The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-09 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE-July 8.

WORSHIP-STREET.--Joseph Denby, an ill
favoured thick-set young fellow, was charged with
attempting to break into and enter the dwelling-
house of Mr. Black, a merchant residing at the
"Priory," Lower Clapton, under peculiar circum-
stances, detailed by Mrs. Black with considerable
naivete.
About half-past six o'clock in the morning the
lady was somewhat alarmed by a slight yet suspici-
ous noise below stairs, and descending made her
way to the larder, fairly presuming from prior in-
cursions there that it was then the scene of opera-
tion ; quietly peeping in at the door she observed
the prisoner with one hand thrust through the
aperture of the iron bars, and tenaciously grasping
the tongue of an ox, which he appeared to have
selected from the various viands resting in dishes
on the shelf beneath. The tongue, however, was
too large to pass through the space with the thief's
fingers closed on it, and, moreover, being cooked,
was like many others, very slippery, and it con-
tinually fell back again. Mrs. Black noticing that
the article was becoming terribly "mauled,"
thought it time to interfere, and opening an adja-
cent window, called loudly for "Pluto." The
marauder started as the deep bay of a hound broke
through the stillness, and leaving the tongue
wedged between the bars, he scoured off across the
lawn. " Pluto, Pluto," was repeated from the win-
dow by the lady. A rush was beard among the
shrubs at the farther end of the grounds, and just
as the fellow reache lit, Pluto made his appearance
therefrom in the formidable shape of an enormous
Newfoundland dog. Both were at a stand for half
a minute ; then the thief stepped slowly and
gradually backwards. Pluto majestically followed
him. The thief yelled ; Pluto growled ; and at this
critical juncture, while the animal was apparently
waiting further orders from his mistress, the gar-
dener and other servants issued from the house,
and seized the scoundrel, who manifestly considered
their custody much preferable to that of Pluto's. The
d )g was prevented from injuring him, and a police
constable subsequently conducted the prisoner to
the station-house. When asked by the attendant,
" What brought you her ?" he answered " Why,
my legs to be sure."
A sergeant of the N division said he had had the
accused in custody three times for felony, and he
was a notoriius area sneak. He had also been
convicted at the Middlesex Sessions.
The magistrate told the fellow that he should not
send him for trial this time, but order him to be
imprisoned for three calendar months in the House
of Correction with hard labour.
_ _ _

SOUTHWARK.—Anthone de Salvi, an Italian,
residing at 7, Little James-street, Pall-mall, de-
scribed on the charge sheet as a merchant, and
Jabez Samuel Gower, auctioneer, of 26, Barbican,
were charged, the former with stabbing Mr. Robt.
H. Robertson, with intent to murder him, in the
Queen's Prison, and the latter with inciting him to
do the same.
Charles Collwell said—l am chief turnkey of the
Queen's Prison. There is a gentleman named
Robert Henderson Robertson confined in No. 4 in
10 room, and he is now in a dangerous state from
wounds inflicted on him with some sharp instru-
ment. About half-past two o'clock this afternoon,
in consequence of information I received, I has-
tened into the yard, where I saw a number of per-
sons collected, and then I heard that Mr. Robertson
had been stabbed. There was great excitement in
that portion of the prison, and going towards that
gentleman's room I met Mr. Salvi, when some of
the inmates of the ward called out " Secure him, he
has stabbed Mr. Robertson." laccordingly stopped
him and told him he must go with me, when he
exclaimed, " I'll go, I'll go." I then took him and
lett him in the visiting room, and then I weut to
Mr. Robertson's room, where I found him lying on
the bed with blood flowing from a large wound in
the right temple and another in the right cheek.
As soon as I entered he said to me, "For God's
sake, Mr. Collwell, take down what I have to say
in writing, as I believe I am dying." I got
writingmaterialg, when Mr. Robertson t old me that
Salvi stabbed him and Gower instigated him to do
so. Neither of the prisoners were present at that
time. A medical gentleman then came, and I went
after Mr. Gower and told him he must go before a
magistrate with Salvi, as he was charged with in-
stigating him in the attack on Mr. Robertson. He
seemed very much flurried, and said, "11l go."
After they were both secured I went with the doctor
to Mr. Robertson's room and saw him attended to.
Mr. Thomson, a solicitor, was there, and he saw all
that occurred. When SaLvi was brought forward
again and" told what he had done, he said, " It's
all true, I did it." Among the persons in the room
there was one named Wyld,
.and he brought in a
knife which he said he had picked up at the door,
and handed it to Dennis, one of the prison officers.
Mr. Combo—ls that knife in court ?
Dennis—l am one of the officers of the Queen's
Prison. I received this knife from Mr. Wyld.
The knife was here handed to the magistrate. It
was a large Spanish knife, quite new, with a handle
about six inches long, and had a spring at the back.
Two inches of the blade had been broken off, and
it was all covered with blood.
Mr. Combe--d-Where is the other portion of this
knife 1
Dennis—l don't know, sir, at present.
Mr. Combo to Mr. Collwell—What did Gower
say when you gave him into custody ?
Mr. Collwell—He said, " Oh, that's shocking to
come here with him, and be charged with such an
offence." He was very much exciter].
Mr. Richard Thompson examined—l am a solici-
tor, at No, 3, Finsbury-chambers. I was present
when the unfortunate affair happened. I know all
the parties. About one o'clock th s afternoon Mr.
Satii came to my chambers, and asked me to ac-
company him and Mr. Gower to the Queen's Prison.
I am attorney for Salvi against Robertson, who is
detained there at his suit. We called on Mr. Gower
and we all went to the Queen's Prison, and saw
Mr. Robertson in his room. They went to have the
matter settled. Robertson asked me to take I
asked
a seat,
and Salvi and Gower stood near his chair.
Robertson to make some proposition to Salvi, when
some angry words took place between them a, bout a
b:11 for 2001. Mr. Robertson said to Salvi, I have
not the bill," when allusion was an.ade to a Mr.
Brown and a Scotch sequestration. Salvi rated Ro-
bntson about his dishonesty, and said to him,
" You say you did not have the 2001. bill ?"
Robertson made some reply about Brown, andthen
Gower made an observation to Salvi. The latter
then leaned over Robertson's chair, and I saw him
beat him rapidly in the face. I called out ‘‘ Don't
beat him ;" and I thought he was only striking him
ith his hands.
Mr. Cornbe—How near was he to Mr. Robertson ?
Witness—Close to his chair, leaning over him.