The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-29 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

DARING ROBBERIES OF CIIURCRES.—A Lancashire
man, about 30 years of age, giving his name John
Donnolly, was charged under the following circum-
stances :

The prisoner is at present a ticket-of-leave man.
Three years ago he was charged, in company with
his brother, at this court with stealing the copper
wire guards which protect the stained windows of
Westminster Abbey. They were found in posses-
sion of an apparatus consisting of a three-jointed
rod, long cord; and hooks by which the latter were
fixed upon the top of external wire work, while a
handle at the other end of the cord enabled them to
pull it down, however firmly fixed. It was stated
that by these means, prisoners had robbed a vast
number of churches throughout the country. Pri-
soner and his brother were both convicted and sen-
tenced to penal servitude for four years.
George Epsom, 119 B, said that between 7 and
8 last night he saw the prisoner in company with
another man, each carrying a large bundle. Sus-
p.Tting that something was wrong witness followed
them from Brewers-green into Dacre-street, West-
minster, where they entered a house. "Witness fol-
lowed, and after a great struggle the man iu com-
pany with the prisoner escaped, after throwing the
constable heavily on the ground. On the spot two
parcels containing a number of copper wire guards
for church windows, neatly hammered up into a
small compass, and weighing very heavy, were
found.

Police-constable 102 B proved being called by
the previous witness, and endeavouring to take the
second prisoner, who escaped
Mr. Arnold—ls there any owner for the property,
or any part of it ?

Inspector Troughbridge—No doubt there will be;
it is from church windows, probably in the country
—Berkshire or further.

Prisoner wa,s remanded for eight days.

THAMES.

AN INCORRIGIBLE THIEF. —Maria Russell, alias
Connor, alias Hiscock, and with many other aliases,
was brought before Mr. Selfe, charged with steal-
PPituVcintNi *Mak% %%R N!
street, Whitechapel.

The prisoner, an elderly Irishwoman, is a vendor
of a delicacy in great repute in the classic regions
of Whitechapel, namely, trotters, but she had not
been content with the profits of that lucrative busi-
ness, but has added one of an illegal nature, pot
stealing, to it. She has been summarily convicted
of concealing pewter pots beneath her legitimate
stock on six or seven occasions, and on the 2d of
the present month Mr. Benson convicted her,
and sentenced her to 14 days' imprisonment and
hard labour, and Warned her that the next
time she was charged with a similar offence she
would be committed for trial. Unmindful of
the warning of the learned magistrate she recom-
menced her depredations last night. She was
passing the station-house in Leman-street,
IVhitechapel, with her basket containing trot-
ters on her arm. A police-constable named
Robert Ryves, No. 61 11, who was stand-
ing at the door of the station " thought the trotter
basket looked suspicious," and inspected it. There
was a dozen of trotters at one end of the basket,
and at the other, covered with paper, two pots, a
quart, and a pint. The woman assumed the ut-
most horror and astonishment at the discovery, and
said " The Ould Devil" slid into her basket and
put them there. Mr. William Goodge, of the
Half Moon and Punch Bowl, identified the pots,
which he valued at 45., and said the prisoner was
in his house at half-past 12 last night.
Mr. Selfe—At half-past 12 this morning, you
mean.

Mr. Goodge—Yes, sir. I have missed many
pots lately, and have missed them after her visits.
The Prisoner—lt was the dhrop taken, yer
hunner's wortehip.

Ryves—She was quite sober, your worship.
Police-sergeant Fry, A, R, said the prisoner was
an incorrigible thief.

The Prisoner—Don't believe him.
Mr. Selfe—l do believe him.

Prisoner—Sittle it here, ycr hunner's wortchip,
and be merciful to me a pour ould woman.
Mr. Selfe—No ; you are a notorious thief, only
recently come out of prison. You are committed
for trial.

MARKETS—(This Day•)