The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-27 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

ROBBING THE GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION Co.---
John Godden, James Hall, and John Jones, labourers,
were brought up in custody of Inspector Clarke, Thames
Police, charged with stealing a quantity of oats and a
quantity of rags, the property of the General Steam Navi-
gation Company.

Mr. Thomas Clarke, the inspector, said that on the pre-
vious afternoon he was on duty off Horsleydown, and,
passing the steamship Clarence, lying in the stream, he saw
the three prisoners lea'e in a boat. Observing that they
had bundles with them, which they hastily put under the
seats, witness pulled alongside and asked them what they
had with them, upon which they replied " Only a few dirty
rags." He, however, overhauled the boat, and found the
two bundles containing oats, and a bundle containing rags,
which they admitted bringing from the ship, saying that
they were sweepings and their perquisites. Knowing that
such was not the case, he took them into custody.
Mr. John Marshall, the chief officer of the steamship
Clarence, belonging to the General Steam Navigation Com-
pany, said that the prisoners had been employed by them
to discharge the cargo since the vessel had been in port.
Part of the cargo consisted of cats and rags. Yesterday
both were being taken from the hold, and a small quantity
of oats might have been scattered about the deck, but not
so large a quantity as that found in the possession of the
prisoners. Even had they been sweepings the prisoners had
no right to them, as no perquisites were allowed by the com-
pany to any one.
The Inspector informed his worship that the foreign
steamers were robbed to a serious extent by such men, who,
although they stole small quantities at a time, did it three
or four times a-day, when they went ashore. It was, how-
ever. difficult to detect them, as they and their companions
watched the police.
In answer to the charge,
The prisoners admitted taking the property, but it was
their first offence. _ _ _

The magistrate fined them 20s. each for the unlawful
possession, and in default committed them for a month.

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN.

Yesterday morning Mr. H. Ratites Walthow, the
deputy-coroner for East Middlesex, held an inquiry
at the Black Horse Tavern, Kingsland-road, re-
specting the death of a gentleman unknown, appa-
rently 40 years of age, who expired on Wednesday
morning under the following singular circum-
stances :-

Police-constable Heaton, 407 N, said that he was
on duty in East-road, New North-road, and upon
coining to Mount-terrace ho saw a respectable-
looking person, apparently a gentleman, standing
talking to a young woman. As witness was pass-
ing them the gentleman said that the woman had
robbed him. Witness asked him what she had
robbed him of, when he replied, " Of a sovereign,
a half-crown, and a railway ticket." He had
no sooner uttered the words than he dropped
on the pavement, and never stirred again. He
appeared to be dead when he reached the
ground. Witness stooped to see if he could
assist him, or whether he was drunk, and the woman
ran away. police sergeant Collett brought her
back and sent witness for a doctor. Dr. Griffiths
pronounced deceased dead. The woman was searched,
and nothing found on her. In deceased's pocket
was found a long blue purse, but there was no
money in it. He had a half-pound of tea in his
hand when witness saw him first.
Sergeant Collett said that as he was coming up
New North-road he met a female running away,
and upon asking her what was the matter, she said,
"I am running for a drink of water." Witness
caused her to back with him, and they came to
deceased on thego ground. Upon hearing the circum-
stances he took the woman into custody. Deceased
was dressed in a well-made cut-away coat, a new
cloth waistcoat, and a pair of speckled trousers. In
his pocket was a Crystal Palace Guide-book and a
Birmingham newspaper. The only mark was the
name " Stourbridge" in the hat, which was evi-
dently country made. In the coat pocket was half
a pound of black and the same quantity of green
tea, purchased at Ridgway's. He was a very well
built and gentlemanly-lookin g man. The police had
not instituted inquiries about him at Stourbridge.
One of the jury, Mr. Pearse, said that he would
cause a photograph to be taken forthwith of de.
ceased, and send it down to Stourbridge, so as to
give the deceased's family a chance of identifying
the body.
Dr. Owen Griffiths, the divisional surgeon to the
police, said that he found on the cheek, nose, and
lip of deceased
an extensive mark as if from a blow
or fall, but h
consideredd it might have been caused
by gravitation after eath. There was an extensive
effusion of blood on to the brain, which was no
doubt the cause of death.
The Coroner said he should adjourn the court to
give time for further inquiries to be instituted by
the police.