The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-09 00:00:00

THAMES.

DRIVEN TO CRIME.---A wretched, thinly clad, and pale-
faced woman, who appeared to have been half-starved, was
brought before Mr. Paget, charged with wilful damage.
The prosecutrix, Frederika Schmidt, is a native of Ger-
many, and keeps a general shop in Leman-street, White-
chapel. On Saturday evening the prisoner made a suddea
onslaught on the front of the shop, and broke in a large
pane of glass. She then took the eggs and butter off the
window board, and threw them into the street. A great
many eggs rolled on to the pavement. She was soon
taken into custody and locked up by a constable named
Barrett, No. 145 K, who said she was in a fearfully desti-
tute condition.

The prisoner in her defence said that she was abandoned
by her husband, and had obtained a living by selling
old clothes. That resource failed her, she had been turned
out of her humble lodging because she could not pay any
rent, and had sought admission in vain to a workhouse at
Homerton. She knocked at the door of the workhouse
and asked for shelter. She was told to call at six o'clock
She did so, and knocked at the door several times, but no*
answer was returned. She slept that night at a court,
next night she slept in an empty house, and since then had
been wandering the streets until despair and starvation
-had caused her to act as she had done.

In answer to questions by Mr. Paget, the prisoner said
she believed she was born in Cork, and that she came to
London when a very little girl.
Mr. Paget said the prisoner ought not to have de-
stroyed people's property. she could obtain relief if she
applied to a relieving officer in a proper manner. He
fined her ls., and also ordered her to pay its., the amount
of damage done. Ho was afraid the prosecutrix would
never get paid for the property that had been destroyed.
In default of payment the poor woman would be impri-
soned for 14 days.
DARING ROBBERY IN A STATION-HOUSE.--JOhll Carey,
a tall young man, was brought before Mr. Paget, charged
with stealing a silver watch, valued £3 ss, from the person
of John Linimin, a German sugar baker, in the police-
station of the H division, in Lime-street, Whiteehapel.
On Saturday night at 11 o'clock the prosecutor and
another German, named Martin Site, were entering the
station-house for the purpose of inquiring after a friend,
who had been taken there upon a charge. Others were
going in at the same time, others were coming out, and a
little confusion prevailed. The two Germans had gone
half way up a narrow and paved passage leading to a large
paved yard, when Linimin was hustled and his watch was
detached from the guard in an instant. He exclaimed
"My watch is gone." "I know who has it," said the man
Site, and pointing to two men who were running away.
The prisoner was one of them, and stopped at the station-
house door. At that moment police sergeant Dunaway
the well-known detective, No. 11 11, and Benjamin Stub-
bings, No. 111 H, were entering the station-house. " 1
give that man in charge" exclaimed Site, who speaks Eng-
lish well. •The two officers seized the prisoner,and Site
said, "He has stolen my friend's watch." The officers
were leading the prisoner towards the station-house when
he dropped the watch on the stones, and the glass was
broken.

Site said he saw tho prisoner following him and his
friend down Back Church-lane and Leman-street to the
station-house, and knew he was after the watch.
Mr. Paget committed the prisoner for trial.