The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-27 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

Thomas Moore, William Bodily, and Thomas Moore
the younger, helpers in the employ of Messrs. Horne,
coach proprietors, Golden Cross, Charing Cross, were
brought before Mr. Hall, charged with being found on
their master's premises for the purpose of committing
felony.
Mr. Horne said, for several weeks past he had been
missing corn to the amount of several quarters from his
stores, in consequence of which he gave information to
the police, that he suspected some of his men were
provided with false keys to steal corn from the granary,
to which none but the foreman and under-foreman had
access.

Constable 10 A division, stated that he went yesterday
at 12 o'clock to the prosecutor's premises in plain
clothes, when he saw the two first-named prisonQrs enter
the granary, and after a short delay he entered, and ob-
served Moor© putting a sack of corn on his shoulder,
with the assistance of his companion ; as he was going
up the step ladder, the third prisoner gave them a signal
and attempted to obstruct him, when he took the others
into custody.

The Inspector said, that on searching Moore's lodging,
the sack produced with the prosecutor's name upon it
was found.
Mr. Horne said the elder Moore had been in his ser-
vice for the last 18 years, but he never was employed in
portioning out the corn.

The under-foreman identified the key produced, which
was found in the door, as a false one, and not belonging
to his employers.
The prisoners denied they had any intention of com-
mitting a robbery.
Mr. HALL told the younger prisoner he would leave
him to his master to dispose of him, but the others
should be sent for three months to hard labour in the
House of Correction.

Emma Watson, aged nineteen years, was brought be-
fore Mr. HALL, by Read, 94 A, charged with being found
in King-street, Westminster, at one o'clock yesterday
morning in a state of destitution.

The 'Constable said that after conveying her to the sta-
tion-house he was directed to take her to the workhouse
of St. Margaret's parish, in Dean-street, to be lodged
for the night, until it should be time to have the charge
preferred against her at this Court, but the master of the
workhouse refused 10 admit her, saying he would have
nothing to do with her, or any other person similarly
circumstanced, and she was locked up for the night with-
out any refreshment. She was very quiet, and had com-
mitted no offence whatever.

Mr. HALL expressed his astonishment at such conduct
on the part of the parish authorities, and inquired what
account the poor girl had given of herself ?
Inspector Partridge said she had, until within the last
fortnight, lived as servant in the frmily of Col. Daniels,
at Kentish-town, and had been seen for some nights
past wandering about St. James's Park, and the neigh-
bouring streets, apparently without a place to shelter
herself. lle begged to add that on all occasions of a
similar nature relief had been refused at the same work-
house, althoug►h the persons brought there by the police
were evidently reduced to the utmost destitution, as
would appear by the minutes entered on the books at the
station-house.

Mr. HALL said it was a most infamous proceeding, and
after ordering the poor girl to be provided with refresh-
ments, directed the constable to accompany her to the
workhouse to be admitted as a person who had been
brought before him for being found destitute, but who
had been guilty of no offence.
Shortly after the officer returned with the girl to ac-
quaint the Magistrate that he had delivered the message,
but the person who had answered him seemed to doubt
the correctness of his statement, as he bad not brought
letter, and the girl being refused admittance he conveyed
her back to the Court, for he was told ho might have
trumped up the story.
Mr. HALL said such a system should not be suffered,
and he should see some person to explain such unwar-
rantable conduct.

A person, who said he came from the overseers,
stepped forward, requesting to know if the policeman
had been sent from the Court, for it was usual to send a
letter in cases of destitution to direct proper attention to
them.

Mr. HALL said he had sent the policeman, and wished
to know by what authority the overseers or master of
the workhouse refused shelter and other relief to persons
found destitute in the streets.

The messenger said he understood the board to have
made such regulations that persons were never admitted
without due inquiry being made, and Mr. Elliot, the
master of the workhouse, never admitted them.

Mr. HALL—Then I can tell you the board has acted
illegally in refusing casual relief, and the master of the
workhouse must be a heartless fellow to shut the door of
an establishment expressly intended for paupers against
such as are most in want of relief. I must see some per-
son in authority before I have done with this case, in or-
der to put a stop' to such a system of oppression and in-
justice, and the girl in the meantime must remain within
the precincts of the Court.
An overseer stated that had the girl applied to him
during the daytime she would in all probability have re-
ceived relief.

Mr. HALL—We must not now cavil about tho time,
for the girl intuit be totally ignorant when she should
apply, being a native of Herefordshire ; but I want to
know, is she to be told in the middle of the night that
nothing would be done for her ?
Overseer—The porter was quite right to refuse her ;
but if the application had been made to me in the day
time she might have been admitted.

Mr. HALL—Am I to be told that the poor are to die
in the streets, when they are refused relief at the only
place they are entitled to receive it ?
Overseer.—There is no provision made for such cases
as the present at the workhouse.
Mr. lIALL.—Then you maintain that the poor are to
be told there is no relief for them ?

Overseer.—ln this case I should have afforded relief,
but the inspector was decidedly in error in not coming
to my house, for then I should have asked her where she
slept the night previous.
Mr. lI.A.LL—The rule acted upon by other parishes is
to take the destitute poor into the house for the night and
remove them to their proper parish in the morning.
The Strand Union has always acted admirably in such
cases, as also did the parishes of St. Martin. s and St.
Giles's.

Mr. Burnaby, the chief clerk—Such is the substance of
the orders issued by the Poor-law Commissioners.
Overseer—The porter had no power to admit any
pauper, except in cases of illness, and the inspector must
have known it.

Mr. HALL—Why the parish authorities of St. Marga-
ret's should show no humanity to the poor I am at a loss
to know, although I am quite aware the officers are occa-
sionally liable to be imposed upon.
Overseer—l think you will agree with me that the po-
lice inspector was to blame in this case.
Mr. HALL—He could not suppose you would get out
of your bed at one o'clock in the morning to attend to
this poor creature's case, and he knew where the work-
house was. I know that several poor persons would have
perished in' the:streets during the winter mouths had it
not been for immediate assistance.
The overseer then' consented to take the defendant to
the workhouse:

In answer to further questions, the poor girl said she
had no mother; and, her father was in the East Indies,
but none of her friends were in England.
She was then removed.