The Sun.
London, England, 1832-09-29 00:00:00

B O W-STREET.

Yesterday Mr. W. Gifford, schoolmaster, of High
Holborn, was re-examined, before Mr. MlNsitum,
and Mr. HALLS, on charges of having stolen from
the shops of two silversmiths (Mr. Mott, of Pickett-
street, Strand, and Mr. Brookes, of the Poultry)
two silver cream ewers, under rather curious cir-
cumstances. The case of Mr. Mott was gone into
on Saturday last, when it will be in the recollection
of our readers the prisoner alleged that he committed
the theft for the purpose of passing through the
ordeal of a trial, in order to demonstrate the defec-
tive state of the criminal jurisprudence of the
country. He is the same individual who during the
last Session of Parliament flung a handful of printed
papers from the gallery into the body of the House
of Commons, and who on the trial of two boys at
the late Old Bailey Sessions wished to address some
observations to the Court, and, on being prevented,
threw a pamphlet, which he said he had published
on the state of crime in the metropolis, to the pre-
siding Judge, Mr. Baron Gurney, with a request
that his Lordship would at his leisure read it. The
charge made by Mr. Mott was clearly established on
the former day.
Mr. Robert Santy was shopman to Mr. Brookes,
and on Friday evening, the 7th of September, the
prisoner entered his employer's shop, and asked fur
a silver cream ewer. Witness showed him one,
and after examining it the prisoner made an inquiry
as to the price and weight, but without waiting
for a reply, very coolly said, " Good evening, sir,"
and instantly turned on his heel, and walked out of
the shop. Witness ran round the counter and into
the street, but the prisoner was out of sight. The
ewer produced was the same.

The prisoner did not deny the fact ; his motive
in this instance, he said, was the same as that which
had induced him to walk off with Mr. Mott's ewer.
He made no attempt to run away,but merely walked
out of the shop.
wim;ttc.,l th;. urac tha n,ccs Th. ateer?,
was done with extraordinary nonchalence and li-
beration.

The prisoner had spent the greater part of his life
in vain endeavours to do away with the criminal
code, which he considered most unjust, and ought
not to be tolerated in a civilized community. He
had written upon this subject. He complained of
having been deprived of the napkins and soap which
he had provided for his personal comfort and clean-
liness while in prison. He thought it hard to be
huddled up with from 50 to 100 persons in a cell,
and kept on bread and water; but what was in his
opinion worse than all the rest was the not being
allowed to see his friends save through a door, and
in the presence of a turnkey. This regulation com-
pletely deprived prisoners of all opportunity of mak-
ing a defence, and had his not been published, he
should not have been prepared with one. He hoped,
however, that his case would attract public curiosity,
and that once effected, his object would be answered.
This was the motive he had in the commission of
the offences; but so far from wishing to retreat from
the position in which he had placed himself he was
fully determined, with the blessing of God, to go
through with his undertaking.
Mr. Mrssnum. directed the prisoner to be re-
moved, and, that order having been complied with,
the Magistrate asked if any friend of the prisoner
was present.

Feddon, a schoolmaster, residing at 43,
Stanhope-street, had known the prisoner for a quar-
ter of a century, and a man of higher honour or of
more exalted sentiment could not exist. In his
whole life he had never been guilty of a dishonour-
able act.

Mr. MiNsuLLL asked whether the prisoner was
considered by his friends to be sane? Mr. Feddon
replied that he was a most sensible man on all sub-
jects, except those relating to criminal laws and po-
litics ; but that on these his delusions amounted to
monanunzia. He had filled many honourable situa-
tions, and had fought under the Duke of Welling-
ton at the siege of Rodrigo; the storming of Sala-
manca, and in other engagements, during the war on
the Peninsula. About twenty years „go he con-
veyed despatches from St. Peteisburgh,entiusted to
him by Count Orloff, to this country ; but it was
not at all unl;kely that the disappointments which
lie experienced on applying to the Government
for a reward for his services, might have preyed
upon his mind, and given it a bias on political sub-
jects. He had spent a furtune in publishing
pamphlets.
Mr. 311Nsuum, asked if lie had received any
wounds while in the army? Mr. Feddon replied
that he had two,inflicted.Gy a sable, one on the head,
and the other on the upper lip.
Mr. MINSHULL observed that he was at a loss
what to do with the case.
Mr. HALLS said that as it was not the duty of a
magistrate to try the prisoner's sanity, the best
course that could be taken would be to leave a jury
to dispose of him. There was no doubt he was sen-
sible except on politics.
Mr. MINSHULL agreed that it would be best to
send the case for trial; but he would consider the
matter before Saturday, when he ordered the pri-
soner to be again brought up. The magistrate also
directed that, instead of being placed with the other
prisoners, he should be provided with accommoda-
tion in the infirmary of the prison.
Webb and Hurst, who stand charged with the
Post-otlice robbery, were re-examined. No material
evidence was adduced against them, and they were
remanded for a week.