The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-26 00:00:00

station-house, in Fleet-street, Hunter's account of •
the brooch was, that his sister gave it to him to
raise money on to send to their sick mother in
Sheffield. Speck then asked the female prisoner
if she were the sister who gave Hunter the brooch.
She said she was, and accounted for possession of
it and the difference in their names by stating that
her brother made her a present of it five years ago
in Australia, where she married, but since then she
had lost her husband, and returned to England.
She said the name of the brother who gave it to her
was John. Hunter, and that he was a sergeant in
the 12th Foot. Speck then asked her if there were
any marks on the brooch, he having previously ob-
served something peculiar on the back of it by
which it might be identified, and she replied in the
negative. She also said that none of her friends
would be able to satisfy the court that she had it
in her possession any time within the last four or
five years, as she always kept herself to herself, and
never allowed any one to see her trinkets ; but on
being told that her statement was not satisfac
tory, and that she and Hunter, who is in reality
her husband, and not her brother, would be
locked up and taken before a magistrate, Hunter
said it was no use detaining them, and that he
would tell the truth. He then stated that Rugg,
the commissionaire, they had seen outside, had
offered them ss. if they would sell the brooch for
him; his account to them being that he had pur-
chased it at Cremorne for half-a-crown. Rugg was
then brought into the station, and he gave his num-
ber as a commissionaire, C C 121, and his address
11, Robert-street, Brompton. He admitted that he
gave the brooch to Hunter, and added that he
bought it in Dublin four or five years ago, and that
Hunter's story was all a lie. Under these circum
stances Hunter and his wife were detained and
taken before the Alderman at this court on the fol-
lowing dl,y, when Rugg attended and made a
similar statement, the result of which was that the
prisoners were discharged ; but the facts of the case
subsequently appearing in the newspapers, Capt.
Williams applied to the police, in whose hands the
brooch remained, and identified it as the property
of Mrs. Gray, who was at present staying at
Brighton on account of ill-health, and therefore un-
able to attend. This information at once gave rise
to fresh inquiries, and it was ascertained that the
address given by Rugg was a false one, and as the
brooch was supposed to have been lost at Cremorne
Gardens on the occasion of the grand fete on the
29th of last month, where he as a commissionaire
was on duty, Speck immediately took out sum-
monses against all the defendants on the present
charge, in support of which the following addi-
tional evidence was given.
Halford, 336, said—The defendant Rugg also gave
his address as living at the office of the commis-
sionaire in Wilton-street, which is incorrect. I
have ascertained that he was on duty at Cremorne
Gardens on the night the brooch was lost, and that
since then he has exhibited it among his mess-mates,
and stated he bought it of a prostitute at Cremorne
for half-a-crown.

Alderman Finnis—ls there any one here to prove
that statement and to inform the Court what Rugg's
previous character has been ?

Speck—Yes, Sir. One of the commissionaires, and
the sergeant-major of Rugg's corps.
Alderman Finnis—Very well, call them, for I
will hear any evidence that will throw light on the
matter, as it is important the conduct of these par-
ties should be thoroughly investigated.
Commissionaire No. 64 said—The defendant Rugg
has been connected with his corps about five months,
and during that time has been appointed to the
duty at Cremorne Gardens. On the 18th of the
present month I was in the mess-room with several
others, when Rugg showed us the brooch in ques-
tion, and asked if we were judges of gold and could
tell him the value of it. He said that a female came
to him at Cremorne Gardens a few nights previous
and asked him to advance her 2s. 6d. on the brooch,
at the same time alleging that she gave 30s. for it,
and that on his asking her afterwards for the money,
and offering to return the brooch, she told him to
go to the devil, for she had no half-crown. He also
told us that ne knew the brooch was gold, as a
jeweller had valued it at £3 3s.
Mr. Martin (the chief clerk)—Were you present
when Hunter and his wife were charged at this
court last week ?

Witness was, sir.
Mr. Martin—Then why did you not mention what
you have now stated? You heard him say that he
bought it in Dublin four or five years ago.
Witness—l heard him say so, but I did not then
think of the story he had told us in the mess room.

Sergeant-Major Platt said the defendant Rugg
was formerly in the Scots Fusilier Guards, and was
discharged, on account of wounds and the loss of an
arm, with a pension and excellent character. He
was appointed to Cremorne Gardens, and was paid
by Mr; E. T. Smith, the proprietor, L 1 per week
for his services. Mr. E. T. Smith is most particular
in all matters of this kind, and provides for the
restoration of property lost in the gardens in the
same manner that he did at her Majesty's and
Drury-lane Theatres. A book is kept in which
every article found is registered, so that any one
applying to Mr. Smith may recover their lost pro-
perty if it has been found. It was therefore the
duty of every one employed in the gardens to deliver
all such property to the proprietor of the gardens,
and had Rugg done so this brooch would have been

restored to the owner, as application was made for
it on the following day by Captain Williams.
Laura Drake, lady's maid to Mrs. Gray, identified
the brooch as belonging to that lady, and said—l
remember Mrs. Gray going to Cremorne, merely to
walk in the gardens, and she returned home in the
carriage. I observed the brooch was defective in its
fastening when she went out, and when retiring for
the night I missed it. The value of the brooch is
about £lO, as it is gold and a garnet cameo.
Speck—l think the value is considerably more,
as it is worth £6 to break up for the gold alone and
the garnet cameo is very valuable on account of the
exquisite workmanship. Captain Williams, after
applying at Cremorne, did not advertise the brooch,
believing that the finder being ignorant of its value,
would endeavour to dispose of it and get into
trouble accordingly, and he consequently watched
the police reports in the newspapers daily, confident
that he should hear more of the brooch from that
source. Had it not been for the report of the first
proceedings it is probable that nothing further
would have been discovered.
Hunter and Wisbeach declared they were entirely
innocent, being merely the dupes of Rugg.
Rugg—l am in the habit, sir,of lending money to
persons in the gardens, and it was in the manner
stated to the officer that the brooch came into my
possession.
Alderman Finnis—This is a case in which you
have all by your own falsehoods placed yourselves
in a very serious position. With regard to you,
Hunter and Wisbeach, you have given so many ac-
counts of the matter that I am induced to believe
you had a guilty knowledge in reference to the
value, as well as to the manner in which Rugg be-
came possessed of it. It is an open question whether
the brooch was lost or stolen. Had I been satisfied
that it was the latter I should deal with the case
very differently. I do not believe Rugg's story at
all. I believe that he picked up the article, and the
fact that he employed the others fiK a considera-
tion of ss. to sell iL for him shows that he knew he
was acting improperly.
Halford—l have ascertained, sir, that during
Rugg's employment at Cremorne-gardens only two
articles, a common bracelet and a gold ring, of
trifling value, have been given up to Mr. E. T.
Smith, to be returned to the owners, if claimed.

Alderman Finnis—The public must be protected.
You, Rugg, were employed in a responsible position,
on account of your presumed good character as a
commissionaire. You have fought for your coun-
try, and have won the confidence of the public;
but the confidence reposed in you you have abused.
You have offended in every way against the law,
the regulations of the institution you belong to, and
the rules of the establishment you have been em-
ployed in. It is my duty, therefore, to make an
example of you. Had you, in the first instance,
given a straightforward account of the brooch I
should have looked more leniently upon your
offence, but you have, by your own conduct, for-
feited all claim to indulgence in consideration of
previous good character. I now commit you all
three to prison for fourteen days, and I trust it will
be a caution to you all as long as you live against
dealing with property that does not belong to you.
It is only due to Mr. Lawley, the pawnbroker, to
state publicly that his conduct has been most praise-
worthy ; and if all persons would act in a similar
manner it would be creditable to themselves, and
more conducive to the ends of justice. This is the
third case which has been brought before me this
week in whieh Mr. Lawley has been instrumental
in bringing criminals to justice.

HAMMERSMITH.—THE MOULVIE'S FAMILY.
EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS. Mahomed
Moulvie Musseeh Ooddeen, K. 8., appeared before
Mr. Ingham, to answer a summons charging him
with an assault upon his wife, Clara Jane.
There was another summons taken out by Eleanor
O'Riley, a middle-aged Irishwoman, against
Madame Moulvie, for committing an assault neon
her, and, as that summons had priority, it -was
heard before the other.
Mr. Poland appeared for his Excellency, and
they both sat at the solicitors' table while the case
ng -hill,
against Madame Moulvie was heard.
Nheorttli residence, The complainant's case was that she
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