The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-12 00:00:00

GANG OF THIEVES.

OLDSTOKE, NEAR SALISBURY.—A considerable sensation
has been excited in this town, in consequence of the disco-
very of a gang of thieves, who have for some time past com-
mitted various depradations in the immediate neighbour-
hood. There is scarcely a farm, mansion, or garden, on
which midnight contributions have not been successfully
levied. Last week, as one of the keepers on Lord Radnor's
estate was surveying a portion of the property, which lies in
a most unfrequented part of the Downs, bordering on the
forest, called " There Great and Little Yews," he disco-
vered a column of smoke issuing from the umbrageous
foliage of one of the largest trees, and anxious to discover
the cause, he penetrated the wood, and following a narrow
winding track, suddenly found himself introduced into what
may, without any impropriety, be called a sylvan apartment.
This was formed by cutting away the lower branches of the
tree, under which the bushes were stunted and decayed,
while the hazel, holly, and wild thorn, which flourished in
wild profusion around the extremities of the yew
branches, formed an admirable defence, with the tree
itself, both against sun and shower. The trees are of
themselves of such magnitude, that it would appear
they must have braved the " winter's churlish tyranny"
from the days of the conquest. Of these sylvan
apartments there were three, and it is supposed that
the marauders were at the time of the discovery in the
inner apartment enjoying their siesta, as the keeper (Dow-
ling) was suffered to make his retreat unperceived, though,
as he says, expecting every moment " a bullet through his
head," to arrest his flight. His apprehensions were quite
natural, when it is known that among the various articles of
plunder with which the ground was strewed were fire-arms,
two muskets ready cocked standing as uprights, ornamontal
as well as useful, against the time-fluted column of the

•
ancient tree, which seemed the support of the dwelling.
Dowling, having communicated his extraordinary is
to ttlithorities, went the following day, accompanied by
some equestrian assistance, who succeeded in capturing tr
of the gang, who were comfortably seated before their ,t
t•ooking the repast for their brethren, who were no dou
on some l'Orttgin; expedition. On searching the place
several curious features presented themselves. The
ments were admirably arranged. In the
which was formed by twin trees, a hole was dui about ta;
feet deep, end twelve or fifteen in circumference, rad 1.1., as
sloing to the centre. Here the caldron waS bUbli"ll-3 e,
effectually as ever it bubbled for the northern 'avof
while the ground was covered with all descriptions
r,
ntre of the M*3.7.
property, useful as well as ornamental, servants' and car,
riage lace livery, working utensils, pans, fire-arms, hools•
sheep-skins, &c., forming the staple commodities o_
traffic. The sheep were supposed to have been stole_.:
from Earl Nelson's domain, close adjoining„ but as
marks were carefully obliterated, tioy could not be readll
,as
identified. The larder formed an inner apartment, and °el
perhaps the most curious. This being still more felb,
against wind and weather, and cool and dry, was admira ar,
adapted for the purposes intended. It was, inoreoViait.
well provisioned. Here were pans of fresh meat in
re
b 4
•
as much as two men could carry—bacon, cheese, ,
vegetables, and fruit of all descriptions, and a bare, esd,
dently showing that a lengthened campaign was anticipate
On perceiving the strangers, the two fellows, who aPPe6r, ,„
rather drowsy over their culinary operations, attempteu
make their escape by flight, but in vain. On being OP;
tured they informed Dowling, that had their gang beenrriae
home, the whole parish would not have taken them.
two men have been committed for trial at the ensual
Marlborough sessions. No further disclosures have 851'.,
ticipateca
been made, and although several suspicious characters Was
been seen lurking about, no further apprehensions have
yet taken place. The " Great and Little Yews" is a 61.-fn
gular plantation, chiefly yews, and covers about 100 aeresar:d
ground, situate in a most romantic part of the Pow's' „;ng
seldom frequented except by the sportsman when Purs,;(lo"
his game, and is so intersected with underwood as to re bay
almost impervious by the foot of man, and is ado'sfitted for the purposes for which it has been selected.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT, SEYT• 11'

Richard Salter, a messenger to the Treasury,: 05 (1,1
posed by Mr. Nicholls, on the part of Messrs. Ayling;
Peck, upholsterers, of Knightsbridge, and by Mr. Ge,
wick Jones on the part of three creditors, name
M'Gegor, and Bate. He was supported by Mr. LA°
(with whom was Mr. Woodroffe).
The' insolvent was appointed one of the Treasury 01.17:
senders by the King's patent in 1805. His salarY 21,11.
besides perquisites. They had amounted to 1501. a )„.`-",:
but bad latterly fallen off. They accrued from iraireni°o°;
He denied that he had much posting when Earl GreY Wets,,
out of office. His duties were now performed by det
The insolvent had been valet to the late Duke of l Pao o
who left him his wardrobe. It was not, he said, Wi,
„n
1,0001. That Noble Duke had left him an annuity of luv.,
a year, which he had mortgaged on account of an estra/81
°
gant son, whose follies had cost him about 1,1001. °elf!
four sons and one daughter, neither of whom were suPP'"
by him. He had an indisposed wife. rtior
The object of the opposition was to obtain an aPP°.
ment of the insolvent's salary for the benefit of his eredit°
He had made an offer some time ago to them. the
The Court directed 801. a year to be set aside {0 Trent
creditors, and the Chief Commissioner knew the in6°,lin''
had been a meritorious servant to the Duke of For'

He was discharged.
Edgar William Dow, late of Tavistock-street, CovOrt
garden, tailor, was opposed by Mr. Woodroffe on the 5.,
of Mr. Whitbread, a cattle-dealer, and in person by !dr.
Timberlake, a coal-merchant. He was supported by

Cooke. greater
The case lasted the whole of yesterday and the
portion of to-day.
Sentenced to eight calendar months' imprisonment; a for
Richard Sayers, a stage-coach driver, was remen",ie with
eight months, for contracting a cit:bt by means of fraud
Mr. Dixon, of the Horse Repository, Jiarbican. ie,)ts
Thomas Weaver, a wholesale cheesemonger, whose
amounted to 2,0001. and upwards, contracted since '
1833, was opposed, and sentenced to twelve months '—'
sonment for a falsification of his books.
11.
MIDDLESEX ADJOURNED SESSIONS, Ssrt'

01'
Captain Richard Grant, of the Royal Sovereign 9.-3.
boat, was indicted for wilfully and unlawfully steerill r
nivigating the said vessel on the River Thames,
O a
ning down a boat in which were Mr. Thos. Masterrnan
Messrs. Edward and John Heath, and endangering tbee-1
lives thereby, on the 16th of July last. There were 501
ral counts in the indictment.
Mr. Thomas Masterman was a brewer, residing at Pt;
cliff. On the evening of the 6th of July, at
o'clock, he went on the River Thames, accompanied; by tl,
gentlemen named Heath. They were in a skiff. fir..
Heath stripped and bathed while the boat was off Gtb
with, and opposite the Isle of Dogs. While Mr. TA-
was in the water, the Royal Sovereign came in sight, tolaej
ness, on seeing her, threw a rope to Mr. Heath and totor
him to the boat, and then made for the shore, but the stoelia
bore down upon them so rapidly, that they could not av°oo
her, and in an instant almost the boat was upset. Witr!i
u ti
74,
clung to the chain cable of the steamer and held on
boat came to his assistance and released him from his Pethe
about nin
bons situation. His companions, after remaining in„..hei
water some time, were also picked up by a boat. that
were within about forty yards of the shore at the time
foil
the accident happened. The steamer was going at .
speed, and the Captain might have avoided their boat aiti
had used proper endeavours to do so. He
witnessLi,
all in his power to avoid the steamer, but without u`
of
Mr. Heath lost his clothes and money by the upsettil!gent
the boat, and they were all placed in the most unini°
(

danger of their lives.
Messrs. Heath confirmed the above evidence, „yet of
The jury, after a short consultation, returned a -ertsi
Guilty. A been
Mr. Adolphus suggested that, as an action bas'„ sr.
brought to recover the amount of the loss sustained u/nt oo
Heath, it would perhaps be better to postpone judgite-„piti
the defendant till next sessions, to give him an opPc--
of coming to some arrangement with the parties. a the
After a long conversation between the Bench 613
ors
Bar, the Court ordered the defendant to enter into his the
recognizances in 201. to appear and receive judgment °°,,dei
first day next sessions, and in the meantime recointne.one
the defendant to make the complainants a reasonable
pensation for the loss and injury they had sustained. 50
The defendant entered into the required suretieg,
was then discharged.