The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-25 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE-July 24.

SOUTHWARK.—CONVICTION OF A BRACE OF
LADY RAILWAY THIEVES.— Sophia Landon and
Mary Ann Sanders, two well-dressed, respectable-
looking young women, were brought before Mr.
Burcham for final examination, charged with steal-
ing purses from two ladies, at the London, Brighton,
and South Coast Railway Terminus, London-bridge.
Mr. W. Edwin attended for the prisoners.
Henry Hart, an officer in the employ of the rail-
way company, ,said that on Monday morning the
15th inst., he was on duty inside the station at the
time excursion trains were getting off for Brighton.
He saw the prisoners pass rapidly from the main
booking office to the Palace-office, and hail a cab
outside. His suspicions were at once aroused at
this conduct, consequently he went and stopped the
vehicle just as they had seated themselves, and on
opening the door he saw Sanders put her right
hand down, and two purses fell on the floor. He
at once charged them with stealing them, and
then Landon handed him a purse, and another fell
from her. A telegraphic message was sent after
the last train and owners were found for two of
the purses, and they were now in attendance.
Mrs. sane Hicks said she went to Brighton on
Monday morning, the 15th instant, and just .as
she was leaving the train one of the officers asked
if any lady had lost her purse. Witness missed
hers immediately, and she identified one of the
purses produced by the officer as her property. It
contained half a sovereign and about 10s. in silver.
She returned it safe to her pocket just before
getting into the carriage, and had no knowledge of
her loss until she got to Brighton.
Elizabeth Hicks, the wife of a tanner residing in
Bermondsey, said she went by the same train, and
missed her purse as soon as they had started. She
identified one of the purses produced as her
property.

- Mr. Thomas Richards, an inspector of the com-
pany's police, said he had made inquiries about the
other two purses, and had not found the owners.
He had ascertained that Sanders' right name was
Gordon, and her brother was now undergoing four
years' penal servitude.
Mr. Edwin, for the prisoners, said he could not
contend against the evidence, consequently he
trusted that his worship would deal with them
under the Criminal Justice Act, as they had not
been previously convicted.
Mr. Burcham asked if they were known.
Inspector Richards replied that he had no doubt
that they belonged to a gang of thieves infesting
the railways and other public places, but he-was not
aware whether they had ever been convicted.
Mr. Burcham observed that had there been any
evidence as to that he should not have consented to
deal with them, as he had no doubt they were ex-
perienced thieves, and belonged to a erimin al family.
He should under all the circumstances
t at Fermino's-
sentence
each of them to six months' hard labour,
Benjamin John Donkin, chief deliver for
of the foreign and colonial deptlrtlaen eman
wharf, was Drought u '
final examination) oharged with st l; •
near London-lor,:ige, xv_._ ,
p for
bags of foign sugar from the warehouseseaillg several
ninofrwharf ; and Chas. Gates and at Fen-
general dealers, of Lethal— Richard Dabbs,
with receiving the ga7, gl een, ware charged ,
stolen. • _de, well knowing it to be I
1

The case having been completed,
The magistrate committed all the prisoners for

trial at the adjourned sessions for the county of
Surrey.
John and James Campbell, two powerful-looking
men, were finally examined, charged with having in
their possession a number of counterfeit half crowns,
florins, and shillings ; also a galvanic battery used.
in manufacturing them. John Campbell was like-
wise charged with assaulting the police.
The magistrate committed the prisoners for trial.

WANDSWORTH. PILFERING AND RECEIV-
ING BY A COOK AND HER NIECE.—FLAGRANT CASE.
—Rene Scott, a very genteel-looking young girl,
about 15 years of age, was brought up on remand,
before Mr. Ingham, charged with feloniously re-
ceiving a quantity f food, the property of Mr. T.
R. Abrahams, a gentleman residing at Balham-
house, Balham-hill.
The case was first heard on Wednesday week,
and on that occasion the prisoner's aunt, Rhoda
Scott, a woman nearly 70 years of age, was charged
with her for stealing the articles of food the pro-
perty of her master.
The evidence adduced against both prisoners was
to the effect that the aunt had been in the service
of the prosecutor as cook for two years, and in con-
sequence of what recently came to his knowledge
he applied to the police, and Constable Blackburn,
of the V division, was employed in plain clothes to
watch the premises. On the afternoon of TnesdaY,
the 16th inst., the younger prisoner was observed
by the officer above 100 yards from the house,
walking up and down, apparently as if she were
waiting for some person. He continued watching,
and shortly afterwards the elder prisoner came to
the gate and looked out. The girl went up to her>
and Blackburn saw her receive a bundle from her
aunt, which she placed under her shawl, and then
walked away. She was stopped by the officer, who
asked her what she had in her bundle, to which she
answered she did not know, but that it was given to
her by her aunt. She was taken to the house, and
on the bundle being searched it was found to con-
tain half a quartern loaf cut in two pieces, a quan-
tity of dripping, butter, potatoes, and about four
pounds of pieces of uncooked meat, the latter being
proved to have been cut off the joints in the house.
They were both taken into custody, and, after being
examined before the magistrate, the elder prisoner
was committed for two months with hard labour
for the unlawful possession, and the niece was re-
manded for inquiries to be made about her eharac•
ter.

Yesterday an attorney's clerk, who appeared for
the prisoner, handed in a letter relative to her pre-
vious good character.
Mr. Abrahams said he had been informed that
the prisoner had been in the habit of receiving
bundles from her aunt while st his house, for the
last two years, but he had no witnesses present to
prove it.
The clerk complained that they were not brought
forward, as his client had been remanded for the
purpose. He was instructed that nothing of the
kind had occurred before.

Mr. Ingham said it would make a great differ-
ence in his decision if it were proved that she has
been in the habit of receiving bundles from her
aunt, as in that case she must have known the
nature of the contents.

Blackburn was recalled, and said the bundle he
took from the prisoner contained nothing but the
articles stolen.

Mr. Ingham said in that case she must have
known what the bundle contained.

Blackburn also said that the parents of the pri-
soner were highly respectable.

Mr. Ingham ultimately decided upon taking the
father reeognisances for the good behaviour of the
prisoner for the next twelve months. He at the
same time read the girl a suitable lecture upon the
enormity of the offence she bad committed, and
told her that he was afraid that this wee only 0'
part of a wholesale system of plunder that had been
carried on for some time.
The prisoner left the court crying.