The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-30 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

CLERKENWELL.—George Strutt, hair dresser, No.
10, York-street, Camden-town, was charged at the in-
stance of the London Gas Light Company with stealing
700 cubic feet of gas, their propel ty, value 3s.
Mr. H. Larkin, one of the inspectors of the company,
produced the contract signed by the prisoner for one
burner. He called at the prisoner's shop on the sth
instant, when he observed the fittings for two gas lamps.
There was a burner with a shaving-pot over it under
the shop window or show board. On the 23d he again
saw the same burner, and a light in the same position,
and a pipe which was covered over with play bills for
the purpose of concealing it. Witness asked the pri-
soner what it was 1 He replied, " I suppose I can get
over it by paying for it." He also said he had been in
the country, and it was done while he was away. The
burner would consume five cubic feet of gas in one hour.
Mr. James Newman, an inspector in the employ of
the company, gave confirmatory evidence, and added
that the prisoner said he had been consuming the gas
for three weeks. He used it for heating the water to
shave his customers with.

Mr. Tyrwhitt remarked that the case was one of con-
siderable importance. It was a mistaken notion that
gas could not be stolen. He should send the prisoner
to take his trial.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET. John Jones was
charged with having stolen a quantity of valuable pro-
perty belonging to Lieutenant Bland.

Lieutenant bland, of St. James's-place, said the pri-
soner had been in his service as valet for about 31 years.
In August last witness gave the prisoner his gold watch
to get repaired, and after waiting a reasonable time, he
inquired of him whether it had been done ? The prisoner
said he had called at the watchmaker's, but the job was
not quite finished. Witness subsequently discovered
that the watch had been pawned by the prisoner, and
on further investigation found that other property, con-
sisting of studs, sash, rings, pin, &c., were missing.
Inspe3tor Monckton took the prisoner into custody,
and found 29 duplicates in his possession, many of which
related to property stolen from the prosecutor.
Several pawnbrokers produced property pledged with
them by the prisoner, The watch, studs, gold sash,
studs, &c., were identified by the prosecutor.
The prisoner admitted his guilt, and was fully com-
mitted.

John Tripe, who first gave the name of Charles Jones,
was charged with having robbed Mr. Stephen Mills of
Dundee, of 601. in notes and gold.
It appeared that the complainant, recently from Scot-
land, fell in with the prisoner, and went with him to
Ben Caunt's public house, in St. Martin's-lane. After
drinkinc, together for some time, he felt his companion's
hand in his pocket, and in a few minutes after he missed
his money—either 601. or 641.—he could not tell which.
Complainant asked the prisoner to give him back his
money. The prisoner replied, "No, I won't ; I've only
got 501., and I won't give you back a farthing." A po-
liceman was called in, and the prisoner was given into
custody.
The prisoner denied all knowledge of the robbery, and
was remanded for a week.

The following have been sent for the poor-box :
Madame de N., of Brighton, 51. ; E. L. 51. ; and some
smaller sums.

MARYLEBONE.—Frederick Henderson, a painter,
residing at 10, Eden-street, Hampstead-road, was charged
with stealing a newspaper from the Royal George Hotel,
Drummond-street, Euston•square.

George Bence, one of the waiters, deposed that on
the previous night, at nine o'clock, the prisoner entered
the back parlour and stood for a few moments by
the fire. Witness was called to the counter, and
on his return shortly afterwards to the parlour be
missed a newspaper which he had left on the
table. The prisoner, after shuffling about in a
suspicious manner, quitted the premises, followed by
witness, who, on overtaking him, said, " Come, old
fellow, give me up that paper you have stolen.", Prig
, ,

sonerdenied having done anything of the sort, but he
_ _ _ .
was given into custody.
Hall, 204 S, found the paper in prisoner's hat. He
said that he had purchased it for 2d. in the street.
The prisoner was committed for trial.

LAMBETH.—George Izzard, a member of a gang of
burglars, was further examined on a charge of being
concerned with others in the commission of an extensive
robbery at the dwelling-house of Mr. Thompson, a gen-
tleman residing at No. 5, Williams's-terrace, Peckham.
The robbery was committed by means of skeleton-keys
during the absence of the family, and jewellery, plate,
and other prOperty to the amount of 401. carried away
by the thieves, and the prisoner was distinctly sworn to
as having been making some inquiries about Mrs.
Thompson a short time before the robbery. By this in-
quiry he had ascertained from the servant of the house
next door that that lady was out, and that there was no
person in the house, and no moral doubt could exist as
to the object for which he had made the inquiries, and
of his being one of the plunderers. Yesterday Mr. In-
speotor Coward informed the magistrate that there was
no further evidence to offer in the case of the robbery of
Mr. Thompson ; but since the last examination a con-
stable and himself had been engaged in endeavouring to
trace and bring forward a witness who would be able to
identify the prisoner as having been connected with
another robbery committed under circumstances similar
to that at the residence of Mr. Thompson, but unfor-
tunately, they had not as yet succeeded. The rob-
bery he alluded to took place at the house of Mr.
Moore, and the thief in making a somewhat hurried
retreat from the house passed through the back door,
and from thence into the yard of a school in Arthur-
street, then kept by a Mr. Lambert. The thief was seen
by Mr. Lambert, and when asked by the latter what had
brought him there, he represented himself as a constable
in disguise, and begged he would allow him to pass
through kis school-room into Arthur-street, as he was in
pursuit of a thief that had broken into the next house
and gone in that direction. Mr. Lambert, believing his
statement, allowed him to pass through his schoolroom
as requested, and he got clear off. From inquiries then
made by the police no doubt was entertained that the
person so accommodated was one of the thieves, and the
description given of him by Mr. Lambert corresponded
to a nicety with the person and appearance of the pri-
soner. Unfortunately Mr. Lambert had removed from
Arthur-street to the west-end of the town, and neither
himself, Mr. Coward, nor the constable engaged in the
case with him, had been able to trace his present re-
sidence.

Mr. Norton observed that the public press so fre-
quently and so materially assisted in promoting the ends
of justice that he had no doubt it would afford its aid in
the present instance. If the reporter would kindly men-
tion the difficulty which the police experienced in tracing
Mr. Lambert, he doubted not that that gentleman would
be in attendance at the next examination, and to give him
an opportunity he should remand the prisoner to this
day (Friday) week.

A. solicitor, who attended on behalf of the prisoner,
objected to his being remanded for the mere purpose of
trying an experiment to bring forward a witness.

Norton observed that the evidence at present was
sufficiently strong to commit the prisoner as a rogue and
vagabond, and he certainly *should remand the prisoner
to the day he had mentioned.
Mr. CoWard remarked that at the last examination
the prisoner declared he had been in work since his dis-
charge from prison on his last conviction ; but this was
found to be false, though his lodgings at 62,We115-street,
Oxford-street, were most expensively furnished, and be-
sides a savings bank-book was seen there for a sum of
money placed there.
The prisoner, who had all through the examination
conducted himself in a most impertinent and insolent
manner to the magistrate and witne: ses, here broke out
into a perfect phrensy, and told the magistrate that he
had better make out to hang him at once.
Mr. Norton told him that if he had the power the
privilege might be very properly exercised in his case ;
for from all that had been stated of him, he did not
think society would be much damaged by his loss. And
as regarded his conduct while before him, he did not re-
collect an instance of one of his class behaving himself
with anything approaching his assurance.

This rebuke hid not the slightest effect on the pri-
soner. He continued his violent denunciation of the
police, and the injustice of keeping him in custody, and
was obliged to be removed by force to the cells.

NAV AL INT ELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 29.

Her Majesty's steam yacht Fairy went out of harbour
to Stoke's Bay this morning under the command of Capt
Crispin, for the purpose of trying Sir Thomas Mitchell's
boomerang propeller. The average speed of six runs
along the measured mile was 11 knots. This is a much
less rate than was anticipated by those who had wit-
nessed the performance of the boomerang on board Her
Majesty's ship Conflict and other vessels. The reason
assigned by Sir Thomas Mitchell and his attendant-
engineer for this diminished speed, was the diminu-
tion of the , diameter of the screw to suit the
Fairy's fabric ; eight inches of diameter were thus
abridged, and that from the portion of the screw
in which the propelling power chiefly resides. We
think it is a pity that Sir Thomas Mitchell had not taken
precautions against this disadvantage by suggesting the
slight alterations in the Fairy's aperture necessary be-
fore hand, or had not declined exhibiting his screw in a
mutilated form. Sir Thomas takes his departure for
Australia on Tuesday next from Glasgow, in a new
sea ship of 750 tons, propelled by one of his boomerangs.
This voyage, on which his propeller will work under
his own immediate inspection, will afford a far better
field for testing its efficiency than runs in Stoke's Bay.
The Diamond, 20, Captain William Peel, will sail
from Spithead on Friday for the Pacific, calling at Ply-
mouth.

The Geyser, 6, paddle-sloop, was placed in No. 3
dock of the fitting-basin to-day for repair.
The Frolic, 10, Commander Nolloth, was paid ad-
vance wages at Spithead on Saturday.
The Princess Royal, 90, Captain Lord Clarence Paget,
came out of the fitting-basin to-day, and took up the
moorings of the Victorious.
The Termagant, 24, screw-frigate, and the Gladiator,
Sy paddle-frigate, are ordered to be brought forward for
commission, the latter with all despatch.

PLYMOUTH, DEC. 2.9.

Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-frigate Magicieune,
16, Captain T. Fisher, came into Hamoaze on Tuesday
afternoon, to complete coal and undergo some repairs.
On passing the flag-ship Impregnable, 104, Captain
A. Lowe, a sudden squall heeled her over so much as to
throw the starboard paddlewheel completely out of the
water. In order to prevent her falling too much to
leeward it was necessary instantly to quicken her speed ;
this was scarcely done when the squall as suddenly
ceased. However, before her rate could again be slack-
ened sufficiently to come alongside the coal hulk easily,
she had run the distance, and, although every possible
means were taken to prevent a collision, the port anchor
stock (iron) took the bow of the hulk, and snapped short
off, as did also the cathead, causing some trifling damage
to the hammock netting.

WOOLWICH, DEC., 29.

The fisgard flag-ship, at this port, is to be paid off to-
morrow, and will be recommissioned on Saturday, by
Commodore John Shepherd, Superintendent of Wool-
wich dockyard. Mr. Thomas Pidcock (1846) is appointed
paymaster under the new commission of the Fisgard.
Captain George B: Martin, C. 8., Superintendent
of Deptford aockyard, with Mr. Pearn, master-attendant
of that yard, visited Woolwich dockyard yesterday, and
remained some time on official duty.

Captain A, P. Ryder, who was yesterday appointed to
command the Dauntless, 24, screw steam-frigate at Ports-
mouth, studied steam at the factory at Woolwich dock-
yard. The Dauntless was built in Portsmouth dockyard,
from a design by John Fincham, then master shipwright,
and launched in 1847. Her tonnage is 1,496, and she is
fitted with a screw-propeller and engines of 580-horse
power.

Captain Sir Frederick W. E. Nicolson, who was ap-
pointed yesterday to command the Pique, 40, at Devon-
port, studied steam at the factory at Woolwich dock-
yard. The Pique is now nearly 20 years old, and still
retained as a sailing-vessel, having been built at Devon-
port, and launched in 1834, from a design by Captain
Sir William Symonds, then Surveyor of the Navy. An
order was issued some time ago to adapt her for a screw-
propeller' and she was sent round to Pembroke for that
purpose, but the order was subsequently countermanded,
and the only alteration which has taken place was of a
trifling nature, to give her a better gripe, and she was
then taken round to Devonport, where she has now
been commissioned as a sailing-vessel. Her tonnage is
1,622.

About the beginning of September last we stated that
the Lords of the Admiralty contemplated shortly to dis-
pprise with the Dover mail-packet service between this
country and Calais and Ostend, and that it was intended
to have the mails conveyed across the Channel by con-
tract. The subsequent number of the Dover Chronic,;e,
asserted in the strongest terms that it had official autho-
rity to contradict the statement we then made ; but it
will now perceive that our information was correct, as
advertisements have appeared within the last 10 days, in
the morning newspapers, requiring tenders to be sent in
to the Secretary of the Admiralty by the 26th of Janu-
ary next, for the conveyance of the mails from Dover to
Calais and Ostend by contract. The vessels at present
employed on the mail-packet service between Dover and
Calais and Ostend are the following :
The Garland, Lieutenant-Commander Edward Wylde,
built of wood, at Rotherhithe, from a design by Mr. 0.
W. Lang, now master-shipwright at Pembroke dock-
yard. Her tonnage is 202, with engines of 120-horse
power.

- The Onyx, Second Master E. C. Rutter, built of iron,
by Ditchburn and Mare, Blackwall. Her tonnage is
292, with engines of 120-horse power.
The Princess Alice, Second-Master John Warman,
built of iron, at Blackwall, in 1844, by Ditchburn and
Mare, and her tonnage is 270, with engines of 120-
horse power.
The Violet, Lieutenant Henry P. Jones, built of iron,
at Blackwall, in 1843, by Ditchburn and Mare, and her
tonnage is 292, with engines of 120-horse power.
The Vivid, Captain Sinithett, built of wood at Chat-
ham, from a design by Mr. 0. W. Lang, master-ship-
wright, and when launched in 1848 was brought round
to John Penn and Son's establishment at Greenwich to
be fitted with engines of 120-horse power on the oscillat-
ing principle by that firm.
The Undine, Second-Master Edward Lyne, built of
iron, and purchased into the service in 1846, having beau
originally constructed by Ditchburn and Mare. Her
tonnage is 284 with engines of 110-horse power.