The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-08 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.—GROSS PERJURY.—
Elizabeth M'Cabe, 19, a- respectable looking girl, was
indicted for stealing four bank-notes of the value of 251.,
and ten sovereigns, and a great number of articles—con-
sisting of a pair of stays, a quantity of knives and forks,
salts, plates and dishes, smelling bottles, tea-pots, china,
glass ware, earthenware, and a variety of other articles—
.the property of Beagley, Camden Head publie-
house, High-street, Camden-town.
Mr. Phillips conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Clark-
son appeared for the defence.
It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner had been
in the service of the prosecutor for nine or ten months,
during which time she had always conducted herself
with propriety and honesty. In October last the prose-
cutoi• came to her and said that he had been robbed, and
that ho mnb: search her box, as he had done his man's.
She replied that mi.,: could not allow it, as her box was
not fit to be aeon by t. man. He then requested
her to have it searched the .I„:s7sence of his (prosecu-
tor's) wife ; but she refused unfoo hes: mother was pre-
sent. The prosecutor then called in a pohcznan, and
gave her intucustody. As soon as the priscner was c.;27
veyed to the station-house, the prosecutor took the police-
man, and opened the boxes of the prisoner, where the
property named in the indictment was found. The pro-
secutor was severely cross-examined by Mr. Clarkson,
and it appeared that, on several occasions, he
had taken liberties with the girl, and had of-
fered her two sovereigns if she would comply
with his wishes, but she refused, and told her mistress.
The girl had twice complained to her mother that her
boxes had been attempted to be opened. The prosecu-
tor had previously sworn that what liberties he had taken
were in the presence of his wife. He also swore dis-
tinctly that his wife was not in the habit of getting tipsy.
The wife was then called, and swore to the property
being hers. She deposed that she had never seen her
husband attempt any liberties with the prisoner
in her presence—not so , much as kiss her.
On cross-examination she declared that she
had taken no intoxicating drink the whole of yesterday,
and that she was perfectly sober. The stays produced she
would swear were her property. The cross-examination
of both witnesses was at great length, but these were
the principal features.
The policeman who took the prisoner into custody
was examined, and Mr. PIIILLIPS said that was the case
for the prosecution.
Mr. CLARKSON then addressed the Jury for the de-
fence, and concluded by calling the following witnesses :
John Blackmore deposed that he was a glass-dealer,
and had sold the prisoner at the bar the salts produced.
Had no doubt whatever on the subject.
Caroline Batteley deposed that she was a china and
glass-dealer, at 28, High-street, Camden-town. Sold the
prisoner several articles produced aboutrsix months ago.
James Sergeant stated that he resided at 127, High-
street, Camden-town. About eight weeks ago sold the
prisoner the broach produced. It is the one sworn to by
the prosecutor's wife as her property.
Mrs. Jernomy Huntsmack deposed that she resided at
No. 47, High-street, Camden-town, and kept a druggist's
shop. She was called to prove that she had sold the
prisoner a smelling bottle, but on its being called for' in
the Court, it was no where to be found.
Mr. CLARKSON said the Jury saw it when it was pro-
duced at the examination for the prosecution.
Mrs. Huntsmack said she would describe the bottle
without seeing it, so well did she recollect the circum-
stance of selling it to the prisoner.
The officer who took the prisoner into custody, said
that perhaps the bottle might be in a basket he had in
his possession of the prisoner's, which contained some
things of her own.
The RECORDER asked how it was that this basket
had not been produced before ? The Officer—l was
told to bring it, my Lord, but it belongs to the prisoner.
The RECORDER—If you presume to come into Court
after having searched property belonging to prisoners,
and you keep back any of the articles, you shall
take the consequences. It is a most harsh thing
that when a prisoner has submitted to be stripped of
everything, that those things most in their favour are
held back. I shall expect this bottle to be produced.
After considerable search the bottle was found and
identified by the witness as the one she had sold to the
prisoner.
A witness proved he had sold the stays, named in the
indictment and produced, to the prisoner. Could swear
to the stays, they had his private mark upon them.
Nicholas M'Cabe, the next witness called, stated that
he was the father of the prisoner, and lived in Bear-street,
Ratcliffe. The prisoner had been a Servant in one place for
upwards of eight years before she went to the prosecutor.
She had 151. in her possession when she went into the
serviie of Mr. Beagley, which she had saved from her
former service. Witness had often told her to put it into
the Savings' Bank, but she said it was safe enough in her
pocket. The prosecutor came to witness at the police of-
fice, and said if his daughter got oft; he would take her
into his service again. The witness was cross-examined
by Mr. Phillips, but nothing was elicited in any way to
alter the features of this evidence.
Mrs. M'Cabe, the mother of the prisoner, deposed
that she had seen 151. in her possession,
which she had saved out of her wages. She came home
one day while in the service of the prosecutor, and com-
plained that some one had been trying to get into her
box. That was about two months before Beagley insti-
tuted the present prosecution. The witness knew of
her daughter having ear-rings and black ornaments,
and a necklace of jet.
Tito prosecutor's wife was again called up by the
Recorder, and she said she would swear- the articles
were hers, or at least like them. She swore positively;
in the first examination, that they were her property.
William Henry Finch being sworn, deposed that lie
lived at No. 5, Union-street, Islington. The prisoner
sent him to pay some money for a coral necklace. Has
known the prisoner about two years, and never 'heard a
breath against her character. The witness knew her
when she lived at Islington at her last place.
By the COURT—Mrs. Beagley, if these are your orna-
ments, will you state where you got them ? Mrs.
Beagley (hesitating for some time)—ln Tottenham
Court- road.
-The RECORDER—What iS the person's name ? Mrs.
Beagley—l can't say the person's name ; it is some years
back.
The RECORDER—Did you ever wear this brooch ?
Mrs. Beagley—Never but once.
The RECORDER—Where did you get the ear-rings ?
Mrs. Beagley (hesitating)—l think the name was liar..
rison, in the New-road.
The RECORDER—Did you ever wear them?—Yes, Sir.
The RECORDER—How long ago? Two years ago.
[She was then asked a variety of questions by the Court
as to the price she gave for the articles, and answered
each question in the same hesitating manner as before.
She said she could not tell whether she gave-4s. or it
for the brooch.
The REconnEa—Where did you get the stays &Om?
Mrs. Beagley —From a person over the bar.
The RECORDER—Da you mean to say you tried them
on in the bar ? Mrs. Beagley—No, kdid -not try them
en at all.
The RECORDER—Remember you have taken a solemn
oath. Was it a man or woman that you purchased these
articles from ? Mrs. Beagley—lt was a woman.
The REbonDER—By the solemn oath that you have
taken, do you mean to represent that you bought those
stays ? No answer,
On the question being repeated she said she did.
The RECORDER—And you swear that you purchased
them over the bar ? Mrs. Beagley—l cannot possibly
say, Sir, it might have been in the kitchen.

'The REconliEn—Did you wear these stays ? Mrs.
Beagley—l never wore them but once.

The stays were lying on the table in the Court, and
were considerably worn.
The RECORDER, addressing the Jury—l really put it
to you whether you can believe this woman ?
Mr. CLARKSON said, if the Jury would wait a little
he would prove that the witness was all day yesterday
in a beastly state of intoxication, although she had sworn
that she was not, nor had tasted any intoxicating drink.
Here then was a witness who was put into the box who
proved that he saw Mrs. Beagley yesterday in such a
state of intoxication, that she could not support herself,
and she was obliged to •be led about the street by her
husband.

The RECORDER asked if there was any other witness
to prove this ? _

A gentleman in the strangers' gallery rose, and said
he had witnessed the same scene as described.
Several other witnesses also spoke to having seen this.
Several witnesses were called to speak to the character
of the prisoner, but the Jury said it was not necessary,
as they had already decided upon their verdict, which •
was Not Guilty.
As soon as this was announced several persons in the
Court commenced clapping their hands, and otherwise
expressing their satisfaction .at the result of the trial,
when •

The RECORDER said if he could ascertain who had been
guilty of clapping their hands, he would commit them to
Ncwgate.
The prisoner was again placed at the bar, and in-
dicted Ibr stealing five sovereigns, and 13 half sovereigns.
The evidence was similar to that in the last case, ex-
cept that the prosecutor swore that the prisoner had
never been paid any wages, whilst the wife in her exami-
nation swore the prisoner lAd been paid 5/. at one time.
PI,III.LIPS—My Lord, I do not think I should act
in a manner becoming the profeslion to which I belong if
I proceeded with the case upon such evidence.
The RECORDER—Let everything be carefully ac-
counted for to the prisoner, and given to her.- I shall not
allow the expenses of any of the witnesses except the
officer, and that point I shall reserve for consideration.
The prosecutor is an ill-looking man, of about forty-
five. His wife seemed much older. The prisoner is an

interesting-looking girl of about 19, and bras very re-
spectably attired.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

---
111.41?LB01?0UGH-ST.REE7.
THE LATE CASE OF EXTENSIVE SWlNDLlNG.—Yester-
day Joseph Adams, the fashionable swindler, who was
brought up in custody from Southampton, on a charge
Of obtaining„ by false pretences, from Miss Emma Clap_
ham, of No. 99, New Bond-street, a black velvet dress,
of the value of 151. 18s. 6c1., and who was remanded
from this office on Weslnesday last, was brought up for
re-examination, and placed at the bar before Mr.Maltby,
the presiding Magistrate.
Mr. Humphries, the solicitor, appeared on the part of
the prosecution, and prayed for a further remand of the
prisoner until Monday next, as the time had not been
sufficient to enable him to procure the attendance of wit-
nesses, who had to be fetched from Southampton, and
also of other parties who intended to prefer other
,
charges
After
some against
remarks
the
Mr. Flower, who was engaged
for the prisoner, the Magistrate postponed the further
hearing of the case to Monday next.