The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-19 00:00:00

WANDSWORTH.

THE ADVANTAGE OF ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS.—
ELOPEMENT AND ROBBERT.—Robert Lane, a man about
35 years of age, dressed as a seafaring man, and Amelia
Spencer, a young woman ofconsiderable psrsonal attr«c
tions, were placed in the dock before Mr. Clive, charged
with stealing the sum of 371. Is. 6d., the property of the
father of the female prisoner. The apprehension of the
prisoners may be attributable solely to the electric tele-
graph on the South Western Railway being brought into
application, as the guilty parties had left Gosport some
time when information of the robbery was brought to
the station.

Mr. Da!by, the superintendent of the South Western
Railway Police, stated that on Friday afternoon, about
three o'clock, he received information from the telegraph
office at Nine Elms, that a robbery had been committed
at West End, South Stoneham, near Southampton, and
that the accused parties were in the train that left Gos-
port at half-past twelve o'clock. A personal description
of the parties accompanied the communication. Witness
procured the assistance of Sergeant Emmerson, 16 V,
and when the train arrived at half-past three o'clock,
the prisoners were taxed with stealing the sum of 371.
' odd, and taken into custody. They seemed thunder-
struck at finding that the robbery was already known in
London, and that their arrival had been anticipated.
Sergeant Emmerson stated that upon searching the
male prisoner at the station-house, he found two.purses
on him, one containing all in gold, and the other 7s.
Superintendent Dalby said the young woman admitted
at the station that she had taken the money—that she
met the prisoner at Bishopstoke ; went from there to
Gosport, and from thence to London, and that on the
road she gave the male prisoner the whole of the money.
A letter was found upon her person from the male pri-
soner, asking her to elope with him, and stating that he
had got a house ready for her. It appeared from what
had since transpired, that this man was married and had
a numerous young family.
A respectably dressed, middle-aged woman was then
called forward. She was absorbed in grief, and for
sonic time was incapable of speaking. After a short
delay she said that her name was Caroline Spencer ;
that she was the wife of James Spencer, a carman,
living at West End, South Stoneham, near Southampton,
and the female prisoner was her daughter. The male
prisoner was to have married her daughter, who left
her place on Monday last for that purpose ; but her
late master, Dr. Buller, having ascertained that the pri-
soner Lane was a married man, communicated that fact
to witness and her husband, and consequently Lane was
forbid the house. Her daughter was present when Dr.
Buller made the announcement, and must have heard
it. Witness intended to have sent her to London on
Friday morning, that she might be out of the prisoner's
way. The prisoner must have got scent of this arrange-
ment and turned it to his own advantage. Her daughter
left home for the train at a quarter to ten o'clock, and
at tea minutes past she discovered that a little box
containing 371. is. 6d. had been stolen out of
a large chest. She proceeded to the nearest sta-
tion, Bishopstoke, and there found that her daughter
had gone to Gosport. To this place she proceeded as
quickly as possible, and when she arrived learnt that
her daughter and the man Lane had started for London
together. Having given the necessary information she
remained at the station, and in three hours learned that
the prisoners had been apprehended in London.
Sergeant Emmerson said, that the little box alluded
to was found upon the female prisoner.
Mr. CLIVE asked the prisoner Lane if he wished to
enter into any defence at that time—if he did so, he
would hear him.

The prisoner said he knew nothing about the money ;
he left Bishopstoko on the preceding morning for Gos-
port, with the intention of proceeding to Chatham.
When he got to Gosport he net Miss Spencer, who
said she was going to Loudon, and he agreed to go with
her. She paid the fares, and had, as he thought, only a
few shillings left, but when they had got within a few
miles of London, she gave him 311. in gold, stating that
it was money she had drawn from the savings bank.
The female prisoner here exclaimed, " That is not
true, Robert ; I told you, at Gosport, I had taken it
from my father, and you said, well, we had better go to
London."

The mother here said she did not wish to hurt her
daughter.
Mr. CLIVE observed that the case must go for trial ;
and the only question for his consideration was, whether
the prisoners should be sent down into Hampshire for
examination, or be committed fiom that Court.
Mr. CLrva consulted with Mr. Fletcher, the chief
clerk, and ultimately decided that the prisoners must be
removed into Hampshire.
The prisoners, who did not exhibit the least uneasi-
ness at the unpleasant situation in which they were
placed, were then given into the custody of Superin-
tendent Dalby and Sergeant Emmerson.

CURIOUS IDEAS OF THE AUS-

TR ALIA N BLACKS. --
Their legends and traditions I have received with some
caution, knowing well in what kind of soil they have
grown : often planted there by romancing shepherds,
and afterwards adopted by the dark people as their own.
The idea generally Entertained by the blacks that they
at their decease go to Van Diemen's Land and come
back white fellows originated no doubt in this
way. Buckley, on his first appearance amongst
them, the first European they had seen, was
received as the re appearance of a native just
dead, whom, in every respect, except colour, he closely
resembled ; was fully believed to be the very man ;
was adopted by the dead man's friends and tribe, and
called by his name. No doubt hat the similarity, for-
tunately for Buckley, saved his life. Afterwards, when
settlers streamed over from Van Diemen's Land, and the
natives heard it mentioned almost only as the place
whence the white people came, and, probably, seeing
many others in person or feature resembling their dead
relatives that they sheuld have such an ilea is nothing
sinru!ar or wonderful. Much more singular and curious
ideas they have. Strange, indeed, is their notion of death,
or rather that, with the constant and palpable decey of the
human frame before their eves, they have no belief in death
from natural causes. Al! death:; they consider to be the
result of accident, malice, or magic. When a death the -
curs, they decide that the decea,ed person's kidney-fat
ed
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