The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-04 00:00:00

THAMES.

SCANDALOUS SYSTEM OF ROBBERY ON THE RIVER.—
Thomas White, a lighterman, in the employ of a Mr. Keen,
was brought before
,Mr. Yardley, charged with stealing
239 lbs. of coals.

Inspector Dyer, of the Thames police, stated that, at
half-past six yesterday evening, he saw the prisoner in a
corn barge, en the river, near Wapping Old Stairs, and
watched him. There was a coal barge laden with coals
lying alongside the corn barge, and the prisoner delibe-
rately passed from one barge to the other six or seven times,
and brought back coals on each occasion, which he deposited
in the cabin of his own barge. He took the prisoner into
custody, and asked him what ho meant by stealing the coals,
to which he replied, Take no notice of it and I'll take them
all back. Ile weighed the coals, and the weight was exactly
239 lbs. The coals were the property of Mr. Smith.
The prisoner said ho was very sorry.
Mr. Yardley—Yes, sorry you are found out. This prac-
tice of robbing coal barges is very prevalent on the river.
Watermen, lightermen, bargemen, and labourers think
they can make free with coals necessarily exposed on the
river. I sentence you to one month's imprisonment and
hard labour; and I give notice that, if summary punish-
ments will not put a stop to this system of robbery, I will
commit offenders for trial.

Tho prisoner asked the magistrate to inflict a fine, and
said it was his first offence.

Mr. Yardley—Certainly not. I 'will not inflict a fine ;
and I do assure you that if I was not quite satisfied this is
your first ofence I would commit you for trial.

The prisoner earnestly appealed to the magistrate for
mercy, and said he had hitherto maintained a good charac-
ter. He should not be employed again if ho was convicted.
The practice of lightermen taking coals from barges to
make up a fire was almost universal. His master allowed
him no fuel, and he was obliged to do it.

Mr. Yardley was astonished at the defence offered by the
prisoner. It was quite monstrous. If the prisoner's mas•
ter really held out an encouragement to his men to steal,
he ought to be committed for trial. The object of all
punishments was example, and as an example to others he
should not mitigate the punishment, and in future inflict
severe sentences. Every barge on the river was plundered
of coals more or less.

The Prisoner—l wished to do justico to my master.

Mr. Yardley—Do your master justice by stealing other
people's coals 1 It is perfectly Monstrous.

The Prisoner—He allows me no fuel.

Mr. Yardley—Then go without. Take the prisoner
away.

THE REVS. MR. HIBBs AND MR. SPURGEON.—
We are informed that on Sunday last, two sermons were
preached in the Church of England Chapel, St. Vincent-
stieet, in reference to Mr. Spurgeon's first address at Glas-
gow, on the text, " Jacob have
.I loved, but Esau have I
hated," touching which the minister of the chapel had
offered to meet Mr. Spurgeon in Queen-street Hall for an
open discussion of the subject—a challenge which the latter
refused to notice. There were overflowing congregations,
many hundreds being unable, in the evening, to get within
the chapel. The preacher announced that the collections
by the plate at the door would henceforth be abolished, and
that ho pews would be let after the present term of occur
pancy. He conceived that the time had now come when
preachers of the gospel must be able to say, "We seek not
yours, but you."—Front the Caledonian Mercury, March 1,