The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-25 00:00:00

THAMES.

SKELETON-KEY ROBBERY ON SUNDAY NIGHT.—John
Dalton, a well-known associate of thieves, aged 21, was
brought before Mr. Yardley charged with being concerned
with three other men, named Franklin, Jones, and Lappage,
in entering the thielling-house and shop of Mr. Thomas
Hall, oil and colourman, No. 2, Old Manor-road, Stepney,
and stealing therefrom two carpet-bags, wearing apparel,
and other property, value £5, therefrom.
The robbery was effected while the prosecutor and his
family were absent frsm home on Sunday last, and the street
door was opened by moans of a skeleton-key. Two carpet
bags containing wearing apparel and other property were re-
moved from the bedroom. A portion of the stolen articles
were traced to Franklin, Jones, and Lappage, and a strong
prima facie case was made out against them, and they were
remanded until this day. The prisoner Dalton was arrested
yesterday, and he was identified as one of four men who
were seen near the house of the prosecutor on Sunday
evening ; and while three of them were inside the house
effecting the robbery, the prisoner was on the look out in
the street, and when the robbery was completed the pri-
soner opened the door, let out his confederates, and: went
away with them. Dalton has been repeatedly in custody,
and is believed to have been concerned in other skeleton-
key robberies, which have been very numerous in all parts
of the metropolis owing to the incautious manner in which
people secure their doors.

George Franklin, Charles Jones, and George Lappage
were subsequently arraigned in the felon's dock with Dal-
ton, and the evidence taken on Monday last was read over.

Mr. Charles Young, solicitor, said he appeared for Jones
and Lappage. •
Mr. Hall said, although he valued the things at £5 only,
he could not replace them for £l5, and that £2 15s. in gold
and copper monies was taken from the shop.
Evidence was given of the finding of a great portion of
the stolen property in the house of the prisoner Franklin,
at No. 3, John's-place, Stepney.

Witnesses were called to prove the identity of Jones and
Lappage, but failed, and they were discharged.
Mr. Yardley ordered the depositions to be taken against
Dalton and Franklin, and they were committed for trial.
A PERFECT NUISANCE.—Mary Owens, a middle-aged
Irish woman, who has been for some time past very peace-
able, and who was formerly a very drunken and disorderly
character, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with
creating a disturbance, and using vile and threatening
language towards Mrs. Charlotte Perkins, the landlady of
the Marquis of Wellington publichouse in Cornwall-street,
St. George's-in-the-East.

Mr. Joseph Smith, solicitor, stated the case for the pro-
secution, and said the husband of Mrs. Perkins kept a most
respectable and well-conducted house, and was a guardian
of the poor. The prisoner had been in the practice
of coming to the house of his client on fre-
quent occasions in a state of intoxication and
making use of the most horrible and filthy language,
throwing stones, and using diabolical threats. Mrs. Per-
kins would be reluctantly compelled to repeat the offensive
language. Mr. Perkins had also bcen insulted and threat-
ened, and his business repeatedly obstructed. The prisoner
had in fact become a perfect nuisance.
Mrs. Perkins confirmed the statement of her solicitor.
The prisoner made a disturbance at the house twice yester-
day, and upon the second occasion brought stones and threw
them at her, but she was too close to her to do any harm.
The threats were of a frightful character. She always
refused to serve the prisoner with any liquor or beer.
Maurice Lane, a -police-constable, 397 K, said the priso-
ner was very drunk and disorderly.
The prisoner expressed her sorrow for what she had
done, and Mr. Yardley committed her to the House of Cor-
rection for 7 days.