The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-24 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

. EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—James Fitzgerald and Evan
Kemp were brought before Mr. Bingham on the follow-
ing charge :
Hypellite De Hors, lamp manufacturer, No. 35,
Gerrard-street, Sobo, deposed that the prisoner Fitz-
gerald had been in his employ as porter for about three
years. The other prisoner he knew nothing of. On
Tuesday last prosecutor sent the prisoner Fitzgerald
with ten sovereigns and seven shillings and sixpence,
with directions to take it to a Mr. Peneauz, in South-
ampton-buildings, from whom he was to receive a
cheque for 761., making, with the 101. 7a. 6d., a
total of 861. 7s. 6d. After receiving this money
he was to have taken it to Mr. Estelle, in Old Broad-
street. In consequence of the prisoner not returning
prosecutor went to Mr. Estelle's and found that the
prisoner had not been near the place. Witness then
gave information to the police.
James Ledford, potman of the Bricklayers' Arms,
Earl-street, Blackfriars, said, yesterday afternoon both
the prisoners came into his master's house, and called
for a pint of ale. While they were there the prisoner
Fitzgerald wrote a letter and gave it to the other to post.
Sergeant Glass, 8 0, said about seven o'clock on the
previous evening he went to No. 9, Tower-street, Seven-
dials, where he saw Fitzgerald's father. He saw the
prisoner there also, with the primmer Kemp. Fitzgerald's
father handed witness a letter which he read in the
prisoner's presence, and which Fitzgerald admitted was
the one he wrote at the public house. The letter con-
tained a statement to the effect that prisoner had lost
the whole of the money out of his pocket, and, in
consequence was afraid to return home. The elder
Fitzgerald tan told him that as soon as he received
that letter he went and fetched his son home, who made
the same statement to him. The other prisoner denied
all knowledge of the transaction. The constable added
that from inquiries be had made he was inclined to
believe the prisoner's story.
Mr. Bingham said there was no evidence against
Kemp, who would be discharged. From the tenor of
the letter he certainly thought there was some truth in
the pthorter Fitzgerald's tale, and should, therefore,
remand him on bail for a week.

THAMES.
ROBBERIES II THE WEST INDIA POOL—Thomas
Webb, a dock labourer, was brought before Mr. Selfe,
charged with stealing one pound and a half of tea, the
property of the East and \Vest India Dock Company,
on their premises.
Henry Payne, a dock constab e, said the prisoner had
been long suspected of purloining tea, arid other goods,
and he closely watched him Yesterday, and saw him
emerge from a tc:a warthouso and walk towards the lower
gate. where the labourers were rubbed down as they
leave the dock. He met the prisoner near the lower
gate, and he changed colour, and said, " Where is the
Amazonian (a Peruvian frigate) lying, Mr. Payne,!' to
which he replied, "You don't want the Amazonian,
but I want you ; you have passed the la.
bourers at the upper gate, and have stolen
property about you. He then searched the prisoner
and found a parcel in each of his trousers' pockets.
They contained tea, and it weighed in the whole 1# lb.
The prisoner said he was a ruined man, and implored
forgiveness. Ile then conveyed him to the police.
station.

The prisoner, in defence, said he would acknowledge
his guilt. It was his first offence.
Mr. Selfe—The first time you have been found out,
you mean 7
The Prisoner—l hope you will be lenient.
Mr. Selfe—What is the prisoner/
Payne—He samples goods in the dock. His wages
have been 183. per week. Great confidence was placed
in him, and his uncle is an old servant of the dock com-
pany.
Mr. Selfe—lt astonishes me how people in good
situations can risk the loss of them as well as their
liberty fur the sake of plunder. You ate sentenced
to a month's imprisonment for unlawful possession.

THI GREAT NORTHERN 110SPITAL.—This institution
has been established to meet the medical necessities of
the poor populations of Islington, Agar, Camden, So-
mers, and Kentishyowns, New Smithfield, and Highgate.
It is situated in the Ycrk-road, King's-cross, adjoining
the Great Northern Railway Company. To Mr. Sta-
tham, one of the surgeons to the institution, is due the
credit of having, at his own private cost, founded the
nucleus of the present host)ital. During the six months
this gentleman worked this little institution, no fewer
than 28,009 out-patients received gratuitous relief, while
46 in-patients were received into the hospital, and had
every care bestowed upon them. The work becoming
too laborious for the t xertions of a single medical officer,
the institution was handed over to some gentlemen, who
kindly undertook the duties of a committee ; the premises
were enlarged, and rendered more suitable for hospital
purposes. Concurrently with these alterations a full
medical and surgical staff was elected, consisting of three
physicians and three surgeons, three junior physicians
and three junior surgeons, a physician accoucheur, with
ophthalmic, aural, and dental ;surgeons. One feature
worthy of notice is, that the hospital is free to all sick
and destitute person., no form of recommendation being
required. The average of daily patients is over 300.
The report lately
issued by the committee states that
from January Ito October 1, 1857, 51,448 poor people
received gratuitous assistance ; of this number, 22,866
were new out-patients, and the remaining 28,582 included
those who had visited the hospital inure than once. The
medical cases amounted to 15,07, the surgical to 6,959 ;
78 cases received in-door relief. It is to he hoped that
so excellent a commencement of a good work will not fail
in its future endeavours, for want of means, to afford
that comfort and assistance which it has hitherto done.
WHEN IS A MAN DRUNK ?—Yesterday, anin-
quest held by Mr. Wakley on a person who bad been
given to intemperate habits, the Coroner remarked that
he found it bard to discover when it was thought a per-
son was really drunk; and only the other day a witness
told him that he considered a person drunk when he
could not lie down. This was odd logic, for he (the
coroner) understood a person to be drunk when he could
not stand up. (Laughter.)

D E CE ritrl E R 4,

SWELT. MOBSMEN ON THE RAIL WAY.

Two steady-looking respectably dressed men, con-
versing together in Steelhouse-lane, on Monday,
attracted the quick eye of Detective-Sergeant Manton
as he was passing through the street about noon. The
officer, for reasons best known to himself, took the trou-
ble to follow them to the Hackle), Station, on the Great
Western Railway, whither they proceeded on foot, chat-
ting confidently with each other all the way. A train
came np just as they arrived, and obtaining tickets, both
of them entered a second-class compartment, in which
there were several ladies, and returned to Birmingham.
Manton travelled by the same train, and, on reaching
the Snow-hill platform, quietly handcuffed his two
friends the moment they stepped out of the carriage.
Naturally astonished at this unceremonious treatment,
they indignantly asked the cause of it ; and on Manton
charging them with frequenting the railway for the pur-
pose of committing a felony, then were Fiore surprised
than ever, and declared themselves perfect strangers to
each other. On searching them the officer found on one
a return ticket from Hockley to Bordesley station, the
latter place being quite on the opposite side o. Birming-
ham. From Steelhouse-lane to Hockley the distance was
a mile and three-quarters, and from the same point to
Bordesley only a mile and a quarter ; and Manton, from
his knowledge of the men, and the fact that they did no
business at Hockley, felt justified in taking them in
charge. They were placed at the bar of the pores-court
yesterday, before Mr. Kyenersley, Mr. Philips, and Mr.
Winfield, and gave their names as Townsend Gifford
and Alfred Nicholls, but refused to state either their
addresses or occupation. Mr. Sill appeared to prosecute,
and called Manton, who gave evidence to the above
effect. In answer to further questions, the officer
stated he did not wait to see whether the prisoners
would enter the Bordesley train ; he took them into
custody immediately. He could explain his reasons
for doing so, but it would not be evidence. He knew
the prisoners well as professional thieves and swell mobs-
men. They keptcompany with convicted thieves. Neither
of them had stopped above a month at a time in Birming-
ham, as they went about from Own to town. Mr. Sill
contended that the only reasonable inference from the
conduct of the prisoners was that they purposed some
act of felony ; otherwise, why should they start from
Birmingham to Hockley, and then return by train deli-
berately without speaking to any one or doing any busi-
ness at Hockley 1 Latterly the railway company had
received complaints of frequent depredations committed
by this class of persons on their line. In ails wer to a
question from the bench, Manton said he had not seen
the prisoners in town for a year or eighteen months.
Mr. Synnersley—lt would be rather hard to convict
them on evidence of this kind, although I have no doubt
about their characters or intention. Manton—We find
it a difficult matter, sir, to catch hold of these people ;
the town is infested with them, and they do a great
deal of mischief. Mr. Kynnersley—You must keep a
sharp eye upon them. Manton—That we do already,
air ; bat I am afraid we shall not be able to get them
again. The prisoners were then discharged, each of
them declaring, as he left the dock, that "Mr. Manton
must surely have made a mistake in supposing them to
be thieves."—Birmingh,ant Daily Post.