The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-19 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE;—.(This Day.)

BOW-STREET,

John Martin was placed before Mr. Henry charged with
burglary.

Anne Beer said—l reside at 37, Bedford-square, and am
a domestic in the service of Dr. La'Mert. About 8 this
morning I was alarmed by one of my fellow-servants tell-
ing me that she had discovered a hole bored in the door
leading from the billiard-room into the house, the door of
which was open. The whole of us got up, went down
stairs, and opened the door of the billiard room, but nothing
appeared to hays been disturbed. As I was leaving I
lifted up the cover of the sofa and found the prisoner con-
cealed under it. 1 instantly sent up for Mr. Defries, the
doctor's son-in-law, who came down into the billiard-room
and secured him until the police-constable arrived.
Police constable E 45, said—l was sent for this morning
to the house :37, Bedford-square, and on going into the
billiard-room I found the prisoner lying under the sofa.
I pulled him out by the collar, and ho said, "I've nothing
to say, take me off to prison." I searched him, and found
a quantity of silent matches, a small file, a knife, a saw, a
wax taper, a latch key, and other articles. On searching
the room, on the opposite side to where I took the prisoner.
I discovered a rope ladder 16 feet long, and to which were
attached two iron hooky for the purpose of securing it to a
window, or balcony, a stock and centre bit, and a small
saw. On his feet I found a pair of thick worsted stockings,
which were soiled from the prisoner walking across the
leads on the top of the billiard-room to get to the skylight,
through which he lowered himself on to the billiard•.
table, on which there were marks of the socks on the
white cover. The house backs on Tavistock-mews.
I found a large silver-mounted snuff-mull underneath the
sofa where the prisoner had hid himself. The prisoner said
nothing while I was conveying him to the station. When
I told him I had found his tools, he said " I see you have."
The inner side of the door which led to the house was
covered with sheet iron, which appeared to have effectively
prevented an entry being made.
Prisoner—l know nothing of the mull. I did not take
it away.

Mr. Defries—l am son-in-law of Dr. La'Mert. I was in
the billiard room till about a quarter to one this morning. I
saw the man put the white cover on the billiard table. I
am certain there were no footmarks on it then. The door
was properly secured when I left, and the skylight over the
table was shut.

Mr. Henry asked the prisoner what he had to say.
-

Prisoner—All I've got to say is, that I intended to get
some money or go to prison. I did not intend to leave the
place without it. I had plenty of time to get away if I
liked, as I had been lying on the sofa for two or three hours
before the servants came down. I commenced getting into
the house about half-past one. I got over the gate of the
mews, from them on to the roof of the billiard-room, and
then through the skylight. I could not get through the
door that led to the dwelling. house. I had made up my
mind to have some money. I have been in the house many
times, and I know where it is kept. I had been fleeced out
of £l9 by Dr. La'Mert, and I determined to have some of
it back. That's all I've got to say.

Mr. Defries said the statement might perhaps be injuri-
ous to Dr. La'Mert, and he should like him to have the
opportunity of hearing the statement of the prisoner.

In a short time Dr. La'Mert was in attendance.

Mr. Henry addressing him said, the prisoner in his ab-
sence, had made a statement, and although it was not at all
necessary for him (Dr. La'Mert) to say anything, his son-
in-law was anxious that he might have an opportunity of
hearing it if he thought proper.
Dr. La'Mert said he felt much obliged for the opportu-
nity. The prisoner was a former patient of his, though he
(Dr. La'Mert) did not recognise him at the time he was
taken into custody. The statement that he had been
"fleeced" out of £l9 was entirely untrue. He had paid him
that amount for medical attendance, and as he afterwards
said he was in great distress, and wished to go back to his
home in Newfoundland, he (Dr. La'Mert) had returned him,
out of charity, £l7 out of the £l9 he had received. Besides
that he had given other monies to the prisoner to relieve
his distress. Dr. La'Mert then produced a letter aldressed
to him by the prisoner expressing the warmest gratitude
for the kindness he had exhibited in returning the money
he had paid him as fees, and characterizing the doctor's
conduct as more generous than could have been hoped for.
The letter was signed "John Lilly."
Prisoner—That is an assumed name. What the doctor
says is perfectly true.

Mr. Henry—Yon said he fleeced you.
Prisoner—He gave me the money back.
Mr. Henry—Why did you not say so before ?
Dr. La'Mert—From what I have seen of the prisoner,
I should think he was a person of unsound mind.
Mr. Henry—l cannot decide upon that question.
The prisoner was then fully committed for trial.