The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-07 00:00:00

POLICE TELLIG EtVCE.-THIS

BOW-STREET.

SHOPLIFTING EXTRAORDINARY.—Henry Benson,
who described himself as a traveller; Mary Benson,
no occupation; John hay Watson, mariner; and
Margaret Watson, no occupation ; —were charged
wi.h stealing three umbrellas and two Malacca
cams, value £4 ss. 6d., from the shop of Mr. Edw.
Bax, Duncannon-street, Strand.

Mr. Abrams defended all the prisoners.
The male prisoners arc: both stout built, Watson
being much taller than Bens3n, and rather good
and smartly dressed. They all refused to
give any address.

Mr. Thomas H. Jersey, • assistant to Mr. Bax,
stated that the prisoner Watson, came in and asked
to look at a Malacca cane. Witness showed him
one, and Watson asked if he could get it gold
mounted. 'Presently Benson came in with the
two women, and looked at some goods which were
shown them by the shop-boy. Benson then crossed
the shop to ask witness if, supposing he bought a
stick and umbrella, any reduction would be n.a.de
on the price of the two ; to which witness replied
iu the negative. lie said he should like to have
his initials engraved on them, " H. 8.," his name
being Baughan. He said he was staying at Mor-
ley's Hotel. He said he should call the next day
and " pay for all," which he would not do then as
he had none but American money. lie also said
something about being " just come from the States,"
which confirmed an impression he had already formed
partly from their dress and manner, and partly from
the quantity of diamondstuis, pins, and sleeve links,
which they exhibited, that they were Americans.
While talking with Benson, witness suddenly missed
Watson, who had left the shop while he was look-
ing another way. Presently the other three pri-
soners left also, but were followed and watched by
the shop-boy. The latter returned shortly and
stated that he had watched them into the Strand,
and had seen them enter the shop of Mr. Kimmel,
the perfumer. Witness went to Morley's llotel
and found that no person of th!. name of Baughan
was staying there. He returned to the shop and
directed the boy to go in search of the four pre-
tended customers. The boy had told him that he
thought they had stolen a Malacca cane, and he had
observed that there was one missing. Afterwards
he missed another cane and three umbrellas.
He identified the canes and umbrellas produced.
They all bore a ticket with Mr. Bax's trade mark.
The ticket is invariably removed when an article is
sold.

John Cummings, the shop boy, corroborated as
to what occurred in the shop, and also as to his
having followed the prisoners to Mr. Rinamel's, and
returned to report that fact to Mr. B .x. When
he went after them the second time he found them
in the Strand, near St. Clement's Church. Exch
of the male prisoners was carrying a cane and an
umbrella, and the woman Watson an umbrella.
He spoke to a policeman and sail he belisoted they
had stolen the articles from his master's shy.
The constable asked if he would take the responsi-
bility of giving them into custody. Witness rep'ied
that he would. They were then perceived by the
prisoners, who separated, the men proceeding along
the Strand, and the women running away down
Essex-street. The constable took the two men into
custody, and witness requested Mr. Mallett, of
Wych street, printers'-ink maker, who was passing
at the time, to follow them, which he did. The
women were•overtaken, and the four prisoners were
taken to the station.

Police-constable Rogers, 25 F, Reserve, stated
that the last witness gave the two men into his
custody for stealing the umbrellas and canes, which
they still had in their hands. At the station-house
they were searched. The witness was giving a list
of watches, rings, pins, and sleeve-links found on
them, when

Mr. Abrams pointed out that these were the
articles they were wearing as part of their apparel.
The officer might as well give a list of their clothes.

Mrs. West, the fewale searcher, produced the
property found on the women concealed under their
petticoats, which was of a somewhat miscellaneous
nature. Amongst- other articles Benson had two
imitation oil paintings, 20} inches by 12, and a
box of cigars in a summer's bag or pocket, tied
round her waist; and water and two oil paintings
of the same size, and three boxes of cigars.
The prisoners were remanded.