The Sun.
London, England, 1832-08-31 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

Ye:terday, Robert Engfelon, head ostler at the
King's Arms Inn, Kent Road, was brought before
Mr. CHAMBERS, en an alleged charge of stealing
401. in Bank of England notes and sovereigns, the '
property of Mr. Broughton, a linen-draper, at the
west end of the town.
The complainant on Wednesday drove down to
Greenwich, in his gig, accompanied by a person
whom he employed as his Scotch traveller, and left
him there. Afterwards complainant called on Mr.
Young, a customer of his at Greenwich, and re-
ceived forty pounds in Bank notes and gold, which
sum he placed in the left-hand pocket of a great
coat, which he had borrowed. He then called at
the house of a Mr. Davis, a friend of his, and, that
gentleman having had a sister married, complainant
was prevailed upon to stop there, while he drank
the bride's health. From Mr. Davis's house he
proceeded in his gig direct towards town, not stop.
ping any where until he arrived at the King's Arms,
into the yard of which inn he drove, and pulling off
the great coat, buttoned the pocket which contained
the 40/. and gave it to the ostler, desiring him to take
care of the same until his return. Complainant
returned to the King's Arms after the lapse of an
hour, and upon asking for his great-coat, it was
given to him by the prisoner. When, however,
he (complainant) put his hand into the pocket, he
found that the 401. was gone, and when he spoke to
the ostler and told him of the circumstance, he de-
nied any knowledge of the money, merely saying,
that when the coat was given to him he locked it
up, and that it had remained in the same place un-
der lock and key until it was then asked for. Com-
plainant added, that he was se confident the money
was in the great-coat at the time he gave it into
the charge of the ostler, that upon missing it he
sent for a policeman and gave him into custody.
Mr. Harmer asked the complainant what time
elapsed from his seeing the 40/. until he entered
the King's Arms Inn ?
Complainant—l placed the money in my pocket at
Greenwich, but had no occasion to pull it out again.
On taking off the great coat at the King's Arms, 1
buttoned the pocket, and at the same time I felt
that the money was all safe. Although I did not
put my hand in the pocket, yet, as there was gold
amongst the notes, I state that I distinctly felt it
before giving the coat into the prisoner's care.
Mr. Harmer—then you are quite sure the money
was there, although you did not see it.
Complainant (with warmth)—l could take
1,000 oaths of it, if it were necessary, so confident
am I of the fact.
Mr. Harmer said, that when the accused received
the coat he locked it up in a place of safety, of
which he kept the key himself. Soon afterwards he
was sent over to the Batik of England by his mas-
ter, and on his return the complainant came back to
the inn, and at once accused the prisoner of stealing
the 401. out of the great-coat pocket. lie (Mr.
Harmer) did not mean to say that Mr. Broughton
had not received the money which he accused the
ostler of stealing, but the man's character for honesty
was above all suspicion, and he (Mr. Broughton)
must have been mistaken.
Complainant—l deny that lam mistaken. lam
positive the 40/. was in the pocket when I gave him
the coat to take care of.
Mr. CHAMBERS said that it was necessary he
should now account for his time from the moment
he had drunk the bride's health at Greenwich, until
he returned back to the King's Arms Inn, and gave
charge of the ostler for felony. It had been asserted
that he was intoxicated ; and such an assertion must
he substantiated before him (the Magistrate) if such
was the case.
Complainant—l deny that I was intoxicated, and
would take 1,000 oaths, if necessary, that I was not.
Mr. CHA:UBERS—You seem to be very fond of
that particular number ; this is the second time that
you have said that you would have no hesitation in
taking a thousand oaths to a particular fact. Pei-