The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-29 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

Yesterday, Henry Brown, .a young man carrying on the
business of a newsvender in the 'Old Kent-road, and who
has hitherto borne an irreproachable character, was brought
up on a charge of robbing Mr. Jenkins Stradling, an elderly
gentleman, of his watch and seals. The office was thronged
with the friends of the prisoner, and the examination, which
lasted for a considerable time, excited much interest, owing
to the serious nature of the charge against the accused.,
The complainant stated that on his return to town from
Blackheath on Friday night, about ten minutes past ten
o'clock, as he was passing along near New Cross, a man
came up to him and said something, the words lie had for-
gotten, and then gaVe him a push in the breast, which threw
him down on the ground. When be got up again he dis-
covered that his watch and six gold seals were gone, the
steel guardchain, to which the watch was attached, having
been broken asunder. He recollected that the person by
whom he was attacked wore dark clothes, and resembled
the prisoner in appearance, for when he saw that person at
the office on the following morning he was so much im-

pressed with the belief that he w-as the man that he then
accused him of the robbery. He added that soon after he
was knocked down two persons came up, and he complained
that he had been robbed.

On the complainant's cross-examination by Mr. Warner
he admitted that he was fresh on the night in question, but
not so much so as not to know what he was about. He left
Blackheath at eight o'clock, but could not say what houses
he had called at between that place and New Cross. He
might have been in Peckham-lane, but he was not aware of it.
Mr. Warner had witnesses in attendance to prove that
Mr. Stradling entered the Kentish Drovers about nine
o'clock on the night in question, so tipsy that the waiter at
first refused to draw him a pint of porter, which he called
for, and he then began to tell the company that he had been
robbed in Peckham, and described that the robbery was
effected by three men.
In reply to Mr. TRAILL, the complainant said that the
spot where he was robbed was previously to his arrival at
the New Cross-gate. Had no recollection at all of having
been in any public-house after he was robbed, but went
home to his house in Pimlico in a coach.
By Mr. Warner—Would not undertake to swear that
he might not have been assisted up when he was on the
ground by the prisoner.
Mr. TnAim. said that it was evident enough that the
complainant must have been intoxicated, from the circum-
stance of his utter inability to account for the two hours
from the time he left Blackheath until the robbery was
effected, which he stated was after ten o'clock.
Mr. Warner—Were you not lying down in the road,
near the footpath, when the accused, seeing you in that
situation, told you that there was a danger of being run
over; and offered to assist you in rising, and your telling
him then that you had been robbed of your watch and
seals ? Complainant—I have no remembrance of any thing
of the kind happening.
Mr. Warner—Do you still adhere to your former
statement, that you had not complained at the Kentish
Drovers that you had been robbed of property to the
amount of 60/.? Complainant—l don't think I could have
said any such thing, for the watch and seals were not worth
that sum.

Mr. TRAILL again said that it was not disputed the com-
plainant was in liquor at the time, and, in reply to the Ma-
gistrate, the complainant admitted that he could not recol-

lect the precise period at which he lost his recollection on
the night in question. This answer caused some laughter.
Josiah Stone, a young man in the service of a gentleilii,t
named Haldane, in the parish of- Hatcham, stated hat
about ten minutes before ten o'clock on the night in (11-1,e1,,,
tion, as he was proceeding to his master's residence, lire
attention was arrested by seeing two persons on the °Pl°.,sn a
side of the road, on the footpath, apparently engage" Tre
struggle with one another. He at first thought they ",ei_e
two friends joking with each other, but he waited to see'"..
result, and as he stood he observed, that one was an old Haan
and the other a young man. He saw the hat of the former
fall off, and then saw him fall down, and the young 1:30
went to pick up the hat, and he afterwards ran away d w
the lane. In running away the young man passed cloy eof
where witness was standing, and he had an opportuniY;
seeing his figure and the dress he wore, but not his ounhe
nance. When witness saw the young man run away
then crossed over and saw the complainant, who im,.mad
diately said that he had been robbed by the person 101
man took
,
just left him. Witness ran in the direction the
along the lane, but lost sight of him, and then returned,
back again.to the complainant. While witness was turned,
to the complainant the prisoner approached from a babe
which was along the side of a field, and on coming UP
inquired what was the matter, and when told that the co
plainant had been robbed by a young man, he said, ",pl,-;
it, he can't have been robbed here." The witness saint,"ot
when the prisoner came up it immediately struck him tuir
he was the man whom he had previously seen on the 013P4
site side struggling with the complainant, his dress 11'1
figure being exactly the same.
In reply to Mr. Traill, the witness was of opinion
to t the
man who attacked the complainant had afterwards got
over into the field adjacent he lane. It will be I'o°l'
bered that the witness stated, that- subsequently to .48
. _
robbery he saw the prisoner approach the place where
was i
standing with the complainant, from a bank whic,hpr•
parated the footpath of the lane from the field. This -te.
cumstance was particularly mentioned by the Magiltrner
The witness then proceeded to state that after the Prinply
made the inquiry he walked away, and witness imnlech3,:aa
went towards the Canal Bridge, and informed a Polie--; as
of what had happened, and also mentioned his susPilig
that the robbery was effected by a young man reserahlalo
the accused. Witness and the policeman went fors', d,
and came up to the prisoner, when the policeman, 0,
dressing him, said he wanted him. The prisoner then I_o
mediately asked him whether it was about an old gentlento

that was robhed? art
Policeman 130, R divisio
. n, corroborated `--the a he
of Stone's evidence, andgin addition said 4" that whebneeo
came up with the prisoner he appeared cit. ter to have that
running or walking very fast. The policeman added, 0,
when he was taking the prisoner along, the following In°ol-e
ing, the latter said that he recollected when he first saw be
to
complainant on the previous -night a cart happened latter P
passing along. the
The witness • Stone; being recalled, stated' that at as
time he saw the complainant and the man by whom Ile l'ear
attacked together, there was a cart happened 'to Pass
th
the spot at the time, and it was rather singular that
was the only vehicle that had passed that way for 113(1
derable time before or after the robbery, a fact laic'
since been ascertained at the turnpike. rsons
- Mr. Warner here stated that there were several Peellerit
of respectability in attendance to speak as to the excA
character the prisoner had hitherto borne. He 113,700
evidence to prove that at nine o'clock the coniplain'T"
lot
into the Kentish Drovers, and there stated that he

been attacked by three men in Peckham-lane.
Mr. TRAILL said that there was no doubt that the
plainant had been robbed, and the evidence against the, for
cused was of such a nature that he should send the cas-thel
trial, at the same time he should listen to any witnesses
thought proper to call forward for the defence. , tisll
Thomas Blackett, tie former proprietor of the 0-e-, oa
Drovers, recollected the complainant having called the
then
the night in question, and had a pint of porter, and he It
complained that he had been robbed in Peckham-Ling'
waMr. TRAILL nine o'clock when he called, vrifr
again said that the examination of the
aC
ness did not alter the features of the case against tile or
cused, and observed that the witnesses should have an
portunity of giving their evidence on the trial.
11,
The pr.soner was then committed for trial, the 111 oe§
trate not considering it necessary to examine his witLece.
as to former character, many of whom were in atten'

POLISH DEPOT.
describe'
i,,c
A traveller passing through Portsmouth thus uv-c„i3r
the present condition. of the exiles resident there tof
fore I sailed for the Isle of Wight, l visited the JO% to
Polish soldiers at Portsmouth. You will be delig:htero
hear some particulars of this remnant of an lieroicb: it,
that not long ago won the admiration of the world j` for
valour ; and, small as it was in number, withste°olo
nearly one year the whole power of the Colossus e'titeili
north. A building, formerly an hospital, is assignedirno,;
by Government as barracks, where they live in h-rs°l
with each other, having elders at their head and officea
menage—a semblance of a family. A penal code at'or
honorary tribunal is constituted by them for the 191sitr
'lance of good order and discipline, and punishmentrjtiier
fitted on the culprits, as I was told, to .the sound °.`
national songs, to drown the cries of the sufferer. ftheit
proves hoW anxious they are to preserve the honour° tbetr
country 'untarnished, and to render themselves bYri tbst
orderly conduct not undeserving of the generosity ° sotO
nation which granted them an asylum and support' durilll
have found employment in the town and its vicinitY
the harvest. , All are panting after labour, and thi,r, 041
ploy.l.rs bestow on them the praises of perseverall`
dexterity. If you had seen them, you would IW:ea tlf
pleased at the neat appearance of their clothes, 310011
respect they show to British officers when anY °
happens to pass by—a reverence which is left thl their
their old profession. Life in a camp has not impairelecerf
moral feelings, and you would be pleased to see thelll e%ee
Sunday proceed in knots to church. Much of thei_lr,•
plary conduct' is owing to the kind reception ti'firie'rvitte;
with from the inhabitants of Portsmouth. - A °°' 31-
was formed for .thei relief before Government rtecey
the grant of 100,0001. The.most active members of 30iiel
mittee appear to be Messrs. Griffin, Lang, Creuie; rice .°
And Gaddock. To the medical skill and benec'e,,ssll,`'
Mr. Williams many owe their recovery from dangeriieviT,
ness. Ladies are known to be not less zealous incr,el";
these homeleSs strangers on the British shore. 11"...,,r'.3111i0if
and Misses Brander have provided them with no tbe.
tion of linen ; some have sewn shirts for thenl'.,"f`,l)l,3'd
own hands. On my visit to the Polish depot,
kenzie and Mr. Adam Smith, two members of the 'Ol
Literary Association of the Friends. of Poland, °ant
to Portsmouth in order to inquire into the wall-
soldiers, -and to regulate the distribution of tied., 'r
mentary grant betwixt them. 'The soldiers, on `acitr
proach, formed a circle around them, and welconleoill'e
with loud cheers. A few days before, General Ca '.si
renowned both for his gallantry and patriotism, 113 :011°;?.°
that military detachment of his brave countrYrnen' ore^
whom he found many whom he led to fight with the. vol'.
sors of their unfortunate country, to free it fromthei.