The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-04 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Nov. 3.

BOW-STREET.—John Kirby Richards, an at-
torney's clerk, was charged with forging a number
of cheques upon the London and Westminster
Bank.

It appeared that the prisoner obtained possession
of a blank cheque-book by forging the order of a
gentleman named Collins, residing at Bayswater.
Mr. Collins knew the prisoner formerly as a clerk
in the employ of Mr. Bowen May, solicitor, aud
expressed his belief that the order and the writing
on same of the forged cheques were in the prisoner's
handwriting. It was further proved that the pri-
soner had sent a companion with one of the cheques
to the Holborn branch of the bank ; but, the for-
gery being detected, the messenger was accompa-
nied back to the prisoner, who was taken into
custody. The vi enc e showed that upwards of
1001. worth. of cheques, for amounts of about 101.
and 121. each, had been put into circulation,
although only two of them were cashed by the
bank before the detection of the forgery.
Sergeant Smith, of the detective force, proved
that, after he apprehended the prisoner, the latter
in his presence asked Mr. Collins if the matter
could not be arranged. Some blotting paper was
found in the possession of the prisoner with the
name Collins upon it, similar to the signature to
the cheque.
The extraordinary conduct and observations of
the prisoner's advocate (an attorney's clerk) here
induced the magistrate to interpose.
Mr. Jardine said—Your interruptions are com-
ing to a point at which I must interfere. You are
no solicitor, and, for aught I know, have no busi-
ness here. I wilt not have person's insulted, and in
future I shall require some proof that you are en-
titled to be here.

The advocate here handed in his authority as
clerk to a solicitor in practice, and said he had been
35 years attending the courts ; but it was painfully
apparent that he was labouring under the effects of
potations deep and strong. At one time he began
No cross examine the solicitor for the prosecution
instead of the witness, and at another solicited con-
sideration for the wife and family of Mr. Collins
(the principal witness for the prosecution).
At a later period of the case the prisoner took the
cros,--examination of a witness out of his advocate's
hands, much to the indignation of the latter.
Mr. Jardine observed that he was desirous of
giving every reasonable indulgence to the prisoner,
who was so unfortunately defended. It was his
belief that the prisoner's advocate was intoxicated.
The Attorney's Clerk—Then I must pledge my
word that I have drunk nothing to-day. You have
hitherto treated me with respect.
Mr. Jardine—Because you have deserved it. In
future I shall not be satisfied with a general recom-
mendation from an attorney that you are engaged
to attend the weir ipolitan police courts for him, but
I shall require a special authority in each case. (To
the prisoner)—Whom did you employ ?
Prisoner—l engaged this gentleman, and gave
him a guinea. His name is in the list of solicitors
at the prison, as recommended by the visiting
justices. The list is kept to protect prisoners from
persons who pretend to be solicitors and are not.
I particularly asked if he was a solicitor, and, being
told he was, said I should like to have him, if he
was one, for I had had business with him.

The Attorney's Clerk—l have fought battles for
this man that nobody else would dare to do for
him. (To the prisoner)—You must not complain
against me, sir.
Prisoner—l don't complain.
The Attorney's Clerk—May I ask your worship
to recal the imputation that I was intoxicated ? By
my soul I have not taken even a glass of ale this
day.
Mr. Jardine—l hope it is •o ; but your conduct
is so different from ordinary,,that the impression
produced on my mind was that you were intoxi-
cated.

- -
The Attorney's Clerk—Pray recal it, sir. I have
14 childreu.

Mr. Jardine—l cannot meal the btgeraent that
neli Was; ttni is, my impression.
M!. Collins--it i the Opinion of every one in
court.

The priongT wa3 committed for trial in three
C 4130.

A further charge of forgery, under similar cir-
crinksta,neeg, was preferred against the prisoner by
Mes,rs. Dickeson and Co., lymkers, with a similar
result, the prisoner being committed in two mare
Cases.

WESTMINSTER.—Jane Harris, a smartly-
dressad young woman, having the appearance of a
milliner's apprentice, was brought up on remand,
charged with attempting to pick the pockets of
females in Westminster Abbey, in company with
another female not in custody.

Mr. Lewis, sen., attended for the prisoner.
It appeared from the evidence that, in conse-
quence of a communication from the Dean and
Chapter of Westminster to the superintendent of
the B division of police, in Itwhester-row' that
there were frequent robberies of females in West-
minster Abbey, upon the congregation leaving
divine service, Sergeant Loome, au active detective
of the B division, with another officer, were sent to
the cathedral list Sunday week. When they en-
tered, the sergeant saw the prisoner and another
female, who was by the side of her, sitting among
the congregation. As he knew them, upon the
close of the service he watched them. Upon the
congregation moving out he observed them go in
an opposite direction. He directed the other officer
to follow the prisoner's companion, and he watched
the motions of the prisoner. He saw her attempt
to pick the pockets of two ladies, and put her hand
in the pocket of a third respectable woman, but she
took nothing away.
Mr. Paynter asked if the prisoner was known.
Loome stated that ever since she was seven years
old she had led the life of a pickpocket.
The prisoner denied the statement.
Dennis, the gaoler—On ! I have known you from
that time.

Inspector Humphreys made a similar remark.
Loome added that in 1852 she had 18 months
imprisonment for picking pockets; in August, 1855,
one month from this court ; and in April last three
months from Marlborough-street, for a similar
offence.

She was sent for three months to the House of
Correction.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—George Thom-
son, alias Smith, and William Jones, alias Turner,
who refused their addresses, were charged with
burglary at the premises of Mr. Browning, timber
merchant, No. 36, Little Windmill-street.
Mr. Browning said that between 3 and 4 o'clock
that morning, hearing an unusual noise in the
lower part of the house, he quietly opened his bed-
room door, and then noticed the bottom sash of the
window on the landing-place was wide open. He
waited a minute or two, and then a light appeared,
by which he was enabled to see the shadow of a
man on the wall, which, however, quickly dis-
appeared. He walked softly to the head of the
stairs, and on descending some of them and stoop-
ing down he plainly saw two men in the kitchen.
He called out, and then made a noise. One of the
men dashed down something he had in his hands,
and both rushed up stairs and out at the street-
door, which they shut violently after them. He
instantly pursued the men, calling out, " Stop
thief," aad following them down Pulteney-street,
where Jones was stopped by the police. As one of
the men went through the timber-yard he threw
something down, which at first he thought was
glass, but it proved to be a brass tobacco-box,
which had been taken from the house.

Mr. Beadon asked the prosecutor if he saw the
faces of the two men.

The prosecutor replied that he had no good opr or-
tunity of seeing their faces, as they wore their hats
over their eyes. But he was positive Jones was one
of the men, as he never lost sight of him from the time
he ran out of the house. On his return he examined
the house, and found that the lock of the timber-yard
gate had been forced ; that the kitchen window had
been opened and the iron grating thrown back. In
the parlriur his writing-desk had been forced open
and a large quantity of postage stamps taken out.
The key of the padlock of another desk had been
removed—a tea-caddy and two other boxes wrenched
open—the woodwork and door in front of iron safe
wrenched open, and the safe itself had been at-
tempted to be forced without success—the marks
of violence being deep and many. There were seve-
ral drawers open, from which several articles had
been taken.

Police-constable C 85 found on Jones a jemmy,
which had been used to the iron safe.

Police-constable C 42, on searching Smith, found
about 270 postage and receipt stamps in his posses-
Mr. Beadon said he should commit the prisoner
for trial.

Inspector Webb said that it was believed that a
former convictirm could be established against one
or both of the prisoners.
Mr. Beadon would order them to bs brought tip
next Tuesday, to give the police an opportunity of
inquiring into that matter.

SOUTHWARK.—Mary Ann Cox, 14, and Har-
riet Cox, 10, were brought before Mr. Burcham
for final examination, charged with stealing a purse
containing a 5/. Bank of England note from the
person of Mrs. Elizabeth Smith; iu a cheesemonger's
shop in Newington-causeway.
Mr. Neale attended for the accused.

The prosecutrix stated that on Sunday night, the
24th ult., she was in the shop of Mr. Prince,
cheesemonger, Newington-causeway, when she had
a purse in her dress pocket containing a 51. Bank
of Eagland note. The two prisoners were standing
on the side were her pocket was, and suddenly
they rushed out the shop. Witness immediately
put her hand into her pocket, and missed her purse
and contents. She then ran out of the shop, and
saw the prisoners running across the road, when
she pursued them, and they were captured by a
police-constable. Witness added that her purse
was safe in her pocket when she saw the prisoners
standingbeside her, and she had just withdrawn
herha hand from her pocket. The robbery must have
been committed immediately afterwards.

Sergeant Turpio, 6 M, said he took the prisoners
into custody, and on Harriet he found a circulai
Porte-monnaie, containing the sum of 19s. 4d. The
other was also searched, but nothing was found on
her. Since the last examination he had inquired
at the;r lodgings, No. 2, Little Windmill-street,
New-cut, and ascertained that they had lived there
with another girl about two months. All he could
learn about their means of sub3istence was that
they went out in the afternoon and returned at
night, and seemed to have plenty of money. They
told their landlord that their friends in the country
supplied them with funds.
Mr. Burcham committed them for trial.

THAMES.—A most painful sensation has been
created throughout the whole of the eastern part of
London by,the statement of.a seaman named Wm.
Williams, whose deposition was received by Mr.
Selfe a few days since on board the Dreadnought
Hospital ship, off Greenwich, when he stated that
he had been violently assaulted early on the morn-
ing of Saturday, the 24th ult., b, two police-con-
stables of the B. division in Ratcliffe-highway. The
man was still a'ive yesterday morning, but ap-
peased to be sinking fast, and he is not expected to
survive many hours. No steps have been taken to
bring to justice the two police-constables, Nos. 60
and 186 of the Hdivision, who have been identified
by Williams as the persons who assaulted him. It
is believed that his statement can be corroborated
in several material particulars by Mrs. Bond, his
landlady, and by a woman of the town named Mary
Anne Powell, who, it is rumoured, was with the
sailor when he was illused, and, on remonstrating
with Brown, a
186, was taken into custody by him
and locked up on charge of being disorderly. She
was brought before Mr. Selfe on Saturday, the
24th ult., and on the oath of Brown only was sen-
tenced to 10 days' imprisonment and hard labour
for being disorderly.. Her term of imprisonment
expired on Monday morning, and her evidence, if
she has any to give, could be made available. Yes-
, terday afternoon Mr. Selfe received a communica-
tion from Mr. Bowdler, the junior clerk, relating
to the supposed connection of the woman with the
case of the sailor Williams and Mr. Selfey after
observing that it was very desirable that some in-
quiry should be instituted, sent for Inspector Dendy
of the H division, who was present when Williams
gave his deposition upon oath ; but at 6 o'clock,
when Mr. Selfe had disposed of all the business
before him, the inspector had not arrived. A great
number of persons have been anxiously inquiring
of the officers when there would be a
public inves-
tigation of the charge against the two policemen,
any
or whether the matter was to be hushed up. The
reply, of course, was---" We know nothing about
the affair. There are no policemen in custody, and
we are not aware that
investigation will ever
take place." The public are much dissatisfied with
the course that has been taken in this case.

At Moscow, lately, great curiosity was excited by an
experiment being made with a new desciiption of loco-
motive, running along the streets, and so constructed as
to cause the wheels to lay down a sort of wooden rails
as they advanced. The locomotive dragged af:,er it a
number of carts heavilyfectly succeeded. The author of
laden. The experiment, though
the first made, had per
the invention lea trader of Moscow, named Prokhoroff.
The Prase contradicts the news that Count Migeon
intends to appeal against the reoteOcti of the Caen of
Colmar.