The Sun.
London, England, 1849-11-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 22, 1849

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, Nov. 21.

Daniel Peatilope, a cabman, was indicted for steal-
ing a bag, containing twenty-five sovereigns, the pro-
perty of Alexander Webb, from his person.
Mr. Ballantine appeared for the prisoner.
It appeared from the evidence of the prosecutor,
which was given in a very impudent and flippant
manner, that he and the prisoner had been acquainted
for some time. They met in Drummond-street,
Euston-square, and after playing some time at
skittles they went to a public-house in the neigh-
bourhood, called the Plasterers' Arms, and, for the
purpose of procuring some silver coin from his pocket,
the prosecutor took out a small canvass bag, which
contained twenty-five sovereigns. The prisoner made
a snatch at it, a scuffle took place, and the sovereigns
were thrown about on the fluor; some were recovered
and some were lost.

In cross-examination by Mr. .BALLANTINE, the
prosecutor said he had been in prison many times;
and on being asked if he had not been convicted in
this court, he said " Yes, I was, thank God, four
years ago. Your Lordship (addressing the Judge)
gave me six months, and I richly deserved it. It
was a very fortunate thing for me, for ever since
then I have worked for my living, and I have be-
come respectable. I used to associate with the dregs
of society, and it was then that I knew the pri-
soner."

The JUDGE —lf you got six months from me I'm
quite sure you deserved it• What was it for?

Prosecutor—Oh, I was concerned in robbing a man
in the New-road.—(Laughter.)
By Mr. BALLANTINE—•-•I was once charged with
robbing a drunken sailor of 251. in a " vine waults."
I've often been in prison.
Mr. BALLANTINE than addressed the jury, charac-
terising the case as a trumped up one, the prosecutor
as a shameless, impudent, barefaced rogue, his evi-
dence as regarded the robbery gross perjury, and as
regarded his recently acquired respectability, pure and
unadulterated hypocrisy. _ _ _

Witnesses were then examined for the defence.
One of them, who was called " very respectable,"
said the prosecutor was a downright bad 'un, and
known all over the town as one of the worst of cha-
racters.

Prosecutor (to witness)—What ! you speak of me
like this. Why, hive we not been intimate for six
years—have we not travelled hundreds of miles toge-
ther; and didn't you—you, who call yourself a " re-
spectable" witness—actually pick a gentleman's pocket
of seven sovereigns in a booth at last Ascot-heath
Races ?—(Laughter.)
Witness—lt was you that robbed the man,' you
lying villain.—(Loud laughter.)
Prose tutor—My Lord, it was him upon my oath.
Witness—My Lord, upon my
.oath he stole the
money.—(lncreased laughter.)
The JUDGE—Then you went partners, and halved
it, didn't you ? You are two rogues together, I think.
—(Roars of laughter.) The Learned Judge having
carefully gone over the whole of the evidence, said the
jury must deal with the case, but he should not re-
commend them to act upon the prosecutor's evidence,
unless they saw that such evidence were strongly
confirmed by the internal circumstances of the case.
The jury instantly Acquitted the prisoner.
The Learned JUDGE cautioned the landlord of the
public -house in question as to allowing such charac-
ters as the prisoner, the prosecutor, and the witnesses
to assemble there.

The landlord said they were all strangers to him,
and the house was conducted as respectably as any
house in London.

The Learned JUDGE did not believe they were
strangers, and he should repeat the caution.
John Devine, a pauper employed in the "labour
yard" of the West London Union, was convicted
of stealing two five shilling packets of coppers, the
property of the superintendent of the labourers.
Sentenced to six months' hard labour.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.

James Wood was brought before the Lord Mayor
upon the charge of having, on the 19th August,
1848, stolen, in the city of London, seven 51. Bank
of England notes, the property of Mr. William
Bosanquet.
Mr. llobler appeared for the prosecution, and
stated that the case came under the operation of a new
Act, which provided that if a person charged with
a felony should be apprehended at a distance from the
place in which the offence was alleged to have been
committed, and the evidence then brought forward
were complete, then the magistrate before whom the
case should be first subjected to investigation should
commit for the offence, and if the evidence were not
complete, then the case should be transmitted to the
authorities of the place in which the offence appeared
to have been perpetrated. The present case had
been transmitted by the Brighton magistrates through
a constable, who handed written testimony to the
following effect :
" Mr. William Bosanquet—l am at present residing
at No. 13, Marine-square, Brighton. In July and
August, 1848, I found the prisoner at the corner of
Charles-street and Queen-street, Mayfair, London,
and in that neighbourhood employing himself by
running on errands for the neighbours, and he appeared
to have the confidence of the persons who employed
him. I think, on Saturday, the 19 h of August,
1848, I enclosed a cheque fur 351. in an envelope,
and sealed it, and delivered it to my butler to give it
to the prisoner to take it to my bankers, Messrs. Bo-
sanquet and Co., Lombard- street, who were to return
in a sealed letter bank notes to the amount. I did
not get the notes, nor have I since seen the prisoner
until this time. I was afterwards informed by my
bankers that the notes had been sent in exchange for
the cheque as directed. I yesterday met the prisoner
by accident in St. James's-street, Brighton, when he
ran away, and with much difficulty was overtaken
and apprehended.
" Gervasio Presenzini—l am butler to Mr. Bosan-
quet. In the month of August, 1648, Iny mastic

gave me a sealed note, directed to his bankers,
Messrs. Bosanquet and Co., Lombard-street. I gave
it to the prisouer myself, and desired him to bring
back the answer from the bankers. It was about
half-past eleven in the morning. I never saw him
afterwards, nor received the answer to the note."
The above depositions and the precept, signed by
Mr. Andrew Carpenter, magistrate of Brighton, were
handed in by the constable.
Mr. Hobler then called

Mr. W. H. Dean (a clerk in the banking-house of
Bosanquet and Co.), who stated that he knew the
prisoner. That on the 19th of October he cashed a
cheque with seven 51. notes, put them in an envelope,
sealed it, and delivered it, addressed " William
Bosanquet, Esq.," to the prisoner. He afterwards
received information that the money had not reached
Mr. Bosanquet.

The prisoner was remanded till Friday, by which
day Mr. Hobler said he hoped to be able to bring
forward proof as to tracing the notes.
Charles Laughne was brought before Alderman
Carden upon charges of having obtained a variety of
goods by means of forged orders.
A quantity of silk, and several articles, which had
been pledged by the prisoner, by his own acknow-
ledgment, were stated to be the property of Messrs.
Devas and Co., of Lawrence-lane.

The prisoner was ordered to be brought up again
on Friday next.

GUILDHALL.

William Lake, of St. Helen's•place, Bagnigge-
wells-road, was charged with neglecting to surrender
to be examined under a fiat of bankruptcy issued
against him in the year 1846.
Mr. Benjamin Perkins, tiu-plate worker, carrying
on business in Cannon-street, London-bridge, said he
charged the prisoner, as a creditor, with absconding
from his bankruptcy, and not attending the fiat which
was issued against him in the year 1846. He ought
to have appeared about the month of December, but
did not do so.

Sir G. CARROLL asked whether he was declared a
bankrupt ? Mr. Perkins—He was declared a bank-
rupt in London. Witness was in court on the day
appointed for his final surrender, but he did not
appear.
Sir G. CARROLL—When was he taken ? Mr.
Perkins—l met him this morning in Somers Town,
and brought him to my office, and having sent for an
officer, gave him into custody.
Sir G. CARROLL—TO what amount are you a cre-
ditor ? Mr. Perkins—About 501.

Sir G. CARROLL—Where did the prisoner live ?
Mr. Perkins—At Enfield, Middlesex. He carried on
the business of a grocer, cheesemonger, and general
dealer. There were handbills circulated offering a
reward for his apprehension, but no success attended
them. His own opinion was that the prisoner was
connected with a regular gang of swindlers.
Sir G. CARROLL asked the prisoner if he wished to
put any questions to Mr. Perkins ? The prisoner,
who appeared to be rather intoxicated, said that he
was a bankrupt, and if he had transgressed he must
take the consequences and suffer.
Sir G. CARROLL asked what time was required of
him to remand the prisoner ? Mr. Perkins said he
would write to Brighion and the other places, and
therefore required a few days.
Sir G. CARROLL then remanded him until Tuesday
next.