The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-13 00:00:00

FALSE KEYS—A TICKET-OP-LEAVE MAN AT WORK
AGAlN.—Henry Blair, alias " Flynne Clarke," a ticket-of-
leave man, and James Bushnell, also known to the police,
were charged before Mr. Knox with attempting to enter
the dwelling-houses 15 and 23 Maddox-st., Regent-street,
with a false key; Blair was further charged with being in
the area of No. 15, Maddox-street, for the purpose of com-
mitting a felony; and Hector Mackay, a young man living
in Castle-street, Oxford• street, was charged with attempt-
ing to rescue Blair from the custody of the police—the last
named prisoner being a one-legged man.
Solomon Poisley, 69 C, said that about eleven last night
he saw the prisoner Bushnell in Maddox-street. When
he saw me enter Maddox-street, he made a movement with
his arm, which made me notice him. I then saw Blair
leave the door of a dwelling-house. I think No. 25. I
crossed to the opposite side of the street and passed them,
and went into Mason's-yard; but instead of going down
Mason's-yard I doubled back and watched them. I saw
Blair go to the door of No. 23 and try to get in with a key.
Blair then went and spoke to Bushnell, and tried the door
of No. 15, but not being able to get in with the key. Blair
then raised his leg and put it over the railings, and went
down the area-steps, Bushnell leaning sideways on the
railings on the watch. I waited about two minutes and
then walked up the street as if not taking notice of
anything, and Bushnell, seeing me, walked from
the railings of the area to a lamp-post. I laid
hold of him, and told him that I wanted him, when he re-
plied, "What for? Leave go, I've done nothing." Seeing
a gentleman I called upon him to assist me, telling him a
man was down one of the areas, and some other gentlemen
coming up I asked them to surround the area, and they
did so, and I then sprang my rattle, and as soon as I did
so something fell in the ►rea like keys. Sergeant Cook,
16 C, then came up just as Blair was getting out of the
area, and ho was afterwards very violent. I handed Bush-
nell over to a constable, and went down tho area and found
two keys. On searching Blair and Bushnell I only found
a photograph upon one of them. Blair said he went into
the area for a certain purpose, and Bushnell said ho had
not done anything.
Blair—l never had any keys. _ _

A gentleman, named South, proved assisting the police,
and while having hold of Blair the prisoner Mackay came
up and took hold of me and said, " Why don't you let the
man go ?" and it being supposed that his object was to
let Blair get away ho was taken into custody.
Blair said he was drunk, but the witness said that was
not true.

Mackay said that ho merely told the witness to let the
man have justice, and not to strangle him, as they were
nearly chocking him.

A gentleman named Taylor, residing at Cambridge-
street, Pimlico, after giving similar evidence to Mr. South,
added that Mackay made use of the expression, "I don't
think you aro doing right, let the man have justice." Ho
assisted the police in taking Blair, who was very violent,
into custody.
Mackay, having called witnesses who satisfied Mr. Knox
that he was a respectable man, and totally incapable of
mixing himself up with such characters as Blair and Bush-
nell,

Mr. Knox said that he did not for a moment believe that
Mackay was in any way connected with the other pri-
soners, who wore burglars ; but he should flue him 405.,
not, as the charge alleged, for attempting to rescue Blair,
but for putting his hand on and interfering with Ur. South,
who was engaged in assisting the police, Blair and Bush-
nell would be remanded,