The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-26 00:00:00

THIRD COURT.

(Before the Common Sergeant.)
David Rees Davis, 47, schoolmaster, pleaded
guilty to having obtained by false pretences the
sum of 41. 4s. from Pascoe Grenfell and others, and
also the sum of II ls. from Edward Budd.
The Court sentenced the prisoner to six months'
imprisonment.

John Sankey, 27, police-constable ; Matilda
Ross, 18, spinster ; Wm. Burnett, 26, labourer ;
' and Ellen Mills, 25, widow, were indicted, Bur-
nett and Sankey for stealing property valued at
5001., the property of Rosabella Robertson Aik-
man, Ross with aiding and abetting in the commis-
sion of the said felony, and Mill;with having felo-
niously received part of the said property.
Mr. Orridge appeared for the prosecution, and
Mr. Thompson for Sankey.
The learned counsel having stated the case, called
Mr. Aikman, who stated that the prosecutrix in
this case was his mother, and being an invalid was
not present. The house from whence this property
was stolen, 68, Portland-street, was hers. About
three years ago witness obtained, upon application
to the Marylebone Station, the services of the pri-
soner Sankey, who was a constable in the D divi-
sion, to take care of the house. The kitchen was
allotted to him and his wife, and the furniture,
plate, and other property were kept locked up in
the other rooms, and the whole left in the care of
Sankey. Witness used to call occasionally when in
town at the house for his letters. All the rooms,
excepting the front drawing-room, wore kept locked.
John Robertson Aikman, another son of the pro-
secutrix, gave similar evidence of the possession of
the house by Sankey, adding that on the 22d Oct.,
from some information whioh he had received, he
went to the Marylebone Police Station, and from
thence to his mother's house, when he found that
the prisoner Sankey was not there, and that the
rooms had been broken open, and property, consist-
ing of plate, linen, jewellery, and watches, amount-
ing in value to about 5001., had been taken. He
identified the travelling trunk now produced as his
sister's property.
George Robinson, a marine store-dealer of East-
street, Marylebone said that on the 3d Oct. Sankey
took a lodging at his house for the prisoner Ross,
and used to corns occasionally to see her. Upon the
20th of that month Ross left the place in a cab,
and he saw nothing more of either of them until
they were in custody. He found the travelling
trunk identified by the last witness in the room
which Saukey took after Ross had left.

Sergeants O'Brien and Pearce, of the D division,
proved examining the house of prosecutrix, and
found that the different boxes and drawers had been
forced, some of them with a jemmy, and also that
at the time Saukey absconded he was upon the sick
list.

T. A. Browne, chief superintendent of the Cork
constabulary, stated that upon the morning of the
lstlof Nov., he went to a house in Middleton, county
of Cork, where he found the prisoners Ross and
Sankey in bed. He told the man to get up, and
asked his name. He said " William," and that he
was making a tour of pleasure. Witness told him
that he suspected that he was the person answering
the description of Sankey. The prisoner seemed to
laugh at the idea. Witness then desired to look at
his luggage, and, having stripped the canvas cover
off a box and examined its contents, told him he
should take him into custody. The woman Ross
then took a watch from her neck and gave it to
Sankey. Witness also found a gold pin and bracelet
in the room. The prisoners were then taken into
custody, and brought to this country.
The watch, bracelet, and pin were identified as
part of the property stolen, and also a silver purse
found upon Ross when searched at the Marylebone
station.

Sergeant Potter, 16 D, said that being upon duty
at the station after Sankey was locked up he, at his
(Sankey's) desire, went to the cell where he was.
Sankey then said he would tell the truth, as he
had been deceived in two men whom another man,
named White, had introduced to him ; that they
took him out and made him drunk ; that he fell
asleep ; that they went out for more drink, when
he thought they let some one in. When he woke
and found the place had been robbed he took the
things found upon him from the drawing-room, and
put them into the travelling trunk, intending to
come to the station and make a report, but fearing
that the robbery would be put upon his back, he
took the woman and went off. Upon last Thun-
day week witness went to Earl-street, Seven Dials,
and after breaking into the front garret of a house
there found Burnett and Mills in bed. They
denied having any of the stolen property on them,
but from Mills's hand. a gold watch, part of the
plunder, was taken. Some linen was also found,
together with skeleton keys and a " jemmy" fitting
the marks alluded to upon the drawers.
The jury acquitted Ross, finding the others
guilty.

Sankey was sentenced to six, and Burnett and
Mills to four years' penal servitude.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Nov. 25.

MANSION-HOUSE.—On Saturday last four
children named Quill, who had been found in a
shockingly destitute condition begging in Old
Broad street, were brought before the Lord Mayor
by a. police-constable. The Lord Mayor, learning
from the constable that their father was in confine-
ment ou a charge of felony, and that their mother
seat them into the street to beg, ordered a sum-
mons to be issued to compel her attendance, and
desired the constable to take the children to the
union.

Yesterday the mother was in attendance, and the
const able said he had been making further inquiries
into h, r character, and found she was in the habit
of getting drunk with the money which the children
obtained by begging. He had also ascertained that
she had taken her children out of the union.
The Lord Mayor—Why did you not let your chil-
dren remain in the union ?

----- •
Quill—l'm too fond of them to be parted from
them.

The L--rd Mayor—Why don't you go to the
union yourself ?

Quiff—Because I should be parted from them
Viere.

The Lord Mayor—So that you are prepared to
sacrifice the lives of your four children by sending
them into the streets in this inclement weather to
beg, rather than they shall be in the union, where
they will be properly clothed, warmed, and fed
during winter. Yoa would rather expose them and
see them die by inches in the streets, in order to sup-
port you. Of course you do not waut to go to the
anion, because you know you cannot get drink
there. That is the greatest .punishment to you.
You ought to be thankful that there is such a place
where your children can be taken care of during
the winter. Do I understand that you refuse to let
them go there ?
Quill (crying)—Yes, my lord ; I won't part with
thorn. It I was deprived of my children I should be
dead.

The Lord Mayor—Another week or two's expo-
sure in the public streets will certainly destroy one
of your children at least, and then you will be sent
to the Old Bailey for trial. [f any one of them is
found either begging or destitute, and the case is
proved, I shall commit you to prison for a montlos
Emanuel Solomons, who had been twice re-
manded, charged with having stolen a bracelet value
80 guineas from the shop of his mistress, Mrs. Mary
Sumner, a jeweller, carrying on business in Church-
row, Houndsditch, was again brought up.
Mr. Lewis sa;d he was not in a condition to
carry the case against the prisoner any further.
Mr. Solomon submitted that no case whatever
had been made out against his client
The Lord Mayor said that although there were
many suspicious circumstances connected with the
prisoner's conduct, there was not sufficient evidence
to justify his detention. He would therefore be
diichare,d, but would he liable to be again appre-
hended"in the event of further evidence implicating
him in the robbery being obtained.

SOUTH WARK.—A report appeared a few days
ago respecting two remarkably good-looking young
coloured girl, who were brought to this court by
Police-constable 85 M, charged with soliciting alms
in Black-wan-street, Borough.
It appedre I that they were dressed very
neatly in light coloured clothing, such as ]8
usually worn by female slaves in the Southern
States of America, and walked by the side_ of the
kerb, the elder sister carrying a placard in front of

her, on which was written "Fugitive Slaves from
America," and the younger carried a money-box in
which was a shilling in copper money. When be-
fore the magistrate they in the most artless manner
stated that they were fugitive slaves, having last
fall escaped from a plantation in Kentucky, and
found their way to Philadelphia, in the free State
of Pennsylvania. They were then sent to Greenock
by some benevolent person, with the view of get-
ting into some sort of service. Being unable to
obtain employment there, they came to London,
and, faring no better, they had resort to an appeal
to the kindness of the English people. They then
told Mr. Burcham that they most likely could gain
a livelihood if they had the means of purchasing
wool for knitting caps and gloves, which they had
frequently done in America. Mr. Burcham then,
believing that there might be some truth in their
story, granted them a trifle from the poorbox to
enable them to buy some wool, when they left the
court, expressing their gratitude. Since then his
Worship had received several small sums from be-
nevolent individuals for their use, and
Yesterday morning they attended for the pur-
pose of showing their small stock of knitted caps
which they had been enabled to make up through
the kindness of his Worship.
_ _

Mr. Burcham told them- since they were before
him on the last occasion he had not only received
several small sums for their use, but letters from
variou persons, some of whom were of high dis-
tinction, offering to take care of them and pia- .e
them in comfortable situations. Be had also re-
ceived an anonymous letter which did not speak
very highly of their characters, so that he had
thought it might be necessary to make some in-
quiries about them before he answered the letters
of those willing to assist them. He inquired where
they now resided.

The elder girl said that they had removed from
Bishopgate-street to the house of Mr. SuAth, 10,
Wentworth-street, Whitechapel.
Mr. Edwin (chief clerk) informed his Worship
that Wentworth-street was full of low lodging-
houses' similar to the Mint in this district.
Mr. Burcham (to the girl)—Do you kno w Crown-
court, Wentworth-street
Girl—Yes, sir, we lodge in a house there at the
back of No. 101. We have a room there, and pay
half-a-crown a-week for it.

Mr. Burcham—Does any one else live with you ?
Girl—Oh no, sir.
Mr. Bureham—Have you a father and mother in
England

Girl—No, sir ; my parents were slaves, and one
of them died about 18 months ago, We were about
to be parted and sold, when by the kindness of
some persons we were enabled to escape to a free
State.

Mr. Burcham—ls there a coloured man living in
the same hOlllO with you ?
Girl—No, sir ; there is one living in the same
court, but he has a wife and a large family. We
have knitted some caps and sold some, and what
remains of our stock you can inspect.
Mr. Burcham examined their small stock of
knitted caps, which they hail carefully placed iu a
bog, and asked whether they had sold many.
Eldest Girl—We have sold several, sir, and these
are all we have left. We have not sold one to-day.
Mr. Burcham—Do you know the name of the
vessel you came from America in ?

Girl—Yes, air, the brig Jane. She left Phila•
delpbia last spring.
Mr. Burcham—Who defrayed the expenses o
your passage to Greenock ?

- Cilia—SOme free coloured persons in Phila-
delphia, sir.
Mr. Burcham told them that an officer of the
Mendicity Society had promi-ed to make inquiries
respecting them, but he had failed to attend before
him to make his report. However, they appeared
to have made an attempt to obtain their livelihood
by industry, therefore he hoped that their story
wag true. Under those circumstances he should
order them to be paid ss. out of the benevolent
contributions to enable them to go on for a few
days. On Monday next they might call again,
when, if their story proved correct, no doubt they
would be taken care of.

The girls thanked his Worship for his kindness
and withdrew.

THE ASHOTER MURDER.

ASHOVER, TVESDAY.
This morning at 9 o'clock the inquest on the body
of James Simpson, farmer, of Ashover, who was
brutally murdered on Friday, the 13th inst., was
held at the White Lion Inn before Mr. Busby, the
coroner for the district, and a jury of 15 persons.
Mr. W. G. Fox, the chief constable of Derbyshire,
was present. The police have made great efforts to
secure the murderer, and several suspicious charac-
ters have been apprehended, but they could not be
identified by those who saw a person in company
with the deceased a short time previous to his be-
ing murdered. Last night a man named Richard.
Hodgkinson was apprehended at Matlock on sus-
picivu. 110 h... doe, gond on the day of the mur-
der a man was seen near the place with a dog, which
he set at some children as they were returning from
school.

Hannah Simpson was the first witness called.
She said,--My husband left home on Friday about
10 miastes past 11 in the morning. Be had his
watch, purse, and half-a-crown. It was a steel drop
chain, an l the watch was a silver one, with double
case. I don't know tha maker's name. The chain
was about nine inches long, with a seal to it. The
key was steel, and bent. I have wound the watch
up three times since we have been married. The
seal was a middle-sized one, with glass in, but I
don't know the colour. The face of the watch was
white, and the figures were black, audit had a loud
click. lam certain I should know the watch and
chain again. The watch I gave him just before he
started. I said, "Master, take your watch," and
I put it in his trousers' pocket. He said before he
started, "Mother, have you a sixpence '' I said
"No ; I have half-a-crown," He said, "That will
do." The purse I gave him, with the half-a-crown
in it, was a brow❑ one, with a leaden clasp to, and
one in the inside. Thole were three compartments
in the purse. I saw my husband put ►he purse in his
trousers' pocket just before he left. I don't know that

some bread and cheese in his pocket, and be had
he had any other money up nu lint I
nothing else in his pocket that I know anything of.
put him
When he was brought home in the evening I was
rresent, but did not see his pockets searched.
Those who searched them asked me what he had,
and I told them. Ho went to Alfreton market,
intending to me t Mr. Rogers. He took 1111. b. of
butter in a basket to sell at the market. The
butter was wrapped in two cloths, which are not
missing. He was also going to Alfreton market t
bargain for the sale (if seine cheese and two fat
pigs. All my b usbaud's clothes were about him
when he was brought home, except the handker-
chief, which contained the bread and cheese. There
seemed to be nothing injured about his clothes. He
never spoke at all after he was brought home. He
was not a man to scrape acquaintance with any per-
son on the road, as he generally studied Scripture.
In the morning my husband said, " What gioceries
shall you want 7" I said, " 21b of sugar, riee, and
can lles." The butter sold for is 3id per lb. The
basket was brought to me the same night. It con-
tained the two cloths he had taken the bitter in,
21b of sugar, 11b of rice, llb of midi- s, 2oz of tea ,•
a copybook and a sl tte for the little boy, a pair of
black worsted stockings, and two pennyworth of
sweets, which were in his basket for the children,
and two ounces of mustard. The contents of the
basket would be worth about 4s. Bd. The rice
was partly spilled on the road.
Thomas Rogers, Summercotes, grocer—l saw
the deceased on Friday last about 1 o'clock in the
market place at Alfreton. I had not met him there
by appointment. I told him I would give him an
answer that day about some pigs and
cheese which
we were bargaining for, He had a basket of but-
ter, containing 1141 b. which I bought at la. 3id.
per lb., and I paid him 14s. 10d. The deceaseddid not pull out any purse, but put the money in
his pocket. I could not say which pocket. I bar-
gained with him for two pigs and about three cwt.
of cheese, which he was to deliver on the following
Friday, when I was to pay him for them. I did
not pay him then. I was in his company about a
quarter of an hour. He went away, and I did not
see him any more after I had paid him for the but-
ter. The last time I saw deceased was about 2
o'clock. I agreed with him in the market for the
butter and cheese about 1 o'clock. I told him to
take the butter to my room in the castle yard, and
I would meet him there after I had bought some
more butter in the market. He went with his but-
ter and waited till I came, which would be about
2 o'clock. I p aid deceased in my room with silver
and copper. He went away out of the room as soon
as he received the money, and I did not see him
again.
Joseph Boar,
of the Rattle, Ashover, farmer's
servant to Mr. John Gladwiu, of Overton park—
On Friday, the 13th Nov., I met the deceased in.
Alfreton market. I did not go with him to Alfre-
ton. The deceased and I left Alfreton market to-
gether about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The de-
ceased had a basket on his arm, but I don't know
what it contained. I did not notice whether he
bad a watch with him, We walked about three
miles, and parted at Oyston-hsll. We went from
Alfreton by the George Inn, and Gana° de eta
Alfreton-hill, by
n d
Shirland and Higham, and tu.
off to Oyston-hall. Deceased then turned to
the right, which was his road home, and I came
by Oyston along the foo; void to W4'"lleY* Oystori-
'
hall is about three miles from where the deceased
live]. It wanted 20 minutes to four by Oystin
clock when we parted. It was not dark or foggy.
We did not notice anybody
following us tle