The Sun.
London, England, 1836-09-08 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

Yesterday, Mr. Stockdale, the bookseller, who published
the " Memoirs of Harriet Wilson," appeared before the
LORD MAYOR, and requested that his Lordship would be
so good as to present to the Court of Aldermen a memo-
rial upon the subject of a desperate and grounless attack
which he said had been made upon his character in the
report presented to Parliament by the Prison Inspectors,
after their investigation into the state of Newgate. He
was led to adopt this measure in order to obtain an oppor-
tunity of exposing before the Court of Aldermen the utter
injustice.of the denunciations contained against him as the
publisher of a medical work, which had been found amongst
the prisoners in the gaol, and which the inspectors had
described as abounding in obscenities. He considered that
the Court of Aldermen were bound to do him all the jus-
tice in their power, as they had taken occasion, in denying
that the book was deserving of such a character, to reflect
most harshly upon his.
The LORD MAYOR, upon reading the memorial, said
that it was a paper of so libellous a nature that he should
not feel justified in presenting it to the Court of Aldermen.
Mr. Stockdale—l have been prevented by the influence
of the inspectors from having it presented to Parliament,
and as to the violence of the language, if I were the master
of stronger language I should certainly use it in characte-
rising the falsehood of the accusation against me.
The LORD MAYOR—Nothing is to be got by violence,
but if you give me a memorial merely stating what you say
are facts, and requesting to be heard to prove them, I can
have no objection to present them.
Mr. Stockdale—l happen to be furnished with the most
providential evidence on the subject—the letter of Dr.
Bailey himself.
The LORD MAYOR—I shall present any memorial sta-
ting that you are aggrieved to the Court of Aldermen, and
they will decide upon the question of hearing you.
Aaron Rawlings, a big strong well-dressed fellow, who
has been in the habit of informing against publicans for
keeping their houses open a few minutes after the general
time for closing, and for allowing persons to tipple imme-
diately after the commencement and immediately before the
conclusion of Divine service, was brought before the Lord
Mayor charged with having extorted a sovereign from Wil-
liam I3irbeck, a licensed victualler, residing at 67, Cole-
man-street. _ _

The complainant had made a complaint to Sir John Key
a few days ago, that three men, who were known to be
common informers, had called upon him, and said, that if
he would stand some money they would prevent him from
being informed upon on any occasion ; and Sir John Key
advised him to mark a sovereign, which was the sum they
required, give it to them, and cause them immediately at-
terwards to be taken into custody.
The prisoner requested that the Lord Mayor would post-
pone thencase until he should procure legal assistance.
The Loan M AYOR-I wish to hear the evidence first.

Mr. Birbeck stated, that on Friday night the prisoner
and another man called at his house, and had a pint of por-
ter ; and the prisoner called him out, and said, " The fact
is, we are doing business ; and if you drop us something,
we'd not trouble you, nor let any one else trouble you."
The LORD MAYOR—Did he say what business they had
been doin,r? Complainant—No ; but I inferred what it
was, from 'knowing that publicans had been summoned to
Guildhall for keeping their houses open during the hours of
divine service, and allowing gambling, and I knew him by
sight to be an informer.
The LORD MAYOR—Had you kept open your public-
house to an improper hour ? Complainant—Not to my
knowledge.
Mr. W. Baker, the owner of the Auction Mart Tavern,
saw the complainant, from a place in which be concealed
himself, hand a marked sovereign to the Prisoner, who pro-
mised that neither he uor anybody else should give Mr.
Birbeck anv trouble.

The prisnaer was remanded till to-morrow.

HATTON-GARDEN.

Yesterday' several highly respectable individuals were
led to this office, in consequence of what they read in the
newspapers relative to the singular charge made against
Mr. John Withers Powell, on Tuesday evening last, who
was ordered by Mr. Laing to find bail, when it appeared
that the unfortunate gentleman was subject to aberration
of intellect through the least excitement, and that he was
what he represented himself to be, a special pleader, and
formerly a Coroner for Kent, to obtain which .situation he
had expended a considerable sum of money at the election ;
he was educated as an -attorney, and his connections were
of the greatest respectability.
Mr:LAING told them that he never before saw a man
conduct himself in so strange a way, and inquired whether
they were willing to become his , bail ? They hesitated,
and said it was probable, if they did so, he might_ commit
himself in a similar manner, or they would readily become
his security. " _ _

Waddington, the gaoler, had seen the gentleman that
morning, and he was quite a different person—he seemed
calm and collected, and conversed reasonably.
Mr. LAING advised his friends to proceed to the prison
where he was confined, and speak to him, which they did,
at the same time informing them that, had it not been for
his having threatened him with an action, in order to in-
timidate him, he would have let him off ; but he was not to
be intimidated. _ _

......
Shortly afterwards his wife, a delicate-looking lady in a
state of pregnancy, was introduced to Mr. Laing who ex-
plained to her the circumstances of his apprehension, and
said that he was found in Leather-lane, addressing 200 per-
sons about a donkey, and when before him he raved ; it
was lucky that he was not ill used and plundered of his
property.
Mrs. Powell (who seemed much depressed) said, I think
so. She stated that the least thing excited him, and he
was disturbed in his mind.

Mr. V LAING—Has he ever been confined ? Mrs. Powell
—Once, before our marriage.
Mr. LAING—How long have you been married ? Mrs.
Powell—Six years, Sir. He was confined to his room for
the last week, and yesterday he was engaged in some pri-
vate business, which ruffled his mind and worretted him, at
Gray's Inn. He put me into an omnibus, with the inten-
tion of accompanying me home, when it started off with-
out him, and I did not hear of him until I read the account
in the newspaper.
Mr. LAING—What is his general conduct ? Mrs.
Powell—Very mild and correct.
Mr. LAING—Does he ever ill use you? Mrs. Powell
—No ; quite the contrary. He met with a heavy loss,
which is the cause of his conduct.
Mr. LAING-1 never met with such extraordinary con-
duct. He ordered Waddington to proceed immediately
to the prison, and bring Mr. Powell to the office, and in a
short time he was brought before Mr. Laing, perfectly col-
lected.
Mr. LAING said he had been informed that he was the
person whom he represented himself to be, and he thought
it very extraordinary that an individual of his respectability
should have conducted himself in so strange a manner.
Mr. Powell—l am,extremely sorry if any personal obser-
vations escaped me to give offence to your Worship.

Mr. LAING advised him to restrain himself in future, and
told him he was now dismissed ; on which he quitted the
office with his wife and friends.

Thomas Smith, a ruffianly-loooking fellow, was charged by
William Smith, his own brother, with having stabbed him
with a penknife.
The prisoner was ordered to find bail to answer the charge
at the Sessions.

Georgiana Norman and Elizabeth Anderton, smartly at-
tired females, were finally dxamined, charged by Mary
Price, an elderly woman, residing at No. 4, Chapel-place,
Coram-street, St. Pancras, with having robbed her of
3/. 145., and several articles of wearing apparel.
A short time ago the prisoners called upon the prosecu-
trix, meanly clad, and agreed to sleep in her room at a
trifling sum per week, and on the following day they
broke open a box and stole the 3/. 145., which she had
saved through her industry, and likewise the whole of her
clothes, with which they absconded ; and they were not
traced until a few evenings ago, when they were found
walking the streets stylishly dressed, with rings on their
fingers and watches by their sides, but none of the pro-
perty was found.
The prisoners denied that they ever lodged with the pro-
secutrix, and consequently the robbery.
Mr. LAING had no moral doubt of their guilt, but the
evidence being deficient he must discharge them. -
An officer said that Norman had been before in custody.
Norman—What, me ? I was never but once in an of-
fice before, and then I was prosecutor.
Officer—l know you by your voice. Don't you recol-
lect when you lived with a Life Guardsman in East-street,
Marylebone ? Norman (affecting surprise)—Oh ! gracious
God ! me live with a Life Guardsman, never.

Officer—What, not when you bolted with another sol-
dier, a corporal ? Norman—Oh dear, never.

Mr. LAING had no doubt but that they robbed the poor
old woman, and that their finery was purchased with her
property.
Thornton said that as far as their watches and trinkets
went they were mere toys, the watches which appeared to
be gold hanging by their sides could be purchased for Is.,
and their rings for hi. each.—(Laughter.)
The prisoners were then discharged, and on leaving the
office they were laughed at, with a cry of " there goes
two queer swells."
Eliza Pearce, a well-looking girl, eighteen years of age,
was finally examined, charged by James Pearce, her father,
a coach proprietor, of Dean's-place, Islington, with having
robbed him of 8/. 135., and other property. The prisoner
was living with her parents, when she became acquainted
with a pot-boy in the neighbourhood, with whom she ab-