The Sun.
London, England, 1825-10-13 00:00:00

AN IMPUDENT THIEF.

MANSION-HOUSE.—Yesterday Thomas Howe, a Lieutenant
in the Navy, on halt-pay, who resides at WestbrOoke-cottage,
Hounslow, was brought before the LORD MAYOR, charged
with having stolen three table spoons, a tea spoon, and a pint
decanter, the property of the landlord of the Blue Anchor Ta-
vern, at St. Alary-at-Hill.—The waiter, in whose custody the
property had been placed, and who was of course responsible
for its safety, stated that the prisoner walked into the house
with the air of a man of independence, and having looked over
the bill of fare, ordered some fish, which he said should be fol-
lowed by some other dish. Having eaten of the fish, he called
for pint of wine, and some lamb, and after he had made a
hearty meal, he began to prepare to give himself another treat.
He had taken care to order such dishes as were usually accom-
panied with several spoons, and he pocketed all that had been
brought to his table, and was just waiting until dui waiter
should turn aside to attend upon somebody else, to run out of
the house with his booty. The waiter, however, who had for
some reason or other suspected his customer, watched him at
his meal, and saw .him • hide one spoon after another. The
waiter then asked him to walk up stairs, and told him that he
had the spoons about him, anti must deliver them up. The
prisoner said, upon his honour he had nothing of the kind, that
lie was a gentleman and could never think of such a thing, and
that no man should search him but an officer. He was speedily
accommodated with a person of this description. Buxton, the
officer, who was in the neighbourhood, searched and found
upon him the whole of the property that had been missed, and
then conveyed him to the Compter, where he said his name
was John Hooper. He had no more money than twopence in
his pockets. There were, however, some papers found upon
him, directed to Thomas Howe, Esq., Westbrook-cottage,
Hounslow ; and the officer said he had ascertained that that
was his name.

The officer stated that the prisoner had made several at-
tempts to getaway in walking to the Compeer, and after he had
heen locked up, employed himself in writing, but showed an
anxiety to conceal what he had written. The officer, however,
searched him a second time, and found upon him two papers,
which proved that his ingenuity had been at work. The first
was without a direction, but is belirved to have been intended
for some profligate female with whom he was intimate. It was
as follows :

"111 y dearest Louisa will, I am sure, enter into my feelings
when I relate the melancholy and cruel circumstance which has
befallen me—namely, the imprisonment of my person at the
Compter, in Giltspur-street, near Smithfield, where I am de-
tained upon a charge of felony--a very serious charge, I assure
you, and which will be attended with very ruinous consequences,
if I do not contrive some plan to effect my rescue, which I do
not think I shall have much difficulty in procuring, if you will
render me your kind and powerful assistance, which I shall
undertake to advise with you when I have again the pleasure of
seeing you. I have many plans in view, all of which I will ac-
quaint you with, when you will be able to adopt the one you
suppose to be the best, or most likely to succeed. Something
must be immediately done, or my fate will be hard indeed.—
Nothing less than the gibbet will be my lot, which will indeed
be disgraceful in the extreme."
The second paper, which was intended to impose (but by
what means it is not conjectured) upon the turnkey, ran thus:—
" Mr. John Hooper having brought two gentlemen, Edward
Gedge and James Murray, Esqrs., as bail for his appearance at
the sessions next ensuing, I have thought proper to accept and
receive the same. Consequently Mr. J. Hooper is hereby dis-
charged from my custody, and Ido hereby authorize the cone
stable torestore to him the property which he took possession of
when he took charge.
" Given under my hand and seal of office at the Compter,
this 12th day of October, 1825. " Governor."
It will be seen from this paper that the prisoner was deter-
mined, if he could escape, to take away with him what he had
stolen.—Buxton, the officer, stated that as be was conveying
the prisoner to the Mansion-house, the latter endeavoured to
escape up an alley, and on finding.it impossible to do so, said,
" I see you're too sharp for me." The officer found several
duplicates of spoons, &c., which he. doubted not the owners
would apply for, upon the prisoner, who said nothing in answer
to this statement, and was remanded for further examination.

MYSTERIOUS ROBBER.
Bow-STnEgT.—lnformation was yesterday lodged upon
oath at this office, of the following extraordinary affkir. Mr.
R. S., a commercial gentleman (we are requested not to give his
name at length for the present) living in the vicinity of Cheap-
side, was traverling in Berkshire, and stopped on Saturday
evening last at Hungerford, and took up his abobe pro tern.
at an inn called the Swans. In the travellers' room he found,
soles; a gentleman of very imposing exterior, having much the
appearance of a military man, and with him; he got into con-
versation, and found him in manners and conversation a per-
fect gentleman, and altogether one of the most agreeable and
entertaining companions lie had ever had the good fortune to
meet with. He stated in the course of conversation that he
had his horse there, and that being on a pleasurable tour, and
liking the country thereabouts very much, he should stay for
some days. They supped and spent the whole evening together,
and retired to test at the same time, occupying adjoining bed-
rooms. The following morning they breakfasted, and after-
wards walked out together. They took the road towards Marl-
borough, and had gope some distance when they turned up a
lane, into which they had not proceeded far when the stranger
suddenly drew a pistol fiam his pocket, and presenting it at the
head of Mr. S., said; " Deliver !" Astonishment rivctted Mr.
S. to the spot for a moment, but recovering himself a little, he
took to his heels, and ran off with all his speed, followed by
the stranger; who still kept the pistol levelled at him, and re-
peated several times the word " Deliver." As Mr. S. was
fast approaching some houses, he thought he no longer heard
the footsteps of his pursuer, and, venturing to look round, he
saw him making off in another direction.—When he returned
to the inn, he sent people off in different directions in pur-
suit of the stranger, but they could not overtake him.—
On Tuesday morning two commercial travellers arriving at
the Swans at Hungerford, and hearing of what bad occur-
red, and a description of the man, said the same person
dined, supped, and slept at the Bear inn at Wantage, on
Sunday (the day the attack was made), and that they spent the
evening with him at that house. He left %Vantage on Mon-
day, having before he went out: ordered dinner at the Bear; but
he did not return, nor had he, settled for his previous day's
entettainment. %Vantage is 15 miles from Hungerford, in a
cross-country direction. When the stranger left `Vantage, he
took the road to Newbury, but has not since been heard of.—
Tin: following description of him may perhaps. be serviceable :
—He is about six feet high. has a light complexion, and a
" singularly remarkable ""(Mr. '(Mr. S.'s own wards) Roman nose,
thin, large, and very acquiline. His features are sharp and
manly, and he is about 35 years of age. He had on a blue
surtout, trowsers, and Wellington boots, and a black stock,
and wore a watch-chain suspended from his waistcoat pocket.
He had altogether, Mr. S. says, the appearance, language, and
mariner of a military man. He came to Hungerford on horse.
back, and the horse (which is suspected. to be either sta"en or
borrowed) remains as the Swans in that town. A sharp look.
out will be kept for him in various quarters.