The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-20 00:00:00

HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

A waterman, named Cole, aged 28, was indicted for high-
way robbery.

Mr. Best appeared for the prosecution. The prisoner
was undefended.

Richard Bannam said on the 13th of July he met the pri-
soner and some other parties, at the Admiral Kepple pub-
lic-house, and having entered into conversation with the
parties, he (witness) took out his porte-monnaie, contain-
ing a sovereign and some silver, to pay for some beer.
After the liquor had been drunk he left the house, but was
followed by the prisoner and four other persons. When
he got to Battersea-park the whole of the party surrounded
him, and Cole seized him in front, while a man named
Brown and two women meettred him behind. They tore the
whole of the front part of his dress open, and turned his
pockets inside out, but did not succeed in getting posses-
sion of the purse, as he (witness) held it in his hand. On
this being discovered the attempt to gain possession of it
was redoubled ; but on assistance arriving, Brown and the
women were secured, but the prisoner escaped. Brown had
been already convicted, but the prisoner had not been dis-
covered until a few days ago.

Henry Ward, one of the keepers of Battersea-park, said
that on the 13th of July last he recollected going to the as-
sistance of the prosecutor. He saw Brown and Cole trying
to overpower another man, who was lying on his back. He
went up to render assistance, and succeeded in taking
Brown to the station, but Cole escaped. The prosecutor
had been drinking, but he knew well what he was doing.
The prisoner asked the witness if ho was sure he was the
person he saw in Battersea Park on the evening of the rob-
bery, and he said he was certain be was the same party.
Sergeant Huddy, of the Metropolitan police, said he
took the prisoner into custody on the 31st of August last at
Sheerness. He was working in the Dockyard. On being
told that he was charged with having committed a highway
robbery, he said, " It's all right, I have been drawn into
it by bad company. lam sorry for it."
In answer to the charge the prisoner put in a written
defence, in which he stated he never intended to rob the
prosecutor—that the whole of the thing was a lark which
the prosecutor well knew.
The jury found the prisoner guilty, and the learned
Recorder sentenced him to two years' imprisonment with
hard labour.
WAREHOUSE ROBBERY.—Thomas Jones, a respectably
dressed man, was indicted with stealing a bale of goods,
the property of Messrs. Tweedale, of Wood Street, Cheap-
side.

Mr. Cooper appeared for the prosecutor, and Mr. Met-
calf defended the prisoner.
Thomas Huddle (City police) said a few days ago he saw
the prisoner carrying a bale of goods. He asked where he
had got it from. He said from Wood Street, and that a

man had given him the parcel to carry. Not being satis-
fied with the account given, he took the prisoner to the
station, and there, on being opened, it was found to con •
tain the articles mentioned in the indictment.
William Leonard, porter to Messrs. Tweedsle, of Wood-
street, said the bale of goods was safe in their yard on the
10th inst. It had been received but a short time before it
was stolen. It was marked was the name of the firm.
The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced
to nine months' imprisonment, with hard labour.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Common Sergeant.)
WATCH ROBBERY.

Francis Duffy, a sharp-looking lad, about 16 years of age
was indicted for stealing a watch from Robert Smith, a
labouring man•

The prosecutor said on the 11th of Augat last, he having
some clothes to sell went into the City to do so. Not
having succeeded in disposing of them, he entered a public
house in Houndsditch, when the prisoner and some other
men entered and began to talk about skittle-playing. It
was arranged to play some games, and the prosecutor
was asked to go and " see fair." He did so. After being in
the skittle ground a short time he lost his bundle of
clothes. Ho began to make a noise about his
loss, when some one gave him some beer, and
immediately afterwards he became quite stupefied.
After remaining a short time longer in the beershop he
quitted the place with the ;intention of going home, but
after getting a short distance he suddenly felt some-
body put his hand round him from behind,
and snatch away hie watch. He looked round,
and saw the prisoner muting away. He was certain he was
the boy, as he had r.a good opportunity of becoming ac-
quainted with him v.chen they were in the skittle-ground.
A constable named Watkins said that from the descrip-
tion given to him by the prosecutor he took the prisoner
into custody. On searching him at the station, a thimble-
rig apparatus was found in his pocket.
The prisoner, in his defence, strongly denied the charge,
and said the man had madc; a mistake.
Tho jury returned a yen diet of , guilty, and the prisoner
was sentenced to six re, onths' imprisonment, with hard
abour.