The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-12 00:00:00

THE ROBBERY AT THE READING

RAILWAY STATION.
READING ADJOURNED SESSIONS, MAY 9.

The Court opened this morning before the Recorder, Mr. Ser.
geant Merewether, Mr. J. G. Willat, Mayor, and the foilowing
magistrates :—Messrs. H. Hawkes, E. Micklem, E. Hodges, J.
Richards, jun., and Captain Parvis.
Thomas Henry Robinson surrendered to take his trial on the
charge of having stolen a 501. note belonging to the Great Western
Railway Company, on the Ilth of February last.
Mr. Clarkson (specially retained) and Mr. Williams (with Mr.
Charles Nash, from Messrs. Swain, Stevens, and Co., solicitors for
the Company) appeared for the prosecution; Mr. Carrington de.
fended Robinson,

The defendant being well known In the town, from having held
for some time the office of cashier at the station, the Court was
crowded to hear the result.

Mr. CaaaINGTON made an application to the Court for the sum
of 131. 10s., a penknife, and other articles. which were taken from
Robinson at the time of his apprehension, to be given up to him.
This application he founded up us several 'cases, which the
Learned Counsel cited, where money, as in this case, had no con.
flexion with the subject of inquiry, the property forming no part
of the note in question.

Mr. CLARKSON opposed the application in some lengthened ar-
gument:, and the Recorder expressed his unwillingness to yield

At twenty minutes past twelve o'clock the grand jury returned
a true bill against the defendant, and the case was proceeded with.
Mr. CLARKEION stated, at great length, the whole particulars of
the case, which subsequently appeared in evidence, and being pre-
cisely the same as those reported in the newspapers of the 7th ult.
The only new feature was the production of a letter forwarded by
Robinson to Harris, which the Learned Counsel designated as a
most artful act, and, in his opinion, materially aggravated the na-
ture of his offence. It is as follows :

" Shoreditch, March 14.

" My dear Harris,—How much I regret matters have turned out
so unfortunately for you; but, my dear fellow, I cannot think that
the 501. note affair is the sole cause. You may rest assured that
though it is the plea other things are the cause of your dismissal ;
at least such is my opinion, and as it is no use to 'cry over shed
milk,' I would by all means endeavour to get another situation of a
different kind, for I fear you are not calculated for the duties of
clerk, 411,1 if I may suggest to you, I would say try for a conductor's
or guard's situation, and though I know it is rather touching a
tender chord to propose such a thing to you, yet I am in earnest
in my suggestion, and trust you will give me credit for sincerity,
and as I expect to be down to-morrow by mail train (night), I will
not now write more, but remain, as usual, yours very truly,
"T. H. ROBINSON."

The 501. note had been sent by Robinson, who received it as a
Si., to Miss Southall, who, with her mother, lived in London,
had obtained change for it, and sent part back to Robinson.
Harris, a fellow clerk, had been punished on suspicion, and after a
troublesome investigation traced the facts, which the prisoner, by a
fictitious letter to the Southall's, had attempted to screen.
The case for the prosecution having concluded,
Mr. CARRINGTON made a most ingenious and eloquent address on
behalf of the prisoner, and the RECORDRL having occupied upwards
of an hour is summing up the case, the jury consulted together for
about half an hour, and returned a verdict of Guilty, accompany.
ing it with a recommendation to mercy on account of his previous
good character.
Sergeant MEREWETHER, in passing sentence, said it was a dis-
tressing thing to observe a young man so respectable placed in such
a ',llanl situation and in the course of imprisonment, aggravated
by deception, fraud, and insineerity, and hoped he would avail him-
self of the opportunity of redeeming his character. He had cer.
tainly forteited in a great degree his good character; but the pee.
ple of this country were generous and kind, and would in time
forget it ; therefore he hoped he would try to restore himself to
society, and his wife and family. The Learned Recorder then sen-
tenced him to six calendar months' imprisonment.
The trial lasted nearly six hours.