The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-11 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

ROBBERY AT THE EXHIBITION.—DanieI Collins was
charged with picking a lady's pocket at the Exhibition, and
Henry Thomas with receiving the property,
Joseph Gough, 468 X, said that he was on duty last
evening outside the Exhibition in plain clothes. Observ-
ing the two prisoners loitering about, he watched them.
It was about seven o'clock, when a great many people were
leaving the building, and Collins, moving in the crowd,
tried several ladies' pockets. He lifted up their dresses, aid
felt their pockets. He then went to the door of an omnibus
as persons were getting into it, lift up a lady's dress, and
take a purse from her pocket.
Mr. Arnold asked where the other prisoner was at this
time ?

Witness replied that he had been in company with Col-
ins all the time, and after Collins had taken the purse from
.he lady's pocket he handed it-to Thomas. The latter then
emptied the contents of the purse into his pocket, and threw
the purse over a fence.
Mr. Arnold observed that Thomas should have been
charged with stealing the purse as well as Collins, as they
were both acting in concert.
.Witness said that while the ladies were getting into the
omnibus Thomas was busily engaged trying to pick pockets.

Mr. Arnold asked whether they had. ascertained the
amount the prisoner stole ?
Witness replied he had not, as in the confusion the lady
got into the omnibus and was driven away.
Prisoners were remanded. .

Inspector Holden said there was another charge against

Thomas.

THAMES,
A MARINE SWINDLER.—THE WILDGOOSE CHASE.—
James Shaw, aged 30, a seaman, with a large beard and
moustache, was brought up on remand, before Mr. Wool-
r3ch, and for final examination and committal, charged
with obtaining money, goods, and board and lodging, under
false pretences.
On the afternoon of Saturday, the 31st of May, the pri-
soner entered the shop of Messrs. Moats and M'Kinnon,
tailors and outfftters, No. 144, Itatcliff-highway, in com-
pany with a man named Johnson, and represented that he
had just come home in the ship Wilmington, from Mel-
bourne, and had wages to the amount of £45 to receive. Ho
then selected some clothes, and borrowed 10s. in cash, to be
repaid when he received his wages at the Shipping-
office. He also produced a note from a ship
broker relating to the Wilmington, and said he had been
eight months on board, that he was mate, and that his
wages were £8 per month. As the man Johnson who in-
troduced the prisoner was known to the firm, and the pri-
soner had all the appearance of a mate, his story was cre-
dited, and on the following Monday and Tuesday he had
more cash of Mr. Moate. On the last-named day he said
he was going to the City to receive his wages, and on
being asked why the crew of the Wilmington were not to
be paid off in a shipping office before a shipping master, he
said the Wilmington was an American ship. Mr. Isaao
Friday, shopman to Messrs. Moate and M'Kinnon, was
directed to accompany the prisoner to the city, and did an.
The prisoner called at the office of Mr. Chapman, the
shipowner, and saw Mr. Chapman, jun., to whom he
stated that an order for £45 had been sent home from
Melbourne to Mr. Chapman, and he had called to recover
the mom y. Mr. Chapman, jun., said he knew nothing at
all about it. The prisoner waited some time in the office
until Mr. Chapman, sen., arrived, to whom he told the
same tale, and was informed that no such order had arrived,
and that his name was quite unknown. The prisoner then
left the °Mee with Moate and Mainnon's shopman, and
led him from place to place in the city, under pretence of
obtaining -£l5 on the authority of an order sent from
Melbourne. He frequently endeavoured to give Mr. Fri-
day the slip but in vain, and after what was described as a
wild goose chase, ho was given into custody. There was
no such ship as the Wilmington in the port of London.
The prisoner--I said the Wilton.
Mr. Moate—The prisoner said the Wilmington, lying in
the West India deck. Inquiries have been made in every
dock on both sides of the river, and there was no such ship
to be found. He obtained 192. 6d. in money, and clothes
to the amount of 14s. 6d. of me.
George Cole, a poor man, here said—The prisoner en-
gaged me to go down to the ship Wilmington in the West
India dock to bring his things up. He took me to Mr.
Chapman's office, and kept me dodging about all day, and
there was no such ship as the Wilmington to be seen.
Further evidence was given, from which it appeared that
he had obtained board, lodging, and money of a boarding-
house keeper, and £5 worth of clothes from a slop seller
on the faith of his representations that he belonged to the
Wilmington and had £l5 to receive. The clothes were
recovered.
The prisoner (impudently)—l will get another berth and
- leave my half-pay note behind to pay them all.
Mr. Woclrych—No, no,' that won't do, you are com-
mitted for trial,

FIRE AT MESSRS. PICKFORD'S, WOOD-STREET, 1
CHElPSlDE.—Yeaterday morning a fire broke out in the
immense range of premises belonging to Messrs. Pick-
ford, the well-known carriers, situate in Wood-street,
Cheapside. The flames when discovered were raging in the
store-rooms connected with the stables, and the fire quickly
extended to two lofts over, threatening at one time very
serious consequences. The alarm having been promptly
given, in a very few minutes Capt. Shaw attended with the
land steam engine by Shand and Mason, and several ma-
nual power engines. A good supply of water having been
procured, the engines were set to work, but the fire could
not be extinguished until the storeroom was burned out,
the two lofts over and their contents consumed. The roof
was also destroyed. The goods stores sustained not the
' least injury.
CHURCH STRUCK -BY LIGHTNING.—Soon after
noon on Monday last, a thunderstorm passed ever the
parish of Badinghara, Suffolk. The electric fluid struck
off a small part of the south-east corner of the steeple of
the church, and pierced a small hole above the east belfry
window, doing soma slight damage to the roof. The gable
end was likewise struck, scattering the slates into and
around the vestry window. The rain had almost ceased,
and the sun was shining at the timo.
THE EASTERN FISHERIES.—The boats which
sailed from Great Yarmouth for the purpose of prosecuting
the
reshabvoeat" present obtained only unsatis-
factoryreturns.l a day or two since delivered
es
1,400 fish, and hopes were entertained that the prospects of
the fishery had taken a turn for the better, but these anti-
cipations were not realized. Prices have ranged at Yar-
mouth between 40s. and 555. per 100. Much the same re-
port is made with regard to the operations of the Lowestoft
boats. •
CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING DAY, Tues-
day, June 10.—Admissions on payment, 17,314 ; ditto by
season tickets, 1,326; total visitors, 18,640.