The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-25 00:00:00

THAMES.

EXTRAORDINARY APPLICATION—ABDUCTION OF A
CHILD.—A poor woman, named Catherine Walker, of No.
4, Hanover-street, Rotherhithe, applied to Mr. Yardley
for a warrait to apprehend a man named Johnson, a show-
man, who is the proprietor of a place of amusement com-
monly known as the "penny gaff," opposite Limehouse
Church. _ _ _

The woman made a rambling and somewhat confused
statement, from which our reportei gathered that her
child, a boy, was stolen from her 10 years ago, when ho
was only four years of age. The place where she missed
the child was "beyond Hastings, 190 miles from London."
She never saw or heard of her child until last Tuesday
week, when she found him in possession of Mr. Johnson, a
"play-actor," who said he bought him for 7s. eight years
and nine months ago, and had brought him up as a
" hactor" ever since. She had four children at home.
She was a very poor woman, and she hoped justice would
be done her.

Mr. Yardley said the statement was a most extraordinary
one. The abduction of a child was a felony, and he thought
the person who originally abducted the child was liable,
and he should like to punish that person. Mr. Yardley
then read the clause in the act of Parliament, and said it

applied to the person who, originally abducted the child.
He did not think Johnson was liable under the statute, but
if he had bought the child he had done that which was
highly reprehensible, and had no right to detain the boy an
instant against the wish of its parents.
Mrs. Walker—He bought my child for 75., your worship.
Mr. Yardley—Well, my notion is, there is no case against
Johnson. Let the inspector of the K division make in-
quiries about this.
The magistrate then sent for Inspector Blare, of the K
division, and he soon afterwards arrived. The magistrate
explained the case to him, and said if any persons had ab-
ducted a child four years of age they ought to bo brought
to justice.

Mr. Beare said the woman came to the Poplar station-
house where he officiated, and complained that Johnson had
been exhibiting her stolen child about the country at fairs
and races for many years, and that ho had been stolen. He
waited upon Johnson, who said he received the child of a
wandering woman eight years and nine months ago. Mrs.
Johnson afterwards came to the station-house and said that
she and her husband were willing to part with the boy, and
he had been restored to his mother.
Mr. Yardley—That is a sign of good faith on the part of
the Johnsons. Tho probabilities of the case are, that John-
son did not keep the child away from the mother knowingly.
I will leave the:case in your hands, Mr. Beare, and you will
pursue your inquiries and take the necessary steps in the
matter.

DEATH FROM FlRE.—Yesterday morning, Mr.
Sergeant Payne, thecoroner for the city of London, received
information of the death of Miss Rutland, who resided at
Mr. Laurie's map depository, Fleet-street. It appears that
the unfortunate young lady. was an invalid, and a fire was
lighted in her room, and it is supposed the deceased had got
out of bed, about 11 o'clock yesterday morning, in her night
dress, and sitting by the fire, a spark flew out of the grate
and set fire to it. The servants in the house, smelling
smoke, proceeded to her room, and found the door fastened
inside. On breaking it open they were horrified at discover-
ing her in a sitting position on the hearthrug, enveloped in
flames. The fire with the greatest difficulty was extin-
guished. Every means were employed to allay her suffer-
ings, but she died last eveuing.