The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-25 00:00:00

CLERKENWELL.

William Field, Prospect-row, New Kent-road, cabi-
net. maker, and Ann Williams, a young woman, aged 21,
Goldsmith-row, Hackney, were charged in the police-
sheet by a person calling himself Charles Markham, and
describing himself as a gentleman residing at No. 1,
Hackney-road, with having been concerned in robbing
him of nine sovereigns.
Mr. COOMBE (to the prosecutor)—ls your name Charles
Markham? Prosecutor—No, your worship.
Mr. COOMBE (looking at the police-sheet)—l see here
that you are described as Charles Markham, gentleman,
of No. 1, Hackney-road. Prosecutor—l did not give
my right name and address; my position prevented me
doing so.
Mr. COOMBE—Then what is your real name and ad-
dress? Prosecutor—My name is William Worrell. I
live at No 83, Nichols-square, Hackney.
Mr. COOMBE—And what is your position? Prosecu-
tor—l am an exciseman.
Mr. COOMBE—And do you think you are fit for the
situation of an officer of excise to make a charge of
felony against parties, and give a false name and
address?

The prosecutor deposed, that yesterday morning, at
an early hour, ho met with an elderly female,
whom he accompanied to various houses, and subse-
quently they joined the female at the bar.
They all went to a house together in the neighbourhood
of St. Luke's, where he found it to be the intention
of the parties to ill-use and plunder him; he placed
himself under the protection of the male prisoner, who
pretended to take his part, until he inveigled him into a
dark thoroughfare, where he was surrounded by the
prisoners and others, and the male prisoner forced his
hand into his trousers pocket, and robbed him of his
property, and tore his pocket completely away. He was
maltreated, and! whilst the robbery was effected the
woman and her companions blindfolded him, and stopped
his mouth. He, however, struggled with them, and
called out " Murder," when the police arrived, and per-
ceiving the prisoners, they were taken into custody.
The torn pocket and nine sovereigns were found in the
possession of the female prisoner.
Police-constable 228 G said—At four o'clock yester-
day morning he heard the cry of " Murder" in Blue
Anchor-alley, St. Luke's. He immediately proceeded to
the spot, and found the prosecutor and other parties, who
were treating him violently. He took the prisoners into
custody, and found the property now produced on the
female prisoner.

Mr. dOMBE inquired whether the prisoners wished to
say anything to the charge?—They denied it, but they
were fully committed Air trial.

WORSHIP-STREE7:

Two well-dressed persons named John and Agnes
Murphy, were placed before Mr. Arnold, the former
charged with having obstructed and used threatening
language towards James Kinneally, an officer in the ser-
vice of the Eastern Counties Railway, in the execution
of his duty, and the latter with attempting to rescue her
husband from custody.
The officer stated that as the Broxbourne train was
about to start from the terminus in Shoreditch, upon the
preceding afternoon, his attention was called to the de-
fendants, who had just entered one of the carriages, and
as soon as they had taken their seats he went to the
window and cautioned the passengers to take care of
their pockets, as one of the swell mob had got into the
carriage. Ile did not point any one out at the time he
made the observation, but the male prisoner instantly
started up with an oath, and shook his stick in his face.
The train then started, and witness remained ou the
platform until the arrival of the return train at eight
o'clock in the evening, when the prisoner and his wife
got. out, and the former advancing towards him ex-
claimed, " Well, I am with you again, you see ; I have
not done with you yet, you hound." Witness
walked away in the direction of the steps leading to the
outer gates, but was closely followed by the prisoner,
who pointed him out to the passengers, with the excla-
mation, " This fellow is now an officer on the railway,
but he was once a - thief, and used to go out with
me picking pockets." Witness repeatedly urged him to
leave the station, but he persisted in the same scandalous
observations, telling the bystanders that he had plenty
of money to support him, as he had made his own har-
vest by thieving, whilst witness had his still to make,
until a crowd of 200 persons had collected, and he was
then taken into custody. He was about to remove him,
when the prisoner's wife assailed him with scurrilous
epithets, and made such persevering efforts to rescue
her husband, that it was found necssary to give her in
charge also.

In answer to questions from the magistrate, the wit-
ness stated that he had known the prisoner for the last
six years to be a notorious member of the swell mob,
.in whose company he had seen him several times within
the last three months; and that the prisoner himself, to
his own knowledge, had been in custody for felony. Ile
also, in cross-examination, indignantly denied having
had the slightest connexion whatever either with the
prisoner or any of his associates.
Mr. Robinson addressed the magistrate for the de-
fence, and said that, though he could not but admit that
the imputations upon his client's former connexions and
practices were well founded, he had lately used bis best
exertions to retrieve his character, and obtain an honest
livelihood as a shoemaker; but his laudable efforts toob-
tain a reputable position in society were constantly
thwarted by the vindictive conduct of the complainant,
who was in the habit of publicly proclaiming him as a
thief wherever he saw him, and the repetition of which
had given rise to the retaliation which had resulted in
the present charge. _ _

Mr. ARNOLD considered that it was the bounden duty
of the officer, when he had reason to believe that a re-
puted thief was in the carriage, to ware the other pas-
sengers of their danger, and, as the charge against the
prisoner had been clearly established, he should convict
him in the full penalty of 51., or two months' imprison-
ment; and further require him to put in substantial bail
to be of good behaviour for the succeeding six months;
and be should order the wife to pay a penalty of 405., or
in default to bo imprisoned for 14 days.
Both penalties were immediately paid out of a stun of
40L, which, together with a gold watch and appendages,
and massive neck•chain, were found in the prisoner's
possession.