The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-14 00:00:00

prison.

SOUTHWARK.

ROBBERY BY A TICKET-OF-LEAVE CONVICT.—Edward
Davis, a miserable•looking man, a ticket-of-leave con-
vict, was brought before Mr. Combe, charged with
stealing a brush from the shop of Mr. Chubb, Queen
street, Southwark, under the following melancholy cir-
cumstances :

A lad in the employ of the prosecutor said that he saw
the prisoner enter the shop on the previous afternoon
and take a brush off the counter. He did not attempt
to go away, but waited until a constable came and took
him into custody.

The prisoner told a most pitiable tale, stating that he
was utterly starved. He had been in his youth in good
circumstances, but unfortunately he got into bad com-
pany and robbed his employer. He was punished for
that and lost his character. Afterwards he plunged
further into crime, and was tried at the Newington Ses-
sion on the 25th of October, and sentenced to seven
years' transportation. He was sent to Millbank prison,
where he suffered greatly for more than twelve months ;
and at the expiration of that time he was conveyed to
the Hulks at Portsmouth,' where he fared very well and
was not hard worked. 0 wieg to his exemplary conduct
he received from the Secretary of State a ticket of leave
on the 22d of November, 1855. He was furnished
with a little money, and made his way to Lon.
don in search of employment, but, owing to his
former conduct, every one turned his back on him. He
was a marked man, and even in walking the streets was
pointed out as a ticket of leave convict, and no one
would employ him. Since then he had been in a state
of starvation, and would gladly return to the hulks
sooner than suffer as he had done. In fact he had com-
mitted the present offence to get sent back, and he
hoped his worship would commit hiin.
The constable who apprehended him said he knew
the prisoner formerly as a respectable young man, and
be knew bim now to be in great distress. He bad called
upon the inspector a few days ago with a view of giving
himself up as he bad no means of s übsistence, but the
inspector could not detain hira unless he committed some
crime. Witnessadded that he never saw a fellow-crea•
ture in such a deplorable condition as th e prisoner.

Mr. Combe advised him to be remai 2ded for the usual
documents to be produced, preparatory to his being
committed to the sessions.

THAMES.

DARING HIGHWAY ROBBERY,-A. p owerful young
man, named Jan Kelly, aged 19, anct living in Spital•
fields, was brought before Mr. Selfe, charged with as.
saulting and robbing Robert Goodfacm, of No. 2, Old
Suffolk-street, carpenter.

Daring highway robberies have bees: of almost nightly
occurrence in the neighbourhood of Whitechapel and
Tower-hill after sunset. The prose tutor was passing
along Church-lane, Whitechapel, lust night with a
bundle in his hand, and the prisoner suddenly ac.
costed him, tripped him up, 21rid snatched the
bundle from him. The priadner made] off with
the bundle, leaving the prosecutor• on the ground.
He was immediately pursued by a man named
John Morrie, of No. 1, Portland- place, Stepney,
who, after a smart chase, overtook the prisoner
in a gateway in Calderston-street, Whi techapel, with the
bundle in his possession. It containud a leather bag,
a gown, two shirts, two silk handkerchiefs, and other
property, value 2/. 108. The prosecute, ris a carpenter,
living at No. 2, Suffolk-street, near th, e London Hos-
pital.

The prisoner, in defence, said that ail) prosecutor fell
down and dropped his bag, and he picker d it up.
Mr. Selfe.—What business had you. to pick up the
bag, if he did drop it ?

The Prosecutor.—He struck me and tripped me up.
Mr. Selfe fined the prisoner 51,, or two months' im-
prisonment, for assaulting the proseemtor, and two
months' imprisonment for the unlawful p ossession of the
bag and its contents.