The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-14 00:00:00

ELOPEMENT AND ROBBERY OF L2lO.

The wife of John Belton, a publican in Leicester,
has eloped with a hawker of pens and pencils, and
carried off with her £2lO belonging to her husband,
his cash box, and a large quantity of wearing appa-
rel. Belton kept a house named the Old Cheese
Inn, Belgrave-gate, and took in hawkers and travel-
lers as lodgers. One of the latter class was a hawker
of pens and pencils, named Peter Mills, who lodged.
there this year, hawking his wares in the town and
neighbourhood, but left about a month before the
elopement. While there he no doubt formed an.
improper connection with Mrs. Belton, who had.
evidently been for some time preparing for flight, as
she had got some money secured, and two or three
large strong deal boxes constructed for the convey-
ance of wearing apparel and goods. Belton found,
that, from some cause or other, his public-house
business was not paying, and he therefore struck
a bargain for its sale to another person. On the
17th or 18th of November he went with his wife
to an appraiser to receive £2lO for the stock, fix-
tures, and goodwill, which sum was to be paid on
behalf of the in-coming tenant. The £2lO was
paid, and the "better half," of course, immmediately
took charge of it, transferring it to the cash-box on
their return home. The very next day she de-
camped, carrying with her the cash-box and money.
Suspecting that she had either gone off with the
hawker or had gone to join him, the husband set
off with a friend in pursuit, and ultimately got
upon their track. He found they had been staying
together as man and .wife at Newcastle-on-Tyne,
where Mills had deposited in the bank in his own
name a sum of £l9O. The husband next traced
the runaways to Hexham and various towns in the
north until Tuesday, when he was fortunate enough
to find them
.. in Sunderland. With the help of De-
tective King he found their luggage at the railway
station, and in a box which Mills claimed as his
own were found the cash-box and various other ar-
ticles belonging to the injured husband. In another
box were the bed-clothes. The luggage being
watched, the hawker soon came up to claim it for
that
George-
street c°
rg the
e
removal, and he was taken into custody. In his
possession was found the bank receipt for £l9O,
besides £26 in gold, and from the address on the
passing under the name
luggage he appeared to be
of Sidney. On inquiry it
was
sfoll
in found
guilty pair had been lodging together
street as man and wife. . At, the police-station
Belton and his wife "made it up and took lodgings
together. On Wednesday, before
. the Sunderland
magistrates, Mr. Cooper, for Mapplied to have
die6feoifictel.le money,woneays, found upon him, given up for his
It over the amount said to be stolen;
Mr. Robson, for the prosecution, did not object, as
he believed the prisoner was a man who got his
living by working, and had a stock, as the night
before he had called at his (Mr. R.'s) office, selling
pencils. He might state that he had informed the
prosecutor that he would not conduct the case un-
less sufficient funds wore forthcoming to carry it to
a successful termination, and as he had not received
the money, ho did not yet know whether ho would
prosecute. The bench, after a short consultation,
ship was likely to arise to the lawyers.
agreed to allow the £6 to be given up,,,as a " hard-

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA,
COVENT GARDEN.
Under the management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. Wm.

Harrison, Sole Lessees.
TEIIS EVENING, THE PURITAN'S DAUGHTER.
31iss Louisa Pyne, Miss Susan Pyne ; Messrs. Santley, A. St.
Albyn, Corti, G. Honey, Patey, Lyall, W allworth, T. Distin,
E. Dussek, and W. Harrison.
Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON.
To conclude with THE TOY MAKER. Mr. H. Haigh,
G. Pyne; Mesdames Susan Pyne and Thirlwall,
Commence at Seven o'clock

The Box-office open from Ten to Five daily. No charge for
hocking, or fees to Box-keepers.

THEATRFI.ROYAL, HAYMARKET,
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. Lord
Dundreary, Mr. Sothern. Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Farren, Mrs.
C. Young, &c.
After which, MY AUNT'S ADVICE. Mr. Howe, Mr.
Sotheran, Miss Oliver, &c.
To be followed by BOX AND COX.
• To conclude with FAMILY JARS. Mr. Compton and
Mrs. E. Fitzwilliam.