The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-06 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.—James Wagner, a respectable look-
ing man, was charged with having a gallon and five
pints of illicit spirits in his possession.
Richard Oliver, an excise officer, deposed that yester-
day afternoon he went to Pamphilon's Coffee-house, in
Brydges-street, Covent-garden, to have a cup of coffee,
and was sitting beside the defendant, when he thought
he smelt spirits. On looking down by the side of him
he observed a bag, and, suspecting that it contained
some bladders of spirits, he followed the prisoner into
the street, and asked him what it contained, at the
same time communicating his suspicions upon the sub-
ject. The defendant said he did not know what the
contents of the bag were, for it did not belong to him,
but had been left with him by a gentleman who had
just gone away.'Witness desired the defendant to
accompany Inns to Bow-street, where, on examination,
the bag was found to contain one gallon and five pints
of illicit spirits.
The defendant described himself as a commercial
traveller, and that he was well known in the cutlery
and perfumery trade. He had lately joined a gentleman
(whose card he gave to the officer) in the wine business,
and this person left him at the coffee-house at about one
o'clock, requesting him to wait there for the arrival of a
bag which would be brought from the Brighton Railway
Station. He had not the slightest knowledge of its
contents.

Mr. Hall remanded him till Monday next, upon
which the defendant earnestly entreated the magistrate
to liberate him on bail, as he could get respectable
sureties to any amount.

His Worship stated that he would take bail, himself
in 2001., and two sureties in 1001. each, with 24 hours
notice.

The defendant was then sent to prison.
Ellen Harley, a neatly-dressed young woman, was
charged with a number of frauds upon pawnbrokers.
The prosecution had been taken up by a society for
the protection, of the trade, and the 'proceedings dis-
closed an extraordinary system of fraud, which had been
practised for a long time by the prisoner and a gang of
similar imposters. They had contrived to manufacture
large quantities of imitation wedding-rings, electro-
plated with gold, so skilfully as to escape the usual cur-
sory examination. These had been palmed off by the
women upon nearly all the pawnbrokers in London,
who allowed from 7s. 6d. to 10s. upon them, although
not worth more than a shilling each. It was said that a
further fraud was usually effected afterwards by the sale
of the pawnbrokers duplicates to persons accustomed to
purchase such things.
The woman, after three examinations, was fully corn•
witted for trial.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—Mrs. Louisa Parker,
dressmaker and milliner, No. 263, Regent-street, was
brought before Mr. Bingbilm charged with having stolen
a piece of cotton velvet ribbon, value one shilling, the

property of Messrs. Hodge, Lowman, and Co., silk I
mercers, 256, Regent-street.
Mr. Orchard, one of the partners, stated that the pri-
soner had been in the habit of dealing largely at their
shop, sometimes laying out with them 5001. or 6001. a-
year,k and that at the present moment she owed them an
aecount of about 1501. For some length of time past
the firm suspected they were robbed by the accused, and
in order to ascertain if their suspicions were well founded
they placed a watch upon her whenever she came to
make purchases at the shop. The accused came to the
shop that day about 11 o'clock, and was detected in pil-
fering a small quantity of cotton velvet ribbon. The
property which he could identify as belonging to the
firm, was worth about a shilling, and was found in her
possession.
John Davenport, assistant to Messrs. Hodge and Co.
said—About 10 minutes past 11 this morning prisoner
entered the shop and asked me to show her some fringe.
I showed her some, and she then asked for some cotton
velvet ribbon. I showed the box to her, but she could
not find a piece to suit her. I showed her a remnant of
the same kind of goods, and she purchased it for 2s. She
then asked to look at some cloak ornaments. She
bought a- small quantity, and the amount of her pur-
chases, 3s. 6d., was entered to her account in the books.
I knew the prisoner, and was aware she dealt largely
with the firm. he piece of cotton velvet ribbon now
produced I believe to be the property of my employers.
Stanley Wells, another assistant—This morning the
prisoner came into the shop to be served. I had sus-
picions of her, and I watched her. I saw the first wit•
ness show her a box of velvet ribbons. I saw her take
from the box and place between the box and herself, this
piece of velvet ribbon (produces property.) I saw her
place her arms over the ribbon and across the counter.
I saw the last witness take the box away, and I per-
ceived the prisoner wrap up the piece of ribbon velvet
in her shawl. I immediately mentioned what I had
seen to Mr. Orchard. A constable was sent for, and the
prisoner was given into custody. The prisoner then took
the piece of ribbon from its place of concealment and
delivered it up.
George Finding, another assistant—l saw the prisoner
being served. I saw her cover her arms over a piece of
velvet ribbon, which she had placed between herself and
the box. I saw her move a little lower clown, and
directly afterwards she seemed to be concealing some-
thing witb her shawl.
Mr. Fisher, who attended for the prisoner, cross-
examined the witnesses, but failed in shaking their evi-

dence.
The prisoner, who stood at the bar concealing her
face, made no remark.
Mr. Bingham said he was satisfied if he sent the case
to a jury that no conviction would take place in con-
sequence of the previous extensive dealings of the pri-
soner with the firm, and the large sum they still trusted
her, coupled with the small value of the article alleged
to be stolen. In his experience of such cases it some-
times happened, where an acquittal took place, that pro-
secutors found themselves harassed by ulterior legal
proceedings. He was, however, quite prepared to send
the case to the sessions if the prosecutor chose to go on
with the case.
Mr. Orchard would not press the case, being satisfied
with the exposure which had occurred.
The prisoner was discharged.

SOUTHWARK.—Mr. Blake, the vestry clerk of
Christ Church, Southwark, attended before Mr.
A'Beckett, in pursuance of a summons obtained by him
against one of the cabmen plying for hire inside the
Brighton Railway terminus, for refusing to take him
when desirous of hiring him while plying for hire at
that station. _ _ _

When the summons was called on, the wife of the
cabman stepped forward, and informed his worship that
her husband was unavoidably absent, and would not be
able to attend that day. lie was compelled to go to
Ashford to see his father who was ili, therefore she hoped
that an adjournment would be allowed. She had hoped
that the gentleman did not intend to press the charge.
Mr. Blake objected to an adjournment. He had
attended that day at considerable expense and incon-
venience, therefore he wished the case to go on. He
had summoned the defendant on public grounds, and he
was determined to prosecute every one of his class who
served him in a similar manner. There were hundreds
of such cases daily at railway stations, but very few
took the trouble of summoning the delinquents, conse-
quently they did as they pleased.
The wife urged that her husband would attend
another day, therefore she hoped that the magistrate
would postpone the hearing.
Mr. Blake said that he had been shamefully treated
by the cabman at the railway station. He came up by
a Brighton train on Monday noon, when he saw the de-
fendant plying for hire near the platform, and he picked
him out, being desirous of hiring him. Instead of
taking him he drove away and took up another fare,
with which he left the station.

Mr. A‘Beckett said he thought that there were such
excellent arrangements with regard to public cabs at the
Brighton terminus. He had received a number of anony-
mous letters from parties praising the company's system,
and disapproving of his judgment in a similar case. •
Mr. Blake said he was positive that these arrange-
ments were bad and inconvenient to the public. The de-
fendant told him he was hired by a lady and gentleman,
but he took up other parties. The cabmen at that sta-
tion picked their fares, and when a single fare presented
himself, they drove off to look after ladies and luggage.
In his case the cabman would have had is. 6d. fare.
Mr. A‘Beekett told the female she should have com-
municated with the complainant about her husband's
absence, as that would have saved him the trouble of
attending. He should, however, adjourn the summons
until Thursday next.

THAMES.—James Louton, an old man who was sup-
ported on crutches, and who we believe is nearly
seventy years of age, was brought before Mr. Yardisy
on remand, charged with feloniously receiving 17 cwt.
of iron, the property of the Ratcliff Gas Company, he
well knowing it to be stolen.
A quantity of retort doors and other iron had been
stolen from the premises of the Rateliff Gas Company
in Shadwell.
Mr. Gill, the secretary of the company, described the
retort doors as valuable, particularly at this season of
the year, and worth from 8/. to 9/. The whole of them
were traced to the prisoner, who had purchased a por-
tion of the iron, the remainder having been taken in by
an old woman named Elizabeth Sims, the ostensible pro-
prietor of the " marine store shop" kept by Louton, who
had taken her out of the workhouse and put her in
charge of the place. She was called a witness for the
crown, and said the house she was in belonged to
Louton, and that she bought some of the iron of several
boys, and Louton purchased the remainder. It was en-
deavoured to fix upon this woman the whole responsi-
bility of the transaction, but she swore that she was
Louton's servant, and that he paid her is. per week
and her board and lodging. The prisoner sold the iron
to Mr. John Stephenson, an iron moulder, who at
once suspected that it came from the Ratcliff Gas
Company's works, and gave information to Potter,
a police constable, No. 212 K, who took possession
of 24 retort doors. Louton afterwards called upon Mr.
Stephenson for the money, and on being asked by Potter
where he obtained the retorts, he said he purchased
them of a Mr. Sims, and took the policeman to his own
house. POtter ascertained that Mr. Sims was dead, and
that his widow was in the employ of Louton. It also
appeared that the dealings of the prisoner had been for
some time of a very suspicious nature, and that he had
been previously charged with having stolen property in
his possession.
In answer to questions by Mr. Yardley, the Secretary
of the Gas Company said that the retort doors had been
locked up in a warehouse, and that he did not know
how they had been abstracted. Mr. Gill added, that
the company which he had the honour to represent had
suffered very considerably from similar depredations.
Mr. Stephenson said that the prisoner asked him 17s.
6d. only for the whole of the iron, and upon asking him
where he obtained it, he said he purchased it in White-
chapel.
Mr. Pelham, who defended the prisoner, said his client
was a respectable man of strict integrity, who up to this
time had not been guilty of any offence or ever convicted.
The prisoner bad occupied the same house for many
years, and was a blacksmith by trade, and a very hard
working man. He was instructed that the old woman,
Elizabeth Sims, had been taken out of the workhouse
by the prisoner from motives of charity, and he put her
into business in a marine store shop. Mrs. Sims, took
in the iron without the knowledge of Louton, who re-
gretted very much that she had done so.
The prisoner emphatically declared he was not at
home when the iron was brought into his house ; but
Mrs. Sims, on being confronted with him said he was
present when some of it was brought in by two boys.
Mr. Nathaniel Rix, an iron moulder, was called to
speak to the prisoner's character, and said he was a very
respectable man.
Mr. Yardley—Do you consider a person who purchases
stolen iron of children, is a respectable man ?
Mr. Rix—No, sir, I do not.
Mr. Yardley said that was what the prisoner had
done. This was one of those cases he was very glad to
have an opportunity of meeting. It was not often he
could get hold of receivers—of such men as the pri-
soner—who were miscalled "dealers in marine stores ;"
but were, in reality, receivers of stolen property. He
was just such a person, with such a character before the
world, that could perpetuate vices and receive stolen
property with impunity, because of his known good cha-
racter. He considered this a very gross case indeed,
and there were various reasons why he should dispose
of it summarily. Notwithstanding the prisoner's age
and apparent infirmities he should pass a severe sentence
upon him for receiving stolen property from children,
and it was an aggravation of his offence that he bad
attempted to throw all the blame on his miserable dupe,
Mrs. Sims. He sentenced the prisoner to be imprisoned
and kept to bard labour for two calendar months. If
he had sent the prisoner before a jury the imprisonment
would have been much larger.
The iron was ordered to be restored to the Ratcliff
Gas Uompany.

.RALLWAY SHARE MARKETS.

BIRMINGHAM, JAN. 5.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—There was scarcely a transaction of
any kind in this market to-day, but prices were quoted
lower, there being so little demand for stock. North Staf-
fords closed at s's dis. ; and Shrewsbury and Birmingham
(sellers) at 60. In consequence of the snow, all the goods
traffic on the North-Western line has been stopped.

LEEDS, JAN. 5.
STOCK EXCHANGE.—The railway share market this
morning has been very inanimate, and the little business
really done has been at a slight declinein the heavier stocks.
Midlands were transacted at 61; Lancashire and York-
shires at 64k ; and North-Westerns at 81.