The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-06 00:00:00

CLERKEN WELL.

Mr. Thomas Ashworth, a chemist and druggist,
was charged with embezzling property to a consider•
able amount belonging to his employer, and with at-
tempting to commit suicide.
John Latham, a Bow-street officer, deposed that at
three o'clock on the previous day the prisoner came
to Bow-street station, and asked witness if he had not
received information of a quantity of books having
been stolen from a Mr. Ambler, and en witness re-
plying in the affirmative, he said, would you know
the man who stole them ? Witness said he would
not. The prisoner then exclaimed, "I am the man
who committed that robbery, and I wish to give my-
self up." He was then locked up.
Mr. Ambler, a wholesale bookseller, residing at
27, Compton-street, Clerken well, said about a month
ago the prisoner came to him, assured him that he
was in indigent circumstances, and requested some
kind of employment. Witness, knowing that his
friends were highly respectable, in some time after
entrusted him with Prayer-books and Bibles as
samples for country customers. In a few days after
he received a letter from the prisoner, dated from
Bexley, in Kent, in which he stated that he had lost
the books, and requested forgiveness. The prisoner's
friends having promised to make good the loss,
witness commissioned the prisoner to take some books
to Mr. Young, in Titchfield-street, Soho. The
prisoner delivered the parcel, and borrowed money
from Mr. Young. Witness subsequently learned
that he had pawned the first parcel of books in several
pawn. offices.
The books were produced by several pawnbrokers'
men.

The prisoner's step-father, an elderly gentleman,
residing in Baker-street, Clerken well, stated that the
prisoner was insane ; his father had been seven years
in a lunatic asylum, and died mad there, and his
brother, a solicitor, cut his throat. The prisoner's
father had predicted that his son would die mad, and
he verily believed the prediction would be verified.
The prisoner had twice attempted to commit suicide—
once by throwing himself into the New River. He
had been in affluent circumstances, but was now
much reduced.

Inspector Barton deposed that on the previous
night, a short time after the prisoner was locked up
in the cell, the constable, upon going the "rounds,"
saw the prisoner suspended there by his neckcloth.
He was at once cut down, and was quite black in the
face, and animation suspended. The police-surgeon
was sent for, and he was, after a considerable in-
terval, restored.

Mr. GREENWOOD directed Mr. Taylor to be sent
for, that he might examine him regarding the state of
his mind. Mr. Taylor came and did so, but stated
the result to the magistrate in private.
Mr. GREENWOOD decided upon remanding the pri-
soner, and added that Mr. Taylor had required fur-
ther time to inquire into his state of mind.
The prisoner, who conducted himself throughout
with perfect composure and decorum, was remanded.
A lal named Brown was charged with the followit,g
attempt at robbing the house of Mr. W. Essex, a gentle-
man residing at 5, Gordoa-strect, Gordon-square.
Thy, prisoner knocked at the door of Mr. Essex's
honse-btween tea and eleven on the previous night,
and said he had a sealed letter for Mrs.. Essex. fie
handed the letter to the servant, e.nd came inside the
door. The servant was going to deliver the letter to her
wiatre4s, when fortunately Mr. Essex came down, and
having opaned the latter, found it contained nothing hot
a dirty scrap of paper. Mr. Essex's tiowe waa robigd a
short time ago of a great deal of valuable property by a
similar device.

The prisoner said he was sent with the letter by Mrs.
Al!sop, of Regent-street, and afterwards told a different
atari.—iJe vas remanded.