The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-12 00:00:00

BITENSIVE ROBBERY OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

John Maberry, a respectably dressed young man,
was indicted for stealing 500 pairs of boots, the property
of his employer, Mr. Isemberg.

Mr. Bodkin appeared for the prosecution and Mr.
Bodkin for the defence.

Mr. Bodkin said the charge against the prisoner was
one of great importance. On the 27th of March, 1856, the
prisoner was entrusted with six cases of boots- to convey
six cases containing 526 pairs of boots, of the value of
1901., to convey to the St. Katherine's Dock for ship.
ment to Australia. The goods were not delivered at the
dock until a day after the prisoner had received them,
and on their arrival at Adelaide it was discovered that
the boots had been taken out and rubbish substituted.
From the evidence he should place before them it would
be for the jury to say whether the prisoner was the per-
son who, in conjunction with others, stole the goods.
Frederick Fuller, a porter, in the employ of Mr.
Isemberg, 21, Leadenhall-street, said—On the 26th of
March he packed six cases with 526 pairs of boots to be
shipped on board the Marianna for Australia. On the
27th of March the packages were given into the care of
the prisoner to convey to the St. Katharine's Docks,
and an entry appeared in the parcel book on the 29th,
stating they had been received by the dock company.
John Nicholson said—He was in the employ of
the prosecutors on the 27th of March, 1856.
On that day six cases of boots were delivered
to the prisoner who was the son of a carter occasionally
employed by Mr. Isemberg, for the purpose of being con-
veyed to the St. Katherine's Dock. It was about one
o'clock in the day when the goods were put into the cart
from the warehouse. In cross•examination the witness
said it was about 12 months after the transaction that he
became acquainted with the loss of the property, and Mr.
Isemberg called upon him as he had quitted his service
to ask him whether he recollected delivering the goods
to the prisoner. He told him he would find the name
of the person who had received the goods in the parcel
book.

Mr. Isemberg, the prosecutor, said he remembered
sending six cases of boots to St. Katharine's Docks, for
Adelaide. They were sent from his premises on the 27th
of March, and the prisoner Maberry was the person who
took the goods away. There were no other goods in the
cart when the six cases were put in. The cases were
the ordinary ones cased with oil-cloth, canvas, and tar-
pauling.
Cross-examined by Mr. Giffard.—Ha perfectly recol.
lected the goods being packed, and the coverings
being put on. They were marked at each end. First
heard of the loss of the goods in question about two
months and a half ago. He could positively swear that
on the 27th of March there was nothing else in the cart
when the six cases of boots were put into it.

Benjamin Hadfield, an officer of St. Katherine's-dock,
said he received a shipping note and six packages from
a carman on the 28th of March. After he had indorsed
the note be put it on the file in the office.
Mr. Isemberg was recalled, and, in answer to Mr.
Bodkin, said the shipping note produced was the one
given to the prisoner.
. _

Mr. Mumford, superintendent of the Dock Company,
said the spot where the goods to be shipped on board
were lying was well watched by the police.
Thomas Co; mate of the Marianna, was present
when the ship was unloaded at Adelaide. He witnessed
the opening of three packages. They were filled with
soot and rubbish. The marks on the cases corresponded
with those described by the prosecutor.

Re-examined by Mr. Giffard—The packages were
opened in Mr. Collin's house at Port-Adelaide about a
quarter an hour after they were taken from the ship.
A witness was next called who distinctly swore that
the prisoner was present when a quantity of boots were
privately sold in a court in the neighbourhood of Tower-
hill. He also admitted, in cross-examination, that he
(witness) had been discharged from the employment of
Mr. Mose', of Tower-hill, for dishonesty ; and the reason
he had given the information that he had done to pro-
sedutors was because he had been defrauded out of

some money.
The case was proceeding when our reporter left.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Common Sergeant.)
UTTERING COUNTERFEIT COlN.—John Thomas and
Antonio Lazard, two East Indiarr, were indicted for
stealing a basket, and also for uttering counterfeit coin.
From the evidence it appeared that the prisoners, on
the 27t1i, of April, entered the Swan with Two Necks at
Finchley, and called for a pot of beer, and gave a six-
pence in payment for the same. The coin turned out a
counterfeit, but the prisoners having the appearance of
being in great want, the beer was given to them, and
they left the house. They had proceeded but
a short distance from the Swan with Two
Necks when they entered another public-
house, the Bald-faced Stag, on Finchley-Common,
and there Thomas called for a pint of porter and tendered
a oounterfeit shilling in payment. On being questioned
by the landlord they said they had had the shilling given
to them by a man in Barnet, they thought it was a good
one or they would not have attempted to pass it. Their
wretched appearance again operated in their favour,
and the landlord of this public-house said he gave them
back the shilling in order that they might get it
changed by the man from whom they had stated they
had received it. On leaving the "Bald Faced Stag"
a policeman, who had been watching them, took
then into custody. Thomas had often been in custody
for uttering counterfeit coin, but be had always escaped
a conviction ; the other prisoner Lazaro was unknown to
the police.
In answer to the charge both prisoners said they were
foreigners and did not know good money from bad.
The jury found'both the prisoners guilty, and the Com-
mon Sergeant sentenced Thomas to four months, and
Lazaro to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour

EQUALIZATION OF THE POOR-RATES. —A. writer in a
contemporary says :—" Having for many years advo-
cated a revision of the Poor Laws, and especially a change
in the mode of assessing the poor-rate, I am very glad
to find that the subject is now being discussed in the
metropolis. I fear, however, that the proposition to
equa'ize the poor-rates throughout the metropolitan dis-
trict will frighten "the West-end," and that so exten-
sive a scheme will meet with great opposition. While I
think union rating most desirable for England and
Wales, I venture to suggest that the metropolis might
be divided into three districts, corresponding as nearly as
the existing unions will permit with the postal snbdiv
sions, as foilows :
First District.
N.W.

Second District. Third District

N. E.
S. W., in Middlesex E. C.
W. C. E.

S. E.
S. W., Surrey.

The Pays announces that Gen. Tehrikoff, the Russian
Commissioner for tracing the Asiatic frontier, arrived
at Trebizonde on the 25th, from St. Petersburg. The
Asiatic frontier commission is one of the remaining
works not completed, and growing out of the Paris
Treaty.
We are informed that Dr. Balfour, of the Royal
Military Asylum, has been appointed secretary to the
Royal Commission named in last Friday's Gazette, for
the purpose of inquiring into the organisation, govern-
ment, and direction of the medical department of the
army.
Mr. Thackeray lectured to a numerous University
audience at the Town-hall, Oxford, on Friday evening
last, on " George the Third." Upon the conclusion of
his lecture he was loudly applauded. Mr. Thackeray
was originally announced to lecture on " George the
Fourth.",