The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-27 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS-(THIS DAY.)

(Before Thomas Puckle, Esq., and a Bench of
Magistrates.)
ALLEGED ROBBERY BY A SOLDIER.

George Martin, 23, a private in the Scotch Fusiliers,
was indicted for stealing a sovereign and two lead pencils
from the person of William Alderton.
The prisoner's defence was paid for by two female
servants at the West-end, who were in court during the
trial, watching it with great anxiety. Mr. Charnock
and Mr. Robinson were instructed to defend him.
Prosecutor, a simple sort of a young fellow, said he
met the prisoner in a coffee-house at the Mint, on Satur-
day night the 7th inst., and had several pots of beer,
and brandy and gin with him. They afterwards went
to a barber's where they had more gin and beer, and re-
mained there until near three o'clock on Sunday morn-
ing. When they left there they proceeded to Fisher's
coffee-house in the Blackfriars-road, and had more brandy,
and soda water. Prosecutor here fell asleep, and when
he awoke up he missed the soldier, and on examining his
pockets he found that his sovereign and two pencils were
gone. From information he received he went to the
Tower, and went before the Commanding-officer with
the prisoner, when he gave him into custody.
In cross-examination—Prosecutor said be was very
much in liquor when he was in the barber's, that he
hardly knew what he was about. He had, however, a
faint recollection of having the sovereign when in
Fisher's coffee-house. He spoke to several females, and
treated them, and they might have robbed him.
Elizabeth Brooks, a young woman who said she
was a dressmaker, assisted Mr. Fisher in his coffee-
house on Saturday night and Sunday morning. She
recollected the soldier and prosecutor coming in and
being served with brandy. The latter fell asleep, when
the soldier came to her by the fire, and said that the
prosecutor had a sovereign in his pocket, and he might
as well have it as any one. She told him several times
to leave her. At last lie said he must be off, as he must
be in barracks before prayers. lie then ran out of the
house. She did not wake up the prosecutor, or say
anything until he told her he was robbed.
This witness so prevaricated in her evidence that it
was doubtful whether she was not the person who com-
mitted the robbery, and the jury at once refused to be-
lieve her, and acquitted the prisoner.
The latter immediately quitted the court with the two
servants and his sergeant.
AN INCORRIGIBLE YOUNG THlEF.—Henry Tingey,
a young lad who has been twice convicted, pleaded guilty
to stealing 7 lbs. of pork, from the shop of Eli Collins,
at Camberwell.
The Chairman sentenced him to three months at
Wandsworth, and to be once privately whipped.

SHERIFFS' COURT.-( THIS DAY.)

(Before R. Gurney, Esq., Q.C.)

The cases in the list this morning were wholly devoid
of general interest, the only point arising being one in
which the defendant pleaded that he had been absolved
from a portion of the debt by passing through the Insol-
vent Court, and paid the alleged difference into Court.
The amount!of the debt was not disputed, but although
the plaintiff produced a copy of his schedule, and
tendered his oath that it was a true copy, and a question
thereupon arose, .
Mr. W. It. Buchanan, who has an extensive con-
nexion in the Insolvent Court, being present here in
another case, said that if the ca-e was under the 1 and 2
Vict. the copy of the schedule must be sealed with the
seal of the Court, or there must be a certificate of adju-
dication and an extract of the schedule bearing on the
point.
His Honour said that be would grant an adjournment
for the production of the document, but it must be at
the expense of the plaintiff.
An adjournment therefore took place.