The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-29 00:00:00

THE LEIGHTON BUZZARD BURGLARY.

Yesterday the four prisoners, Lewis Myers, Charles
Marshall, John Saunders, and George Parker, were
.brought up on remand at the Town-hall, Leighton Buz-
zard, before Colonel Gilpin, M.P., Colonel Hamner,
aid hirOV. J. E. Whitehouse. The hall was densely
crowded.

Mr. Parry, of the home circuit, appeared on the part
of the prosecution ; Mr. Solomons, for Myers ; and Mr.
W. F. Howe, 107, Blackfriars-road, for the other

prisoners.
Mr. Parry, after a few opening remarks, called the
following additional evidence :
Edmund Tearle—l am the driver of the omnibus from
the Swan Inn, Leighton Buzzard. On the 25th of
November last I was at the station to meet the down
mail train. It arrived about a quarter to eleven. Three
men got out of that train. Saunders and Marshall were
two of them. I saw the other man, but he is not here,
I can speak positively to the other two. I saw them
jump out of the train. They then went into a luggage
shed instead of going into the waiting-room, where there
was a fire and a light. Saunders came out and asked a
porter what time the mail train arrived at Tring or
Bletchley, and if it stopped there. The man could not
tell him. They then crossed the line towards the gates.
Marshall called to them to conic back, as that was not
the way out, and they came out of the departure door.
Saunders asked another porter the same question re-
garding the mail train. This porter went into the office
to look at his book, and Saunders ran out after the
other men.. Marshall had a small bag or parcel under
his left arm at the time. I then lost sight of them.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howe—l had never seen them

Saunders and Marshall, before that day to my know-

ledge. I only saw 'the back of them after the last ex-
amination. I let them into the omnibus, but there was
such a crowd of people round that I could not see their
features at all.
By Mr. Parry—l have no doubt whatever that those
two men are the men I saw.
Nathaniel Smith—l am a painter. I worked with
Marshall about two or three years ago. I saw Mar-
shall and Saunders on the night of either the 16th or
the 9th of October last, on the Linslade-road, about one
and-a-half mile from here. I asked Marshall what he
was doing then, and he said he was at the old trade. I
then asked him what trade Saunders was4and he said he
was a brother brush.
Cross-examined by Mr. Howe--I was in court last
week. I saw the prisoner Saunders, and I knew him,
and I then heard him called by his name. I never heard
Marshall call him by his name. I have worked with
Marshall for three months at the Swan Inn, Leighton
Buzzard, and at the village of Egginton.
Thomas Cook--I am a groom, and reside at Chelsea.
On the night of the burglary I was in the smoking-room
of the Elephant and Castle Inn, Chelsea, a little before
11 o'clock at night. One man came in, a stranger, and
then two others came in after him. I identify Marshall
as one of the two that came in last, and I have not the
least doubt of his identity ; but I cannot identify either
of the other two.
Job Denson, superintendent constable of the county
of Bucks—l produce a great coat, upon which there
were droppings of green wax ; and on the counter and
various other parts of Mr. Matthews' shop there were
similar droppings.

Sergeant Thomas Richards, of the Metropolitan Po-
lice, said—l know all the prisoners well. I saw Mar-
shall three or four days before the robbery at the Bell
public-house, Friar-street, Blackfriars-road. He had
carrotty whiskers at that time. (He has none now.) I
have seen Parker with Saunders many times. I saw
them together a very few days before the robbery. I
have known them to be acquainted for about three
years. At the time I saw Marshall at the Bell public-
house, he had on an overcoat like the one now produced.
I have never seen Parker and Marshall together, with
the exception of their being both of them in a public-
house at the time.

Mr. Parry believed he had now established a prima
facie case against all the prisoners, and, therefore, he
had no doubt that their worships would commit all of
them for trial upon this charge.
Mr. Howe then addressed the court for his clients, but

more especially for the prisoner Parker, against whom

he contended there was not the slightest evidence, ex-
cept the cabman Hervey ; and he did not think that
their worships would believe his statement in preference
to those of all the respectable witnesses brought before
them.

Colonel Gilpin, the chairman, said the bench had come
to the conclusion, after a very careful consideration of
the case, to commit all of the prisoners to Bedford Gaol,
to take their trial at the March Assizes.
Mr. Solomons applied to the magistrates to admit his
client, Myers, to bail. If they refused he should then
apply to a Judge at chambers.
Mr. Howe would also apply for bail for his clients,

and more especially Parker.
Colonel Gilpin declined the request with respect to
Myers, Saunders, and Marshall, but with regard to
Parker they would consider that.
Captain Boultbee, the chief constable of the Beds con-
stabulary, believed that if Parker was admitted to bail
the ends of justice would be frustrated ; and some docu-
ments having been produced by Serjeant Richards, re-
ferring to the former character of Parker,
Colonel Gilpin stated that the magistrates had come
to the determination not to admit him to bail.
The prisoners were then asked what they had to say
why they should not be committed?
. Mr. Solomons stated that his client would reserve his
defence for a future period, when he had no doubt he
should be in a position to prove that he was innocent of
this charge.

Parker said that there was no evidence to implicate
him in the robbery. It was only his character that had
brought him down there, and the police knew very well
that he was not concerned in the robbery.
Marshall and Saunders both stated that they would
reserve their defence.
The witnesses were then all bound over, and the pro-
ceedings terminated.

THE PRESTON STRIKE.

PRESTON, Dec. 28.—T0-day an address has been
issued by the Masters' Association. It is of a vindica-
tory character, and re-states the cases of the masters
and workmen, the facts of which are alleged to have
been perverted by the leaders of the latter. With
reference to the complaint that the men are " locked
out," and therefore unable to work if so disposed, and
that the masters want to starve them into submission,
the masters say that "the closing of the mills was only
'resorted to after the hands in several of them had stria*
work, or had given notice to that effect, although an ad-
vance of 10 per cent. had been offered them in August
last upon the wages paid in 1852." The masters fur-
ther deny that any promise was given generally by their
body to give, when trade revived, an advance corres-
ponding to the reductions which took place in the latter
part of the year 1847, and then make the following
statement :
" Being anxious to ascertain the difference (if any) be-
tween the earnings of the various classes of operatives
in 1847, before the above-mentioned reduction 'took
place, 'aud those in the summer of 1853, before the 10
per cent, was demanded, we find, from the returns fur-
nished us from the wages books of several Large and in-
fluential firms, that, instead of any decrease, there has
been an actual increase, varying from 5 to 30 per cent.,
after making due allowance for the difference in the
hours of labour from 69 to 60 hours per week. We
have not thought it necessary to extend these inquiries,
not having the slightest doubt that, if the average of all
the mills now closed had been taken, the result would
itnta; been the same, We take this opportunity of
4ti g, for the information of those persons whose aid
and contributions are solicited for the hands, that in a
well reguu.ted
spinning and weaving establishment the
Iw2ese.ktlyo 317. earnings of of men employed therein vary from
150. ; and childrieneriftaoenmnd. young persons from 7s. 6d. to
49. to 65., according to the
n, lure of the ernapolodyrhaltthand the diligence and ability
,of the worker ;
average of all classes of
bands in such an establiahments about 104. each."
the
The masters conclude With
remark that—" After
the continuance of this struggle
for
upwards of ten weeps,
the operatives still persistin their demand; and evince
the same indisposition to return .o 'work, although the
masters have declared their willingness to receive appli-
cations, and as soon as they were sufficiently numerous
to enable them to open their mills immediate steps would
be taken to that effect. No applications of any copse.
quence have been made, and the dispute appears as far
off a settlement as ever."
- Speculation is busy in conjecturing the probable re-
sult of the adjourned meeting of the association, to be
held to-morrow. Some say that the. meeting is to be
adjourned for a month, others for three months ; whilst
a, third report is that the members of the association are
anxious to try the effect of ringing the factory bells at
the prices of Marcia last.

GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.—This company's. ''x'-''
tensive )hotel at the King's-cross Station is, just 'com-
Plfted.t 'lt is constructed to contain 150 beds, and will
t
be ppe in the spring. The architecture is. of a
're-
masks bold character, the building in reality forming
half an phitheativ.
s----

• sty
?

n

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

GUILDHALL.—Four young girls of the names of
Murphy, Stanton, Devine, and Long, were charged with
attempting to set fire to the ward in which they were
confined, in the. West Loudon Union.
Thos. Phillips, the assistant relieving officer, said that
about half-past six on Tuesday evening last, as he was
signing the book in the porter's lodge previous to leaving
for the night, he heard a cry of fire, and he immediately
went down the yard to obtain the key of the prisoners'
room. On gaining admittance he saw the prisoners
stirring up a bonfire in the yard and throwing fire about
in all directions. As soon as they saw witness they came
into the room and told him that they did not mean
sleeping there that night. Witness asked them who
had broken the windows, observing there were 34 panes
gone, and they said they did it.
Alderman Wilson asked what the prisoners had made
the fire with?
Mr. Phillips said they told him they had used their
aprons and the oakum given them to pick.
Alderman Wilson inquired if the room, No. 20, was
unfit to live in, that the prisoners should evince such an
objection to it
Mr. Capel, the Chairman of the Board of Guardians,
said that No. 20 room was not a place of punishment,
but only a room used to separate the disorderly charac-
ters from the peaceably disposed. On Christmas-day
the prisoners were allowed to mix with the other paupers
and partake of the usual Christmas cheer of roast beef
and plum pudding ; but they pelted the old women in
the ward with potatoes, and annoyed them so:much that
they were ordered to be removed and kept by them-
selves.
Alderman Wilson said the prisoners were very
dangerous characters, and he should commit them to
take their trial at the ensuing Old Bailey sessions on the
charge of attempting to set fire to the Union,

CLERKENWELL—Thomas Solder and Joh,n Frede-
rickrespectably-dressed young men, well known
1,,s Buds,
thieves, were charged with robberies on
lodging-house keepers.
Mrs. Maria Coe, of Great Ormond-street, Queen-
square, Bloomsbury-square, said that on last Saturday
week, the prisoners called at her house to inquire about
her apartments. She mentioned the terms, and Souter,
who said he was merely acting as agent for his cousin,
who was coming from the country, agreed to pay her one
guinea per week, including attendance. Whilst in con-
versation with Souter, the prisoner Bush made a
scratching notice, which attracted her attention, and,
on turning round, she felt a tug at her pocket, but she
did not suspect that she had been robbed until shortly
after the prisoners had left the house, when slie dis-
covered that her pocket had been picked of her purse and
its contents. _ _

....
Mrs. Jane Wilmot, an elderly lady, residing in Great
James-street, St. Andrew, Holborn, identified the pri-
soners as having visited her house under exactly similar
circumstances. _ . _

Mr. Tyrwhitt sentenced them to three months' im-
prisonment, with hard labour, in the House of
Correction.

The magistrate acknowledged the receipt of several
small sums for the poor-box.

WORSHIP-STREET. —.Tam Anderson, an artist,
was charged with having assaulted two young ladies,
named Martha and Lavinia Baker, residing with their
parents, in Pollard's-row, Bethnal-green.
The first complainant stated, that while on her way
home, after spending the previous evening at a relative's
in Camden-town, they were suddenly accosted by the
prisoner, who thrust himself between them, and perti-
naciously urged them to accept his arm. They hurried
on in order to avoid him, but as the defendant persisted
i■ his importunities, they threatened to give him in
charge. They had only proceeded a short distance
further, when they were again overtaken by the
defendant, who struck witness such a violent blow
on the back that she fell forward on her face, and
severely injured her forehead, which came in contact
with the edge of a flagstone. The prisoner then started off,
but he was closely pursued by her sister and a gentleman
who fortunately came up at the moment, and who ulti-
mately gave him into custody.
Miss Lavinia Baker added that the defendant turned
fiercely round upon her before he commenced his flight,
and also struck her a heavy blow in the side.
In answer to the charge the defendant expressed his
regret for having so greatly misconducted himself, and
said that he had been drinking to such an extent that
he had lost all control over his actions.

Mr. D'Eyncourt said that he had been guilty of a
wanton and cowardly outrage, and he should order him
to pay a penalty of 51., or to be committed in default
for two months to the House of Correction.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—Emanuel Durup was
charged with having obtained various sums of money by
fraudulent representations.
Ann Curtis, of No. 91, St. Martin's-lane, said the
prisoner called upon her in November last and inquired
if she knew two gentlemen whom he named. She said
she did, they formerly lodged with her, and left very
much in her debt. The prisoner said he was a solicitor,
and was on the trace of the parties in question, and ex-
pected to have them in custody very soon. The prisoner
called again in a day or two afterwards, and said that
one of the parties had been taken at Brighton and was
then in Lewes gaol, and that the other would be appre-
hended that night. The next day the prisoner again
called, and said he had taken the second gentleman, and
had lodged him in `Vhitecross•street prison. The pri-
soner said that be was going to advertise the parties in
the American papers ; and, after some further conversa-
tion, advised her to lodge a detainer against the parties.
Ultimately she employed the prisoner to take the requi-
site steps, believing, from his representations, he was
of the legal profession, and from time to time furnished
him with such sums of money he demanded as fees of
court and counsel. The prisoner on receiving the last
money told witness the trial was fixed for the following
day, and he gave her the name of a gentleman named
Bell, living in Bedford-row, who was to see her on the
subject of her action the next morning. She went to
the address, and on stating her business discovered that
the prisoner was not known to Mr. Bell, and that she
hail been defrauded. The prisoner told her name was
Bell.

A witness named Conroy said the complainant gave
the prisoner money, and heard the prisoner tell her his
name was Bell.

Some further evidence being required, the prisoner
was remanded for a week.

WESTMINSTER.—WiIIiam Mitchel, late a watch-
maker in Elizabeth-street, Hans-place, Sloane-square,
was charged with unlawfully disposing of property he
had had given him to repair.
The prisoner, against whom daily complaints had been
made for a length of time by persons who had left
watches and clocks at his shop and were unable to get
them back, was apprehended last Saturday night on a
warrant, for unlawfully detaining a valuable clock, the
property- of Colonel Palmer ; and upon searching him
the officer found above twenty duplicates, many of which
related to watches in pawn. In consequence of that
circumstance, added to the prisoner's declaration that
Colonel Palmer's clock was in the possession of a Mrs.
Holborn, the mother of his apprentice, who had rescued
it from the clutches of a broker, who had seized it for
the rent of his shop. He was remanded.
Mrs. Holborn now stated that she had paid out the
execution for 3L 145., and had taken possession of Col.
Palmer's clock and another.

The prisoner stated that he informed the broker the
clock was not his, but the man said he did not care about
that, and took it.

Mr. Arnold said the case must be adjourned, and the
broker summoned. He had no doubt Mrs. Holborn had
acted from the best of motives in taking possession of
the clock, and it might be hard to ask her to restore it
to its owner4but if a summons were taken out against her
for its detension his decision must be that sshe had no
right to it. Her remedy would be against the prisoner
or the broker.
Four other cases having been proved, Holloway, the
officer, intimated that there were several more yet to be
investigated, the. prisoner was then remanded.

LAMBETH.—Tina Donoroagh., an Irishman, pre-
sente(to Mr. Shields, thef chief usher, one of the printed
forms given. by pawnbrokers for lost duplicates, and re-
quested him to take his. declaration as to the loss of the
original.
Mr. Shields observing that the articles pledged were
described to be four half-sovereigns and a purse, re-
marked on the singularity of pledging money, and asked
the applicant how he came to do so ?
Be me soul, sir (said Tim), then I'll tell you. On
Saturday night, or, I should say, on Christmas eve, I
found meself with four half-sovrins in me purse, and I
sis to meself, Tini, me boy, if ye keep this money ye'll
get drunk on Christmas day, and spind all this money,
and ye had better put it in the pawn shop and save it.
So faix, after a good struggle with meself, I did go to
the pawn shop and got 10s. on the four half-sovrins and
the purse. On Christmas day, sure enough, I got drunk
and lost the ticket, but the furst thing on Monday
mosnin' I went to the pawn shop and stopped me money
and yesterday I got that paper and now want to take
me money out,
Mr. Shields—Well, I suppose you managed to get rid
of the 108. on Christmas day. Tim—Be dad, I did.
Mr. Shields—And would have managed to have got
rid of a little more if you had kept your purse and the
half-sovereigns ? Tim—Be gorra, you are right, sir, I
should.

Mr. Shields—Then, I think you have acted very pro-
perly, and I only wish that your countrymen generally
acted with your prudence.
The document -was signed by Mr. Elliott, and Tim,
who seemed much flattered at the compliment paid to
him by the Chief Usher, left the court to possess himself
of his treasure.

The magistrate has received a cheque for 51. from
E.L.C.

TIT..A.MES.—Mr. Warrington, one of the relieving
officers of the Poplar Union, came before Mr. Ingham
,for the purpose of obtaining orders to remove several
Irish paupers to their own country, and to which, on
being severally asked, they-said they had no objection.
The orders having been signed, the relieving offic:T
called the Magistrate's attention to a case of great hard-
ship nn the ratepayers, and which involved a ques-
tion of considerable importance to English Parishes.
On the 28th of last' November a poor widow named
Mary Barrett and her four children were passed
under an order of removal to Cork. On their arrival at
that place the family applied to the mayor for relief, and
he raised a subscription for them and sent them back to
England. The woman and .her children arrived here in
a most destitute condition, and again Applied to the
parish of All Saints, Poplar, for relief, axed were ad-
mitted into the workhouse The Board c.f Guardians