The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-16 00:00:00

THAMES.

AUDACIOUS ROBBERy. --Alltthew Gray and Cornelius
Gibbons, coal-porters and coal-whippers, were brought up
on remand before Mr. Partridge, charged with stealing
eight tons of coals, the property of Messrs. Henry Couplon
and others, coal merchants in Wapping.
Mr. Charles Young, solicitor, conducted the prosecution.
Mr Joseph Smith and Mr. Thomas Beard, solicitors, de-
fended the prisoners.

It was explained by Mr. Charles Young that for some
time past a very audacious system of robbery had been
carried on in the docks. Several coal merchants moor
barges, laden with coal, in the docks for the purpose of
supplying homeward and outward bound ships; and in
many instances thieves have solicited and obtained orders
from captains, navigated the coal barges alongside ves-
sels, delivered the quantity required, received payment, and
appropriated the money to their own use. Several convic-
tions of the thieves have taken p:ace. This was a case of
the kind alluded to by Mr. Young. On 25th of April last
Geary waited on Captain John Moore, the master of the
ship Silksworth in the London Dock, and said he would
would supply him with coals at 19s. per ton. After some
conversation the captain agreed to receive six tons of coals
at 17s. per ton. The coals were brought alongside the
Silksworth in one of Messrs. Compton's barges, and deli-
vered by the prisoners in open day. Three days after-
wards Captain Moore met the prisoners who had delivered
the coals onshore, and Geary asked for payment of the six
tons of coals. The captain's suspicions had been awakened
by an invoice having been delivered with the coals,
and made an excuse that he had not money
enough about him. Geary said he would take a
part, ur £4 10s. in discharge of the ,lebt ; " or" said the
prisoner, "LI if you like, that will do." Captain Moore
requested the prisoner to wait upon him next mon,ing
on board, and he would pay the full amount. On the fol-
lowing morning Geary came on board the Silksworth and
received a £5 note of Captain Moore, for which he gave a
receipt. The prisoner was immediately taken into custody
by Inspectors Major and Clarke, of the Thames police,
who made a complete case against thorn. Although out
prisoners denied all knowledge of each other, it was
proved that they were frequently together, that they acted
in concert in the abstraction of coals from Messrs.
Compton's barge; and the delivery thereof.
• Mr. Andrew Walker, manager to the firm of Compton
and Co., said he missed 7 ton 4 cwt. of coals from
one barge, that he was the only person authorised
prosecutor'stoallowed to receive
goods from the
money for coals except their clerk. Ile knew the
andthe
no delivery
.one
‘r a
so f
pri-
soners well. They had formerly been in the service of
.give
orders
barg foos,r
Compton and Co. and dischargond.
Evidence was given that the prisoner Gibbons brought
the barge
alongside the Silksworth the night before the
coals were delivered. _ _

The prisoners werArdered by their solicitors to reserve
their defence for the Sessions, and Gibbons followed this
advice, but Gray said, "I agreed to supply Captain Moore
with 7 tons of coals. I gave the order lea man named
Smith. The captain had no money. lie said he would
fetch the money from his broker's on the Saturday. I told
the man to go and get his own mout.y on board ship, and
told me the captain had
he came to me and
gone home and
could not wait for his money, and I must pay him. I paid
him Li 16s. I met the captain in the Miurries and also
on Tower-hill, and then he said, ' Come on board on
Saturday, and I will pay you.' "
Mr. Partridge said the defence was not at all reconcile-
able with the evidence for the prosecution. Ile committed
the prisoners for trial and refused bail.

The reception of the Emperor and Empress of
Austria at Buda-Pesth, the other day, was again most
enthusiastic. On this occasion, favoured by the season,
the houses were decorated with green wreaths and gar-
lands, and the streets from the railway terminus at Pesth
to the palace at Buda were strewn with flowers. The Em-
press, with the Crown Princa and the Archduchess Gisella,
will reside in the imperial villa in the Auwinkol, close to
Buda, until the preparations for her reception at the
Chateau do Godolo, the recently acquired crown domain,
are completed.