nothing of anything being put into the dog-
cart. Witness went back to the baker's shop, and
found that a desk had been broken open with a
crowbar or jemmy, and the two bags of copper
taken out.

Mr. John Keillor, baker, Compton-street, said a
well-dressed man came into his shop that day, and
after buying three buns, asked if witness made
wedding cakes ? He replied " Yes, and he should
be happy to receive an order." The man said,
" Come with me, and my mother's cook shall give
you an order." He went out with the man, and
after walking a short distance the man asked
him if he would have a glass of ale. He said
he did not mind, and he went into a public house
with the man. After partaking of some refresh-
ment the man said he had to meet the cook
there, but she had not come, and he must there-
fore go hone and get instructions, Witness re-
turned to his shop, and his mother told him that
a person had just been there about some wed-
ding cakes. He remarked he did not like the look
of this ; he suspected something was wrong. He
looked about the shop and found that his desk had
been broken open, and copper coin in two bags
taken away.
The prisoners put some questions of no import-
ance to the constable.
Johnson said he was not in the baker's shop.
police-sergeant Cole said he saw him go into the
shop.
A remand having been applied for, Mr. Tyrwhitt
directed the prisoners to be brought up again next
Thursday.
A good deal of credit is due to Police-sergeant
Cole for the way he effected the capture of the pri-
soners, who have been at this court before, and who
it is expected will turn out to be connected with a
gang of swell mobsmen who have committed a large
number of robberies at the west-end of the town,
principally on jewellers and wine merchants. The
plan adopted by the thieves was for some of the
gang to drive up to a jeweller's shop in a dog-cart,
land to request the shopkeeper to send specimens of
jewellery for a sick gentleman to select from. In
one case it is understood that about /500 was
obtained. When visits were paid to wine merchants
it was the cash-box that was sought after, and very
great success appears to have attended the gang in
this line of operations. It is also pretty clear that
the robbery at Mr. Keillor's was a put-up affair.
The thieves were disappointed of a bag containing
about £2OO, which was sometimes kept in the desk,
but which had not been placed there that morning.

CLERKENWELL. Police-constable Alfred
Viner, 86 G, appeared before Mr. Barker, charged
with unlawfully assaulting and beating John Car-
roll, a marble polisher, residing at 13, Fleet-row,
Leather-lane.
Mr. Wontner appeared for the prosecution; and
Mr. Lewis, jun., of Ely-place, attended for the de-
fence.

From the evidence of the prosecutor it appeared
that on the morning of the 10th inst., about one
o'clock, the defendant and another constable knocked
at his room door and were admitted into the room
by one of his lodgers. I'he defendant asked
the other constable if he (the lodger) was the
man who had insulted him the night before, and was
answered in the negative, the other constable stating
that it was the one that was in bed (meaning the
complainant). The defendant then asked the other
constable if he would give him (complainant) in
charge, and he said " No." The defendaut then
went to his bedside, pulled him out of bed, hit him
on the head several times, and kicked him in such
a manner that he was insensible for three or four
minutes. The defendant then lifted him into bed,
and again punched him on the head and face. His
mouth was full of blood.
In cross. examination the complainant stated that
he had no marks either on his face or body. He
was certain that he was pulled out of bed by the
hair of the head, and that while he was on the floor
tne defendant kicked him.
A lodger of the complainant's was called, and
stated that he was present the whole of the time.
The defendant pulled the complainant out of bed
by his shirt and shook him. .

In cross-examination the witness stated that the
complainant was never on the ground, nor was he
kicked. He also stated that the complainant was
never insensible.

Mr. Lewis said after such contradictory state-
ments no one could believe the complainant, and
the summons ought therefore to be dismissed. The
reason why the constables went to the room was
because one of them had been assaulted by a man
who had made his escape.
Police constable Warington, 141 G, who had also
been summoned for assaulting the same complainant
but against whom the summons was dismissed, said
that he was present the whole of the time, and was
certain that the defendant did not strike the com-
plainant.
Mr. Barker sentenced the prisoner to two calendar
months' imprisonment in the House of Correction.
Mr. Lewis asked the magistrate to send the case
for trial, as he was certain that no jury would ever
convict on such evidence. He considered the sen-
tence a very severe one.
Mr. Barker said he bad made it two months to give
the defendant the option of appealing. If he sent
the case for trial the complainant would be put to
expense.
Mr. Lewis strongly urged that the question of
expense ought not to stand against a man's liberty.
The defendant had a right to be tried by a jury. As
to expense, he would guarantee that the prosecutor
should not be put to expense. So that justice might
be done, he would deposit the money out of pocket.
Mr. Barker declined to alter his decision.
Mr. Lewis said he should appeal, and asked what
bail the magistrate would take.
Mr. Barker fixed the amount at two sureties in the
sum of £lO each.

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