The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-12 00:00:00

THAMES.

A vEn,v SLIGHT BLEMISH.--A very large elderly
woman, of dissipated appearance, who gave the name of
Ann Brown, was brought before Mr. Selfe, charged with
stealing a pint pot. _

John Bate, barman at the Blue Anchor public-house, in
Ratcliff-highway, said that last night the prisoner came
into the house and had two half-pints of beer, which were
served to her in two pint pots. He saw her putting the
last pint pot under her apron, and this aroused his suspi-
cions, and caused him to watch her. He saw her leave the
house with the pint pot, when he followed her and took it
from her.

The prisoner, in her defence, said she had drunk seven
half-pints of gin, besides smithy half-pints of porter, and
became so thirsty that she was almost choked.

Mr. Selfe—l wonder you were not quite choked ; I do
indeed.

The prisoner—Well, sir, I was so thirsty.
Mr. Selfe—A drunkard is always thirsty.
The prisoner—So I took the pint pot to procure some
water, which I knew I could not get in a public house, but
I intended to bring it back again.

Mr. Selfe—Does any one know the prisoner ?
Francis Kelly, a police-constable, No. 130 11, said the
prisoner had given a fictitious name. Her real name was

.....
Hicks, and she was the wife of a farrier, a most respectable
man, living in New Martin-street, Rosemary-lane. Tho
Woman was very fond of drink.

The prisoner—There is not a blemish on my character.
Mr. Selfe—What do you call excessive drinking ?
The prisoner—That is a very slight blemish.

Mr. Selfe—l think it is a very great blemish. You
ought to be ashamed of yourself. Go about your business
and keep sober. There is some doubt whether you intended
to steal the pot, and you are discharged.

THE LATE SACRILEGE AT STRATFORD.—At the
Ilford petty sessions on Saturday James List and William
Saville were brought up on remand on the charge of break-
ing into a vault at St John's Church, Stratford, and steal-
ing a copper coffin. The prisoner List made the following
confession :—I was employed by Saville, and was engaged
by him at the church, in July, 1855. On one Saturday
morning I was employed digging a grave in the church-
yard, when Saville said, " Jemmy, what do you say to have
old Dr. Taylor's coffin taken out I?" I said " Oh, no." He
replied, " Never mind, let us have it out." We then went
to the Coach and Horses public-house, and we returned.
He brought a chisel, hammer, and other articles with him.
Saville and I then went down into a vault under the
church. We broke open the brickwork of the vault in
which D.r Taylor was buried. The coffin lid was taken off,
and the coffin was tilted and taken into the adjoining vault.
We removed the copper coffln, which was broken up into
pieces. The metal was left in the vault. About a week
afterwards Saville said, " Jemniy, come and let us have the
out." He meant the brother of Dr. Taylor. We
then broke up the leaden coffin, and left it until the Mon-
day, when Saville fetched a man with a barrow and some
bags to the church, and the metalwas taken to a house near
the Green Man, in East-street, where it was sold to a rag-
man. 'I do not know his name, but I should know the man
if I were to see him. I bricked up' the vault afterwards,
and Saville was drunk under the church. (Saville at this
part of the proceedings laughed.) I received 10s. 6d. from
aville for my trouble. Saville made the arrangements
respecting the sale of the metal; and I do not know what
Saville received. List was then subjected to a long cross-
examination from Mr. Rawlings, the solicitor, but his tes-
timony was not in any way, shaken. Mr. Holing re-
quested that the prisoners might be kept apart, and he also
asked permission for the conveyance of the man List to
Stratford, with the view of identifying the man who pur-
chased the stolen metal. The proceedings were then ad-
journed fora week,