The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-21 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

PLvNDERING THE LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAIL-
WAY COMPANY.—WiIIiam Beecher, a labourer, was placed
at the bar charged with being concerned with another in
plundering the works of the London, Chatham, and Dover
Railway Company.

William Hicks, 105 B, said that on Friday morning he
saw the prisoner and another labourer leaving the works
of the railway company at Victoria station. Both ap-
peared to have very heavy loads upon their shoulders in
sacks, and as prisoner shifted his load witness
distinctly heard the sound of iron. Witness
took the other man into custody, and he was remanded,
it being found that he had a quantity of the railway iron
in his possession, and upon subsequently searching a
marine store dealer's in the neighbourhood of Ebury-
square, a large quantity of similar metal removed for rail-
way improvements was found. It was obvious that great
plunder of the railway was going on, and prisoner who
was seen to go into the marine store with his load was
taken into custody on Saturday night.
Ho offered no answer to the charge and was remanded.

- -- --
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POPULATION OF TIIE UNITED KINGDOIL—The
Itogistrars-Goneral of the three kingdoms estimate the po-
pulation at the middle of the year 1866 as follows:
England and Wales, 21,210,020 ; Scotland, 3,153,413 ; Ire-
land, 5,571,971—t0ta1, 29,935,404.
EARLY PREASANTS.—In the Earl of St. Germans'
preserves at Cathacombo-lodge a brood of nine pheasants
were hatched 011 the 12th of may.