The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-03 00:00:00

LAMBETH.

NUMEROUS ROBBERIES OF WATCIIES.—A woman
named Sophie Weeks was placed at the bar before Mr.
Broughton, charged with having been concerned with two
men not in custody in attempting to pick the pocket of a
lady.
Mr. Wontner attended for the prisoner.
Sergeant Potter, 16 11, deposed that on Saturday after-
noon last, while in Southwick-crescent, Paddington, he saw
the prisoner walking arm in arm with a man ; another man
was walking at a short distance behind. In Upper South-
wick-street the prisoner and the man who was with her
accosted a lady, of whom they had no doubt been
asking their way to a certain place, and she was pointing
with her hand towards Praed-street. Witness asked
the lady if she had lost anything, and she replied
that she had not. They went into Cambridge-street, where
they met another lady into whose pocket witness saw pri-
soner put her hand. The prisoner and her two male com-
panions, upon observing that he (witness) had kept a watch
upon their movements, wade off as fast as they could, and
in the course of their progress one of the men threw come-
thing into a garden. The men got clear off, but the pri-
soner, who had got into a Hansom cab, in which she was
about to be driven away, was captured by witness and
conveyed to the station-house.
In reply to the magistrate, Potter said that neither of the
ladies was present.
Mr. Broughton—Do you know anything of the prisoner ?
Witness—l do not myself, but I believe she is well known
to Crocker, of the C divisioo, who was here this morning,
but was obliged to leave. Witness added that a number of
robberies had lately been committed in the Paddington dis-
trict, the articles stolen being principally purses and watches,
by parties who had stopped ladies and elderly gentlemen
under pretence of being informed as to their right road to a
particular spot.
Inspector Mackerel( stated that owing to many recent
cases of plunder the witness Potter had been ordered to keep
watch in plain clothes.
The prisoner was remanded for further inquiry respecting
her.

SOUTHWARK.—TILT OLD INDIAN SOLDIER AGAIN
—After the usual night charges had been disposed of, Johi
Lawton, the old soldier, attended before Mr. Combe ac-
cording to promise, with the view of explaining his conduce
and contradicting the statements which hail recently ap
peered in the newspapers. He informed his worship that
he left a letter on Saturday for his perusal, the contents of
which would clearly show that he was neither an " impos-
tor" nor " cheat."
Mr. Combe told him he had carefully perused the letter
in question, and he must publicly say that he saw nothing
in it to alter his opinion, " that he was an impostor as well
as a cheat." He clearly obtained Gs. from Mr. Edward, his
chief clerk, under the pretence of going to Hull.. He, how-
ever, did nut go ; consequently that was an imposition.
Lawton endeavoured to explain that circumstance by say-
ing, that the reason he did not leave London then was the
accounts which he saw in the newspapers on Thursday
morning. He considered that they were injurious to him
as an old soldier who had served his country, and that his
character required to be vindicated.
Mr. Combe asked him what he had to say about obtaining
10s. from the Hon. Mr. Norton at Lambeth Police-court
only a few days before ?
He replied that he did not beg that to be sent to Hull.
He was in great distress at the time, and actually starving.
He told Mr. Norton so, and the whole of his history.
Miller, 118 L, an officer attached to Lambeth Police-
court, said he was present when Lawton made his applica-
tion to the Hon. Mr. Norton, and at his request he made
inquiries about his services in the army. They turned out
to be quite correct, and Mr. Norton gave him (Lawton)
103. out of the poor-box to enable him to go to Hull.
Mr. Combe asked Lawton what he had to say to that ?
Ile replied that he expended the money to purchase food,
therefore he could not go to Hull.
Mr. Combe told him that his conduct was very suspicious,
and, so tar as he could see, looked very much like a fraud.
He came before him with a very plausible tale ; and regard-
ing his services in the army, and his character during that
time, no doubt lie had told the truth. But latterly he had
grossly imposed upon the poor-boxes of several of the
metropolitan police courts. He told his tale to the magis-
trates, and then asked for the means to be sent to Hull.
Three times had he imposed upon the Lord Mayor, and he
most undoubtedly had imposed upon the poor-boxes of the
Lambeth and this police court.
Lawton did not consider it any imposition. He was in
distress, and in want of common necessaries. if his worship
wished he could send to Chelsea Hospital, and ascertain
that he was entitled to enter that institution on his arriving
at 50 years of age. What was lie to do until then ?
Mr. Combo told him he must not impose upon the poor-
boxes at the police courts. When before him on Wednes-
day last he said that he had taught drilling at schools near
Hull, and that he had come up to London to seek a Go-
vernment situation ; and failing in that lie wanted the
means to return to Hull, where lie had friends. The chief
clerk provided him with those means, but lie did not go to
Hull. Did not that look like fraud ?
Lawton observed that his clothes were in such a deplorable
state that he felt ashamed to go to Hull.
Mr. Combo told him that was an idle excuse. lie never
mentioned that when lie made the application. When the
money was given to him at Lambeth and that police court
he promised to go by the boat to Hull immediately. In.
stead of that, he remained in London—most likely for the
purpose of further imposition, but that was put a stop to
by the press. He had received several sums of money
from benevolent individuals for his use, but he should not
hand it to him, or encourage such a system of fraud. If
he liked he might go and tell his tale to the officers whose
names he had mentioned in his letter, and see whether they
would assist him, as he would have nothing further to do
with him.
Lawton asked his worship to read his letter. That set
forth his character and showed he was not an impostor.
Mr. Combe again told him he had carefully read his letter,
and there was nothing in that to excuse him from commit-
ting the frauds he had upon the poor boxes. He might
thank himself lucky that he was not sent to prison ; there-
fore the sooner he went about his business the better.
Mr. Combe then requested our reporter to announce in
the Morning Post that the benevolent individuals who had
sent money to this court for Lawton might have the same
returned to them on application to the chief clerk, or if they
pleased it might be deposited in the poor-box, and distri-
buted to the many deserving poor who were constantly
asking for assistance.
CRUEL CASE OF WIFE BEATING.—Charles Cooling,
a cab-driver, was brought before Mr. Combe charged with
cruelly beating Rebecca Cooling, his wife.
The latter, who had a severe cut on the side of the right
temple near the eye, and who exhibited several bruises on
her arms, stated that she had been married to the prisoner
14 years. He had formerly been a cab-master and driver,
but latterly his habits had become so depraved through
drunkenness that he had lost his license, and now he hung
about the cab-stands, and did nothing to contribute towards
her support. He was frequently in the habit of ill-using
her, and a day or two ago lie came home an
cut hed knocked
ce an her
about with the handle of a whip. He then r fad
e
injured hr arms, and she believee would nearly have
murdered her had not a .constabled cameh in and took the
whip handle from him.
Police-constable 177 produced the whip, the handle of
which was covered with blood. Ile further added
that the prosecutrix was so unwell after the assault was
committed as not to be able to attend and give her evidence
whon the prisoner was first brought up for examination. ;
Mr. Combe asked the prisoner what he had to say in an-
swer to the charge ?
He replied that be had been drinking at the time, and
when he got home she aggravated him. He was, however,
very sorry for his conduct.
Mr. Combe told him he was a cowardly, brutal fellow, and
he should sentence him to six months' hard labour.

THE LATE CALAMITOUS FIRE AT THE FIRE-
WORK FACTORIES.—Mr. William Dodd, an inspector
of police, applied for four summonses, by direction of Capt.
Labalmondiere, the assistant commissioner of police, against
the owners of the houses Nos. 1 and 2, Charles-street, and
3 and 4, Elizabeth-place, Westminster-road, parish of St.
George-the-Martyr, and calling on them to show cause why
they neglected to take down the walls of these respective
buildings or structures, they having been duly certified to
be in a dangerous state by a competent surveyor, and notice
of the same having been given to them.
The buildings in question are the ruins of the houses at
which the late calamitous explosion of fireworks took place,
and the usual certificates of a surveyor,
under the dangerous
structures clause in the Metropolitan Building Act, repre-
senting the ruins to he in a dangerous state, having been
Pitt in, the summonses, as requested, were at once granted.
Wito PLUCKED THE FLOWERS ?—Janres Cotterell, a
constable belonging to the P division of police, No. 402,
was brought up in custody and placed at the bar, on a
charge of
plucking fl in the garden and pleasure
grounds of a gentleman at Brixton.
Mr. Lund, the superintendent of the division, represented
the prisoner as the worst man under his charge, and said
that for the 10 months tie hail been in the force there were
Woe reports against him, and it. was his impression the pre-
sent was not the first offence of the kind of which he had
been guilty.
The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge, and Mr. Nor-