The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-06 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

Yesterday a case, of which we gave a brief notice in
yesterday's paper, was called on, and Mr. Thorn, of Stan-
hope-street, Mr. Preston of the same place, and Weare, the
man who sold the tapestry to Mr. Preston, were in attend-
ance to meet any charge that might be made against them.
On the part of the prosecution, Major M'Arthur, Secre-
tary to the Lord Chamberlain, and Mr. Putman, the De-
puty Usher of the House of Lords, were in attendance.
The office was crowded to great excess.
Mr. Thorn was called forward, and Sir F. ROE address-
ing him, said, " Mr. Thorn, I have a question to ask you,
to which 1 expect a direct answer—Have you, in the first
place, produced the tapestry which was the subject of a
partial inquiry yesterday ? Mr. Thorn—l have not got it
now, nor can I produce it just at this moment, but I am
willing to do so as soon as I can. _

Mr. Adolphus here observed that this course of pro-
ceeding was neither more nor less than an attempt to obtain
admissions from Mr. Thorn which might lead to the re-
covery of the property in dispute by a criminal process, in
order to avaid the trouble and expense of a civil action.
These admissions, if they were obtained, would be used in
a way not generally recognised in inquiries of this kind.
Sir F. ROE (with considerable warmth)—This is the
first time, Mr. Adolphus, and I will take care it shall be
the last, that I have ever suffered Counsel or any other
man to tell me that I have made myself instrumental in an
attempt to obtain admissions from a man in a criminal in-
quiry which might afterwards be made use of against him.
It was an extremely improper observation.
Mr. Adolphus did not mean the remark personally ; but
it certainly did appear to him to bear that complexion. The
Learned Counsel then (after a warm discussion between
him and Sir F. Roe) asked Major M'Arthur if, supposing
the tapestry were produced, he would pledge himself that
it should be returned to Mr. Thorn's house in case no cri-
minal charge was established against any individual ?
Sir F. RoE—I pledge my honour as a gentleman that if
no case of felony be made out the tapestry shall be restored
to Mr. Thorn, but until the matter is fully and finally in-
vestigated it must remain here if produced.
Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Thorn's solicitor pledged himself it
should be produced, and in the course of the subsequent pro-
ceeding the tapestry was brought in, rolled up in canvass,
and placed in the care of Ellis, the officer.
Mr. Thorn was then called as a witness, and stated that
in May or June last, he bought the tapestry produced from
Mr. Preston, in the same street, for 30s. Mr. Preston came
to him early in the morning, and said he had a piece of
tapestry from the House of Lords, to sell. He saw it at
Preston's shop, and gave him the price mentioned. Witness
asked him how he got it, and he said he believed it came
from a man who had been in the service of a gentleman be-
longing to the House of Lords.

Sir T. ROE—Was there a ticket upon it upon which was
written, " Piece opposite the throne ? " Mr. Thorn—Yes.
He produced the ticket, and showed it to the first gentle-
man who called about the tapestry.
Sir F. ROE—What was the size of the tapestry ? Mr.
Thorn-27 feet by 15.
Sir F. ROE—Did it not occur to you that it was an im-
provident purchase, buying as you did so large a quantity of
tapestry for such a sum, especially when you knew from
whence it came ? Mr. Thorn—No, Sir, I did not, for I
have bought a whole room of tapestry, and that not long
ago, for 18s.
Sir F. ROE—But not of this kind, I suspect ? Mr.
Thorn had rig :idea of wrong in making the purchase. He

had lived thirty-five years in the parish, and never had a
blemish upon his character.
Mr. Preston deposed to selling the tapestry to the last
witness, and said he bought it of a man named Weare,
whom he had known many years. He told witness that the
tapestry was given to him by a servant to some gentleman
belonging to the House of Lords. He did not choose to
take it entirely as a present, and therefore gave the servant
ss. Witness added that he understood the tapestry had
been used as a carpet.
By Mr. AnoLmus—l sold it to Thorn in open shop. It
was in so bad a state that I did not like to be encumbered
with it.

Sir F. ROE said the possession had now been traced to
Weare, and it became a question whether he was a criminal
party or not‘ He would, therefore, not swear him until he
had heard whether Major *Arthur was prepared to charge
him on suspicion of being a principal in the stealing of the
tapestry ?_

Major Edward M'Arthur was sworn, and in the first in-
stance begged to state that the inquiry was not instituted
in consequence of an order from the Duke of Wellington,
but arose out of a communication received from the Com-
missioners of Woods and Forests, that the tapestry was in
the possession of Mr. Thorn.

Sir F. RoEs—Did you ever, Major M'Arthur, give any
person leave to take away the tapestry mentioned ? Major
M'Arthur—No. On the contrary, I thought it so impor-
tant a relic that I ordered it at once to be deposited in a
place of security, and made a memorandum of the circum-
stance in a book, which I now produce. It was placed in
a sort of press or closet over the room in the Great Cham-
berlain's Office, in which my servant, George Sibien, a Ger-
man, slept. This servant I had the highest opinion of. He
had been for many years a soldier in the Imperial (French)
Guards, and brought with him certificates of character
of the first kind. He left my service about the 9th of
June last, and went to Germany. I never authorised him
to take or give away the tapestry in question. I here think
it very important to state that the tapestry never was used
as a carpet.

Weave was then called, and being cautioned that he was
an accused person, and was not bound to say anything that
might criminate himself, said he was willing to state all he
knew about it. He was and had been for many years
employed as a porter plying for jobs about the House of
Lords. He knew Major M'Arthur's servant by the name
of " George" only. The latter said to him in June last,
" Here is an old piece of tapestry which has been used to
lay down in the Great Chamberlain's Office as a carpet.
My master told me I might take it away, as it was a lum-
bering thing, and if you can make anything of it you are
welcome." He (Weare) said he would not take it as a pre-
sent, as he might most likely make a trifle of it, and there-
fore gave him .ss. for it, and took it to Mr. Preston, to
whom he sold it for 15s.

Sir F. ROE again asked Major M'Arthur if he was pre-
pared to charge the man Weare (upon his belief) with
being concerned in stealing the tapestry ? and the reply of
the Major was in the affirmaive.
The Chief Magistrate then said that in an ordinary case
he should have no hesitatien in at once committing Weare
to prison ; but as it was necessary to delay the inquiry for
a fortnight to procure the attendance of the German ser-
vant of Major M'Arthur, who was at present, he under-
stood, at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, he would take very heavy
bail for his future appearance. •
Mr. Gifford, messenger to the House of Commons, and
one of the under-messengers, immediately stepped forward
and gave bail to the amount of 4001. for Weare's appear-
ance next Friday week. He was of course liberated.