The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-09 00:00:00

ILFORD PETTY SESSIONS.

(Before Captain Davis, Chairman, and a full Bench of
Magistrates.)
__ _.

DARING BURGLARY AT DAGENHAM.—Joseph Walker
and William Walden, two agricultural labourers, were
charged with breaking into the house of a retired stock-
broker named Arnold, and stealing upwards of 851. in
bank notes, 401. in gold, a silver watch with gold chain,
and other property.
Mr. B. M. Rawlings appeared in behalf of the accused
parties.

Sergeant Crawford, of the K division of the Metro-
politan police, stationed at Dagenham, stated that on
Wednesday morning, the 19th ult., having received
information that Mr. Arnold's house had been broken
open, he went there, and on going across a field
found an iron chest, which had been broken open, and a
quantity of paper lying about. By the side of the chest
Mr. Arnold's dog was lying dead. On going into Mr.
Arnold's house he found that the pannel of the street-
door had been taken out, the pannel being perforated
with holes made by a gimlet, and broken in two.—
(It was here produced. The wood was upwards of two
inches in thickness.) The rooms were in great disorder,
and in one he found the two sticks produced. Near
the house he traced footmarks of two persons to the
corner of the field at the back of the house, then across
a ploughed and several other fields to the garden of the
house where the prisoners lived, at Chadwell-heath. He
went to the house and asked if they were at home, and
was told by Walker's wife that they had gone to Romford.
He went there, and found them outside the Fox and

Hounds public-house. On searching them he found on
Walker a knife and a sovereign, with some other articles,
' and on the other prisoner a few half-pence. He took
them into custody, and on comparing their boots with
the footmarks in the fields, found them to correspond
exactly,
Inspector Richardson said that, having receives infor-
mation of the robbery, he went to the prisoners' house,
opposite the mills, at Chadwell-heath, and found a knife,
a chisel, and two gimlets, the latter of which corre-
sponded with the holes in the door He had no doubt
about an entrance having been effected by means of a
gimlet, the holes being afterwards cut into one another
by means of a knife.
Superintendent Colson, of the Essex constabulary,
gave similar evidence.
In answer to the Bench, Mr. Colson said, from the
tongue of the dog protruding a long distance out of his
mouth, he had nu doubt about his death having been
caused by poison.
The prisoners were fully committed for trial at the
next assizes for the county of Essex. As they left the
bar they most vehemently declared their innocence.
None of the missing property has yet been traced.
WHOLESALE ROBBERY ON THE THAMES JUNCTION
RAILWAY.—John Ainsworth and William Hickman, two
rough-looking labourers, residing at West Ham, were
charged with stealing a large quantity of lead under the
following singular circumstances:--
Thomas Forrester, police-constable, 29 K, stated that,
on Saturday week last, he received orders from his ser-
geant to watch the prisoner Ainsworth's house, and
continued to do so until the following Friday morning.
About six o'clock on that morning he saw the prisoner
Ainsworth, accompanied by Hickman, leave home and
proceed to Mr. C. W, Tanner's coal-wharf at West Ham
Abbey. They got upon one of the sheds and ripped off
a great quantity of lead from the gutter, which having
put into a bag they returned to Ainsworth's house.
Witness having obtained the assistance of some brother
constables, went into the house, when the prisons ran out
at the back-door and through the river. They were
pursued, and Ainsworth captured at that time. On
searching the house, he found a large quantity of tim-
ber and bricks, which had been identified by Mr. Darby.
the foreman f the Thames Junction Railway, as the
property of that Company.
Other evidence with respect to stealing the lead hav-
ing been gone into, AD
The CHAIRMAN inquired if any one was present II
prosecute the case of stealing the bricks and timber fro
the railway company?
Sergeant Harrison, of the K division, said the company
did not wish to prosecute, as they thought the prosecu-
tion for stealing the lead would be quite sufficient, and
save them a good deal of trouble.
The CHAIRMAN said it appeared to him that for a pub-
lic company refraining to prosecute in such a case as the
present was something like compounding a felony—it
was most improper.
')Nlr. Tanner said it was most unfair that he should be
put to all the trouble and expense in prosecuting in this
case, and the company not.
The CHAIRMAN—How can we reach these parties?

Mr. Clifton, the clerk to the bench—You can summon
them, and bind them over to prosecute.
The CHAIRMAN—I do not think I shall be doing my
duty unless we have the parties here.
After some further remarks, the prisoners were fully
committed to Newgate for trial, for stealing the lead, but
remanded for the attendance of the railway people, a
summons being issued against them for that purpose.

VICTIMISING at SOUTHAMPTON.
About a fortnight since, or a few days over that time,
a tall ex-military-looking man, about forty -five years of
age, with a rubicund countenance, and wearing an espe-
cially great coat, which even reached to his ankles,
honoured Mr. Solomon, of the Railway Hotel, opposite
the South-Western Terminus, with his custom. He
selected one of the best private rooms, breakfasted,
lunched, dined, teaed, and supped in a style which
showed he had been used to an epicurean table occasion-
ally, if not habitually. The landlady, the chambermaid,
the waiter, and the boots, were all delighted with the affa-
bility of " the military gentleman in 21;" while the inge-
nious cook was proud of the difficulties proposed in his
varied orders for dinner. When a bill of about 121. had
been accumulated in the bar-book, Mr. Solomon thought
it advisable to test the military chest, and on Monday
last the waiter apprised " the military gentleman
in 21," that he had to settle his monthly account with
his master, and should be glad of a settlement with him-
self. •' Certainly," said the military gentleman ; " send
your master to me." Mr. Solomon,jun., presented him-
self and the account at the same time, upon which the
military gentleman took out his cheque-book, and drew
one for 201. on Coutts's Bank, looking as if he expected
to receive the change. On the son giving the cheque to
the father, the latter proceeded to " No. 21" himself, and
explained to its military occupant that it was dated
Southampton, ant; being out of the London boundary for
drawing cheques 4.. n London houses, was not legal. The
military gentleman apologised for the error and drew
another, dated London, signing his name " Keith An-
drews." He subsequently asked the waiter for the
change, but Mr. Solomon happened, unfortunately, to
be quite out of chanve at the moment. Mr. S. sent
the cheque up by the mail train at night, desiring
the messenger to apply at nine precisely at Coutts's,
and if the cheque was dishonoured to send a message by
telegraph from Nine Elms, apprising him of the fact.
informed
that cheque was presented, and the messenger
that the party had no account, and that cheques had been
palmed off by a military gentleman of the same name,
upon (among other victims) the host of the Bedford
Hotel, Covent-garden. The messenger proceeded to
the Nine Elms station, delivered his message, and came
down in due course himself. Mr. Solomon was waiting
soon after nine at the Southampton station for a com-
munication, but as no one came, he felt assured that all
was right. Still his change did not come in so fast as to

make him press the difference upon Mr. Keith Andrews
till his messenger should arrive. Mr. Keith Andrews,
however, did not press it, as he was going to pay an hour or
two's visit to Cowes, and desiring a fly to be sent for,
ordered dinner, which among other things embraced a
roast duck, which he desired might be seasoned accord-
ing to his particular directions, as a former one had not
been so piquantly flavoured in that regard as he could
have wished. Having got into the fly, he left ; but a
sort of misgiving came over the chambermaid on disco-
vering that Mr. Keith Andrews had taken away his
hair-brush and comb, two shirts, and a Russia leather
case, which formed the whole of his camp and domestic
equipage. Mr. Solomon rushed to the railway—still there
was no communication—for the simple, but most unfor-
tunate reason, that the wires were out of order, or some
disarrangement or accident had taken place that
day—though, for aught we know for the first time.
The arrival of his messenger soon explained the mys-
tery;—the stranger did not return to his exquisitely
seasoned duck. The next day Mr. Solomon received a
letter from Mr. Keith Andrews, dated Southampton,
but with the Winchester post-mark on it, in which the
writer begged Mr. Solomon's pardon, and to acknow-
ledge he had no account at Coutts's—but he had drawn
on them at his sou's request—(having an assortment of
cheque-books, of course), asking Mr. Solomon to keep
the little affair secret, as he should be in Southampton
again in about a week's time, and would call and settle.
Of course sueh a request, if complied with, would save
the military gentleman' the immedate search of the po-
iice.—.Hampshire Advertiser.