The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-09 00:00:00

CLERKENWELL.

A. pale, care-worn looking woman, named Cathe-
rine Bankes, of middle age, dressed in deep black,
was placed at the felon's bar, before Mr. Corrie, for
final examination, on remand from Wednesday last.
charged with stealing and illegally pawning certain
articles of property.
It appeared, from the evidence on the first exami-
nation, that the prosecutor, George King, bookbinder,
of 34, Galway-street, St. Luke's, having been for
some time out of employ, let one or two rooms fur-
nished; and the prisoner, on the 20th of September,
became his lodger. On Wednesday he missed from
her room a pillow, a blanket, four sheets, two pillow-
cases, and a book. These articles were pledged for
eighteen shillings, and she also owed upwards of 1/.
for arrears of rent. He charged the prisoner with the
theft, and gave her into custody of Turner, 81 G,
who produced the duplicates. The prisoner acknow •
lodged having pledged the articles, but said she
had been driven to it by the deepest distress.
She endeavoured to earn a living by needlework,
tied also received some assistance from a person
in the country. The magistrate asked who
that was, and prisoner answered that she must not
tell. A letter was then produced, which bad
been found upon the prisoner, or in her room. Mr.
Corrie (after glancing at the letter) asked the prisoner
if she had written it with her own hand, she replied
in the affirmative. The magistrate (having read
further) inquired whether, if he forwarded the letter
to the gentleman to whom it was addressed, she
thought he would assist her ? Prisoner said she
feared he would not. Her answers to further ques-
tions from the bench were indistinctly heard ; for she
buried her face in her hands and sobbed bitterly. She
solemnly assured the magistrate that she had never
before been charged with any crime. Tne gentleman
to whom she had alluded as assisting her occasionally
from the country, whose name was not mentioned,
was, she said, an old friend, who had known her long
ago under better circumstances, and she had expected
a Post-office order on the Ist of December, hut it had
not arrived, or the articles would have been redeemed
Mr. Corrie admonished her, but in a kind tone, that
she had done very wrong, but still this gentleman
might help her in her unhappy position ; and, as it
was her offence, his own object was to assist her. Had
she any claim upo❑ the gentleman ?
The prisoner said she had none whatever, and
feared he might be offended if troubled. She further
stated in answer to Mr. Corrie, that she had always
filled a respectable situation, but misfortunes had be-
fallen her , she had been a widow seven years, and
had a little boy eleven years old dependant upon her
exertions. The poor little fellow was produced in
court. Mr. Corrie said that all his duty permitted
him to do was to send her back to custody until
(Monday) today, and meanwhile inquiries would be
made into the case, and her little boy would be taken
care of i❑ the workhouse. At these words the pri-
soner roused herself from the shame and sorrow which
had almost prostrated her during the examination, and
energetically said, "On I no, no ; pray do not send
him there. Perhaps Mr. King would take care of
him until then." The magistrate expressed his regret
at her unhappy position, this being her first offence.
The prisoner was then remanded.
The prosecutor and his wife appeared again to-day
before Mr. Corrie, and the prisoner was placed at the
bar; her demeanour was more collected than on the
former examination. The prosecutor produced some
private letters to the prisoner from members of her
family which had been found in her room, and also a
sealed letter, which had come by post since her impri-
sonment, addressed to her, which he had been advised
to retain in his possession until the present hearing,
and then hand them over to the magistrate. Mr.
Corrie took them, but sent the sealed letter over to the
prisoner, who returned it with an intimation of her
wish that he would in the first instance open it himself.
The magistrate did so, and finding the letter was from
the gentleman in the country, enclosing an order for
a small sum, he sent it back by the usher of the court
to the prisoner.
Upon being asked how he intended to proceed,
The prosecutor said he must prosecute unless some-
thing was done to restore his property, which was
pledged for 183., and to pay the rent the prisoner owed,
which amounted to 1/. ls. 6d.
Mr. CORRIE said to the prosecutor—You know all
the circumstances, and if you think this is a case
which you ought to prosecute, you have certainly a
right to do so.
Prosecutor—Then I will do so.
The prisoner was then committed.

CENTRAL CRI.IIINAL COURT
SENTENCES.

Left for Exccution—Williamniith, alias Glennistcr.
Sentence of Death Recorded—Wiliam Harris,
Henry Round.
TRANSPORTATION —Ten Ir,ars—William Johnson,
Thomas Williatn

Seven Years—John Lisd, John White, CRtherino
Adams, Robert Forteseue Muukrell, Jdtnes D.,tralas,
George William Warman, Cornelius Nlahony, ilenry
Robert Br,wn, George Todd, John Sands.

IMPRISONMENT —Two Years—Atexander Good.
Eighteen Months—Joseph Smith, William Mason,
Joseph Clinton, Thomas Ry an.
Twelve Months—Henry Simpson, Sarah Williams,
Christopher Reynolds, Thomas Bennett, John Sinup:or,
Stephen Pigott, John Davidson, Eliza, Shanley, Wil-
liam Wilson, James Hart, Timothy Brennan, William
Needs, William Rasta'', John Smith, John Whi
Mary Anne Penton, John Smith, Dennis Conway.
Six Months—William Bates, Walter Hodges, Robert
Collingwood, Susannah Bastiongs, David' Thomas, Wil-
liam George Eardley, David Barnard, Joseph Perry,