The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-11 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
MANSION-HOUSE.

A young man, of respectable appearance and good
address, who gave the name of Edward Williams as
his at the station-house, was brought before Alderman
Gibhs, charged under the following circumstances.
The defendant appeared to be very near-sighted, and
a native of the sister kingdom.
The shopman of Mr. Hughes, optician, of Fen-
church-street, detailed, at great length, the circum-
stances of a visit paid to the shop by the defendant,
who asked the prices of several eye-glasses, and at
length went away without purchasing any, but stating
that he would call again, for the purpose of getting
something done to a pair of spectacles. Immediately
after the defendant left the shop, the shopman missed
a gold eye-glass, of the value of 2/. 155., the first the
defendant had examined, and to which he had objected
that the price was too high. The defendant and the
shopman, it is necessary to state, were, during the
prisoner's visit, the only persons in the shop, and the
defendant had, before he proceeded to look at the
articles exhibited to him, laid his handkerchief and
gloves on the counter, close to the spot where the eye-
glass in question had been deposited. The shopman at
once ran out and overtook the defendant in the neigh-
bourhood, there being at the time two persons near to,
but not in apparent communication with, him. Upon
being spoken to by the shopman, the defendant asked
whether he had left anything behind him. "No,"
replied the shopman, " but I have lost something,"
and desired the defendant to return with him to the
shop. Not the least objection was made, and, after a
little while, a policeman was sent for, and directed to
take the defendant into custody.
The defendant said it was true, as the shopman
said, that he had looked at some eye-glasses, and as he
did not choose to lay out more than thirty shillings cn
an eye-glass, he had objected to all he had examined
a% too high ; and not wishing to give any more trou •
ble to the young man, he put on his spectacles, took
up his gloves and handkerchief, and walked leisurely
away. He had gone a very little way indeed, when
the shopman came up to him, and asked him to re-
turn. Upon being informed that an eye-glass was
missed, he insisted that a policeman should be sent
for, and that he (defendant) should be searched. The
search was accordingly made, but nothing was found
upon him but his own money.
It was further stated that the sum of 2/. 10s. in
gold was found upon the defendant, that he refused to
give his address and a respectable reference to Mr.
Hughes, although that gentleman said, that if he per-
formed hat very necessary ceremony, he should not
lie detained longer; but that he said if Mr. Hughes
or the policeman pleased, they might either of them
accompany him to his residence, which was a great
way off.
Alderman GIBBS (to the prisoner)—Can you refer
me to anybody who knows anything about you ? The
defendant—l have respectable friends, but Ido not
know what construction they might put upon this
matter.

Alderman Gruns—Who, and what are you ? The
:Defendant—l came from Dublin about two years
2ani three months ago. I have two relations, the one
at Islington, the other at Gravesend.
Alderman GIBBS—Have you any objection to write
upon paper the address of your friend at Islington, and
hand it to me ? Defendant—l do not wish my
friend to know of so disagreeable an incident.

Alderman Ginus—Then you refuse to give me any
reference ? The defendant—l do not wish to do so.
What proof of guilt is there in any part of my con-
duct. I walked leisurely out of the shop, and when
the man came to me I instantly returned with him,
and insisted upon being searched by a policeman. I
was wholly una,:companied—and the shopinan and I
•were the only persons in the shop, and I do not at all
recollect seeing the eye-glass he has deecribed as lost.
Alderman GII3.I3S—In all cases of doubt character
is calculated to settle the doubt. Now the absence of
all references upon your part where there is so much
ground for suspicion, makes the probabilities against
you. Before I can part with you I must have some
reference. The impression your conduct has made is
unfavourable. _

The defendant—l cannot think of letting my friends
know anything of such a circumstance. The defen-
dant here repeated the circumstances, which he
pressed as evidence of his complete innocence.
The shopman—Mr, Hughes distinctly said, if the
gentleman gave him a respectable reference he would
let him go.
The defendant—As neither Mr. Hughes nor the
policeman would consent to go with me, I did not
like to give a reference, for I did not know what
people might be inclined to call if.

Alderman Gums—By refusing to'give a- reference
you oblige me to remand you till Thursday next.
The defendant—l hope you do not mean to detain
me. There is no proof whatever against me. - -
Alderman Ginn said there was quite evidence
enough to justify the person accused, who should
have the opportunity of communicating with the
policeman on the subject of the reference, which was,
in such a case, considered so necessary.
The defendant was then remanded.
GUILDHALL•

John and George' Axtell, brothers,' residing in Roll's-
buildings, Fetter•lane, of the respective ages of sixteen
and fourteen, were placed at the bar, fur re-examination,
charged with having stolen from the chambers of Mr.
Edward Harvey, Barnard's Inn, Holborn, a large quan-
tity of wearing apparel, plate, and other articles. On
Wednesday last, in the absence of the complainant,
the younger prisoner who had formerly been in
his• employ as page, went to the chambers, broke
open the door, and carried away everything he could
lay hands on, the bulk of the property consisting of
books, jewellery;•and plate. A gentleman of the same
inn observed him carrying the box away, and when Mr.
Harvey returned in the afternoon he was informed of the
circumstance. Mr. Harvey immediately procured the
assistance of a police-officer, and eventually the property
was traced to No. 13, Clifford's Inn, where the elder pri-
soner was engagettts clerk to the occupier. Both pri-
sOners were taken into custody, and on the person of the
elder was found a valuable diamond, which the complii-
mtnt identified.

Sir J. KEY regretted to see two lads, respectable in
appearance, in the felons' dock ; but for the ends of jus-
tice, and the protection of the public, it would be his
duty to commit them for trial.
The prisoners, who seemed to feel deeply the degrad-
ing position in which they had placed themselves, were
then removed to the lock-up cells.

On Monday Mr. Winpenny, a surgeon in Fetter-lane,
and William Henry Peake, his lodger, were charged with
assaulting. George Ventura, a City policeman, No. 312.
The officer stated, that about twelve o'clock on Satur
day night he heard a cry of .` murder" from the kitchen of
Mr. Winponny'a house, and he went down to see what
was the matter. He found Mr. Winpenny and Mr.
.
Peake ill using a young woman by keeping her shut in
an area, and throwing pails of water over her. Both the
prisoners assaulted him to prevent him from releasing
the young woman.
Sir J. KEY asked, if the young woman was there ?
She pre3ented herself, and said her name was Margaret
Flannigan, and her mother had been housekeeper to Air.
Winpenny several years. She went to his house to claim
61. which he had borrowed of her, or rather of her
mother. He threatened to duck her, and to get out of
his way she secreted herself in an area, where he threw
two yr three pails of water over her.

Mr. Winpenny denied that he owed her anything.
Her mother was- a highly respectable woman, but the
same description would not apply to the daughter, and
she had been living in his house three or four days with-
out his knowledge.
John Holloway deposed to being attracted by the cry
of " murder," and Seeing the policeman struck by Mr.
Winpenny.
Thomas IVhitaker, in the service of Mr. Winpenny,
stated that the policeman struck Mr. Winpenny with his
truncheon before Mr. Winpenny interfered with him.
Mr. Winpenny made a similar statement. When the
policeman came down into the kitchen, he said to the
Officer, " Just listen to me, I have a charge to make."
Ttfe officer said. he would not listen, and forced his way
towards the young woman. The fact was a sovereign
had been missed by Irs. Peake, the lodger, and in
searching the house the young woman escaped them by
biding herself in the area, and she positively refused to
come out, or the pail of water would not have been re-
sorted.to.

ISttr. Peake made a similar statement, but no charge of
stealing the sovereign was now made against Margaret
Flannigan.
Sir d. KEY told Margaret that if she had any claim on
Mr. Winpenny she oould enforce it at the Court of Re-
quests ; and with respect to the assault on the police-
man, as the statements were so conflicting he should for-
bear from taking cognizance of it. The policeman might
indict. Mr: Winpenny if he thought fit ; and as Mr.
Winpenny was anoldinhabitant, he need not be required
to fiud

QUEEN-SQUARE,
Joseph ARE,
4n
On Monday John Philips Manning, two
labouring men, were placed at the
ar,eh
charged on sus-
picion of having set fire to the Wooden-bridelnspector Barefoot, of the B division, said a
collet on the
6th inst. considerable alarm was created in
neigh-
bourhood of Pimlico in consequence of the Wooden:
bridge which crosses the Grosvenor-canal, and is the
leading thoroughfare from Warwick-street, Vauxhall-
bridge-road, and the Willow-walk. to Queen-street,
Pimlico, being discoveted on tire. The structure, which
is entirely composed of wood, covered with pitch, and
therefore easy of ignition, was fortunately preserved by
an early discovery,but whether it had been fired by de-
'sign or accident it was difficult to say. Every endeavour
bad been made by the police to discover the offender or
offenders, for whose apprehension a reward had been
offered, and in the course of inquiry it bad been ascer-
tgiabd that four persons had been seen to leave the
King's Arms, which is at the foot of the bridge, and get
over the fence to the foundation, and in about ten
minutes after an alarm of fire was given, and the men
were nowhere to be found. It had been ascertained
that the prisoners *ere two of the party, and as the case
was'of a very suspicious nature, they were apprehended.
Edward Rogers, a labourer in the employ of the
loek-keeper at the Grosvenor Canal, proved that he saw
the prisoners with two others leave the King's Arms at
about three o'clock on the afternoon of the 6th, Philips
having a ligated pipe in his mouth. The party '
sealed a lofty fence, and descended to the foundation of
the bridge..
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