The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-28 00:00:00

MEMOIRS OF A THIEF.

Our readers may recollect that about three weeks since
we reported a case of robbery committed at a house in
Cliff-street, by a fellow named Peter Bowerhan. For this
offence the culprit was tried on Wednesday last and found
guilty, which subjects him to confinement in the state prison
for a term not less than two years. The life of this man
has been one of singular depravity. Besides a number of
crimes of which the police have no cognizance, the fol-
lowing facts are gathered from the most authentic
sources :—Bowerhan was originally a butcher, and his first
offence was stealing cattle, in October, 1819, for which he
was sentenced to the State prison for three years. Soon
after his liberation, in 1823, he committed another robbery, .
for which he was sent to the Penitentiary, where he re-
mained twelve months. in January, 1825, he was again,
pn conviction, committed to the same prison for a year. In
Nc,vember, 1826, he was subjected to twelve months' im-
prisomnent for a street robbery, and in 1828 was sentenced
to confinement for the same period for a sim.lar offence. In
April, les% he, with several others, were detectel in a very
extensive' felony through the vigilance of that worthy and com-
petent offiet,‘-r Ald. Palmer, and were committed to the Peni-
tentiary. wr:ile they were waiting for trial, the cholera
broke out, and Boswerhan was one amongst the first attacked
to the hespita in what the phy
by it. He was remo-Pe4
sicians considered a hope,',.,ss state, and the usual remedies
applied to him. Watching
;.,is opportunity whilst the at-
tendants were absent, he tore oti-
plasters and bandages
with which he was swathed, made hi: escape from the hos-
pital, and fled to Philadelphia. From thisplace he ad-
dressed a well-written and Very pathetic le; ter to the Dis-
trict Attorney, recounting his sufferings and tt distress in
which his wife and family were plunged in consequeric:e of his
troubles and absence, and concluding by entreating that Mr.
Hoffman would forego his prosecution, promising to reform :4-
together his misspent life. Upon these representations a not;
prosequi was entered, and Bowerhan returned to New York.
He had scarcely been a month in the City before he re-com-
menced his former practices, and escaped detection until
December, 1832, when he was found guilty of several petit
larcenies, and sentenced to a confinement of 18 months in
his old quarters. About a week before perpetrating tho
robbery of which he now stands convicted, he entered into
a plan with a young Englishman to plunder the house of an
elderly person, who keeps a tavern in Rossevelt-street, arid
whom he knew had a chest, in which between 600 and 700
sovereigns were deposited. Fortunately for the owner,
he, on the morning of the intended robbery, removed the
chest to another part of the premises, and so secured its
safety. Bowerhan and his confederate broke into the
house in the middle of the night, and as the former vrag
acquainted with the premises, he left the other rogue to
keep watch below. With a lighted candle in his hand, be
first sought for the chest containing the treasure, but
which to his chagrin and disappointment he found removed;
resolved, however, not to come away empty-handed, he
boldly advanced to the chamber-door of the landlord,
who, with his wife, was snoring in bed ; gently approach-
ing them, he drew from under their pillow a pocket-book,
containing a considerable amount in bank bills. Scarcely
had he effected this, when the old gentleman awoke, and
seeing a strange man with a light in his hand, boldly jumped
out of bed, and rushed towards the intruder. Bowerhan,
aware of the danger of detection if he suffered his pursuer
to recognize him, immediately extinguished the candles, and
while the awakened sleeper was groping his way after him,
he boldly entered the next chamber, where he knew two
watches were suspended over the mantic-piece, seized the
prize, and escaped in safety with his confederate, before the
landlord was able to raise an alarm. Many other
circum-
stances are related of this desperate
which, as they.would excludemoreainmdplomrtardnetnemdaottffeern:alerre,
of necessity omitted.—New York Paper.