The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-30 00:00:00

THE SUN LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, J IULY 30, 1868.

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13,

BOW-STREET.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.--THIS DAY.

A YOUNG BEGINNER.—AIbert Edwin Austin, a
boy of 14 years of age, barman to Mr. Smith, of
Wych-street, Drury-lane, was charged with robbing
his master's till.

Mr. Smith said the prisoner had been in his
employment about a month, having been recom-
mended by his father (also a publican), who wished
to " get him out," and was anxious he should make
a good beginning in a comfortable service in the
house of a friend. In recommending him the
father assured witness that the lad was strictly
honest. Witness soon found, however, a per-
ceptible reduction in his " takings," and having
some suspicion was already taking steps with a view
to detection, when he received information from the
potman, in consequence of which he give the pri-
soner in custody.

Robert.,Henry Shorter, a youth apparently about
18 years of age, said he was potboy to Mr. Smth.
A few days back the prisoner proposed to him that
as they had a holiday on Sunday they should go
down the river to enjoy themselves for the day.
He observed that they would want some money,
he supposed 10s. would; do, and he could surely
get that in a week. On Monday he gave
witness ls. Gd., and Tuesday ls. Gd., making
3s. On Tuesday night, when witness was
going to bed the prisoner wanted to go with him,
but was not allowed to do so. He managed, how-
ever, to pass a handful of silver to witness, saying,
" Take this, I am afraid they are going to search
me." Witness afterwards counted the money, and
reckoned it 175., but afterwards found he had mis-
taken a 4d. for a 31-piece, so the real amount was
17s. ld. He was at first afraid to speak of the
matter to his master, but first mentioned it to a
man who had formerly been in Mr. Smith's service
and in consequence of whose advice he did ulti-
mately inform his master of the facts. In the mean-
while the prisoner had asked him for the 17s. ld.,
and he had returned it to him. Witness gave the
3s. to his master.

The prisoner said this witness had led him into
the snare "by suggesting that he should drop
money into the sand, which he (Shorter) could
afterwards remove." He said also that Shorter was
in the habit of coming to him for "drops" of rum
and milk.

Shorter said he was allowed a certain quantity
of drink.

Prisoner—Yes, one drop. But you had three or
four drops sotnetiwes.

Mr. Flowers—How much is a " drop ?"
Mr. Smith—Three halfpenny worth of rum, and
one halfpenny worth of milk. I allowed him " one
drop" when we had been at work all night. There
is truth in what prisoner says. The potboy had
only been with us a week, and the falling off in the
takings had been going on all the time the prisoner
was with us.

Mr. Howett, inspector of the F Division, said
the prosecutor gave him information seine days ago
that he suspected he wa3 being robbed. On Wed-
nesday he called again, and said he had been " had
rather hot" the night before, having been robbed of
17s. ; and he should be obliged to give the barman
in custody. Witness went to the house and saw
the prisoner, who at first denied having stolen any-
thing, and that he could not be so ungrateful,
as Mr. and Mrs. Smith bad been so kind to him.
He denied having given any money to Shorter. He
said he had 17s. about him, but it had been given
him by his father.

The prisoner, after cross-examining the witnesses
with considerable shrewdness, admitted having
stolen the 35., but persisted in saying that he was
tempted to do so by Shorter. Ho also adhered to
the statement that his father gave him the 17s.
He was remanded for the attendance of his
father.