The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-09 00:00:00

GREENWICH.

Edward Grimmond, a labourer in the employ of the
South- Eastern Railway Company, was charged with
stealing 76 lbs. weight of brass fittings, portions of loco-
motive engines, the property of the above company.
Police-constable Whythe, 180 R, deposed that on the
preceding evening he saw the prisoner on the road to
Greenwich, carrying a large basket on his shoulder, and
suspecting him, demanded to be shown its contents,
upon which the prisoner threw down his basket and
attempted to effect his escape, but was prevented, and
with much difficulty was taken to the station-house.- On
examining his basket, the brass work produced was
found enclosed in a sack. The prisoner gave his address
as living in Roan-street, Deptford, which was untrue, as
he had since ascertained he resided at New-cross. Wit-
ness had evidence present to prove whence the property
had been stolen.

James Rose, of 8, Wellington-terrace, Wandsworth-
road, an engineer, identified a slide-valve of a locomotive
engine as belonging to the South-Eastern Railway Com-
pany, which had been manufactured by himself.
An engine-fitter, employed by the same company
under whom the prisoner worked, deposed that he be-
lieved all the articles produced to be the property of
his employers, and to which the prisoner had general
access.

The prisoner said nothing in his defence, except that
there was another person who assisted him in taking the
articles in question.
Mr. TRAILL said he should remand the prisoner for
a week, telling him at the same time, that if he chose,
for the satisfaction of his employers, to inform the officer
who his accomplice was, he would only be doing a duty
towards his employers.
The prisoner, who mad no reply, was then committed
to Maidstone Gaol.

DESTRUCTION OF THE DEE MILLS AT CHESTER.—
A fire of a most alarming and destructive nature, in-
volving the loss of a serious amount of property, broke
out on Wednesday morning, in the centre of a lofty
range of building, known by the name of the I)ee Mills.
These premises, which are situate on, and attached to,
the west side of the old Dee-bridge, are used as corn-
mills, and are in the several occupations of Messrs.
Gamon, Palin, and Moss. The mills were originally of
great antiquity, having been in existence as early as the
year 1119, when they belonged to the Crown, who
granted them to Sir Richard Cotton, in whose family
we believe they still remain. The fire was discovered
about two o'clock by the driver of a coach returning with
a party from the Infirmary ball, held last night at the
Albion Hotel. Tho man instantly gave the alarm,
aroused the workmen, and in a very short space of time
two of the city engines were on the spot ,ard commenced
playing upon the devouring element, which had already
spread through the whole of the centre compartment oc
cupied by the Messrs. Palin. Shortly afterwards two of
the county engines arrived from the Castle, manned by
an effective body of the Royal Artillery, under the com-
mand of Major Robe, and a detachment of the 90th Regi-
ment, under Major Eyles. As it was soon found to be
utterly impossible to stem the current of destruction,
which had now fairly set in upon the central ware-
house, the exertions of the firemen were directed to the
preservation of the adjoining premises. Every room was
filled with grain to the very roof, and it is a melancholy
fact that scarcely a single bag has been rescued uninjured
from that portion of the pile which was the scene of the
confhigration. Shortly before three o'clock Major-
General Sir Wm. Warre, the officer commanding the
district, arrived and rendered his valuable assistance,
but only just in time to see the massive roof fall in with
a tremendous crash, presenting a scene at once awful
and magnificent. The flames, which had now demo-
lished every obstacle, rushed upwards with terrific fury,
illuminating the city and neighbourhood for miles
round. At the time of writing, the outer walls aro all
that is now standing, and these are momentarily ax
per.t.,d to fail. Considerable fears have been and are
still entertained for the safety of the adjoining ware-
houses, but up to the present moment, owing principally
to the great strength of the connecting walls, they aro
comparatively speaking unscathed. That portion of the
premises which has completely fallen a prey to the
flames is, we are happy to say, insured in the County
Fire-office, and we believe that the stock is also par-
tially insured ; the other two warehouses at present un-
hurt are likewise protected by the Atlas and Norwich
Union Offices. These mills have been twice the victims
of a like calamity within the last 57 years, having been
totally destroyed by fire on the 26th of Sept. 1789, and
again in March, 1819. The loss sustained the pre-
sent fire is supposed to be about 8,0001.

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