The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-22 00:00:00

SINGULAR APPREHENSION OF A

GANG OF SUSPECTED BURGLARS.

Du. ..4 the last six weeks the family and domestics of
Henry Alwin Soame,, Esq , a gentleman residing in Van-
burgh Fields, next Maize-hill, Greenwich-park, bays been
subject to strange underground noises and smoke proceeding
from the same direction. 'These have generally occurred at
night. The servants, when in the passages leading to the
kitchen and cellars, considered that they heard persons talk-
ing and knocking with some heavy instrument near the cellar
situated under the parlour, which faces the lawn in the rear
of the mansion. On Sunday last the family and servants
were all absent, except the cook, and she became very seri-
ously alarmed at the strange noises. She therefore deter.
mined on securing every door on the premises, and on her
master's return home told him that she must leave her
situation if left alone again—she felt convinced that the
house was haunted. About four o'clock on Tuesday after-
noon Mr. Soames, being satisfied that some person or persons
were at work underground, went into Greenwich-park and
met police-constable Patmore, 132 R, to whom he related
the circumstances, and also that smoke frequently found its
way into the lower part of the house, where there was nei-
their chimney nor fireplace. The officer accompanied Mr.
Soames to the house, a large, old-fashioned family mansion,
overlooking from the back front the Thames and a very
steep and rugged hanging wood.
The police-constable, attended by the gardener, coach-
man, &c., went on to the paddock or lawn, and at the bottom
of which, 1.10 yards from the house, in the hanging wood,
drew his attention to an opening of brickwork into a sub-
terraneous passage, leading to the centre of the mansion.
A spaniel dog belonging to Mr. Soames being on the spot,
the constable requested that he might be induced to search
the cavern (as they called it) in search of rats, &c. The
dog went freely in, and immediately afterwards a voice was
heard at the far end calling upon the dog to quit the place.
The dog returned, followed at a distance by a man, who,
on seeing several persons at the entrance, retreated back to
his hiding place, refusing to surrender himself. A bundle
of straw was then brought from the stable, put into the
mouth of the tunnel, and set fire to. This not having the
desired effect, pickaxes and spades were procured, and two
large openings made through the lawn to the brickwork
sufficient to admit a stout man. More straw was then set
fire to, and dropped into the openings made. This had the
desired effect, when three blackguard fellows presented
themselves, nearly suffocated, and implored to be released
from their perilous situation. They were taken into custody,
after which Sergeant Smith, 27, and police-constable, Pat•
inore, 132 11, accompanied by ,Mr. Soames's servants, lan-
thorns in hand, proceeded to explore the retreat.
They entered the passage in the, hanging wood, on their
hands and knees, and on proceeding something more than
100 feet they discovered an open space, the bottom of which
was boarded, and a quantity of bricks piled up and covered
with boards, for seats or tables, and on one side another
quantity of bricks formed into a fireplace, and which had
been used for that purpose. On removing the boards from
the bottom of this cell, an immense quantity of feathers
were discovered about a foot and a half deep, plucked from
all sorts of game and poultry, amongst which they found a
cash-box and other small boxes, which had been broken open
and their contents removed. Many appeared to be jewel and
trinket-boxes and cases, several pocket handkerchiefs, sundry
rags,. &c., and a letter from a gentleman at Portland to his
nephew, Master E. Newman, of the Upper School, Green-
wich Hospital. They proceeded from this place through a
passage in which they could stand nearly upright about 50
yards, when they were stopped by a brick wall, from which
about 50 bricks appeared to have been recently removed,
and upon touching one, which appeared to be loose, an
opening was made into the cellar of the house. But for
this timely discovery, it is apparent that a robbery of the
premises would shortly have been effected. Neither Mr.
Soames or any of his family had any knowledge of this
subterraneous passage, having only recently removed to the
house from his late residence on Shooter's Hill. It is sup-
posed to have existed for centuries.
On Wednesday the prisoners, described in the police-sheet
as Henry Colegate, alias Collet, of Ratcliffe-street, Green-
wich, sailor ; George Phillips, of 22, Queen-street, Green-
wich, no occupation ; and John Jones, of Slaughter's-rents,
East Greenwich, sailor, were charged before Mr. Trail! at
the Greenwich Police-court, with being found secreted in a
cave tin the enclosed ground of H. A. Soames, Esq.,
Maize-
htll, Greenwich, for the purpose of committing felony ; also
with breaking part of the cell iu the station-house.
Police-sergeant Smith, 27 It. and police-constable Pat-
more, 132 R, deposed to apprehending the prisoners, under
the circumstances above detailed, and that they had found
the model of a ship and several other articles,
.on further
belonged searching thet o a
gentlemancave.he
Blackheath. The police-sergeant prayed a remand for nnammtedl ofG tiali,Ltsolnnep, Sriteisiitdhintghoungelairt
fur-
ther inquiries.
Mr. Traill said he would remand them for a week or longer.
Remanded accordingly.

JEWS' SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION.—The commemo-
ration of the anniversary of the opening of this institution
took place on Wednesday evening, at Sussex Hall, Leaden-
hall-street. Vocal and instrumental music was provided for
the amusement of the company, which was very numerous,
including a large assemblage of ladies. The soirée was fol-
lowed by a ball, in which all participated with great apparent
enjoyment. In the course of the evening the president of the
institution, in an able address, congratulated the meeting
upon the success that had attended the efforts made to estab-
lisho a literary and scientific society for the immediate use
of the Jewish public, though not confined exclusively to that
body. He stated that the members already entered were
between 600 and 700 in number, with every promise of rapid
increase, and that 60 of them had become life governors.
He also took occasion to remark that the library had reached
about 25,000 volumes, and made other judicious observations
upon the useful tendency of the lectures which had been
periodically delivered. Several gentlemen connected officially
with the institution followed in the same spirit, communi-
cating at the same time such facts as to its pecuniary con-
dition which it was necessary to make known. The institu-
tion, it seems, is therefore in a state of considerable prosperity,
which it is much to be hoped will continue. The most
distinguished members of the Hebrew community—including
Baron Lionel do Rothschild, Baron de Goldsmid, Sir Mose,
Alontefiore, David Salomons, Esq., &c.—are found in the list
EnnelltiaGll AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.—As the following
facts speak for themselves, we give them without comment.
Professor Christison was on Friday week requested by the
law officers of the Crown to proceed to Stranraer, for the
purpose of reporting officially to them upon a case which had
occurred there. Being aware of the difficulties attending
the passage from Glasgow to Edinburgh on Sundays, and
having imperative professional duties, public and private
to attend to in Edinburgh on that day, Dr. Chris-
tison, before leaving town on Friday evening, took the
precaution of requesting, that in the event of his not being
able to be back in time for the latest train from the west on
Saturday night, he might be allowed to return along with
the bags by the mail train of Sunday morning. Having
learned, however, on his way to Glasgow, that there existed
to this course a technical difficulty connected with the Post-
office contract, he inquired whether a special train might be
had on that day. The secretary feeling uncertain whether it
would be obtainable, Dr. Christison, by great exertion and
good luck, succeeded in getting back to Glasgow
just in time for the Saturday night train, and
then (when it might have been too late) learned
that his application for a special train had been
refused by the directors in Glasgow. To the above a Glas-
gow contemporary adds (we believe incorrectly) that Dr.
also we have not learned) that
Christison reported the refusal to the Lord Advocate. It is
(withim NmVhedaitaateVrace,yjnsulted w
General, and that the latter directed a communication to be
his Is.tOartdesdh p with the Solicitor
made to the directors.—Scotsman.
THE SMALL DEBTS ACT.—This Act will be put.
into immediate operation throughout the several counties.
The month's notice, as required, will expire on the 92,1 inst.,
and a period will then be named whell the Act shall take
effect; after which day, parties who bring actions fcr sums
under 20/. in the superior court will have to pay the costs of
the same. In addition to a measure on the law of bank-
ruptcy and insolvency to separate the two systems, it is
understood that the Lord Chancellor will bring in a Bill to
abolish arrest in execution, and that imprisonment will only
be permitted in cases of fraud. It will be, therefore, neces-
sary to make some alterations in the Small Debts Act of last
session.

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DREADFUL ACCIDENT.--THREE CHILDREN BURNT
BY /sTarrna.—On Saturday week, while three children, be-
longing to Mr. George key, shoemaker, residing in the
northern part of the parish of Monitieth, were trimming a
naptha lamp, an explosion took place, which enveloped the
whole three in flames. The father, who was at band, imme-
diately ran to their assistance, and with his hands, one of
which was severely burned during his exertions, extinguished
the flames. One of the children, seven years of age, died
next day, and another is scarcely expected to live. What
adds to the melancholy nature of the calamity is the fact
that the mother, a very delicate person, was at the time con-
fined to bed from disease, and was a horrified spectator of the
desolation caused by the explosion ; and it is melancholy to
relate that she has since died.—Dundee Advertiser.
W . Bond, Esq., the late worthy Magistrate of the
Westminster Police Court, also of the Inner Temple, Barrister
at Law, and rtecorder of Pole and Wareham, died possessed
of personal property valued at 14,0001. By his will, made as
far back as 1834, he has left small bequests to the poor of the
parish of Tyneham, and to the London Mendicity Society,
and to those persons who should be in his service at the time
of his decease, the residue of his money_end funded property
to be equally divided between his brothers and sisters. He
has left specific bequests to his family. His law books and
furniture to his brother Thomas, who is his executor. His
books on botany and his prints to his sister Mary. The re-
mainder of his books to his three brothers; and has ap-
pointed his brother John his residuary legatee. The deceased
was in his 47th year.
A SLY 'face TO THE ALTAR OF HYMEN.--A short
time since, a.highly respectable young lady, of considerable
personal attractions, who resided with her grandfather at the
western part of this town, was missing from home by the
female domestics early in the morning, and her absence from
the breakf.ist table created surprise in her grandpapa, who
made the necessary inquiries of the servants respecting her,
and was told she was out for a morning walk, and had not
returned ; but the old gentleman was somewhat pacified on
being told by one of the maid-servants, who was in the
secret, that her young mistress would assuredly return in a
short time. Breakfast passed over, but no young mistress
made her appearance until early in the afternoon, when she,
on being interrogated, admitted to her anxious relative that
she had taken the early train to London that morning, and
had got married to the man of her heart, who, we under-
stand, is a clerk in the Bank of England, and of a very re-
spectable family. The old gentleman, at first, was rather
agitated at the announcement, but a reconciliation was soon
effected, and all that remains of the matter is the little gossip
occasioned by it in the neighbourhood.—lpswich Express.
BISHOP'S STORTFORD.—On Sunday morning last
the men working in the gas-house heard a tremendous crash
in the direction of the three newly erected makings of
Messrs. Taylor and Son, each of which is capable of steeping
100 quarters of barley. It was soon after discovered to have
been occasioned by the whole floor of one of the barley cham-
bers giving way, with the immense quantity of grain
(upwar.is of 1,000 quarters) above it. A number of Messrs.
Taylor's men endeavoured to secure as much as possible of
what had been forced out into the yard. While this was
going on, attention was directed to the barley chamber of
the malting adjoining, which was found to be giving way
under about the same quantity of grain, but by a prompt
application of some strong timber it was prevented from
r' out.--Rents County Press.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARKS.—By order of her
Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests, a new en.
trance to St, James's Park, at the top of Constitution-hill,
has just been comple•ed, adjoining the garden wall of Buck-
ingham Palace, which is for the accommodation of the inha-
bitants of Grosvenor-place. The passage is by a gradual
ascent from the road in Grosvenor-place to the Park, the
elevation being there about eight feet. The gateway is a
plain brick structure, Jo Kensingten Qardens a new walk
is in the course of formation, at between 300 and 400 feet
distance from the entrance opposite the equestrian ride It j
is to be about 40 feet wide, and will extend across the gardens
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