The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-11 00:00:00

TTIAMES POLICE.

THE ROBBERIES IN THE Docits.—Matthew Clark,
James Hurley, Samuel Contelo, William Johnson, and
Benjamin Aston, were brought before Mr. Ballantine,
charged with stealing 147 pounds of leaf tobacco, the
property of the London Dock Company, from their
premises, on Friday night last, and on suspicion of
being concerned in other robberies and attempts at
:obbery in the London and St. Katherine Docks.
Clark and Hurley were before Mr. Ballantine on Sa-
turday, and were remanded. The other prisoners
were apprehended on Wednesday night, in Church-
street, near the Pavilion Theatre, by William Judge,
an inspector of Thames Police. With the exception
of Clark, who is about 35 years of age, the prisoners
are stout young fellows, who had been for some time
known to the police.
Mr. Humphreys, solicitor, attended on the part of
the London Dock Company, to prosecute the five men
at the bar.

Michael Riley, a watchman in the London Dock,
stated that he saw Clark and Hurley in conversation
on the swivel-bridge of the dock, between the two
tobacco warehouses, on Saturday last. On seeing
him approach they separated, and Hurley joined
another man. He had seen Cantelo, Aston, V Hurley,
and Clark, repeatedly together during the last
eighteen months in Rosemary-lane, and also at the
Kettle and Drum public-house. He was in the to-
bacco warehouse on Friday, and saw the doors closap
and fastened at four o'clock, when all was safe. _

Clark and Hurley, who I.vere very boisterous and
impudent throughout the investigation, alternately
abused and cross-examined Riley, and said he was
swearing falsely, and did not know their names when
he came to the prison to identify them.
Mr. BALIANTINE said the witness knew their per-
sons, and had seen them often ; and although he would
allow the prisoners every latitude in putting ques-
tions, he would not tolerate any abase or nonsense
from them.

James Tyler, gate-keeper at the Wapping-gate,
stated that he saw Clark and Hurley enter the dock
together on Friday afternoon.
James Swinland, dock constable, whose evidence
has been already published, deposed to the apprehen-
sion of Clark in the eastern dock on Friday afternoon,
at five o'clock, and he delivered to him two candles,
some lucifers, and a key, which the prisoner said was
a rum 'un. The witness, in answer to questions by
Mr. Humphreys, said there were two persons walking
in advance of Clark, and that he knew Johnson, who
wits formerly a labourer in the London Dock.
John William Judge, ironmonger, of No. 5, John-
son-street, said he was the nephew of Joshua Judge,
Thames police inspector, who lived in the same house.
On Friday night last he saw persons loitering about
the dock wall, and h. saw them go into the house in
Johnson-street, No. 3. He watched them for some
time, and saw them pass and repass, and carry bun-
d!es or bags into the house. In consequence of what
he saw h gave information to his unAlr;The ,
Spector, and went to -V)el. About two _d_tbree o'clock:
in the morning he heard something heavy fall from
thedock wall in Broad-street, at the end of Johnson-
street.

Inspector Joshua Judge was in company with a
nephew, Henry Isaac Judge, on S tturday morning
early, and saw two persons with caps enter the house,
No. 3, Johnson-street. They came out again soon
afterwards, sad got away. At eight o'clock he en-
tered the house, and in an upper room found Hurley
stretched on the floor in front of the fire-place, with
his head resting on a basket. On searching the room
he discovered seven bags, containing about 1471b5. of
leaf tobacco.

Mr. John Clements, principal of the London Dock
police, repeated his evidence of Saturday, with some
additions. The tobacco warehouse had been entered
by one or more persons, who must lave secreted
themselves within the dock on Friday night, and who
tot upon the roof, lifted one of the lantern lights, and
f1.,-Acended into the warehouse. The robbers made
their exit through the same opening, and descended
it'o the street, by means of a rope ladder, wh;ch,
with the gear attached, he found at an angle of the
dock wall, formed by Tench-street and Bird-street.
The wall generally was thirty feet high, but at the
angle it was only sixteen feet, and the height was
broken by the dome of a water-closet outside. He
traced tobacco leaves from the top of the warehouse
to the house in Johnson-street.

Other witnesses were examined at great length,
who made out a strong circumstantial case against all
the prisoners.
Mr. Humphreys said that Mr. Clements, who was
a most respectable officer, had assured him he had
very important evidence to produce, and it would
defeat the ends of justice to disclose it at present.
Mr. BALLANTINE said he should remand all the
prisoners till Thursday next, and on that day he
should expect the case to be completed.
CLERKENWELL.

LYNCH Lew.—Mrs. Barbara Cowie, a respectable-
10,,king young Scotchwoman, was charged by Jane
Knight, a lodger in the same house in IVellington-
square, St. Pancras, with having assaulted her.
The prosecutor was charged at this Court a few
(lays ago with having concealed the birth of her ille-
rvirimate child, and a report was circulated that she
had murdered it. The prisoner, however, was dis-
charged, and the excitement of the mob was so great
towards her that she proceeded to her residence in a
cabriolet, whilst she was hooted and groaned at, and
called a murderer. On her arrival at the house where
she lodged the prisoner struck her a violent blow on
the face, and she became so ill that she required
medical attendance ever since, and was unable to
leave her room in consequence of the exasperation of
the neighbours.
Mr. GREENWOOD said that the prosecutor having
been acquitted of the charge preferred against her,
she was entitled to protection, and he fined the prisoner
1/. 10s., or a fortnight's imprisonment.
FRUITSELLING IN THE ST&EET.—A poor Irish-
woman, named Sullivan, was charged with obstructing
the public footway by carrying a basket of oranges
for sale.

Police-constable Morley, 163 N, said that at three
o'clock that afternoon the prisoner was in High-
street, Islington, carrying a basket of oranges on the
pavement. He cautioned her, but she persisted, and
he took her into custody.
Mr. GREENWOOD inquired whether she placed her
basket on the footway ? Policeman—No; she carried
it along—she did not put it on the pavement.
Police-sergeant Allen said that great numbers of