The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-25 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS—(This Day).

(Before Mr. Sergeant Cox).
COUNTRY THIEVES ON A VISIT TO LONDON.
Henry Benson, Mary Benson, John Henry Wat-
son, Sand Margaret Watson, were indicted for
stealing two walking-sticks, the property of Ed-
ward Bax, two bottles of scent, the property of
Eugene Ritnmell, four boxes of cigars, the pro-
perty of Alexander Archer, and three oil paintings,
the property of Robert Dodson.

The prisoners, who were all very fashionably
attired, pleaded guilty to the whole of the four
charges.

The learned Judge asked how the robberies were
committed, as he had not read the depositions.
Mr. Besley said the art displayed on the occasion
was very great, and altogether the system pursued
entirely exceeded that of the usual London thieves.
One of the Inspectors of the F division of police
was present, and he would give an account of the
prisoners.

Inspector Brannan said, from inquiries he had
made, he found that the prisoners left Manchester
about a month ago, it having become too hot for
them. It appeared that they then commenced their
system of plundering the shopkeepers of London,
which they had succeeded in doing with more than
ordinary success. Their system was most perfect,
and he had never known the art of secreting so
cleverly applied. The women each wore a
large white linen bag, made to fit around
her as a petticoat into which property of all de-
scriptions was readily concealed. The tradesmen
visited on the day the prisoners were apprehended
were those mentioned in the indictment, all of
whom carried on business in the Strand. Having
stolen the umbrelles from Mr. Bax, they then ap-
peared desirous of a little perfume, and visited
Mr. Rimmell's establishment, and whilst the two
men succeeded in fixing the attention of those in
the shop the " ladies" helped themselves to what
they wanted off the counter, which was quickly
slipped into their capacious pockets. After this
they felt desirous of patronising the fine arts, and
accordingly visited the shop of Mr. Dodson, and
there inspected a variety of prints and oil paint-
ings, but nothing appeared to hit their fancy, and
they accordingly left the place. The next shop
visited was Mr. Archer's, all four of the prisoners
entering at one time. Whilst the male pri-
soners were praising the quality of the small
articles they had purchased, the ladies, it appeared.
helped themselves to a quantity of the goods dis-
played on the counter. When they were taken
into custody three large oil paintings, one measur-
ing 24in. by 18in., and three 11b. boxes of cigars
were found in the pocket-petticoat of the
woman Benson, and in that worn by Watson
a quantity of perfumery which had been stolen
from Mr. Rimtnell. The petticoats in_ each in'
stance were so admirably constructed that not-
withstanding their capacity and miscellaneous con-
tents they appeared to be nothing but ordinary
crinolines, formerly so fashionable. All these
robberies were effected in one day. On an°'
ther occasion the prisoner Benson took a
fancy to a bonnet in Regent-street. They all
went into the shop of Mr. Clements to pur-
chase the fascinating article, which having been
done they quitted the place, Watson having con-
trived to " pocket," or rather " sack," a roll of
silk value £3O. (Laughter.)
The learned Judge said it appeared to him that
the whole of the party were systematic thieves and
plunderers by profession. He was informed that
none of them had been known to have been
before convicted, but he thought the result of light
punishments for first offences, such as that to which
they had all pleaded guilty, only resulted in the
thieves leaving prison more hardened than ever'
He thought the best thing to do was to pass a severs
sentence at once which would remove them for
some time from their companions. Acting there'
fore on that he should sentence each of the male
prisoners to five years penal servitude, and the
.
women to two years imprison.nent with hard
labour.

The Havas Agency communicates the text of the
final protocol for the distribution of the Pontifical
Public Debt, in execution of the Convention of the
7th December, 1866. The document is conformable
in every point to the summary of it already given
by the Italian journals. Italy and France treat the
question directly between themselves, and the Papal
Government remains completely apart from the
arrangement which has been concluded; it will con'
tinue to pay the interest of its debt, ant by the
instrumentality of France will receive for that pur-
pose the portion of the obligation assumed by tb°
Florence Government.
A Vienna letter in the' Augsburg Gazette, speak'
ing of the rumour lately in circulation of a clo.ener
union between Austria and Prussia, says :—" "
have no desire to revive by force a connection
which has subsisted a thousand years. With
our constitutional liberty now becoming de-
veloped with more or less force and vitalitici
our parliamentary life, the intellectual position and
activity of our German elements, under the On-
duct of Ministers of tried liberalism, we re
main in contact with Germany, in spite of Pi';
mark and of the national advanced party
e; tranquilly await the day when we shall be call
spontaneously, when we shall be offered equal
rights with Prussia, and when there will
conferred on us with resp A
ect to Southern Germany'Germany'to which division we are more closely allied by °
inclinations, with the full assent of her Princes an
her populations, the prerogative which Prussia
cises in the northern half of the common country
e
Patience passe Science,' is not the motto of the
Norfolk family alone.'"
There is no foundation for the rumour a late
industriously circulated in Florence that Fran
intends to withdraw her troops from the Roma
uu
Go-
territory. All the endeavours of the Italian

vernment have remained fruitless.
TIIE ADDISON CLUB.—At the usual weekly din'
of the Addison Club, on Saturday last, at their No
in Museum-street, the President, Mr. Henry Mayhew' he
a paper on the "Phenomena of Form," in willeb t-a
uses and beauty of cohesion were admirably
This club of literary and scientific gentlemen is likely to
become of mark in the metropolis.
A testimonial will shortly b 3 presen;:3d to
C. J. Monk, M.P., by the Revenue Dopartments of t4.°
Civil Service, for his untiring and successful exertions in
restoring to its members the elective franchise. eb;
scriptions to the testimonial are to 13J limited to 013 a,
illustrate .
shilling, a sum not exceeding 100 guineas to be expende
and it will be in the form of an illuminated address, Pre,:
pared by Mr. Scudamors, assistant secretary to the rest
office.—Pall 3fall Gazette.