The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-12 00:00:00

111ARLBOROuGH.STREE7'.

Andersoe, aged 18, and Johnjell 'cat, aged
16, both residing in the purlieus of St. Giles's, were
placed at the bar, charged with stealing six boxes of
sample lace scarfs, of the value of between 701. and 801.,
the property of Mr. James Martin, of No. 38, Gutter-
lane, Cheapside, silk warehouseman. It appeared that
between four and five o'clock yesterday afternoon, the
prosecutor left his chaise standing in Old Bond-street,
while he made a call at a house of. business there. Just
at the instant, a gentleman's servant passing by, ob-
served the prisoners, in company with two- other lads,
watching the prosecutor's movements through the
window of the establishment he had entered, and recog-
nising the prisoner Anderson as the party whom he had
detected in the act of picking his pocket three years
ago in the Borough, and for which he was com-
mitted from the Town-hall, Southwark, he suspected
they were intent on some unlawful purpose, and
continued to watch their proceedings. After a
time, and while the prosecutor's groom was
standing at the horse's head, the prisoner Anderson
covered from observation by the others following closely
up behind him, went to the back of the chaise, and
very adroitly extracted the parcels containing the boxes
in question, which he immediately placed on his shoulder,
and, accompanied by Jeffcott, walked with an air of
unconcern towards Piccadilly ; the other two, on the
instant of the booty being obtained, making off in an
opposite direction. The prisoner had proceeded as far
as the Egyptian Hall, when police-constable No. 177 of
the C division coming by, they were given into custody.
On being asked how they came into possession of the
property, they replied that a man who had met them in
the street, had employed them to carry it.
Mr. HARDWICK inquired if they were known as bad
characters ?

Inspector Frowd, of the C division, said they were
not. Anderson described himself as a pot-boy out of
place, and Jeffcott of " no occupation."

They were fully committed to Newgate.
MAI?YLEBONE.

George Pillett, a respectahie-looking-man, was placed
at the bar before Mr. Long, charged with having stolen
a roll of flannel from the shop of Mr. Sims, Park-terrace,
Regent's-park.
The complainant said that in consequence of what a
neighbour told him he and his shopman went out, and ob-
served the prisoner running off with fifty-two yards of
Welsh flannel, worth above 3/. The prisoner on being
taken into custody begged to be let go, end when at the
station-house said, "It is all up with me now if they go
on with it." He had upon him 195., several keys used
by "gentlemen of a certain character," and numberless
handkerchiefs and gloves. He had before been twice
convicted, and once transported.—Committed f ,r

TRAGICAL OCCURRENCE AT
DEPTFORD.

Yesterday evening, at halt-past six o'clock, an inquiry
took place before Mr. C. J. Carttar, Coroner for W.,at Kent,
on view of the bodies of two infants, the children of Mr. J.
F. Dickenson, lately residing in Giffen-street, Deptford, who
died in consequence of injuries inflicted upon them by their
mother.
A brief sketch of the melancholy transaction has already ap-
peared. Since the discovery of the offence great numbers of
persons have assembled on the spot, although none but the
police and persons officially engaged were allowed to enter the
house.

The inquest was held at the Two Brewers, in Giffen-street,
High-street, Deptford, and the inquest room was crowded to
excess. A great deal of disapprobation was expressed at the
mode of making out the jury list.
Mr. White, one of the Board of Governors and Directors,
preliminary to the arrival of the Coroner, took the names of
the gentlemen who entered the room.
Mr. Nixon said that he was only expressing the opinion of
many others (twenty) round him, who felt that it was like
packing a jury.
Mr. White said he could not be stigmatised without a reply.
He had only taken the list given by the beadle of the names
of gentlemen who came in, without respect to parties.
A scene of uproar and confusion ensued, during which the
Coroner entered.
The CORONER said he could not allow such a scene to exist ;
but would assert his authority. All he had to do was, to have
the beadle's list handed in.
Mr. White—lt was handed to Mr. Bailey.
Mr. Bailey—l have not got it. I had it, it is true; but
other gentlemen also had it.
The CORONER—Then it must be produced.
Mr. Elisha Smith said he was very willing to give up his
place if Mr. Nixon was desirous of sitting as a juryman; he
knew that as the case had excited great interest many were de-
sirous of being on the jury.
The CORONER said a better feeling aught, to exist. He
regretted that any person, except in the performance of a pub-
lic duty, should step forward. His duty was a painful one,
and he should only call the names of those summoned by the
officer.
Cockle (the beadle) then called the names of the jury.
The CORONER said he would dispense with the attendance
of some of them.
A juryman said he had not been summoned, and did 'not see
why he should have been called from his home by the beadle if
his services were not required.
The CORONER said that for the future the officer should
deliver a summons in writing; but any person who then re-
fused or neglected attending should be fined 5/.
A juryman said he believed one gentleman only would have
complained. He considered it a courtesy to a tradesman for
the Judge of the Court to send his officer and study their
convenience, instead of issuing a peremptory mandate for their
attendance.
The jury were then sworn, and proceeded to view the bodies.
In consequence of the great number of persons present the
Court was adjourned to the Queen Charlotte public-house,
Church-street. The mangled remains of the murdered infants
presented a most shocking spectacle.
George Dickenson, uncle to the deceased children, was in-
troduced into the room, and appeared deeply affected. He
deposed that he resided in Cannon-street, City, and said that
he had identified the bodies of the deceased.
Mrs. Spencer, a lodger at the house of Mr. Dickenson, on
being called as a witness, fainted, and was removed.
Sarah White, of No. 5, Giffen-street, deposed that she saw
the little boy on Wednesday morning, at halt-past eleven, with
a bit of bread. She did not see the mother. In the after-
noon she thought the children were very quiet. She had pre-
viously heard the mother say " Georgy, be quiet." They
were then walking backwards and forwards from one room to
the other. She saw nothing of them afterwards until nearly
six o'clock. She then heard a moaning ; she then said, " Oh,
dear me ; I should not be surprised if Mrs. Dickenson bas cut
he- throat and her children's too." She went in and saw the
children ; Mrs. Dickenson caressed them whilst she was in the
room. Believed Mr. Dickenson was not at home. Witness
was not intimate with them. Mrs. Dickenson was a clean tidy
woman, and had lived there fifteen reeks. Mrs. Spencer was
very intimate, and had said she (the unfortunate mother of
the deceased) must do something.
Mr. Joseph Arthur, surgeon, sworn—said he was called in,
and found the two children on the bed, both dead. It was
impossible to say how long they had been dead; the bodies
were not quite cold. He found the female with the windpipe
divided, and insensible. The trachea and some of the blood-
vessels of the boy were divided. The other child had met with
similar injuries. It was one cut with a sharp instruaaent.
The children were lying at her feet. She might have cut the
throats of her children, and then her own, and thrown herself
back on the bed.

Mrs. Elizabeth Spencer was next sworn, and deposed that
she knew Mr. and Mrs. Dickenson, and the deceased. Saw

them alive -at half-past ten on Wednesday. Mrs. D. and the
children were then together in the front room. Mrs. D. said
her husband was in town. I saw him before at half-past
eight ; saw him again at half-past five, when he came to her
apartment. Did not hear the children after she saw them.
When Mr. Dickenson came in, be fell backwards on the bed,
but could not speak. She asked him what was the matter,
but he could not answer. lie get up and beckoned,
and she followed him down stairs. He said, " She has
done the deed." She could not tell -for the moment
what he meant. She went round the room, and saw
the woman on the bed, but she did not speak. All he said
to her when she got into the room was, "Do not speak ;
don't make a noise, you will disturb them." I had not as-
certained whether the children were dead or not. He called
for assistance, and Mrs. White came in and Mr. Spencer
followed. Could not say how they lived, but by making away
with their things or pawning them. Witness was a lodger.
Believes they had no other means of subsistence except what
they got from their lodgers. Her conduct to the children 'sac
kind. Her countenance appeared clouded at times. Mr. Dick-
enson and wife were both sober people. Witness advised her
to go to the parish and see Mr. Warman, the relieving officer ;
but she said she knew he would not give her any thing, besides
she said she would not go to the parish, as she dreaded the ex-
posure. She also said she wanted to make up her quarter's
rent, and hoped her brother would assist her. Believed they
were in want of the necessaries of life. By Mrs. Dickenson's
confession the children had only two penny loaves in two days ;
this was about a week before Christmas. She always appeared
in sorrow and trouble, but never spoke of it particularly.
Police Constable Ewins, 160 11, deposed thrt he was called
in at half-past five. Messrs. Arthur and Drury, surgeons,
were present. Be found a razor on the dresser, with blood on
it. (It was here handed to the jury).
Sergeant Roscoe, 9 R, deposed :that he was called in, and
saw the woman on the bed. She attempted to sit up, and was
wringing her hands. Some remark was made, and she said
" Oh, it was I who (lid it." She afterwards said that she did it
at a quarter past one, just as the clock chimed. Mr. Taylor
asked me, in her presence, whether she knew him , and she said
" Yes." Mr. Taylor is a solicitor.
Mr. John Hills, churchwarden, deposed that, at ten minutes
past six, he received information of the dreadful occurrence.
Ile went and spoke to Mr. Dickenson, and asked what he
thought was the cause cf it ? He replied that he had only
come down from London at half-past five ; that he kept his
razor on a shelf, and when he got home he found it there, co-
vered with blood, and placed it on the dresser. Dickenson also
said that he thought distress alone had caused it. He (wit-