The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-14 00:00:00

THAMES.

ROBBERY IN THE WEST INDIA. DOCK.—Henry
Murphy, shipkeeper, was brought before Mr. Paget
charged with stealing a pound and a half of tea,
three-quarters of a pound of colee, three and a half
pounds of sugar, two and a half yards of canvas,
and three pounds of bacon.
Henry Young, constable in the service of the
East and West India Dock Company, stated that
the prisoner was leaving the West India dock at the
principal gateway and searched him. He found the
above-named property upon him, and ascertained
that he was the shipkeeper of the Avon, a ship
lying in the dock. He asked the prisoner to give
some account of his possession of the property, and
he gave several, none of which were true. The
sugar, tea, coffee, bacon, and canvas were part of
the stores of the ship, of which the prisoner was in

charge.
Mr. Paget sentenced the prisoner to two months'
imprisonment and hard labour.
A VERY BAD THIEF.—John Smith, a coarse lad,
aged 15, was brought before Mr. Paget on a charge
of stealing two loaves of bread, the property of
Rose Anna Jungblat, a baker of 4, Brunswick-
street, Poplar.
A few days since the prisoner entered the shop of
the prosecutrix, put his arm over the brass guard at
the corner of the window-board, and took away a
41b. loaf. lie ran away, and soon outstripped all
his pursuers. Three hours afterwards he again en-
tered the shop and helped himself to another loaf.
Mrs. Jungblatt called out, "There he goes, taking,
another loaf." She gave information to the police
and the prisoner was subsequently apprehended.
The Prisoner---I never stole any bread. 1 pai 1
her for it.

Mrs. Jungblat—lle has taken bread from my
:hop very often. lie took two loaves at one time
a fortnight before, and said, " Good bye, ma'am.'
(A laugh.)
The Prisoner—l never took any bread ; she gave
it me.

Mrs.-Jungblat—No, I did not. I cannot afford
to give my bread away.
A police-constable said the prisoner was con-
victed in June last for stealing a packet of corn
flour, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment
and hard labour.

Mr. Paget committed the prisoner for trial.

THE ALLEGED FALSE LIGHTS OFF

WHITBURN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—l trust you will give insertion in The Sun
to the following copy of a letter from Mr. C.
Hutchinson, collector at Whitburn, near Sunderland,
on the subject of the oft-repeated charge made
against the Whitburn fishermen of exhibiting false
lights off that place, with the wicked object of luring
ships to destruction. These fishermen have often dis-
tinguished themselves, as I know from many years'
experience, by their zealous and daring services in
saving shipwrecked crews; and, considering that
they have come to a resolution not to go afloat
again in the lifeboat of this institution at Whit-
burn to save life until this serious imputation on
their character has been satisfactorily removed by
a Government inquiry, I earnestly trust that im-
mediate steps will be taken by the Board of Trade
to clear up the apparent mystery in regard to these
false lights which has too long remained in abey-
ance, and which 1. sincerely believe is a libel on
these poor, brave, and deserving men.--I am, sir,
your obedient servant,

RICHARD LEWIS.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution, 14, John-
street, kdelphi, W.C., Jan. 13.
" Wbitburn, Jan. 10.

" Sir,—The importance of the subject I hope
will be a sufficient apology for trespassing on you
with regard to the unfounded charges which
are publicly made against the Whitburn fisher-
men respecting the false lights. A more base,
cruel, and unfounded charge could not be
made. I have, as ship agent, had the charge
of nearly all the wrecks that have been on
this coast for thirty years, and I believe there
has never been such a thing as false lights. I have
taken the depositions of most of the captains when
they came on shore, who stated that they had not
seen any lights to mislead them. The thing was
set at rest when investigated by Admiral Collinson
and others, but is again stirred up from a dis-
covery made by Captain Kirby. The fact
is, the discovery made by Captain Kirby
was put into the chimney of the hut, which is
uninhabited, by some boys two years ago, to tease
an old man who was then watching shipwrecked
stores. The boys have come forward to prove the
same. The report has had a painful effect on the
fishermen ; they have had a meeting upon the
subject, and passed the following resolu-
tions : Ist. " That this meeting, considering
the unfounded charges which are publicly made
against the Whitburn fishermen as a body of men,
with regard to what are called false lights, here-
by pass a resolution to petition the Board of
Trade to inquire into the matter on the spot by
sending a commissioner for the purpose ; and
2d, that until some inquiry is made, the fisher-
men will refuse to give any assistance to
shipwrecked sailors, either by lifeboat or any other
way. Ido think it will be well if you can promote
the object of an inquiry, as the matter, if fairly
investigated, will, I am sure, free the fishermen
and all parties from such a charge. A better
body of men for exerting themselves to save
life at the risk of their own cannot be
found. It is a fact that nearly all the vessels
which come ashore here are worn-out old colliers,
which to the owners are better lost than otherwise,
and the false lights, so called, a 'nice excuse for the
captains.—Your obedient servant,
" C. HUTCHINSON.
"Richard Lewis, Esq., National Lifeboat
Institution, London."