The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-14 00:00:00

SWAN-STEA LING.

bow •saItLET.--Yesterda v a very long exams.
nation took place at this Mice before Sir It. Br RNI In of three
men, who have been souse weeks in custody, and have under-
gone sereral examinations upon charges of stealing n large ours
ber of swans, some the property of his Majesty, and others that
of the Vintners' and Dyers' Company of the ( Ity of London.
The prisoners were James and William Snelling (brothers),
and Samuel Haines alias Dolby. A. Gentleman attended as
Solicitor for the Crown, and the Legal Advisers of the two
Worshipful Companies els° appeared for the prosecution.—
' Those majestic birds which are so great an ornament to the
Thames, above a certain point inland are almost exclusively
the property of his Majesty, and the two Companies above-
mentioned, and the utmost pains arc taken to preserve them_
The Kir; and the Companies have each a swan-marker, and
other officers. connected with the preservation of the births,'
and it is the delight of the worthy citizens who belong to the
•Companies, to take excursions at certain periods of the year, to
inspect and mark the swans. The birds either dead or alive,l,:,w-
-evt.r, are too profitable as, mark: table commcd:ties, tc; emeepe
the attention of those who are willing to make money in any
way that presents itself, and there are a number of persons
both aides of the Thames, called Swan-hoppers, win) snake a
considerable sum in the course of the year by th:s kind of de-
predation.- During the late winter so great a number has been
stolen, that serious apprehensions were entertained that the
whole race would be destroyed unless the thieVes were speedily
brought to punishment. Bishop, one of the principal officers,
and Avis, a patrol, were employed by the proprietors, and
after an infinite degree of labour they succeeded in appreiend,
log the three prisoners and a man rained John leake, sill inba-
fattimimial nlhntesolio,,t,fll,siChertseyeBag,l,o,
ng in
coSnufersrseiyo.n Theye slit: trot
nh este:Ll:at: long
substance
in s
way before John lattoaakteine:,)vrlcisesne(ll2 dwlssireintogrtee,,llt knew,tiiiilsltrheess,
a
had made an unsuccessful application to the parish for relief,
the prisoner, James Snelling, ceme to him and told him that ha
could put hint in a way of getting a few shillings. Ile asked
how ? and the reply was, that he knew where there were soma
swans to be got easily. Itoake, however, said lie would have'
nothing to do with it, and Snelling went away. In two or three'
days he saw Itoake again, and told hits lee was a " d—d foci Rot'
to earn a few shillings when he could without any risk of being
hurt for it," and lioake at length consented to jo,n hint. They
and the prisoner Haines went that night and caugh - several swans.
I which J. Snelling took the next morning to Leadenhall Ma:kit
and left with Mr. Stevens, a salesman there upon corn.nistiOn,
receiving something on account. His father was in the habit
of sending. poultry to Mr. Stevens, so that lie had a perfeet
facility of getting rid of them, Mr. S. supposing th.nt to Ise
the property of the old man. They went upon several subse-
quent occasions and killed a number of swans which wear
disposed of in the same manner. For the first exploit Roalse
received from J. Snelling three shillings, and for subse-
quent ones similar sums ; and upon the last occasion when W.
Snelling assisted, and when they got eight swans, he received
no more than five shillings. He remonstrated; lut could get
no more, and he therefore refused to have any share in their
711:htuerteharin-hopping expedition'. They were very soon after
apprehended.—Some of the stolen swans (which can easily be
identified by the proprietors marks) were traced to Castings, a
a bird fancier, in Hampstead-road ; to Haines, in South Moul-
ton-street ; and to Captain Henniker's, Ashdown Park, Sussex,
by. all of whom they had been purchased from Mr. Stevens--
prisoners declined. saying any thing, and were fully
committed for trial.