The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-25 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET.

Robert Stafford, a demure. looking elderly nrin,
described as a house-nain. er, was hreuvht up for tia
examination before M.. A-tiold, charged with havi
incited a young man m the service of Mr P-ate
Hays, of the Fox Tavern, Paul-street, Finsbury, to
plunder his employer.
John Taplin, barman to the prosecutor, stated that
he had known the prisoner for several weeks as 11
frequent customer at the house, and on calling there
as usual for his supper beer, on the evening of Fri.ta.
se'nnight, the prisoner asked him if he was not abou,
to leave his situation ? Witness answered that he
was, upon which the witness beckoned him to the
other end of the counter, and intimated, in a low
whisper, that he could put him up to a " stunning"
scheme. On asking him what he meant, the prisoner
went on to say, " I know a young man aho held a
similar situation, before leaving which he told me
that if I would come in the evening and put down a
shilling on the counter he would give me change for
half-a-crown ; or if I tendered him sixpence, he would
understand it to be a shilling, and having acted upon
the suggestion I went every evening while he re-
mained, and when he left we divided thirty shillings
between us." The prisoner then urged witness to
enter into the same arrangement with him, as
it was impossible for a discovery to take place, and
that they would go halves with the booty, to which
he expressed a feigned assent, but immediately ap-
prised his master of the base proposal as soon as he
had left the place. On calling for his beer on the
Sunday evening following, the prisoner observed that
they would not do it on that night, although he was
not very particular, and witness replied that he was
quite right, as it would scarcely be safe. On the en-
suing Tuesday evening he again presented himself at
the bar, but observing the prosecutor seated in the ad.
joining parlour, he carelessly requested the loan of a
newspaper, with which he left, but returned shortly
afterwards and ordered a pint of beer, for which he
placed sixpence on the cou:,ter, and significantly asked
the witness "if it was all right." Witness replied,
in the same tone, "It is, I have got 2s. for you," and
handed to the prisoner fivepence half-penny in copper
money, together with two shillings, which had pre
viously been marked by the prosecutor, and clutching
the amount io his hand, the prisoner hastily quitted
the premises, but was instantly pursued by a police-
sergeant who was in attendance, and taken into
custody.
Sergeant Harvey, G 14, stated, that upon over-
taking the prisoner, he seized him by the arm and
inquired what change he had in his hand, to which
he at first answered " only 4f 1.," but finding that
he was about to search him, he at lengh admitted that
he had also two shillings. Witness thereupon took
from him the two marked shillings and the copper
money now produced.
Mr. Roblin., who attended as solicitor for the Li-
censed Victuallers' Protection Society, to conduct the
prosecution, cited several cases in which it had bee❑
decided that the mere solicitation of a servant to rob
his employer constituted the offence of misdemeanour,
although the latter had not actually acceded to the
commission of the felony, and stated that it was most
important that the law relating to such cases should
be clearly understood, in consequence of the artfu►
nature of such a system of robbery, and the serious
extent to which licensed victuallers had suffered from
similar depredations.
Mr. ARNOLD fully concurred in the observations of
the Learned Gentleman, and the depositions having
been completed by Mr. Vine, the chief clerk, the pri-
soner, who reserved his defence, was fully committed
to Newgate for trial.