The Sun.
London, England, 1834-05-17 00:00:00

OLD lIATLEY SESSIONS.-(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
A Frenchman, who was committed a few days ago for
stealing aquantity of jewels from the shop of Mr. Devignes,
of Goldeh-square, applied this morning to have his trial
put off until next Sessions, in consequence of his inability
at present to procure funds from Paris to enable him to
obtain professional assistance.
Mr. BODKIN, on behalf of the prosecution, opposed the
application. The true bill was found on Wednesday,
charging the prisoner with stealing some diamonds which
had been entrusted to Mr. Devines by a party who, if
they were not returned in a given time, would charge
him 1,600 guineas for them. Besides that, Mr. De-
vines was obliged, in a few days, to go to France on
important business, and would not return by next sessions.
Four Napoleon's, which had been found on the prisoner,
were returner to him, and therefore he had the means of
obtaining professional assistance.
The Co URT refused the application, as the prisoner had
money to get legal assistance, and as no person in Paris
was connected with the charge.
Alexander Watkins was indicted for stealing eight
sovereigns, in the dwelling-house of Richard Tilfer.
The prosecutor said he lived at No. 10, New-street,
Covent-garden, and was a hosier. The prisoner came into
his shop in the evening of the 4th March, and asked for
two half-sovereigns for a sovereign. Witness took
out his bag and gave him two, upon which he asked
for one with a fleur-de-lis on it ; witness poured
some of the gold from his bag into his hand, and while
looking for the particular half-sovereign the prisoner said,
" Allow me to look," and putting his hand across the
counter on the gold, pretended to look for the coin. Wit-
ness then pet out some more gold in his hand and some on
the countev. The prisoner not finding the coin apologized
fot the trouble he had given, and left the shop. Witness
saw'him while leaving the shop put a white handkerchief
into his right hand trowsers pocket, and he heard some
money rattle. Suspecting he had missed some of his
money he counted it, and found 9/. 10s. deficient. He
had had 391. 10s. in his bag before the prisoner came into
the shop. He did not pursue the prisoner, thinking it.
useless to do so, and he never saw him again until fire
I weeks after at Bow-street.

Cross-examined by Mr. BODKIN.—Was positive as to
the amount of gold in the bag. Could not swear how
many sovereigns or how many half-sovereigns there were.
There could not have been more than five or six half-
sovereigns taken, but he would not swear there might not
have been seveti. Would swear that five whole sovereigns
must have been taken. At Bow-street he believed
he did not say the prisoner was not more than half a minute
in the shop. Believed he had seen the prisoner but could no t
tell where or when. Was not aware that there was now
in Newgate, under a similar charge, a person much like
the prisoner in appearance.
The prisoner denied the charge, and said there was a
person in prison much like him, who had confessed to simi-
lar offences ; so much were they alike that the surgeon of
the prison, who attended him, addressed the other prisoner
by his name.
Thomas Brown, turnkey of Newgate, stated that there
was a person now in Newgate very much like the prisoner.
His name was Lindsay. A stranger might mistake one
for the other. In the calendar the other man was charged
with stealing three sovereigns.
Mr. Wm. Cope, the governor of Newgate, gave similar
testimony as to the likeness between the prisoner and Lindsay.
If he had met them in the street he should mistake one for
the other, and in fact he had made that mistake twice
since they had been in prison. Lindsay was charged with
felony by similar means to those charged against the pri-
soner at the bar, and had been convicted.
The Jury expressed a desire to see Lindsay, and after
some discussion between the Court and the counsel, Mr.
Cope was desired to send for him.
In a few minutes he was brought into court, and the two
men were placed at the bar side by side. They were scru-
tinized were closely by every one in court ; their hats were
put on, and they were desired to exchange places. Con-
siderable amusement was excited in the court by the ex-
traordinary scene. There was certainly a very general
likeness ; but upon close inspection there was a distinction
in the complexion and in the length of the features.
Lindsay, addressing the Court, said he often wore a coat
like that worn by the other prisoner, and he did not wish to
see another suffer on his account.
Mr. Justice VAUGHA N stopped Lindsay, by saying he
could not be allowed to go on, and giving evidence in the
case.

Mr. PHILLIPS—Then, my lord, you have mistaken one
for the other. (A laugh. )
Mr. Justice VA uciwz---No, indeed I have not; for I
knew him after they changed places, although I did not
see them change.
Mr. Piiimars then observed, that, being a convict, he
could not call Lindsay as a witness for the other prisoner.
Mr. Justice LITTLEDALE summed up the evidence,
leaving the whole, case to the jury.
The foreman of the jury wished to know how long
Lindsay had been in custody.
Mr. PHILLars said he was committed to Newgate on
the 15th of April; this offence was committed on. the 4th
of March, and Lindsay was of course at large in the
interim. The prisoner at the bar Was committed on the
:23d of May.
The Jury asked the prosecutor whether, after seeing the
two two prisoners together, he felt any doubt of the identity
of the present prisoner ?
The prosecutor said he had no doubt of the identity of
the prisoner, having seen him before, and having known
him when he came into the shop. He thought there was
some likeness between them, but not avery considerable one.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty.
There was another indictment against the prisoner,
charging him with stealing in a similar manner, in the
dwelling-house of John Wilson and another, eight sove-
reigns. -
While the first witness in this case was under examina-
tion, the piisoner addressed the Court, saying he had no
wish further to trouble them, and he would plead Guilty.
Mr. Justice VAUGHAN said there were no less than four
or five witnesses to identify his person distinctly.