The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-30 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

POLICEMEN "ON THE LOOSE."—Two showily-dressed
girls, who gave the names of Mary Ann Davis and Mary
Ann Edwards, were charged with robbing a policeman
named Bennett.

Poliee-constable Bennett, 501 N, said—Last evening,
about half-past seven, I met the prisoners, and treated them
to something to drink at a public-house in Dean-street,
Soho. We afterwards hired a cab and drove to another
public-house, the Nag's Head, where we had some more
drink. At about half-past nine o'clock we were in the Red
Lion and Still in Drury-lane, when, on putting my hand
into my pocket, I found I had been robbed of my purse,
which contained a ten pound note, three or four sovereigns,
and some silver. I was not sober when I discovered my
loss.

Mr. Hall—Then you were drunk.
Witness—No, your worship.
Mr. Hall—You must have been either drunk or sober,
Go on.

The witness then proceeded with his statement—l told
the girls I should charge them with stealing my purse, but
they denied all knowledge of the robbery. I sent for a
policeman and they were given into custody. The number
of the note I lost was 99,723.

Mr. Hall—How many public houses had you been in ?
Witness —Three.
Mr. Hall—And drinking all the time ?
Witness—Not all the time. When I left the Nag's
Head I was quite sober, and had my money safe.
Davis—Did you not go to another public house, Cald-
well's, in Dean-street ?

Witness—Yes—l now recollect we did.
Davis—Were you sober then ?
Witness—l don't think I was.

Davis—You dropped your money, and Mr. Caldwell
picked some of it up for you, and gave you a light to look to
see if you had got it all.

Wiiness—l don't recollect.

Mr. Hall—That shows how drunk you must have been,
when a man drops his money and don't recollect whether
he picked it up or no. (Laughter.) _

Davis—Didn't your friend drop his purse as well ? You
were drunk, but he was worse than you.
Mr. Burnaby (the Chief Clerk)—His friend ? Who was
that ?

Witness—A person who was with me.
Mr. Hall—A constable ?
Witness—Yes. (Laughter.)
Mr. Hall—And he was drunk ?
Witness—Yes. (Laughter.)
Mr. Hall—What's his number ?
Witness—No. 587 N.

Mr. Hall—That's the same division division as you be-
Long to?

Witness—Yes, your worship.

Mr. Hall—ln what district is that division stationed ?
Mr. Mace (the Usher)—ln Islington and Hackney, your
worship.
Davis—Your worship, the witness and his friend were as
drunk as they could be, but of the two I think the other
man was the worst. (Laughter.) He (witness) wanted
me to go to the Haymarket with him—(laughter)—and
there he would finish up the night with me. He said he
didn't care what it cost him. (Laughter.)
Witness—l don't recollect saying so.

Davis—No—how should you? (Laughter.)
.. _

Police-constable F 114, said, I was called into the Red
Lion and Still public house, in Drury-lane. The prosecu-
tor said he had dropped a £lO note and some silver. The
prisoners were with him. They were all drunk, but the
women were' the worst. The man said he had lost his
money. I asked whether he had lost it in that public-house,
or in the cab he had just left, but he said he did not know.
I thought he might have dropped it in front of the bar, and
looked for the money, but could not find it. He then gave
the prisoners into custody for stealing his purse. Edwards
said she did not know anything about it, and turned her
pockets inside out. Davis also denied the robbery. They
were taken to the station-house. On getting into the charge
room Davis became rather obstinate, and another constable
was called to hold her right hand while I had hold of the
left. I then found that she had some money in the hand I
had hold of. I took it from her. It was a sovereign and
16s. 6d. in silver.
Davis—Didn't I say he gave me the money ?

Witness—No.

Police-constable F 128, said—Last night I was on duty
in Broad-court and saw the last witness conveying Davis to
the station. She was very violent. I went to his assist-
ance. I found she had got her right hand in her bosom
trying to get soinething out. I pulled her hand out, and
kept it closed until I got her to the station. She tried to
get it to her mouth. After we got to the station she be-
came very violent, and on her hand being opened I found
this £lO note (produced) and a shilling.
Mr. Hall—What is the number of the note ?

Witness-99,723.

Mr. Burnaby—l suppose it was torn getting it from the
prisoner ?
Witness—Yes.
Mr. Hall—Well, Davis, what do yot, say to that ?
Davis—l have nothing to say.

Mrs. Green, female searcher, said—l searched Davis. In
her pocket I found a portmonnaie. It contained 9 sove-
reigns. a two-shilling piece, a sixpence, and fourpence in
copper. I also found a small quantity of silver wire. She
said she used the wire in her business, and that the money
was her own. I found nothing on Edwards.
Mr. Hall—Then, that's the case.
Mr. Burnaby—Yes.
Constable 517 N, here stepped into the witness-box.
Mr. Hall—Well, have you any charge against the
prisoners ?
Constable—l have not entered a charge against them,
but I find myself minus £2. I think the one in the red
shawl (Edwards) must have had it.
Edwards—One halfpenny was all the money that was
found on me. I know nothing of the robbery.
Mr. Hall—The whole of the evidence is entirely against
Davis. I shall therefore commit her for trial, for robbing
Bennet, the constable, and remand her till Thursday, to see
if there is an owner for the purse with the £9 in it. Now
we will proceed with the charge made against Edwards by
the other policeman.
Constable F 128—Ho didn't say a word about it last
night when he was at the station-house—he was too
drunk. (Laughter.)

Mr. Hall—Oh dear me I (Laughter.)
Constable 517 N—When I examined my purse this morn-
ing I had but £2. I know I had £4 last night.
Mr. Hall—But you were too drunk to know anything
with certainty.
Constable—l was not sober certainly, but I knew what I
was about. (Laughter.)
Mr. Hall—You hear what the officer sayi; fie must know
better than you, and he says you very were drunk.
Policeman—l must say I was not sober, but when I have
been drinking a little I look so peculiar—(loud laughter)—
that a good many people would think I was very drunk
when I ain't (Loud laughter.)
Mr. Hall—Then you were drunk and I should like to
know what reliance can be placed upon the word of a
drunken man. I suppose you want of the money found
on Davis to be given up to you to make up what you say

you've lost.
Policeman—l can corroborate--

Mr. Hall—Corroborate I a fine corroborative witness
truly. Did you ever give evidence before in a court of
justice ?

Constable—Yes, sir, I have.

Mr. Hall—Then you know what value is put upon the
oath of a drunken man. The prisoner (Edwards) is dis-
charged.
After the case had been disposed of, Mr. Hall called the
two constables F 114 and F 128, and complimented them on
the upright and straightforward manner in which they had
given their evidence against their brother constable.