The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-25 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

DARING BOOT ROBBERY BY A WELL-KNOWN TRIM'
—John Laing, carpenter, residing at the Model Lodging-
house, Spread Eagle-court, Gray's-inn-lane, was charged
with stealing 38 pairs of boots and shoes, of the value of
£l5, the property of Mr. Benjamin Lovelace, shoemaker,
3, Old Compton-street, Soho.

The prosecutor said that at eight that morning, on going
to open his shop, he found the side door open, and on en-
tering he saw the prisoner busily employed putting boots
and shoes from the window into a sack, which was then
three parts full. He immediately called for assistance,
and held the door so as to prevent the prisoner's escape.
Assistance coming he gave the prisoner into custody, and
on examining the sack found 38 pairs of boots and shoes,
worth at least £l5, a coat, and other articles. The sack be-
longed to the prisoner.

M'Mahon, 165 C, proved taking the prisoner into custody,
and on asking him how he got into the house, he said he
found the door open.

The prisoner, who is well known to the police as a thief,
was asked whether he had anything to say, and he said
he would reserve his defence.

The prisoner, who conducted himself in a very cool man-
ner, was then remanded that previous convictions may be
proved against him.

THAMES.

CONVICTION OP A PRIVATE STILL-KEEPER..--Mr. Mar-
shall, from the office of the Solicitor of Inland Revenue,
attended before Mr. Selfe to prosecute an information
against Eliza Green, a well-known vendor of illicit spirits,
for working and maintaining a private still in the parish
of St. George-in-the-East. There wore two counts in the
indictment, and the penalty of £2OO was sued for upon
each.

The defendant was called, and not appearing, the case
was heard ex parte in her absence.

Mr. Vanstone, an officer of Inland Revenue, said he left
the copy of a summons at No. 4, Sun-court, King David
lane, St. George -in-the-East, where he and other officers
had previously seized a private still.
Mr. Selfe--Give me the particulars of that seizure.
Mr. Vanstone—On the 10th of March I went, in com-
pany with Mr. Parfiter, to No. 4, Sun-court, and in a back
room we found a large private still in brickwork. It had
been recently at work, and a smell of strong spirits per-
vaded the place. I also found in two bags 601bs. of mo-
lasses, 40 gallons of wash in a state of fermentation, and all
the necessary articles for carrying on illicit distillation on a
largo scale, the whale of which we seized and conveyed to
the excise-office on Tower-hill.

John Hawthorn said he had the letting of the housas in
Sun-court to a woman who gave the name of John Wil-
liams. (A laugh.) At eight o'clock on the night of the
seizure he saw a woman go into the house, 4, Sun-court;
and, in consequence of a preconcerted scheme, he went into
the house after her. The woman was Eliza Green, who
previously said she took the house for John Williams. She
was in the house daily. He never saw any one else there.
Mr. Selfo asked if it was usual for women to work private
stills ?

Mr. Vanstone replied in the affirmative, and said he had
seldom or ever made a seizure of a private still without
finding a woman concerned in it.

Mr. Selfo was of opinion the case was made out against
the defendant. It would be sufficient if he convicted on
one count. Ho sentenced tho defendant to pay a fine of
£2OO to the Queen, and in default to be imprisoned until it
was paid.
A warrant for the apprehension of the defendant was
applied for and granted.