The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-03 00:00:00

BURGLARY.

Robert Wood and Henry Welsdon were indicted for
burglary.

From the evidence it appeared that amongst the articles
of wearing apparel stolen was a great coat, in the pocket of
which was a pair of gloves. Ten days after the burglary
was committed, Wood was apprehended wearing the
gloves belonging to the prosecutor. Welsdon's boots cor-
responded in every particular with the footmarks in the
garden underneath the window, by which entrance was
gained to the premises, and a chisel was also found in his
possession, which fitted the marks on the window-sill.
Both parties were known to associate together.
The jury found both prisoners
The indictment against Welsdon further charged him
with having boon previously convicted.
Prisoner—Yu ; I plead guilty to both the former con-
victions.

A police sergeant, of the F division, was then called.
He said the prisoner's former convictions were for burglary.
On the 16th of December he was tried, convicted, and sen-
tenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with hard labour.
Four days after the expiration of that sentence he was
found in some enclosed premises, at night, but the magis-
trate discharged him, thinking that it was likely that the
prisoner was unable to obtain a place of shelter. On the
19th of March, 1858, he was again detected in the commis-
sion of a burglary in the house of an aged gentleman, and in
the scuffle which ensued previous to the prisoner's capture,
I was cut with a knife. The latter indictment also charged
him with cutting and wounding, but the charge was not
pressed, as owing to the darkness of the place I could not
be positive that the prisoner Welsdon was the party who
inflicted the injury on me. He came out of lari-
son in September, 1859, and since that time there
has been no less than five burglaries committed in
places in which the prisoner has been previously seen. The
chisel found upon him fits all the marks made in ertch of
the two houses. With respect to the other prisoner Wood
I know nothing. He was not known at the MUM of
Detention or to the police.
The Recorder in passing sentence told Welsdon that he
appeared determined to follow out his evil course despite all
punishment. Tho two former punishments seemed to' have
had no effect ; therefore, on the present occasion, he
should sentence hint to ten years' penal servitude.
With regard to Wood he should not pass so severe a sen-
tence. He was not known to have been in prison before ;
but it had been proved that ho had been in the habit of
associating with Welsdon, and having selected so dan-
gerous a companion he must take the consequences. There
could not be a doubt but that he (Wood) had participated
in the robbery ; but, under all the circumstances, he should
only sentence him to 12 months' imprisonment, with hard
labour.

ASSAULT WITH INTENT, &C.
William Postlethwaite, a gentlemanly-looking person,
was indicted for grievously assaulting William liWght,
with intent to do him bodily harm.
Tha prisoner pleaded nit
Mr. Doyle appeared fur the prosecution, and Mr. Robin-
son defended.

The counsel for the prosecution said in the present case
the jury would hare in the first place to determine whether
the prisoner at tare time ho inflicted the injuries upon. the
prosecutor was in a state of mind to be accountable for his
actions. The prisoner no doubt on certain subjects laboured
under delusions, but in order to become an irresponsible
agent it must be shown that at the time the injuries were
inflicted he was incapable of knowing right from Wrong.
The prosecutor, Mr. William Knight, was then called.
Ire-said—The prisoner, about four years ap), came to re-
side with me, but I did not notice anything uncommon in
his appearance. Some time afterwards I learned thuit ho
laboured under certain delusions, but they appeared t.) me
of a very harmless description. Some times helused to. tell
me he was the Duke of Gloucester, at others he said he
was Oliver Cromwell, lie usually wore a large belt, which
he said the Duke of Cambridge gave him, as a proof he
was of royal descent. Ile had a great fancy for bright
steel weapons. lie sometimes carried a polished steel
truncheon, which he called " his authority." On the 15th
of last December I was sitting in my kitchen talking
and playing with the children, when the prisoner came in,
and, without saying a word, struck me violently on -the
temple with his steel bar. I fell to the ground, and blood
began to flow very copiously from my head. I said, "
Posse, what have you done this fori"zwhen he replied,
" I've done it with my authority. Those d— theatricals
have been enticing you to enter into a plot against )13 e."
My wife very shortly afterwards entered the kitchen, mrhen
the prisoner threatened to serve her the same way. I got
up, ran to the doctor's, and told the police what had ;hap-
pened. I was ultimately taken to Westminster Hospettal,
of which establishment I have been a patient ever since.
Prisoner was always remarkably kind to me, my wife, and
all the children. I never apprehended the slightest danger
from him.

Mr. Robinson said he hardly thought it necessary to
make a single observation. The unfortunate gentleman's
appearance was quite sufficient.
The Recorder—What is that he is displaying bc3fore
him ?

Prisoner (holding up a buff leather gauntlet ornamented
with large brass balls), said---" I hold the glove, this
glove-." Then, carefully turning it over and over, he laid
it again in front of the dock.
Mrs. Knight---I am wife to the prosecutor. I recollect
the day when the prisoner struck my husband. After my
husband got the wound dressed I went with him to the hos-
pital. On my return home I found the prisoner sitting in
the kitchen. I accused him of murdering my hie lband,
when ho replied, pointing to the blood on the floor, " Make
haste, mop up the blood before the police come." I asked
him what could have made him act as he had done, when
he said, " I did it with my authority." I always Eraoked
upon him as a very harmless person. He was a /ways
exceedingly kind to the children. My husband mover
quarrelled with him on any occasion. We always te:eated
him as ono of the family, and he always appeared
pleased. Ho used to say he was the Bake of Gloucester.
I never anticipated he would inflict injury upon any one ;
he seemed too kind to do so.

The house-surgeon of the Westminster Hospital gave a
description of the wound.

Spinks, a police-constable, said—When I took the pri-
soner into custody, I told him he was taken in chari;e for
wounding William Knight. Ho showed mo a bright: steel
bar, and said it was "his authority," and that he had. done
it with that. On searching his apartment I found a quan-
tity of curious bright stool weapons, such as spear lacads,
half swords, crosses, and truncheons.
This was the case for the prosecution.
➢lr. Robinson abstained from addressing the jury,
A verdict of not guilty, on the ground of insanity, was
returned.

The unfortunate gentleman was then ordered to b a de-
tained until her Majesty's pleasure should be known.,

THIS DAY'S SHIPPING.

LONDON, lAN. 3.—Wind this day at noon, South;
moderate breeze, and squally at times. The weather con-
tinues mild and unsettled.
HULL, Jan. 2.—Wind, W.S.W.—Arrived—Ni agara,
from Miramiehi.

COWES, Jan. 2.—Wind, S.W.—Arrived—Alma„ from
Siam ; experienced bad weather, made much watur, lost
sails, bulwarks, &c., and had to throw part of her cargo
overboard.
HARTLEPOOL, Jan. 2.—Wind W. by S.—Sailed --The
Selma, for Cuba. ,
MILFORD, Jan. 2.—Wind, S.W.—Arrived—Altlerton
(mate in charge), from Sierra Leone, in ballast, and with a
black crew.

(BY ELXOTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday Morn ing.
Wind, S. ; blowing hard, and heavy rain squalls.
Arrived—Wender, steamer, from Jersey ; Anne Ver-
non, from London.
Sailed—llavre, steamer, for Havre; Parana, at earner,
for St. Thomas; Courier, and Atalanta, steamers, for Jer-
sey ; Argyll, steamer, for Carenton.
LIVERPOOL, Tuesday Morning.

Wind, S.S.E.
Cri
rrived, Jan. 2.—George Douthwaite, from lklauitius ;
mean screw steamer, from Alexandria.
Arrived, Jan. S.—Crescent City, from Bombay.

(RY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TP,LEGRAPIZ.)
GRAVESEND, Tuesday Morn irLg.::
Wind, S.E. ; tide, two hours' ebb ; weather cloud.
Arrived, Jan. 2.—Coromandel, from Calcutta ;- Cyalypso,
from Jamaica Harkan, from Chicacoloe ; Philos( vpher,
from Calcutta; Eveline, from Calcutta : Symmetry,. from
St. Michael's.
Arrived, Jan. 3—Confidence, from Cronstadt ; Katha-
rine, from Ghent ; Augusta, from Seville ; Blackness,. from
Crorkstadt ; Zuma, from Guernsey; John Ellis, from Gib-
raltar ; British Lion, from Madras; Swarm, from El. )ek-
holm.
Sailed, Jan. 2—Jubilee, for Shanghai; Ann White, for
the Cape of Goad hope.

DEAL, Tuesday Morn ag.

Wind, S.S.W. ; moderate.
Anchored- .dada from London for Belize ; lletio-
lute, from London fur Liverpool.
Passed—The Resolution, from 13ilboa, for Cron: ;twit,
having landed the captain and crew, five in number, < If the
6--alliot Two Brothers, from Newcastle, for Malaga, NA liich
foundered on the 27th ult., in. lat. 46.32 N., long. 4.25. S. ;
P. I'. F. Ti. commercial code brig, from the westward,. for
London.
Sailed--111etropolis, screw steamer, for Uuernsey ;
gusta, screw steamor, for Liverpool.