The Sun.
London, England, 1825-08-29 00:00:00

circumstances of this painful and disgraceful accusation, that I
find it necessary to refer .your Lordship to my Counsel for an
explanation.
Mr. ADOLPHUS—d submit that there is nothing in all that
has been stated against Mr. Palin. Indeed, if property was
found in his possession soon after it had been lost, he might be.
called upon to account for it; but.there is nothing here like re-
cent possession after the robbery. .1 submit that there is no
pretence for detaining that gentleman.
The LORD MAYOR—I cannot subscribe to such doctrine,
Mr. Adolphus. If we are to argue in that manner, we must
acquit every person who steals a Bank note, or any thing else,'
so that he have but the prudence to lock it up for a few months
after the robbery.
Mr. Adolphus said 'he did not mean that. Here was a per.
son whose conduct had nothing suspicious in it. There was no
circumstance connected with his apprehension at all calculated
to raise a doubt of his integrity. He was a man in extensive
business, and whose circumstances placed him beyond die at.
tacks-of necessity. if he kept a small green grocer's or chand-
let's shop, the case would indeed be different, or if lie concealed
the property he was accused of stealing, or denied the posses-
sion, or showed any disposition .to,keep out of the way. But
his conduct was the reverse of all this.
The Loan Mavon—He is asked what explanation he can
give, and he refers me to his counsel. To say nothing of any
of the rest.of the evidence, is not that ea circumstance of sus-
picion ?
Mr. Adolphus—He says hesis embarrassed, and it is no won-
-der that he should be so, under such .an accusation.
The Loan M.svon—A man who is unjustly charged with
stealing a 1,000/, note ought to be anxious to give all the infor-
mation in his power, both for the sake of justice and for the cake
of his own character.
Mr. Adolphus—Suppose he won the note at play at the house
of a friend ? Suppose he was intrusted with it by a friend who
was in a state of bankruptcy !
The LORD Mayon—ln either case the obligation of conceal-
ment, if there be any, is infinitely less than the obligation to
mention the fact. What man is there who would rather- conceal
it than redeem his character from disgrace ?
Mr. Hobler, jun.—The prisoner has already explained the
matter in private before your Lordship. Ile has also contradict-
ed that explanation. You can have evidence to that effect, if
you please, here.
Mr. Adolphus said he was not obligati to account for the
watch which he had in his fob, and which lie was some time in
possession of, through the kindness o a lady. To be sure, he
was now of an age when he could not expect such presents. It
was for the party who might say it was stolen by him to proves
the fact. The silence of a man was not to be considered a test
of his guilt.
The LORD MAYOR said, that he expected, as this was a'
public examination, the statement which the prisoner had made
in private would not be withheld.
Mr. Harmer—We say he received the note from Paris, and
it is not fair to ask him in what manner.
After. some further conversation upon the propriety of having
the private statement of the prisoner read, Mr. Adolphus said,
perhaps it would be better to have every thing that occurred stat-
ed, as in the event of the committal of Mr. Palin, it was intend.
ed to apply to a .Judge for leave to bail.
Mr. Hohler, the chief clerk, then read the statement made
by the prisoner. It represented that Palin said he took the
1,0001. note in Paris of one Emericque, a broker or money
changer, and that he gave him 25,000 francs for it, and brought
it over with him to this country. Afterwards, upon Mr. Cope's
producing a letter, signed Caroline Marcel, which he had found
in the prisoner's bureau, and which mentioned to the prisoner
the remittance of the halves of the. note. Palin corrected him-
self suddenly, and said he had left the 25,000 francs with that
lady to give to Emericque in exchange for the note, although
he was told that it had been stolen, and that she had sent over
the halves to him. No.motive was stated for tins extraordinary
purchase of the note.
' The Loan 3IAYOtt remarked .upon this contradiction, and
also upon the circumstance of the prisoner's havingegiven money
for the note without assigning any earthly reason for it, and
having done nothing with it upon his arrival in this country,
although convinced that it had been stolen. He then said that
he had come to the determination to send the case to the Old
Bailey; and, addressing the prisoner, said, " Mr. Palin, it is
my duty to commit you for trial. It is the request of your
Counsel that you may be permitted to remain in the prison in
which you have hitherto been confined, as he intends to apply
to a Judge for permission to bail, and I have no objection to
that arrangement until his application is disposed of."
The prisoner was then fully committed, and the parties were
bound over to prosecute.