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

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

BURGLARIES.—THREE (2HARGES.—Chas. Smith
and Charles Lee, two lads, were charged, before
Mr. Knox, with breaking and entering the dwell-
ing-house No. 36, Rathbone-place, and stealing on
the 26th July 130 yards of silk, value £2l, the
property of Mr. Applegate, umbrella maker ; and
the same prisoners were charged, with another lad
named Stephen Palmer, with breaking and entering
the same house on the 28th June and 12th July,
and stealing a quantity of silk umbrellas, of the
value of £l3.
Mr. Sayer, from the office of Messrs. E. Lewis
and Co., Great Marlborough-street, appeared for
Palmer.
Smith and Lee were first placed at the bar.
Mr. Joseph Applegate, umbrella maker, of No.
36, Rathbone-place, said I left my premises on
Sunday morning about 9 o'clock and returned on
Sunday night and went to bed. Some time after-
. wards 1 heard a noise and the rustling of silk, but
did not get up. The next morning about 7 o'clock
I communicated with the police, and on going into
my workshop I missed from a drawer a quantity of
silk. I found that the thieves must have got into
the place through a window at the back, and foot-
marks were traced on to the window.
Police-constable Robert Carter, 117 E—Yester-
day morning, about 11. o'clock, I was in Princes-
street, Leicester-square, in company of Chamber-
laine, 163 E, when I s kw the two prisoners in con-
versation together. I told them they were wanted
for breaking and entering the house, 36, Rathbone-
place, on the night cf Sunday last, and stealing some
rolls of silk. They both said they knew nothing about
it. I then told them 1 should take them into custody,
having received information that they knew all
about it. Smith then said, " Charley, we know
something about it. You can do as you like, but I
would as soon be in prison as in the streets of Lon-
don." He then said, “If you will go with me I
will show you where the silk is." Chamberlaine
then took Smith and I took Leo. When we got
into St. '_Martin's-street Lee said he lived at No. 19,
and that I should find the silk in the kitchen,
behind some boards, and on getting to the
door he said, " Don't come in here, as I do
not want my mother to know anything about
it." He then rushed into the passage, and,
the place being dark, I lost him for a minute, when
he came down stairs and handed me a parcel of silk
wrapped up.
Mr. Knox—Are his parents actually residing in
the house?

Carter—They are, and seem respectable persons,
but say their son will not work. I found that an
entry bad been made into Mr. Applegate's place
by means of some person letting the prisoner into
the house, and. then getting through a window.
Mr. Sayer—l believe it will be found that the
boy living in the house let the prisoners in on two
or three occasions.

Mrs. gun Applegate, wife of the prosecutor—l
identify the silk as the property of my husband
and of the value of £2l.
Mr. Knox—Bring in Palmer.

Stephen Palmer was then brought in and charged
with the other prisoners with breaking and entering
Mr. Applegate's house on different days and steal-
ing silk umbrellas.

Robert Carter, 117 E, said—Yesterday morning
when Smith and Lee were at the station 1
told them that they would also be charged with
breaking and entering Mr. Applegate's house on
two other days—namely, the 28th June and 12th
July—and stealing some umbrellas. Smith said,
4, you have got the silk, and he may as well tell
you where the umbrellas are. Some are pledged in
Long-acre, and some near the University Hospital."
I afterwards went to 129, Gower-street, a lodging-
house, kept by the prisoner Palmer's aunt, and
saw Palmer. I told him what he was charged with,
and he replied, "Don't speak here, as I don't want
my aunt to know anything about it." Ile said he
had pledged some of the silk umbrellas at Mr.
Crouch's, near the University Thspital, and cn
asking him how he got them he said two boys living
gave them to him.
near the Haymarket

By Mr. Sayer—l am sure Palmer said he pledged
them.

Mr. Knox—Carter, have you made any inquiries
respecting the lads?

6arterLl have, and they are the-sons of respect-
able persona.

An aseiatant to M. Crouch, pawnbroker, Graf•