The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-19 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, Sept. 18.

(Before Mr. Whateley, Q.C.)
EXEMPLARY CONDUCT OF A LICENSED VIC-
TUALLER.—Maria Smith, 21, Margaret Levy, 29,
and Thomas Burke, 26, were indicted for stealing
the sum of 4s. 11d., the moneys of William Staples,
from his person.
Mr. Foot prosecuted. Mr. Taylor defended Burke.
The prosecutor was a farm labourer, and lived at
St. Mary's Cray, Kent, and on the morning of the
sth inst. he was in the Two Spies public-house,
Catherine-street, Strand, and joined in with the
three prisoners, who were standing in front of the
bar. Smith thrust her hand into his pocket and
took out an old purse, containing three shillings,
two sixpences, and three halfpence, which she passed
to Levy, and from Levy it was handed over to
Burke. Mr. Lawson, the landlord of the house,
had some suspicion of the prisoners, and on hearing
the prosecutor say he had been robbed, he ran
round the counter, locked the doors, and sent for
the police. Burke said he would knock the land-
lord's brains out if he did not open the door
and let them out ; but they were given in charge,
and part of the money was found on the floor.
The prisoners were found guilty, and former con-
victions were proved against Burke and Smith.
Levy was not known.
His lordship sentenced Burke to three years'
penal servitude, Smith to 18 months, and Levy to
six months' hard labour.

In returning their verdict the jury said they
wished to add that they considered the conduct of
the landlord very praiseworthy and creditable, and
that it would be well if all landlords acted with
equal promptitude under such circumstances.
His lordship said he quite agreed with the jury.
Mr. Lawson had conducted himself very worthily
in the matter, and it ought to be mentioned to his
credit.

Joseph Edwards, 26, and John Church, 22, were
' indicted for being found by night unlawfully in
possession, without lawful excuse, of implements
used in house-breaking, to wit, skeleton keys and a
jemmy.
John Daniel Morton stated that he was the
manager of the Pakenham Tavern at Knightsbridge.
On the evening of Aug. 20 the prisoners went there
and sat in the concert-room and ordered some ale.
He went down stairs, and on returning missed
Church, and he proceeded up stairs to a floor above
the concert-room, where he found Church, who
said he was in search of the closet. Church was in
the dark, near the door, which was' open, but had
been seen locked just before. He seemed very
anxious to find a closet, but the witness would not
let him go, and sent for a policeman. Then he made
a rush to the landing-window and threw something
out on the tiles. The prisoners were given in
charge, and next morning a search was made, and
the skeleton keys were found under the window,
and a chisel, or jemmy, was picked up in the yard.
Several skeleton keys were found on a mat near
which Edwards had been standing, and on Chinch
the police found knives and boxes of lucifer matches.
Inspector Firman, A division, said the keys had
been tried, one opened the door on the staircase,
which had been locked, and two of the others un-
locked every door in the house.
The prisoners were found guilty, and it was stated
that they were well known.
The learned Judge sentenced them each to three
years' hard labour.
Catherine Jones, 20, servant, was indicted for
unlawfully assaulting and neglecting her infant
child, name unknown. She pleaded guilty,
It appeared from the depositions that the pri-
soner was delivered of a female child at 6, Bird-
street, Oxford-street, on May 25, and the landlady
had charge of the infant until June 9, on which day
the prisoner took it away and returned without it.
She said, when questioned by the landlady, that she
had left it at a friend's house. On June 10 P, Con-
stable, 319 S, was on duty in Grove-end-road at
two o'clock in the morning, and, hearing a cry,
he went to the spot from which it proceeded,
and there he found an infant, crying and almost
in convulsions. It was raining very fast at the
time, and he took up the poor little creature and
carried it to Marylebone workhouse, where it was
received and placed in the nursery. The child was
then in good health, but it died on the 2d of
August. The identity was proved by the clothes
the child had on. A warrant was issued, and the
officer who had it took the prisoner into custody in
Queen's-gate gardens. She said she did not care
anything at all about it. There seemed to be a
good deal of sympathy felt for the prisoner.
His lordship said it was a very painful case to
deal with, but he hoped the position she had been
placed in would be a warning to her for the rest of
her life. He should sentence her to be imprisoned
for one month.

John Madden, 20, was found guilty of stealing a
roll of handkerchiefs, the property of Henry Gan-
ner, from a shop door. There were six former con-
victions against him. ✓

The learned Judge said he should give him one
more chance in this country, but if ever he came
here again he might rely upon it as a certainty
that he would be sent to penal servitude for a long
period. At present the sentence upon him was
that he be kept to hard labour for one year.

SECOND COURT.
(Before Mr. Payne.)
ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE.—Thomas M‘Carthy,
20, was indicted for stealing a gold chain and other
articles, the property of Joel Morris Lissack, from
his peron.
Mr. Tayler prosecuted.
The prosecutor said he was a commercial travel-
ler, and lived in York-street, Strand. At a few
minutes before twelve, on the 31st of August, he
was passing through Wellington-street, Strand, on
his way home, when the prisoner suddenly came
up to him and made a snatch at his watch. Pro-
secutor caught the watch, but the chain broke, and
the prisoner had possession of that. Prosecutor
laid hold of him, and the prisoner then seized him
by the throat, and, by twisting his scarf, nearly
garotted him. The scarf gave way and the prisoner
escaped, but was pursued, and captured in Tavis-
tock-street, by Charles Woodburne, 16 F. Part of
the prosecutor's chain was found close by where he
was stopped by the prisoner.
He was found Guilty, and sentenced to six
years' penal servitude.
Charles Dellar, 38, Edward Firman, 31, and
Emma Firman, 30, were indicted for stealing a
purse and a bag containing Lo 10s. from the per-
son of Caroline Hooking.

Vv
Mr.
Kemp and Mr. Warton prosecuted; Mr. F.
H. Lewis defended.

The prosecutrix gave her evidence in a very
confused manner. The case sought to be esta-
blished for the prosecution was this :—On the 13th
of September she and the prisoners were drinking
at the Jolly Farmers' beer-shop, East Barnet-road,
Enfield, and they got the worse for liquor. The
prosecutrix had a purse with £3 in silver in it,
and a bag with £2 10s. in gold. They went down
a lane, when Emilia Firman hugged her round the
neck, and Dellar thrust his hand into her pocket,
and took both purse and bag. The two male pri-
soners were afterwards seen in the plantation, and
information of the robbery having been given, a
search was made there, and near to where they
were seen the pulse and bag were found, but empty.
The prisoners were apprehended by a sergeant of the
Enfield police, at the Ridgway-road public-house,and
on Firman he found £2 Os. 2d., on Dellar 2s. 105 d.
and on Emma Firmin £2 in gold and Bd.
The prosecutrix was subjected to a long cross-
examination, but she was very deaf, and seemed
scarcely to know what she was talking about.
The prisoners were all acquitted.
Michael Flynn, 49, gilder, was indicted for steal-
ing five picture frames, the property of Abraham
Scorer. He was also indicted under the Bailee Act,
for unlawfully disposing of the same. It appeared
that the prisoner had worked for the prosecutor, a
picture-frame maker, in Old-street-road, and was