The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-28 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

William Lawler was brought before Mr. Seeker,
charged with stealing a sovereign from Mr. Hearder,
a gentleman, in the Coalhole Tavern, next to the
Surrey Tneatre, Blackfriars-road.
The complainant said, that on the previous night he
went to the Surrey Theatre, and after tide performance
was over he went into the Coalhole Tavern to partake
of refreshments. After standing at the bar some
time, he threw down a sovereign to pay for what he
had partaken, when the prisoner pushed up to the
counter, and snatched up the coin. There were at
the time near fifty persons drinking in front of the
bar, and before he could raise any alarm the prisoner
made his escape from the 'Raise.
Police-constable 70 M, said that he was on duty
opposite the Surrey Theatre on the previous night,
and saw the prisoner abruptly leave the house, and run
across the way. Knowing him to be a thief, he sus-
pected that something was wrong, consequently he
detained him, and took him to the Coalhole, when the
prosecutor took him into custody for stealing the so-
vereign. He search him, but only a few pence were
found on him.

City Police-constable 320 Said, that a little after
three o'clock that morning he was in the Jim Crow,
Farringdon-street, when he heard a cabman inform
another that he had seen the robbery committed.
He took his number, and requested his attendance at
that police-court, understanding that the prisoner
was in cuQtody.
William Harkeet, a cabman, said that he was in
the Coelhole a little before twelve o'clock on the
previous night, when he saw the prisoner standing
behind the prosecutor. Mr. Ilearder, after partaking
of some refreshments, threw down a sovereign on the
counter to pay for them, but the prisoner pushed him
on one side, and seized up the coin, and made hi.
escape out of the house. Ile endeavoured to stop
him, but was unable, owing to his companions, who
surrounded him. Witness instantly afterwards got
a fare to Farringdon•street, and afterwards he went
into a public-house, where he mentioned the circum-
stances connected with the robbery to the City
policeman, and other parties.
In answer to the charge, the prisoner denied ever
going into the Coslhole. When he was stopped by
the constable he was going home from the City.
Mr. SEcIER committed him for trial.

Thee President of the Mutual Benefit Society of St.
George's, Southwark, was summoned, at the instance
of a widow woman, named Low, to show cause why
the society refused to pay the money alleged to be
due to her at the death of her husband.

Mr. Roberts attended on behalf of the poor woman,
and informed the magistrate that her husband had
been a subscriber to the society for many years; in
fact, since its establishment. About six months prior
to his death, h• became a little in arrears, which ren-
dered him liable to be erased from the books. The
case was, however, laid before the committee, and that
body came to the resolution of admitting her husband,
on his paying the fines, and all the arrears. Unfor-
tunately, the poor man died a little while after, when
the president refused to pay the money due at a
member's death, although the committee wished that
it should be.

The defendant said, that the society was of mutual
benefit to all the members, and the rules were en-
rolled according to Act of Parliament, according to
which they were compelled to abide by. The society
was limited to 400 members, and on the death of any
one member the sum of 501. was collected by a half-
crown from each member, and paid to the nominee of
the deceased member or his wife. The rules were
very stringent, and each member was in possession
of a copy, so that all might be conversant with them.
One of the rules specified that it any of the members
allowed their subscription to fall in arrears for
four weeks, their names should be erased from the
books, and they should not be entitled to any benefit,
and that all monies paid in by such member should
be forfeited. The husband of Mrs. Low was in ar-
rears and scratched from the hooks, consequently the
Committee had no power to re•admit him on
any account. There certainly was a minute of the
Committee on the books to that effect, but it had
never been confirmed. He, therefore, contended
that Mrs. Low had no claim on the Society.
The magistrate, after looking over the rules and
the Society's books, said that it was clear she had no
claim on them, but he hoped the society would not be
so hard towards the poor woman, after belonging to
them so many years. It was indeed a very distress-
ing case that she should lose 501. because her husband
had unfortunately allowed his contributions to fall
into arrears for a few weeks. He hoped, therefore,
that the defendant would re-consider the case, and
allow her to have the benefit of the fund as desired
by the committee.

-
The defendant said that he would lay all the par-
ticulars before the Society at the general meeting,
and he had no doubt a handsome collection would be
made for her benefit, but the rules could not in any
way be broken.

The Magistrate said that the rules were excellent,
but still he hoped the Society would make the poor
woman some amends, as he was bound to dismiss the

summons.

COURAGEOUS APPREHENSION OF ♦ THIEF NY A
FEMALE, AT TAMELY.—On Tuesday last, a fellow was
seen in the above village to go up to the cottage
of a poor woman, and soon after a shirt was missed.
Suspicion falling upon the stranger, a woman named
Martha Bartrup, living next door, immediately started
in pursuit of him, and after a two-mile chase
came up with him. She immediately collared
him, aid having unbuttoned his coat, found the
shirt concealed on his person. She then h d her
prisoner back to Takely, but unfortunately on
arriving there found that the constable was at Chelms-
ford, attending the sessions. Determined not to give up
her captive until she had safely handed him over to the
law, she started with him to Dunmow Police Station, a
distance of four miles, and had marched him a great
part of the way, still holding him by the collar, when a
waggo❑ came up, and the driver put the fellow into it.
The woman with meritorious perseverance walked behind
to prevent him from escaping ; but before they reached
Dunmow, Scott, the police officer of Stansted, drove up,
and the thief being given up to him, was safely lodged
al, the police station. On Friday morning he was exam-
ined before the Rev. 11. L. Majendie, when h• gave his
name John Jackson, and was committed for trial.—
Chelmsford Chronicle.
SINGULAR AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT STOUR-
EmooE.—A poor girl named Pearsall, occasionally sub-
ject to syncope, met with a singular and melancholy fate,
on Wednesday, the 16th instant at the house of her
master, Mr. Richard Mees, blacksmith, of Brettell•lane.
It appears that about the hour of noon she was descend-
ing the cellar steps to draw some beer for dinner, when
her foot slipped, or a fit seized her, which cannot be
ascertained, and she fell heavily to the bottom, her
mouth corning in contact with a barrel, which forced
two of her teeth completely through her tongue, and
rolled upon her as she lay in a state of insensibility.
The cellar seems to have been half full of water at the
time, and the unfortunate girl was fund about half an
hour after the fall immersed in it, with the barrel upon
her, and quite dead. The above facts were elicited at
the inquest, which was held on Saturday last, when a
verdict of accidental death was accordingly returned.
Neither the master of the girl :nor any member of his
family were in the house at the time of the melancholy
occurrence, nor indeed till half an hour subsequently.-
len 7 owns' Messenger.
On Sunday afternoon, at the close of the service,
the members of the Unitarian congregation worshipping
in Gaol-street, assembled together and unanimously re-
solved, as a religious body, to petition Parliament for
the removal of Jewish disabilities.—.Norfolh Chronicle.