The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-02 00:00:00

CRNTRAL CRIMINAL COURT—Dec. 1.

lsknael Noyes, 19, clerk, a gentlemanly-looking
youth, was indicted for stealing two gold watches and
other goods, valued at 241., the property of Thomas
Bale.
Mr. Parry and Mr. Thompson prosecuted, arid Mr.
Ballantine defended. _ _

..._.........__ _________.
The case, which came on late in the day, and lasted
several hours, was one of the most remarkable ones that
perhaps ever came before any court. Th'e prisoner, who
hears a very high character, has been for four years
clerk to Mr. Hewett, carrier, of the Old Bailey, and his
duty was to receive goods sent to the office to be for-
warded again from thence to their place of direction.
Upon the 25th of October a box containing two gold
watches, one silver one, and some jewellery were sent
from Messes. Schufer, of Old Jewry Chambers, City, to
Messrs. Hewett and Co., to be sent by them on to
Mr. Bale, the prosecutor, a watchmaker, of Vine-street,
Bristol. The watches, which were placed in a small

pasteboard box, secured with string, and bearino. Messrs
Schufer's seal, were delivered to the prisoner and' placed
by him in the counting-house, where, according to the
testimony of the carrier and his servants, it appeared
they lay until the next day, when they were sent on to
the place they were directed to, being whilst at Mr.
Hewett's in the care of the prisoner, who had the charge
of the counting-house and kept the key. The parcel,
according to the testimony of Mr. Bale, did not reach
him until the 28th, he expecting it upon the 29th. When
he (Mr. Bale) opened the box he found it contained, in-
stead of the property mentioned, some small pieces of
brick. He (Mr. Bale) mentioned the matter to some
friend at Bristol, and it was arranged that they should
come to town, which they did, and went to Hewett's
and made him acquainted with the circumstance. Sus-
picion instantly fell upon the prisoner, and Mr. Bale
then went into the yard of Mr. Hewett, and, after look-
ing about some short time, produced a brick partly
broken, and, most remarkable to state, one of the many
small pieces of brick with which the box had been filled
so accurately fitted into the large piece that it left no
doubt at all that it had been broken from it. There
was but one other piece of brick in Mr. Hewett's yard,
and that differed materially in appearance from the
piece Mr. Bale alleged that he picked up—a very
cleanly whitewashed piece. The prisoner, who denied
all knowledge of the matter, and strongly protested
his innocence, was finally given in charge. He
boxes and lodgings were searched, but nothing found on
the first search to criminate him. After, however, he
he had been in custody some time, Mr. Bale and the
detective officer Moss again went to his lodgings add
researched the boxes, Mr. Bale taking a part in the
search, and the officer's attention was called to a piece
of paper which was found in one corner of prisoner's
box, and which tallied in quality with some found by
Mr. Bale inside of the box when it arrived at Bristol,
and exactly fitted and made perfect a small portion
which was missing. This evidence being deemed con-
clusive the prisoner was sent for trial.
Mr. Bale, who gave his evidence this day in a very
unsatisfactory way, so much so that he was several
times rebuked by the Recorder, made several additions
to the evidence he had given before the magistrates, all
tending to strengthen the case against the prisoner—
most particularly prevaricating as to whether any one
in the shop had seen him open the box, as he alleged,
and finding the bricks, leaving it to be inferred that his
shopman bad. He bad likewise cut the strings sur-
rounding the box, and cut the original seal of Mr.
Schafer, which had made the cord fast to the lid of the
box, away from it.
During the cross-examination to which Mr. Ballantine
subjected him he prevaricated, and answered the ques-
tions in so evasive a manner that the court several
times rebuked him. He admitted that he bad often
Unified himself for his friends in bankruptcies, where they
4114 been creditors, and succeeded in obtaining sums
of money and property which would otherwise have been
lost.

Mr. Ballantine, in a powerful address to the jury, in'
inmate./ that the whole charge had been for some pur-
pose trumped up, and arranged by the prosecutor.
The Recorder, in summing up, said the case had taken
a more singular turn than any one he had ever heard of,
and the evidence about the pieces of paper and bricks, if
true, seemed like a special interposition of Providence to
detect the guilty, and was almost miraculous. His lord-
ship then went through the case, severely condemning
the way Mr. Bale had given the evidence.
The jury instantly acquitted the prisoner.
Recorder—And you will leave this court without a
stain upon your character. I think Mr. Bale ought to
give security for his appearance elsewhere. However, I
shall leave Mr. Hewett to make inquiries into the matter,
and order all the pieces of brick and other things to be
impounded.
The solicitor for the prosecution said he made inquiries
an-1 found that prisoner bore a very high character.
Prosecutor—The strings round the box had been cut
befo. e it arrived.
Rut order—That is the first time you have said that.
Thu cue then ended.