The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-24 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

DARING ROBBERY.—TWO young men, named Lewis
and Woolfendon, were finally exsnained, charged with
stealing eight gold rings.
W. Grasssmith, shopman to Mr. Williams, a pawn-
broker, in Great Smith-street, Westminster, stated that
at about six o'clock on the Wednesday evening, he ob-
served Woolfendon looking into the window. In a few
minutes afterwards witness went into the parlour to tea,
but he had not been there five minutes when he was in-
formed by a customer that the shop had been robbed
lle immediately discovered that a piece of glass had
been cut out of one of the panes, and a card of wedding-
rings, which he had shown but a few minutes previously
to a lady was stolen. He followed the prisoners as far
as the Palace road, Lambeth, before he succeeded in
meeting with a police-constable, when he gave them
into custody. At the time he commenced the pursuit
the accused Were running, but they shortly crossed the
road and walked, and whilst passing over Westminster-
bridge, he heard Lewis say to his companion " I think
the young -- saw us."

A very intelligent boy, about fourteen years of age,
proved having, seen the prisoners together at the shop
window. After a minute or two, he observed one of
them place his hand through a broken pane, and snatch
at the card of rings twice before he succeeded in drawing
them out. Witness gave the alarm, and followed the
prisoners, and never lust sight of them until they were
given into custody.
The accused denied all knowledge of the robbery, and
caller a foreman engaged at Mr. Suggs, the gas meter.
maker, in Westminster, who stated that b.,th the young
men had been employed there about two years ago.
Wcolfendon had continued to work for them up to the
p...riod of his apprehension. At a quarter to six on the
evening of the robbery he brought some articles be had
manufactured to Mr. Suggs, and remained there until a
quarter-past six, when he left. Prisoners had whilst in
the employ always borne a good character.
The pawnbroker's shopman and the little boy were re-
called. The former declared positively that he say Wool-
feodon looking in at the window before he went to tea,
and the latter was equally as certain of their identity,.
repeating that he never lost sight of them.
The rings had not been found, and the constable who
took charge of the prisoners, said he was desirous of
searching Woolfendon on the spot, but he would not
permit him. The streets were very crowded, and the
prisoners had an opportunity of throwing away the
property.
Mr. BOND said ho should not attempt to try the case,
but should send the prisoners before a jury.
The prisoners were accordingly committed for trial.
Mr. BOND consented to take bail for their appearance,
if it were offered.

great attention to him. While he was below in the
osbin of the steamer the prisoner handed him a stool to sit
upon before the fire, and in the course of the convereatien
which took place, said he had been in the naval service
for many y ars, and should be most happy to assist him.
He made a confident of his new acquaintance, and called
for a bless of gin-and-water, and asked him to partake of
it. That disposed of, he also called and paid for a second,
of which the prisoner also partook. On the arrival of
the steamer at Blackwell they proceeded to London by
the train. On their arrival in Fenchurch street the pri-
soner asked him if he had any place to lodge, and on in-
forming him that he was quite a stranger here, the pri-
soner took him to a house close to Billiegealte- market,
where he hired abed. The prisoner, after partaking, of some
grog and supper at his expense, proposed a visit to the
theatre. On leaving the playhouse they went to a public-
house close by, where the prisoner hired a bed for the
eight. They "turned in" to the same bed, and he put
his clothes under his head, and deposited his money in
his right-hand trousers pocket. About half an hour
after they had been in bed, and soon after witness had
fallen asleep, he was aroused by the prisoner, who said
there were thieves in the house, and advised him to turn
out immediately. The prisoner get up with him, and, us
witness had lost the use of his right arm, assisted him
in putting on his clothes. While the prisoeer was doing
so he said he had taken two 51. notes and three eeve-
reigns out of his pocket, and would take particular care
of the money. Witness thought the prisoner was a very
honest man, and allowed him to retain possession of the
money, which he promised to give up on reaching the
street. The prisoner tailed to do so, but took him to
another public house, where they had another glees (1
grog. The prisoner then took him from one house te
another, calling for drink at each, but never offer( d to
part with the money. At last he got wearied out, and
asked the prisoner to give him his money, which he re-
fused to do, and asked him the number of his notes.
Witness could not recollect the numbers, and the pri-
soner said he had ro money of his, an -I threatened to
give him into the custody of the police if he did not
leave him. Witness then called a policeman, who took
him in charge.
The prosecutor, who gave his evidence with great ap-
parent simplicity, was asked if the prisoner paid for the
liquor with his own money.
The marine—No, sir, I paid for everything ; he paid
for the liquor with my money.
Smith, a police- constable, stated that about four o'clock
that morning he was called into a public-house in Rat-
cliff-highway by the prosecutor, who said he had
been rubbed of all his money, and gave the prisoner into
custody. The prisoner was then treating a number of
cabmen and prostitutes with liquor. On taking him into
custody, he turned round to Craig in a very impudent
manner, and said, " Can you tell the numbers of your
notes ?" Craig said he was unable to do so, and the
prisoner said he had notes of his own in his pockets, and
knew the numbers and dates—that he had threatened to
give Craig into custody for annoying him, and that he'
was obliged to be cautious of strangers and bad charne-
-1 ters, for he had a large sum of money about him. He
added th it ho knew the prosecutor wanted to rob him,
and told a very plausible story of his respectability and
connexions. Witness, however, insisted on his coming
to the station-house, and upon reaching that place
he was about to search him, when the prisoner said
there arts no occasion to do that, for he would throw
down ull he had got. The prisoner continued talking
for some time, and declared that he had two sovereigns
andsomnee,o.etrheareecn in
hangheisaibiorietttilhlilmie,
wasand given into that he should
certainly enter an action against the prosecutor, whom
lie had
cus-
tody. He then searched the prisoner, and took from
him nine duplicates relating principally to stolen pro-
perty, ehich would be made the subject of another
charge. While he was unloosening the prisoner's stock,
the reserve man on duty opened the door of the station-
house, and the prisoner made a rush towards it., and at
tempted to make his escape. He pulled him hack, and
after the door was closed, found two Si. notes lying
close to the door. The prisoner denied any knowledge
of them, and directly afterwards asked the prosecutor
not to proceed further with the case, and said he would
make it all right with him. The prisoner was then
locked np.
In answer to questions by the Magistrate, the witness
sail the prisoner thrust his hand towards the door, and
he saw the notes lying on the floor directly he had
done so.
Tho prisoner made a long and plausible defence to
the charge, and said he spent his own money with the
prosecutor who got very drunk, and he was obliged to
hire a bed for him. He took the utmost care of the
marine, and prevented him being robbed. The money
he had in his possession he hail received from the ems'er
of the Commerce, of Liverpool, the day he yeas paid elf.
Smith said if the prison+ r vies remanded, he should be
able to produce other cases of robbery ngain..t him.
Police-constable Peck, 87 11, said he wanted the pri-
soner for robbery in a dwelling-house, and breaking out
of it aft. r he lied stolen the ear-rings and got dreps
from a woman while she was asleep. Some of the dupli-
cates found is; oh prisoner related to the stolen property.
Mr. RBODERIP had no doubt whatever the prisoner
wen one of these persons who laid in wait for homeward-
bound seamen and strangers in London, for the purpose
of robbing them. At one time there was a great many
fellows prowling about on the watch for sailors, soldiers,
acid marines who had just been paid off, but the vigilance.
of the police, and frequent exposures of their 'tricks,
had thinned their numbers. He should certainly com-
mit the prisoner for trial on this charge., but as other
charges would be preferred, he should remand him till
Wednesday next.
The depositions were then formally taken, and the
prisoner was sent to the House of Correction.
• IV ANDSWORTH.
OBSTRUCTION OF A HIGHWAY BY A RAILWAY COM.
P&NY.—'l'he Rev. William Carmalt, one of the sur-
veyors of the parish of Putney, attended at this Court,
and perceiving Mr. Krill, the contractor for the Rich-
mond Railway, was present, immediately served him
with a notice, of which the following is a copy:—
"To Mr. Knit% of Wandsworth.—Sir,-1a pursuance
of the direction,: given by an Act passed in the stk and
6th year of William IV., intituled an Act to consolidate
and amend the laws relating to highway s in that part of
Great Britain called England, I, William Carmalt, one
of the surveyors of the parish of Putney, in the county
of Surrey, do hereby give you notice forthwith to remeve
the stone placed by you on a certain part of the Queen's
highway, at the topeof the High-street of the town of
Putney aforesaid, to the obstruction and annoyance of
the said highway. " WILLIAM CARMALT.
" Dated this 19th day of January, 1846."
Mr. Knill having read the document, said he certainly
should not obey it.
Rev. Mr. Carmalt—Then you won't remove the
stone and bricks ? Mr. Knill—Certainly not. lam
going to commence building a bridge there to-morrow.
Mr. Carmalt said in that case he should write to ob-
tain the opinion of the sitting magistrate.
Mr. Fletcher read the meter to the magistrate, after
which the Rev. Mr. Carmalt said he had to complain of
the conduct of the Richmond Railway Company or its
agent, in depositing large quantities of brick and stone
in a public thoroughfare, much to the obstruction and
annoyance of passengers. The Act stated that it tin as
necessary to g ive notice, and he lead done so, but the
contractor said he should not obey it. Ile now wished
for the magistrate's advice on the subject.
Mr. Ceeve said, the matter had not come before him
judicially, and he was averse to giving advice. He pre-
sumed that the surveyor would act in the usual manlier
if his notice was not complied with.
Mr. Carmalt said he was Willing to allow the contractor
time to remove the obstacles.
Mr. Knill said he wanted no time. Under the Lands
Clause Consolidation Act be had ample authority for
what he had done.
Mr. CLIVE thought it was better not to discuss the
matter any further,
The Rev. Mr. Trimmer, who had accompanied the
parish sot veyor, observed that the contractor had acted
illegally by stopping up a footway without providing a
bridge or some other mode of transit.
Mr. CLIVE again intimated that he was averse to
these discussions, and it would be better for all parties
to act in strict form.
Mr. Carmalt said he would adopt the magistrate's sug-
gestion, and if the notice was not complied with he
would apply again in a few days for a summons.
HAMMERSMITH.

HOCUSSING A CAIMAN.—A young man named Samuel
Young was brought up before Mr. Clive, charged under
the following circumstances:—
Policeman Worden, T 21, deposed that soon after otm
o'clock that morning he found the 4gfendant in King
street, Hammersmith, driving the street cab No. 2,341.
Defendant was very drunk, and quite incapable of tak-
ing care of himself, as he was lying down over the foot-
board of his box, with his head hanging down on the
wheel. Two gentlemen were inside the cab, who, over it
being stopped, got out and ran away. Witness took the
defendant to the station-house.

The defendant, in answer to the charge, said he was
not the regular driver of the cab in question, but the
driver having been taken ill he was on the
previous evening put in charge of the cab by the
proprietor. About eleven o'clock on the pro
vi9us night, while on the stand in King William-
street, City, he was hailed by two gentlemen who
desired him to drive them to Kew-bridge. When they
got through ICenAing:on turnpike, they told him to pull
up at a public-house on the right, which he did. The
gentlemen went inside, and when they came out they
gave ikig) a bottle to drink out of, which tasted of
peppennifit, and in about five minutes afterwards a most
extraordinary feeling came over him, and he had no dis-
tinct recollection of anything afterwards. He believed
that they afterwards stopped at other houses along the
road and had drink ; that at Kew-bridge his hat was
km. cked off his head, but whether the gentlemen left
him there, or he brought them back to Hammer-
smith, and they there got out and ran away, as stated by
the policeman, he did not know, but he knew he had no
money for their fare.
Mr. CLIVE asked what had become of the horse and
c3b, and if the proprietor had any charge to prefer
against the defendant.
Worden said the proprietor had fetched the cab away,
and from what he had said there was no reason to be-
lieve but that the defendant's statement was the truth.
Mr. CLIVE said under those circumstances he shou!d
fine the defendant only ss. for being drunk.

MAkLBonoUGH-STREET.

William Johnson was charged with stealing nine s d-
ings, under the following circumstances :—Last evening
the prisoner went into the shop of Mr. Copps, of No. 34,
Norfolk-street, Middlesex Hospital, and ordered a shit-
ling's worth of wood, to he sent to No. 30,
Howland-
street, Fitzroy-square, with change for a half-sovereign.
The errand boy, who was sent with the wood and change,
was met by the prisoner, who, givii:g him a counterfeit
half-sovereign, received the nine shillings. The boy die-
covered that it was a bad one, and gave him into custody.
Inspector Clement, of the E division, said that he had
received information from every division of the metro-
politan police force of a person, answering the deawip..