The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-25 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT,-(THIS DAY•)

OLD COURI:
(Before Mr. Baron PLATT).
•k•
STEALING FROM THE CUSTOM-HOUSE.— William '
land, aged 37, victualler, Edward Lewis, ironmonger, 37, Wt''
Liam Bonham, 36, coal-dealer, and Henry Osborne, 315,
victualler, were placed at the bar, the three first indicted for
stealing five watches, the property of Joseph Savory and
another, and the latter for feloniously receiving the WO,
knowing them to have been stolen.
The -Attorney-General, Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Clarkson, and
Mr. Ballantine were for the prosecution; Mr. Serges,D.
;
Jones, Mr. Prendergast, Mr. Hurlstone, .and Mr. Wylde '°'
the defence.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opened the case by detailing the
circumxtances, which would be afterwards proved by witnesses.
The box, containing the five watches, had been addressed to
Bombay. and before it was shipped it was examined at the
dock, and then resoldered. Afterwards, however, it bad been
re-opened, and these watches abstracted. Two years having
elapsed, the Messrs. Savory were informed by the coves'
pondent who had received the case that such a loss
had been sustained. Inquiries were made as to who had bee'
on duty on the 1.3t1 July, 1842, and the prisoners being
cated were indicted fur the offence:
Mr. Robinson, clerk to Messrs. Savory and Co.' proved
that a case, marked A. B. S. in a diamond, bad been for-
warded to Bombay, and that it ought to have contained the,
watches which had been afterwards stolen. He had hinsseh
seen them safely packed, and the case taken to the dock,
order to be shipped on board the Coromandel.
Edward Scanlan was a searcher in the Customs, and 01
June, 1842, was stationed at the West India Dock. On the
23d of that month ne was on duty, and received a case in the
Searchers'-office. The case was marked A. B. S., in I dis,
mond. The case was to have been shipped by the Coromandel'
He examined the case, and it contained the watches stolen'
The case was examined in presence of two clerks and to
watchmen.

Mr. Robinson was recalled to identify the watches stoles.
He did so by the number and the maker's name.
Mr. Savory—ln 1842 had an order from Bombay, which
he understood to be executed. Subsequently he bad A C°Tnof'
municatiOn from India, and sent out five watches instead
five watches he supposed to have been stolen.
Henry Richard Turner was a Custom-house weigher, sou
was on duty at the West India Docks, in June, 1842,
~aa
searcher's cooper. He had received that appointment on ti!!
Ist of the month. I3onham and Lewis were also coupler
that same month. They were stationed in a portion of To
shed No. 1, which was appropriated to the use of the seuebell
and their men. That was the regular station, but tbei
went through the docks in the course of then
business. The duty- of the coopers was to O.
any packages by direction of the searchers and to fasten the
afterwards. He remembered a case being brought theta Vin'
the middle of the month, but be did not know who att
the examination. lie did not. He remembered combs%
one day and finding the case open, and Lewis and 13°
and
_,
putting the lid on again. The case was of fir exteel,
lined with tin inside. One of them said, .'Come,
lend us a hand." Strickland was eutsideat the time. Sus
land was the shipping officer. He (witness) did assist
driving the screws in like nails, not screwing them in. It w_
then delivered to the Dock Company. It would then be
Stiieklaud's duty to get a receipt from them for
safe delivery. He (witness) thought that Lewis Is
himself put the case outside. When he ref4len
~
edt
saw Strickland with the others, and he had a paresi.`°),
hand containing five watches (one gold and four silver watch,.
A consultation took place as to what should be done withdlegl.
One said sell them. Strickland said he should like to ki;
the gold one, but this would not be agreed to. Witness an
Lewis then went to a Jew, named Moss, and he afterward.:
on the ',eat day, came to the dock. He believed that for al;
night the watches were kept in Strickland's desk. He °I
Lewis also with the package, or what he thong
to be such. Moss came down on the following
Ile
day and the watches were produced to him. He
offered la for them, but that sum would not be giVen•
was asked 201. and Lewis went with him to a place he 'l3';
scribed, but afterwards came back, not having agreed te_l-a
purchase. In the course of the week Strickland prod.,-,-,
151., and gave each of them (that was Lewis, radon. at
witness) 5!. He (witness) afterwards heard from Lewis "-.4
the watches had been " rechristened," and sold by Striekllo
amorg his own relations in the Isle of Wight.
Cross-examined by Mr. PRENDERGAST.--It was not an tin
frequent occurrence to drink brandy and water in the dock' r,
did not expect to see watches, but he did not express his
prise. It was not a sense of duty that prompted him to be quil
It was the very opposite. It was the first transaction 1,
was connected with of the kind. He was suspended on Nictiet°
son's w harf for stealing wine. He knew a Mrs. Eastmeer to
received Si. from her in consequence of a letter he sent
her husband, who was a landing-waiter at the Customs.
To questions from the Learned JUDGE, the witness did
pre ased that he was suspended in consequence of what bowl
in following up the instructions of Mr. Eastmeer. M
lost his pay during that period, Mr. Eastmeerpromised
bjpzcill
and that was the money alluded to. He knew of an aro
flower which he was charged with stealing, but which.sea
actually presented by a Mr. Austin. He was never disrel_o of
from the spirit proof room at the docks. Knew a Per:ll
the name of Samuels. Hail had dealings with him ss "
with Moss in spirits and cigars.
By the COURT—He had no recollection of having 12.--'d_mbssiod
ness transactions with any other tradesmen besides Sasil"".
Moss.
(The trial was proceeding when our report left.)