The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-06 00:00:00

Disgi aceful Proceedings a. ad Plunder.

Yesterday at the Marylebone Police-court Alfred
Cox, aged 20, a costermonger, ti eas charged with
being concerned, with several othitrs not in custody,
with picking pockets in Portla•sd-place, and also
with assaulting police-constable John Jeffery, 220
D, in the execution of his duty, and damaging his
uniform coat and helmet, of the value of 30s.

Jefferys said he was called to assist a brother
constable in the capture of the priioner, who kicked
witness most violently, and destroyed his coat and
helmet.

Evidence was given that priso nor formed one of
a gang of 50 or 60 roughs who appeared to be acting
in concert. They bonneted gentlemen, sua',ched
their watches, broke their ulnbrellas, picked the
pockets of ladies, and acted in the most di3o-mceful
manner.
Remanded for a week.

James Farrant, aged 23, horsekceper, address re-
fused, and Charles Mason, of Ealing, potman, were
charged as part of the same gang.
Dr. Thomas Brett, a physician, of 38, Stanhope-
street, Regent's Park, said—On Monday afternoon
I had been to Paddington to visit a patient. On
my return, and when going out from Gower-street
station, I was set upon by a gang, and my watch,
of the value of 60 guineas, and a portion of my
chain were snatched from me. A woman standing
near pointed to a man, and said, "This is him."

The gang seized Dr. Brett and allowed the pri-
soner to escape. A policeman whom Dr. Brett
asked to catch the prisoner, told the doctor to catch
him himself. This was Batchelor, 158 E, who,
however, denied the refusal, and said the opposite
side of the way was not in his beat. He was not at
all frightened.
Mr. Brett—And you would not go across the road.
Batchelor—You did not tell me you had lost your
watch.

Mr. Brett--I did tell you so. If you had gone
at once I should have had it now.

Mr. D'Eyncourt—You had a right to cross the
road upon any duty.
Prisoners were remanded for a week upon this
charge.

The prisonor Mason was put forward again upon
another charge.

Edward Boleh said—l was passing along the Eas-
ton-road on the previous afternoon when the rain
came on, and I went into a tavern. The rain not
ceasing I began smoking my meerschaum pipe.
Hearing the band and a noise outside I went out to
see what was the matter. I saw umbrellas torn into
shreds by the roughs. The prisoner snatched my
pipe, valuxl at £2, from my mouth. I was bon-
neted, and my white hat was then knocked off and
lost. I was bustled and knocked about, and my life
was in danger. I managed to escape from them
and run into a ham and beef shop, when I found
that they had robbed me of my scarf pin, my gold
watch and chain of the value of £2O, and 15s. My
pockets were all rifled.

Mr. D'Eyncourt—Do you think there were a
number acting in concert ?
Witness—Yes. I think I do not exaggerate when
I say there were hundreds acting together. One
witness told me he saw thirty watches taken in a
short distance.

Galvin, 207 S, said there were numbers robbed.
Mr. D'Eyncourt --I shall remand the prisoner for
a week, and then shall send all for trial. It is high
time some strong measures were taken to repress
this.

THE DEATH OF TWO BOYS BY BEING
BURIED ALIVE.

Yesterday afternoon air. C. J. Carttar, coroner,
held an inquiry at the Crown and Sceptre, Deptford,
into the circumstances attending the death of Wm.
Wright, aged 14, and 11'm. Knowles Marks, aged
14, who lost their lives, as already reported, through
the falling of a large MASS of earth, on a line lately
in cour,e of formation through Lewisham, and be-
longing to the London, Chatham, and Dover Rail-
way Company.

It appeared that the cutting at the spot where the
accident occurred is between 30 and 40 feet in
depth, and that the land where the cutting had
.4,...„.„a
of the railway works bOys have been in the habit
a‘w‘draemeckiats:oef:'three lads entering and
of frequenting the spot, and onTShaistuhradriaybeaefntergnooinogn
last the deceased and others went there to dig, as
and a sufficient aperture
oht they edyf
for
been
focurmri boae
rdd
efii des,ttvoe
the earth, weighing
s who were looking on
gave an alarm, and sonic men working in an ad-
being hidden from view. The deceased had entered
severalt l e cave,
tons, and, fell. all
11.
of
Thea suddenhya
joining market garden were sent to the spot with
spades. One lad, named Eustace, was found only
s
partially covered, and he was dragged out with little
or no injury. It was 20 minutes before the first
body, that of Wright, W3B got out, and a long time
after before that of Marks was recovered, life in
both instances being extinct.
The lads were severally examined and showed
great ignorance, saying that although on the pre-
vious Sunday the earth of the cave was known to
exhibit a crack they had no idea of danger from
the earth falling in, and it was their intention to go
right through the portion of land, an I had pene-
trated a distance of about four feet, and the cutting
was a depth of about three feet.
The Coroner said that, the cutting being fenced
in, any person going upon the line of railway be-
came a trespasser, and the railway company could
not be held responsible in not preventing the de-
ceased and others from assembling there.
The Jury then returned a verdict of " Accidental
death from a fall of earth," in each case.
At the conclusion of the inquiry the parents of
the boys were called before the jury, and, in
answer to the Coroner, said they were not aware
of their boys going to the spot in question and being
engaged, as the Coroner observed, for weeks in
" digging their own graves."