The Sun.
London, England, 1834-01-20 00:00:00

MARY LEB ONE.

EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDING. (::)11 Saturday a man
named Thomas Benger, who stated that he lived in Fre-
derick-street Portland-town, and obtained a livelihood by
dealing in pigs, was brought before Mr. HosKINs, charged
by Robert Parry Nesbitt, Esq., with having been found
in that gentleman's house, No. 76, B tker-street, Portman-
square, under the following circumstances :
Mr. Nesbitt deposed that on the same morning, as he
was coming down stairs, to his great surprise he saw the
prisoner, who had just left the kitchen below, walk up
with a pail in one hand, and holding his apron, which
was twisted up, with the other. He (Mr. N.) imagining
that some pilfering had been carried on by the prisoner,
whose horse and cart was standing at the door, questioned
him closely as to what he had got, when he replied
" Nothing but some hogwash in the pail, and in my
apron some stale broken victuals given me by the cook."
He (Mr. N.) then examined the pail and apron, and found
that they contained what the prisoner had stated, but con-
sidering from the man's appearance and manner, that he
had gained access to the house for an improper and
unlawful purpose, rang the bell for his footman, who
having, by his directions, fetched a policeman, the pri-
soner, who begged hard that be might be suffered to
depart, was conveyed to the s'ation-house. Another
bundle was found in the prisoner's cart, which the con-
stable also took possession of.
The two bundles were here opened, one of which con-
tained part of a stale half-quartern loaf, together with a
few crusts of dry mouldy bread, and a leg of mutton bone,
on which was about half a pound of meat quite dry and
black. In the other bundle were some pieces of hard
bread, and what to all appearances was a slice of musty
salt bet-f.

Police-constable Henry Garnett 148 D, stated that on
the prisoner being placed in confinement, be said be hoped
the gentleman would look over the offence, as he bad a
large family depending on him for support. He also said
that he was not aware of having done anything deserving
puni.hment, as the cook had let him in for the wash, and
had given him the broken victuals, which she said was
too stale and mouldy for the servants to eat.
Mr. Hosicttis (to Mr. Neshitt)—l must see this cook
of yours, Sir. She appears to have been the thief, and
this man the receiver.

Mr. Nesbitt—Why, Sir, I have no thought whatever of
preferring any charge against her. My object in givin4
the man into custody was, that Ee might be punished for
having, as I imagined, improperly entered my house, as I
saw him come out of another in a similar way.
Mr. Hosicins—You may not have any wish to prose-
cute this servant of yours, but she must be brought before
me. Go for her, policeman.

In about a quarter of an hour the policeman returned,
having in his custody the cook, a very respectable looking

woman, about 60 years of age, whom he placed in th
witness box.

Mr. HOSKINS-Why do you place her there? She is
a prisoner, and must stand at the bar with the other.

She. WAS accordingly placed in the dock, and appeared
completely overcome and bewildered at finding that she
was charged as n felon.

Mr. Nesbitt (mach astonished)—l beg, Sir, you will
distinctly understand that no charge is made by me
against her.

Mr. Hosimrs—Perhaps not, Sir; but this system of
plundering is carried to some extent in London, and muss
be stopped._

Mr. Nesbitt—l quite agree with you there, the system
is decidedly bad ; but in this case what has been found
on the man is of ne value, and as I had an excellent cha-
racter with my cook, who has now lived in my family
eighteen months, during which period she has conducted
herself well, I can't think for a moment of prosecuting her.
Mr. HosKiNs—So you said before. (To the police-
man)—Do you know any thing of Benger ? Policeman.—
I do not, your Worship.
Mr. HOSKINS (to Benger)—What have you to sly ?
Benger—l've only to say that, as I was going by the
house, a few days ago, the cook called me in, and said
she wished a tub of wash fetched away. I called for it
this morning, as I was going round with my horse and
cart for the same purpose to other houses, when she gave
me the stale bits found in my apron for my trouble.
Mr. HositiNs (to the cook)—Do you wish to say any
thing ? Cook—l did give him the pieces of bread and
meat which-are in the bundle. He told me he had a large
family, and I thought it better to give the stale things to
Nhiemab,
ittthkannntwo
athtrhoawt
hethemhad a
away
n
I have been a faithful servant to my master and mistress
both, and never robbed them of any thing in my life.
excellent
n intoelle n tth character
dust hole. l
withe. ll
mI re.. I
thought there was no harm in giving the poor man what
I did.

Mr. Nesbitt—The thing was certainly worthless, and I
don't wish by any means to charge my servant with any
offence.

Mr. HosKiNs (to the policeman)—l should like to
know something more about this man Benger. Let further
inquiry he made and bring them both up again on Tuesday.
Mr. Nesbitt—ln the mean time where will my ser-
vant be ?

Mr. Hosiciws—She will go to prison with the other.

Mr. Nesbitt (with astonishment)—But who charges
her with any offence ? I don't, you'll understand. It's
not my --

Mr. Hosxtrrs (abruptly)—Call on the next case.
Mr. Nesbitt here left the office, evidently greatly sur-
prised at the turn which the affair had taken.
Benger and the cook were then conveyed by the gaoler
to the lock-up-rooms in the yard, preparatory to their being
taken in the prison van to Clerkenwell.