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—both of them
of respectable exterior—were on Friday last charged
with the robbery. It appeared from the evidence
then adduced that they went iota the shop on the
previous day, and whilst one of them kept the at-
tention of the assistant engaged in selecting books
from the window, the other remained in the back
part of the shop. They ordered the books selected
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 prisoner:4 were apprehended at the
Great Western Railway station, where they had
taken their seats in different carriages. A consider-
able sum of money wag 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
station ; 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 sol-
lo3ted, with a jaunty air, and the policeman whose
duty it WM to conduct im 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
streets and passing through some private houses,
the prisoner entered an inn, and from the coffee-
wher, under the
of
seeinged the crowd
asPatsll matter, he went
pr or oe n
cweat c
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 study 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.—The triennial
visitation of the Bishop of Exeter was held at Exeter on
Monday. The right rev. prelate had come from l3iehop-
stowe by a morning train, and was taken ill in the Pa-
lace, at Exeter. Dr. Sbapter 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 in his absence. The right rev.
prelate was not intending to deliver a charge, but h.. ij
expected to address his clergy in a pastoral. His lord-
ship's illness is not of a serious nature, bet his medical
attendant has advised quietness and rest for a few days,
in the hope that ho will thereby be restored to health.
HACKNEY FAIR —Yesterday 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 low
thieves and several members of the swell mob were pro-
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 police in the district had some diffi-
culty in preserving order amongst the crowds of idle cha-
racters attracted to the place,