The Sun.
London, England, 1814-12-03 00:00:00

MAJOR SEMPLE.

The celebrated John George Semple Lisle, more
generally. called Major Semple, was charged with
having obtained two pieces of bacon and some
butter, by fraudulent means, from Theodosia
Grammar, Devonshire-street, Queen-square, in
May last. No Counsel for the prosecution ap-
peared.
Mrs. Grammar stated, that the prisoner came
to her shop, and desired her to send the butter
and bacon, which he -bout looked out, to 92,
Gloucester-street, as he had: t:+ken a first floor
there, and he would return the money by the
boy. - She could not identify the prisoner till she
saw him on his second examination at the Hat-
ton-garden Office.
Mrs. G.'s sou deposed, also, to the order given
by the prisoner. As witness was carrying the
articles, the prisoner met him, and said, " you
must go back and fetch some eggs." The pri-
soner knocked at the door, and rang the bell, and
immediately that the door w-t opened "took the
bacon and butter, saying, " That's right, my
boy, now go and fetch the eggs," and instantly
shut the door. On returning to the house with
the eggs., he 4ts told the prisoner was not there,

that he was no lodger in the house, and that he
was not even known there. The prisoner was the
person who took the articles from him.
-Mrs. Stickler, Gloucester-street, related; that she
bad never seen the prisoner till he appeared at her
door with the bacon in his hand ; and that be bad
no lodgings in her house. On the door being
opened, by way of excuse, be inquired whether
Montgomery lived there. She would not
swear to the prisoner's person.
John Hutt, a police-officer, stated, that after
having been in search of the prisoner fur several
months, he discovered his retreat, and went to
his lodgings in Marylebune, on a Sunday morn-
ing, disguised as a countryman. On meeting the
prisoner, witness -said to him, " So, Major, you
are fond of baconand butter ?" He seemed much
alarmed,. and' then witness said, " But why did
you not wait for the eggs ?" 'On which prisoner
observed, " Oh; is that all you arc come about ?"
Mr. BA It for the defendant, called on the
Court and Jury to observe the difference in the
evidence ; and where the identity of the prisoner's
person was so imperfectly established, to let hith
have what was his jast claim—the advantage of
any doubt. Unfortunate as he now was, "he
had.done the State some service, and they knew
it," and he had been beneficial to mankind ; and
these were eirctimstances which it was hoped
Would not be forgotten.
Mr. WaTsos; summed up the evidence, and ex-
pressed his conviction, that the Jury would not
find a verdict against the prisoner, unless they
were satisfied that his person was identified, add-
ing, that they could not have failed to observe
the-demeanour of all the witnesses, which was
unobjectionable. •
The Jury almost instantly returned a Verdict of
Guilty.
The,CuarttstAN (Mr. Watson), in pronouncing
sentere, which was to him a most painful task,
expressed how much the Court lamented that a
person, circumstanced as the prisoner bad been,
shisidd prefer to get a miserable living. by the
vilest means, to, gaining the requisites of life
by honourable exertion in his profession.—Sen-
' tence—Transportatinn for seven years.
:John Brien, charged with tittering a 3s. conn-
' terfeit token, knowing the same, to be a counter-
felt, and with having others in his possession for
the purposes of circulation, a distinct offence, ac-
' cording to the Act, was found Guilty, and sea-
tenced to be imprisoned one year.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.