The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-27 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

THE CHARGE OF ROBBERY AGAINST A TRADESMAN.—The
two men, Morris and Phillip, who stood charged with
stealing a large quantity of sugar, the property of Messrs.
Seward ; and Mr. Cornelius Belcham, a grocer, in Drury-
lane, where he had carried on business for more than 20
years, was charged with feloniously receiving the same,
well kncwing it to have been stolen. There was also
another charge made against Belcham, Viz., feloniously
receiving a large quantity of tea which had ly!en stolen
after its delivery at Beal's Wharf.
The first witness examined this morning was,

Henry Taylor, a clerk at the London Docks, who proved
lelivering to Seward's carman a hog,shead of sugar on the
2th of March. It weighed 17 cwt. 1 qr. 171 b. He could
lot swear that Morris was the person. _ _

Mr. Samuel Wretle, foreman of the E kst and West India
Dock Company, said on the 12th he delivered a hogshead
of sugar to
.Seward's carman, weighing 18 cwt. 1 qr. 231 b.

Mr. 13:.ard said that would complete th• sugar case, and
he would now proceed with the charge of feloniouly re-
oeiving the tea, which affected only the priAmer 11,1cliam.
Mr. llonstiel I, delivery foreman ofllml's Wharf, Tooley-
street, said on the I?.th March he delivered 10 chests of
tea to order. Six were numbered 411 to 416, and four

178 to 131. Ile could not identify the carman. He had
examined the chests found at Belcham's house, and three
of the six produced had contained a portion of the tea he
had delivered on the occasion to the carman.

George Rose, carman to Messrs. Camplin, said he re-
ceived the tea from the last witness. He then drove his
cart into the lane leading from the wharf and left it for
about two minutes, and on his return ho found the horse,
cart, and tea gone. He searched about and made inquiries,
but without avail, and could hear nothing relative to the
robbery of the tea. On his return he communicated the
matter to his master.

In cross-examination the witness said he was given into
custody for stealing the tea, but after four remands ho was
discharged.

Police-constable Ackritt said—On the 12th of April he
went to Beleham's promises in Drury lane, and found there
a quantity of tea and some empty chests. The three pro-
duced ho found in the cellar beneath the shop. W hen he
discovered the chests Belchtuu said, " Oh, they have been
in my possession over twelve mouths." At that time he
was not aware of the robbery of the tea.
I❑ cross-examination Ackritt said Sergeant Mathews and
ho wore present when Belch= made that admission
about the possession of the ten chests. They found
11 tea chests. Four were down stairs and the rest in the
shop. They could not be seen until tho sacks which
covered them were removed. The prisoner was in the
cellar when the conversation took place, and he would
swear the other two officers were present.. Prisoner said
there was one of the chests found in the shop he had had
18 mont he ; but that remark did not apply to the chests
found in the cellar.

Police-constable Doudall said he was with Ackrell when
the chests were found in the cellar. He recognised the
chests produced from the fact of there being marks of the
action of fire on each of them. He heard Ackritt say
something to Belcham, when he replied, "Oh, I've had
these chests in my house more than a twelvemonth." He
made that assertion more than a half dozen times. This
was said in the hearing of Sergeant Mathews. Witness
made some remarks about the burnt marks about the place,
where the marks had been, and Bcleham said he had
bought the tea from a man over the water, where there
had been a fire, but ho did not know who tho man was.
He would swear positively that Belcham said ho had had
the tea-chests now in court more than 12 months. In
ono of the chests found on the promises the sample of tea
now produced was found.
Mr. Taylor, recalled, said the tea taken from the chest
had not been damaged either by fire or water. He pro-
duced a sample of tea he ought to have received on the
12th of March, and it was precisely of the same descrip-
tion as that produced by the police.
This being the whole of the evidence, Mr. Lewis, who
appeared for Delcham, contended that the charge against
his client had entirely failed as the warrant put it, as the
stolen tea bore the date of delivery on the 9th of March
and not on the 12th as had been stated. There was no
evidence to show that Belcham had received it other than
in the ordinary course of business.
A number of witnesses were called, who spoke to the
prisoner I.lclebain as being looked upon by his neighbours
as an honest, upright man.

Mr. Flowers said he bad decided upon sending the case
for trial.

Mr. Lewis asked, under the circumstances, that his
client might again be admitted to bail.
Mr. Beard, who appeared for the prosecution, said he
should object to that, because the case against the prisoner
Belcham now presented a very different aspect to that
which it did on the last occasion ; and, mareover, he had
two officers in attendance who would prove that Belcham
had been long suspected as a wholesale receiver.
Mr. Flowers said he admitted the prisoner to bail on the
first occasion, and he thought if he could now produce
responsible bail he ought to accvt•it again.
The prisoners were fully committed fur trial.
Bail NINaS. them fice4to,l for Clio prigon.r.Belch!im intro
sureties of £OOO each, and himself in £l,OOO.