The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-26 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

policeY
as, the
broughtes
steurli)leeafiryitrtteteN'rpoildrgeo.ni ri‘t.ll,lsr;,-NvsalsigolTleun'cli-hEtal' r-Llgb'ayeTnd.dtlllll.:2ml):ll::::itnrs, were
h walk_
ing the streets for the purpose of prostitution, and
with uttering Most abominable language under the
Piazzas of Covent-garden, on the preceding night.
Mr. Thomas added, that, although of such tender
years, the defendants were hardened in vice, arid
the language which they were constantly in the
habit of using was most obscene and disgusting.
Mr. MENsuum asked if the children had any.
parent, and the mother of one of them having beer,
sent for came forward, and after a severe admonition
she was suffered to take her child away. The
committedother
being
t o the
ee
Itcoottisee of
hardenedof the two was
Correction.

In reply to an observation by Mr. Mtatsnura.,
who was shocked to see sock mere children so
dreadfully depraved,
Mr. Thomas said he had hopes that an institution
would shortly be formed for the purpose of shelter-
ing juvenile delinquents, and affording protection to
friendless children. lie had reason to know that
an establishment of this description was about to be
instituted, under the humane auspices of Lord Bel-
grave, with whom he (Mr. Thomas) had been in
communication on the subject ; and certainly a
greater blessing, in a national point of view, could
hardly be imagined, than an institution formed for
such an object. Mr. Thomas added, that from the
inquiries which
.he had made, he had ascertained
that not less than 15,000 poor friendless children
were at this moment within the walls of the metro-
polis, whose only means of subsistence was by pros-
titution and thieving.
Connected with this subject, we may add, that
not a day passes at this office that mere children are
not charged with acts of theft and robbery ; ard it
was only on Monday last that eight boys were
brought before Sir R. Birnie, charged with having
been found gambling in a house situate in a court
near Drury-lane on the previous morning of Sunday.
A dice-box and a pack of cards were found on the
table around which they were seated; and it appeared
that those had been provided by the old sinner who
had let them the room, and who charged the young
gamblers 2d. for every game they played, which sum
he regularly drew from the stakes which were laid
on the table before the game commenced. The offi-
cers very properly brought the implements of gamb-
ling along with the young offenders to the office;
but although the magistrates could have !muddied
them had they been found gambling in the open
air, they had no power under the Act of Parliament
to inflict any punishment, as the gambling took place
in a house. Neither could the proprietor of the room
be punished, although he might have been, had he
been a licensed victualler. The ages of the boys
varied from 10 to 14 years, some of them were con-
victed thieves, others beggars by profession, and two
or three of them were young apprentices, who pro-
bably had robbed their masters' tills, to he fleeced by
their more experienced companions, and thus learn
the first stage to villainy and the gallows. Sir R.
Birnie directed the owner of the room to be sent for,
and after regretting that he had no power to punish
him as he deserved, threw the box, dice, and cards
into the fire, and said he would take care that he
should be watched in future.

A boy about 14 years of age, who formerly lived
as groom in the service of Captain Fitzclarence, and
who goes by the nick-name of Don Bevan, was
brought before Sir R.I3IaNIE on the evening of the
same day, in company of another boy still younger,
who was charged with embezzling money belonging
to his employer. The case was proved against him,
and he was remanded.

Mr. Thomas then stated, that about 12 months
ago he (the prisoner,) under the title of Don Bevan,
had a gang of nearly 40 boys under his command,
who used to assemble regularly every morning in
Hyde-park, and receive orders from their Captain to
take different routes for the purpose of thieving. The
prisoner used to dress in the frock-coat now pro-
duced, a pair of white corded breeches, and brown
leggings, and he actually carried a case of pistols
under his coat, and was frequently known to present
them at the heads of those whom he commanded,
sweating he would blow their brains out unless they
brought him more booty. This Dick Turpin in
little was reluctantly discharged by the Magistrate,
there being no spec fie charge upon which to detain
him.