The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-22 00:00:00

ESCAPE OF A PRISONER.

On Monday morning a daring and successful
escape was made by a person named Joseph Lewis,
who was under remand at Bath, charged with steal-
ing 7/. from the depot of the Christian Knowledge
Society in that city. The prisoner, with another
young man, named Alfred Wheeler—bosh of them
of respectable exterior—were on Friday last charged
with the robbery. It appeared from the evidence
then adduced that they went into the shop on the
previous day, and whilst one of them kept the at-
ftreonmtiotnhe ofwtihnedwaossi,stant engaged in selecting books
part of the shop. They the hhee
yothere
rremained
u
inokstisleelebcateckd
to be packed up for them, promising to call for
them in a short time ; but soon after they had left
it was found that. 7/. in gold and silver had been
stolen from the till. Information was given to the
police, and the prisoners were apprehended at the
Great Western Railway station, where they had
taken their seats in different carriages. A consider-
able sum of money was found upon them, and
upon being brought before the magistrates were
remanded till Monday. On Monday morning they
were brought up from gaol in the prison van, as is
the custom, with the other prisoners, to the police
statical ; but from some neglect they were not hand-
cuffed, as is usual in such cases. Lewis alighted
from the van, around which a large crowd was col-
lected, with a jaunty air, and the policeman whose
duty it was to conduct bun into the police station
neglected to take hold of him, but was in the act
of walking carelessly by his side when the prisoner
made a spring backward, rushed through the asto-
nished crowd, and darted off at a tremendous pace.
He gained some distance before the hue and cry
was raised, and soon outstripped the crowd who
followed him. After running
through several
tr
through some private houses,
the prisoner and passingsoneretored an inn, and from the coffee-
room watched the crowd pass, whet, under the
pretence of seeing what was the matter, he went
out and was not traced afterwards. His compa-
nion was subsequently brought before the magis-
trates and again remanded for a week. The matter
has caused a good deal of sensation, and much com-
plaint and laughter at the expense of the police.
The prisoner who has escaped is a fine young fellow
with sandy hair, very little whisker, and respect-
ably dressed. Both he and his companions are
known to be from London.

ILLNESS OF THE BISHOP OF EXETER.—Tbe triennial
visitation of the Bishop of Exeter was held at Exeter on
Monday. The right rev. prelate had come from Bishop-
-sto we by is morning train, and was taken ill in the Pa-
lace, at Exeter. Dr. Shapter was sent for, and advised
his immediate return to Bishopstowe. His lordship did
not therefore attend the visitation, and the Rev. Chan-
cellor Martin officiated iu his absence. The right rev.
prelate was not intending to deliver a charge, but h., is
expeoted to address his clergy in a pastoral. His lord-
ship's illness is.not of a serious nature, bat 'his medial
attendant has advised quietness and rest for a few days,
' in the hope that he will thereby be restored to health.
HACKNEY FAIR —Y esterday and on Monday, a vast
numb, r of persons thronged to the fair, in Cat•and-Mut-
ton-fields, Hackney, whereby much confusion was caused
and the general business of the district impeded. There
were a few shows and stalls, but the fair generally was of
a meagre character. An unusual quantity of ldw
thieves and several members of the swell mob were pre-
sent, endeavouring to pursue their light-fingered avoca-
tions, and various apprehensions took place. The visi-
tors continued to pour into the heart of the fair late in
the evening, and the poliee in the district had some diffi-
culty in preserving order amongst the crowds of idle cha-
racters attracted to the place.