The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-27 00:00:00

HATTON-GARDEN.

ROBBING A GAOL.—Yesterday Samuel Banks, the steward
of a ship, was examined before Mr. Sergeant Sellon, charged
with having stolen twenty-nine sovereigns.
John Summersall was head turnkey of the House of
Correction, Coldbath-fields. In October last the prisoner,
an inmate of that gaol, was employed in making the beds
iand keeping clean the sleeping apartments. His term of
rnprisonment expiring on the 22d of that month, he was
set at liberty, but scarcely had he left the building ten
minutes when witness discovered that his trunk, which was
kept in his bed-room, had been forced open and plundered
of twenty-eight sovereigns and two half-sovereigns. With
the exception of witness's brother officers-the prisoner was
the only person who had access to the room. He was
found and brought back to his old quarters. When taxed
with the robbery be protested his innocence, and nothing
being found on his person to criminate him, he was again
set free, after promising to come forward at any time he
was required so to do. Witness had since received part of
the money from the Governor of the prison, whose deputy
had succeeded in finding where it was hidden, and the
manner in which it was stolen.

John Flood, a gardener, living at No. 22, Charles-place,
Chelsea Common, last October, was a prisoner in the
House of Correction for an assault. The night before the
prisoner was discharged he slept with witness, and during
the night he was so restless that on the following morning he
was induced to ask him the cause. He replied that he was
sorry he was going to leave the prison, as he had lived there
as well as he wished, and added that the principal cause of
his fretting was in consequence of having in his possession
some money, which, being contrary to the discipline of the
gaol, he was fearful of severe punishment, knowing it would
be impossible for him to secrete it from the turnkeys, who
would be particular in searching him before he was suffered
to depart. At that period witness was managing the prison
garden, and thinking he should be doing no wrong he con-
sented, at the earnest solicitation of the prisoner, to con-
ceal a packet, which he was given to understand contained
the money, promising to throw it over the north corner of
the prison wall precisely at half-past nine o'clock the same
morning, at which time the prisoner undertook to be there
to catch it. The prisoner received his liberty soon after-
wards ; and just as witness was about to perform his pro-
mise he received intelligence from his overlooker that Som-
mersall had been robbed of a quantity of soverigns by the
prisoner, who would soon be re-apprehended. Witness
became exceedingly alarmed, and feeling convinced that he
should soon be questioned upon the subject and searched,
he buried the packet as he received it from the prisoner in
the garden. According to his anticipations he was taker!
before the Governor, to whom he denied all knowledge of
the transaction ; and it was not until April last, when he
was closely pressed by the Deputy-Governor, and pro-
mised that if he made any confession he should be pardoned,
that he stated where the money was deposited, and what
he knew respecting the matter.
Mr. George Hoare, deputy Governor. of the House of
Correction, when the robbery was effected was convinced
that the prisoner and the witness Flood were concerned in
it, and he kept harassing the latter until he induced him to
confess. Witness saw Flood dig up the packet, which
contained no more than 271. 10s. 7d. The prisoner sur-
rendered to witness yesterday, saying he had just come from
a voyage, and his conscience had so pricked him that he was
determined on giving himself up to justice. He told wit-
ness that he had entrusted the money with Flood, but what
he had done with it he was unable to say ; and further,
that twenty-seven sovereigns and a half sovereign was all
he took, the ievenpence was his own money.
The prisoner, who admitted his guilt, was fully committed
to Newgate for trial.