The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-14 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET.

A young man, named John Kemp, was placed at the
bar before Mr. Broughton, charged with having burgle-
riously entered the premises of Mr. Thomas Leyland, a
leather-dresser, in High-street, Shoreditch, and stolen a
gold watch, value of twenty guineas, a quantity of silver
spoons, and other articles.
It appeared from the evidence that on the night of
Thursday last some thieves effected an entrance into
the prosecutor's house through the staircase window,
and after ransacking all the lower apartments, and
selecting a dozen silver spoons, and other property,
proceeded to a bedroom on the second floor, in which a
female servant was sleeping, with two of her master's
children, and actually displacing a gold watch which
was hanging over their heads, made good their retreat
without disturbing any member of the family. In-
formation of the robbery was given to the police, and a
reward of 51. having been offered for the capture of the
burglars, a mau named Oswald Lawrence, who had him-
self a short time since been in custody for a similar
offence, in the same neighbourhood, but discharged.
made the following communication to the police, which
resulted in the prisoner's apprehension.
Lawrence now stated, that while passing through
Petticoat-lane, on the morning after the robbery, he saw
the prisoner and a notorious thief named Cherry, in the
act of examining a handsome gold watch, in the front of
a Jew storedealer's shop. Witness was not aware at
that time of the burglary having been committ, d, but
on afterwards reading the handbill describing the watch
and spoons carried off by the thieves, he suspected they
were the same, and proceeded to a house in Wheeler-
str4 et, Spitalfields, which is the resort of such notorious
characters, and there met the prisoner's accomplice
Cherry, whom he bad before seen in possession of the
watch. On entering into conversation and asking him
if he had sold the watch advantageously, the man re-
plied that he had only got 31. for it ; and on his also
mentioning the spoons, he answered that they were of
an antiquated fashion, only fit to melt ; that they were
disposed of for a few shillings, and expressed his surprise
at his knowing anything about the property, but said he
supposed that Kemp (the prisoner) had told him. He
assented to this observation, and immediately informed
the police of all the facts he had elicited, as he was
anxious to clear his character from the stain that had
been cast upon it by his being unjustly charged with the
other burglary.
Sergeant Barker mentioned a conclusive fact against
the prisoner, which was, that on taking him into custody
and telling t im the nature of the offence he was charged
with, he asked him why he had not also captured the
man Cherry. as he had likewise been concerned in the
robbery. The sergeant added, that a second burglary
had been committed on the same night in the premises
of a neighbouring tradesman named Bennett, where the
thieves had been disturbed, end retreated so precipi-
tately, that one of them had left his shoes behind him.
These shoes were afterwards adjusted to the feet of the
prisoner Kemp, who had on an entirely new pair when
taken, and found to fit him exactly.
The prisoner earnestly denied all participation in Mr.
Layland's burglar), which he said had been perpetrated
by the man Cherry; but
Mr. BROUGHTON expressed himself satisfied with the
testimony as against the prisoner himself, and ordered
him to be brought up again next week for the completion
of the evidence.

THE GREAT INCENDIARY FIRE

AT SOHAM.

CAMBRIDGE, SUNDAY NIGHT.—In compliance with a
previous arrangement, the magistrates of Subaru, the
Rev. Mr. Bennett and Mr. llubede, were engaged the
whole of yesterday (Saturday), at the Crown Inn, in in-
vestigating certain charg .s preferred against Mr. Come-
hus Harvey, a wealthy tarmer, and his nephew, James
Harvey, as being feloniously concerned in the origin w
the recent great fire in that village. It will be recollect-d
that the prisoners underwent a brief examination on the
day after the fire, and were remanded to the county gaol
at Cambridge until yesterday, when they were brought
up in custody of Mr. Orridge, the governor.
The elder prisoner's apprehensien appeared to have
resulted from te voluntary statement made by him.
Having been noticed by a private watchman a tow mi-
nutes before the outbreak walking from the spot where
the flames were first seen to rise (Mr. Pach• fis farm), he
was interrogated on the subject. He admitted being the
individual ; that he had been watching about the neigh-
bourhood the greater part of the night ; that when he
went home he went to bed, but did not NH bil. his
clothes. The reason he gave why he did so was that
he was fearful something would happen, and on being
further questioned why he watched that particular spot.
replied that he expected a fire would br. ak out; but gave
no satisfactory account why he entertained such a sup-
position. These and other suspitious circutnstanc-s
being reported to the magistrates, his arrest was
ordered; and, in tulatitien to the wetchmen'e statement,
other witnesses spoke positively of having sten him
walking up and down a bye lane at t'_ie back of Mr.
Pachey's farm, and every now and then peeping
through the hedge ir+_ the direction of the spot where
the fire broke hut. It was attempted to be shown
that the ly_7l.soner had been watching his own property,
that 11 had been his practice to be on the watch for se-
veral weeks past ; but on the night in trieq:on the wit-
nesses declared that Ire was watching some distance from
his farm. lie was vietitig the premises of Messrs. Pa-
obey and States As regards the rieinger prisoner he
had insurevi his stock in trade in the buttolk EreJusuranee
Office for 3501. The fire did not t•riginate on his pre-
miser, but in one of the barns of Mr, Pachey, that stood
within a feW fet of his stores or warehouse, which sub-
sequently caught. When broken open by the inhabi-
tants very trifling property was found in the Owe. The
day atter the fire he was met by an assistant agent of
the company he was insured in, *ho, seeing that he had
hurt his hand, asked him how it happened. He answered
that it was done (luring the fire, in attempting to save
his goods, The agent inquired of him if any had been
saved, to which be made answ( r, "Nothing whatever, that
he had lost twice as many as he was insured f ee" In tr:e
latter part of the day the prisoner made his claim of the
amount of his loss to the agent, upon which he was
given into custody on a charge of attempting to defraud
the company, trocf having been adduced to show
that he had, prior to the fire, removed the chief bulk of
his stock, &e., to vftriotts parts of the town. With a
view of showing that the prisoners had acted in concert.
it was ttroved that the elder prisoner had advanced
his nephew 3001. to set him up in business, and
attempts were made to show that the uncle urged its
' payment, and had connived to obtain the amount of in-
surance on the nephew's goods, but a witness swore po-
sitively that the sum was given as a gift, to start the
nephew in business. Another one was called who had
ace2d to value the salvage of the nephew's property, and
in the course of his surveys the prisoner begged that he
would do all he could for him, for if he could not get the
money for his insurance, he could not pay his uncle the
3001, he had lent him. The nephew lived in the uncle's
house. But it did not appear in evidence that he was
was seen in the neighbourhood at its outbreak, although
on the alarm being raised he was immediately on the spot
dressed.
At the cicse of the evidence the magistrates retired to
a private room, and, after nearly an hour's consultation,
returned, when the chairman, addressing the prisoners,
said, they considered the evidence fully warranted them
in committing them both to take their trial at the
ensuing assizes.

PIRATES.—A letter from Moss (Norway) states
that the schooner Betty,Criettson, of Christiana,fromßremen,
with colonial produce, was attacked by pirates in the German
Ocean, on the 12th of June, at about seven in the morning,
by a boat filled by armed men. They first bearded the vessel
to the number of ten, and demanded water and bread. These
otherght ine, meat ,
menand other
given, they
raesfkuesded forEwi
things, which the captain
articles being
articles
took away a quantity of of various kind.
came on board, and after mastering the crew, amouting to
nine men,
and did much damage by cutting ropes, breaking nautical
instruments, &c.
various countries—Dutch, English, erman,
They then departed. They seemed of
Russian, G
being spoken amongst them.—Hull Advertiser.
SWINDLING ors AN EXTENSIVE t, r CALE. Con‘ide -
able excitement has existed in Stockton, during this week
and last, by an attempt at wholesale swindling, which, how-
ever, was fortunately defeated. A few weeks ago, a person
of a respectable appearance, and passing under the name of
Metcalfe, took a shop and premises of Mr. John Atkinson,
in the High• street, for the purpose of carrvinet on the trale
of ship-broker, and general merchant. With the view to
enable him to supply his immense number of imaginary
customers, he gave orders fur large quantities of
malt, oil, soap, and other articles of different
descriptions, to various houses in Newcastle and
other places. Several tradesmen received large orders for
goods and furniture of every kind, and in quantity sufficient
to furnish a castle. Mrs. ?Metcalfe also honoured the dress-
makers and milliners with orders for dresses of the latest
fashions and richest kinds. Terms being arranged with
parties for the purchase of several valuable houses, shops,
and warehouses, to accommodate his daily expected
merchandise, and everything appeared to denote that
Mr. Metcalfe was in possession of great wealth.
This impression continued until the appearance of
a policeman from London, who, taking a lively interest
in his safety, took him away in custody. It was then di-
vulged that he is one of a gang of swindlers who have ope-
rated with considerable success upon the public, and whom
the police have been actively engaged in endeavouring to ap-
prehend. It is supposed this capture will prove a clue to the
apprehension of the entire gang. Only a few of the orders
so abundantly dispensed were executed before the discovery
of the real character of the adventurers. The Stockton
police were very active in bringing this offender to justice,
and are deserving of great praise for the energetic assistance
they rendered to the London officer.—Durham Chronicle.
TIIE RESULTS or GAMING.—A Frankfort journal
states that a Russian baron, who had lost large sums of
money at play at Baden-Baden, has recently gone mad, and
is now in a lunatic ass lum. At Hamburgh, says the acmeournal, the son of a high functionary at Bonn, having lost
all his money at the gaming-table, snatched up- the gold
which trait lying on it, and endeavoured to 05caPel but he
713 S arrW/ed, and is nom' in confinement,

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(YESTERDAY)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
Room B.
LEICESTER AND
(Continued Iltni our Afternoon Edition of yeaterday.)

Mr, Mannsell, M.P for Northamptonshire, gave evidence
in favour of the line.

Mr. Weston, mayor of Leicester, said a petition in favour
of the line had been sent up from the town council and from
a numerous and respect Ole meeting of the inhabitants, who,
after considering the two modes of joining the Leicester and
Swannington Railway, decided for the one embodied in the
present Bill.
Other witnesses were called and examined on traffic.
The Committee then adjourned till eleven to-morrow.

Room C.

MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND DUD.

LANDS JUNCTION.

The Committee assemb:ed this morning, Earl tadnor in the
chair, when _ _ _

M. HOPE called for the contract of the Company, and
contended that the evidence was not in accordance with its
ttrms.

On a revision of that document, however, the Committee
decided that there was no discrepancy sufficient to throw out
the Bill.

Mr. Wittmt.or, who appeared for several landowners. ad-
dressed the Committee, and stated that the first six miles of
the Sheffield and Chesterfield Railway went through a dis-
trict entirely without coal, while the Sheffield and Lincoln-
shire line goes for the first eight miles through a district en-
tirely filled with coal. This coal was precisely of the same
nature as the black strata of the Hunstone bed. It was
further remarkable that the beds of ironstone, the convert.
ing coal, and the black shale lay in such a series, that they
must be severally won in the reverse of the order stated, be-
fore they could be won, so that the pleas of necessity must
fail. In conclusion, he would rail upon the Committee, if
not for the sake of the shareholders, at least for the sake of
the country, to throw out the Bill, and prevent the lose of
capital which must otherwise ensue.
Mr. Thomas Dunn, of the firm of Hounsfield and Co.,
explained the geological map, which was put in to show the
several series of the Derbyshire coal measures. He stated
that they worked the new pit at Sheffield, the Birley pit, and
the Manor neuse pit. The price of the black shale coal
is Bs. Bd. a ton at the pit's mouth, and of the
converting coal 125., two tons being required to make
one ton of hard coke. The quantity raised at the Soap-
house colliery was 2000 tons a week ; and when the arrange-
ments, now in progress, were completed, the firm would be
able to raise double the quantity. Of late years the demand
for hard coke had greatly increased, and his impression
was that the Sheffield coal anti coke was quite as good
as that brought from Dronfield. It is a tact, that
coal and coke are cheaper at Sheffield than in any
other manufacturing town in the kingdom. The firm had
been applied to to raise the price of coal, but they had de-
cided not to do so, believing that it was a matter of great im-
portance that Sheffield should be well and cheaply supplied.
Messrs. Frith and Co, who had been customarily supplied
half from the Drontield collieries and half from
the Sheffield collieries, had applied to Brooms-
tield and Co. to let them have half of all
they required, on the ground that the coke from
Dronfield had decreastd in value. The only coal in which
the Sheffield mines are deficient is the converting coal, and
this would be largely opened by tl..e Sheffield and Lin-
colnshire line; that line, indeed, would open up all the series
of the Yorkshire beds to the southern districts, and his im-
pression was that if that line were made, the greater portion of
the Hunstone coal would go sou; h ward, in consequence of its
commanding a bet ter price. He disagreed wi; h Mr. Scholefield,
for he believed that there had never been more than 500.000
tons of coal consumed in a year in Sheffield. He conceived
that the mistake arose from Mr. Scholefield having taken
the whole of the 168 steam engines as working, like his own,
on the high pressure principle. He had assumed the
consumption of each engine at forty tons a week, whereas
the bulk of the engines in Sheffield work on the low
pressure principle, and the outside of their consumption
was taken into consideration.

Mr. 'F. D. Jeffeock, who was cross-examined by Mr. WILD-
MAN, stated that he estimated the deposit of the diluvial de-
posit at 90,000,000.
IThen cros,-examined by Mr. Sergeant Atm:wt.:ATTIE!: be
stated at 41,000 tons. The coal-field comprises 13,000 acres
on the Dronfleld and Ilunstone line. Newbold he stated to be
twelve miles from Sheffield, and two miles from the Midland.
Air, Rigby, the mining engineer of the Manchester and
Sheffield Railway, stated that he had great experience in the
ascertainment of coal measures, and could confirm the state-
ment already given.
Mr. Crossland, a valuer at Sheffield, stated that he had
valued the land and buildings to be taken at 121,171/. 15s.
104 d., including 268 dwelling-houses. The value of the Ton-
tine Inn, at Sheffield, he rated at 13,0001., but this did not
include the compensation for houses of 101. a year, which he
rated at the usual calculation.

Mr. John Fowler was then called by Mr. HOPE, who stated
that the junction of the Sheffield and Manche-ter Railway
with the Sheffield and Lincolnshire line, was 16i miles, while
the junction by the proposed line would be 131 miles. By
Mr. Vignoles' statement it appeared that one in 300 had no
reference whatever to the ruling gradient. The curves, as
far as compared with the gradient, are much more severe,
being one in 20 chains. On the Mit:land they were much
more severe, and he had no doubt that the difference of dis-
tance (3* miles) would have no effect upon the distance.
To the CHAIRMAN, the witness replied that he took the
whole course, and he allowed for them.
To Mr. florE, the witness replied that he had considered
the difficulty a the arrangement between the Sheffield and
Midland, and the arrangements had been made in accordance
with the understanding into which he had entered, and if
there were any deficiency it could be easily arranged.
Mr. Ilopz wished to know whether the communication
between London was in any way provided for by that line?
The witness replied that there would be a saving of nine
miles between London and York, the Sheffield line joining
this at Retford.

To the CHAIRMAN, the witness replied that they had
entered into arrangements with the London and York,
whereby all difficulties would be obviated. With respect
to the Leicester and Bedford there would be no doubt. With
respect to Newark, the distance by the London and York he
believed would be much the same. _

An endeavour was here made by the Committee to ascer-
tain what were the respective interests of the several lines.
Chtertleld it appeai'ed was a smart place, not ex►ending fur
three-quarters of a mile or perhaps the half of that.
An endeavour had been made to amalgamate the several
lines of the Sw.ntott and Lincoln Company, but a disagree-
ment ensued on the terms. Taking the several stations of
the Midland Company, and that of the proposed line, he
court say that the making of one line was not more facile
than the other. But this he must say, that parties coming
from Sheffield would have to backs mile into the Chesterfield,
station.

To the CH.ttamax the witness replied, that inasmuch as
there was no first-claAs station within twenty-lour miles,
there was no alternative, the nearest station being Brighton.
To -Mr. liorE,, the witness replied that there was no objec-
tion to that line.

Mr. FowLEa. had prepared a table of population between
Sheffield and Chesterfield. The witness had taken the town-
ship;, including many villages a long way from the line.
The result was, that the total population was 8,612,
a considerable number of which were excluded from
the line. The population of Norton is nearly 2,000, a
great part of which is situated immediately above the long
tunnel. At Dronfi -Id the same case holds. For a great
part of the coal-ti,ld the line is inconveniently laid nut,
going through a valley and a cutting. There was a differ•
ence between last year and this year ; the one in the former
case going on the level, and that of this year going through
a cutting of from thirty to forts fe,4t.
To the Earl of CHICHESTER, the witness replied that he
deemed it at all times advisable that every advantage should
be given to the coal proprietors. They had this year sacri-
ficed especially the Drontield beds for the sake of a better
line, although a better line might be laid out.
To Mr. Hors, the witness expressed his opinion that Mr.
Vignoles's estimate was about correct. • He estimated the
whole cost at 847,000/., the laud and buildings at 687,000/.
The land for spoil was 149 acres, and taking all the cuttings
this was a fair estimate. Mr. Vignoles propose': to take a
retaining valley, but thougn restricting to space, there would
be an increase of expense.
To the Earl of CHICHESTER, the witness replied that in
the case of Bliswortb, where the upper stratum is rock and
the lower portion clay, the cuttings were necessarily of
greater amount, and in any case the station to the tontine
of the Sheffield and Lincolnshire line was not at all likely to
be made.

Mr. Hope's examination having concluded, the Committee
adjourned till to-morrow.

Room D.