The Sun.
London, England, 1821-10-31 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

EXTREME PEPRAVITY.---Yesterday Jemima Mathews, a
middle-aged woman, of the lowest order, was indicted for re-
ceiving a sheep's heart and liver, knowing them to be stolen.
Mr. WALFORD stated the case for the prosecution. He
said, that however difficult it must be to give credit to the fact,
yet he was instructed it would be clearly proved that the de-
fendant was in the habit of seducing children from that' pa-
rents—taking them to live with her, instructing them in all the
arts of thieving, and sending them daily about the street to
practice the lessons she gave them.
A number of children who had been seduced by the wretched
defendant, were brought into Court to give evidence ; they
were mostly about ten years of age—one was sixteen.
Frederick Clarke, the eltkst victim of the defendant's seduc-
tion, stated, that about a month ago a younger brother of his
was lost, and cOuld not be found by the most diligent inquiries

, . • . • . . ,
of' his patents. hont a fortnight after he was lost, the witneo',
met him in the street ;he then witness, that he and s,Veral.,
other biOys lived with the defendant—that she sent them, Ott
every day to steal, and was very good to them when they biougbt
things to her. This boy advised . the witness to go home with
-him to the defendant's house, which he did, and w,:s engaged by
her to do as the others did—she promised to pay him fur what'
ever he should bring home, and said she would charge him-three`
pence a night for his lodging. ()n the third day after he went, .
the llth instant, (which was the day laid in the indictment) be-
stole from a butcher's shop in Whitechapel, a sheep's heart and
liver, which he brought home to the defendant, who said it was
worth sixpence, and he should have two niglit'slOdgings for
—He was positive-that he told her he had stolen it from a'
butcher's shop. •
John Tyrrell, a younger boy, said he went to live with the
defendant the Sunday before the List witness stole the heart and •
liver. The defendant's son used to come to his father's house
and beckon him to go- out, and would then-take him to the de-
fendant, who coaxed him to go and live with her. He, heard. .
Clarke tell the defendant he had stolen the heart and liver froth
a butcher at Whitechapel ; she praised him, and said he-should
have two night's lodgings for it.
Mr. Hopwood, a butcher at Whitechapel, proved that a
sheep's, heart and liver were stolen. from his shop on the day laid,
in the indictment.

Clarke, the first witness, proved it was from the last witness's
shop he committed the theft. .

.
Barrs, a constable, stated, that he received information against
the defendant on the 11th inst. in consequence of which he went
ur the house where she lived, and apprehended her, and seven •
young boys' who were in the room. She was frying a sheePs
heart and liver at the time. Thei'e was some straw in a corner
of the room, on which they used all to lie to ether like pigs;
This witness having mentioned that the witness Tyrrell hat
said he was told by the defendant he'd be taken that day;
Tyrell was called up again, when he stated, that every morP-
ing before the defendant sent them out to steal, she told, theme
what would happen to them during the day, which she knelt
by shuffling and cutting a pack of cards, and on the morning ht
was taken she told him, " there was a CLUB ?.g..ainst him, 311 d
he would certainly be taken ; but there was a nEART for bin)/
and he might be surc'of gating off."
The prisoner, in her defence, stated, that she had given tb4,
boys matches to sell, and supposed Clarke might have bang,"
what he brought hothe with the money he received for toc
matches.

The CuArnmAx, in charcting the Jury, said 1e had nel
before heard a case of such de'pravity proved in a (purt of JO:
tice. He thought- his situation had brought him ilequainteq
with every species of crime that-was practised in the rnetropoll!:
but he never: before heard of the existence of such an ilcadeTP,
f r instruction in vice.

The Jury without hesitation fonird the prisoner Guilty.
Mr. WALronn informed the Court there were other Indict;
ments against the prisoner, for similar ofFmces which dis t 11P'
vary in the least from that which wasroved, anit inquired
ther it would be necessary fair him to proceed'to trial ?
After some consultation on the Bench, the CrrArnm4ot
formed Mr. Walford it was not considered necessary to.procee4.•
farther. lke, then sentenced the prisoner to twelve months
prisonment in the House of Correction: .•

EARTHQUAKE,—On Monday morning, ahotit;
seven o'clock,_att earthquake was very sensiblY
felt over the island of Bute. At Rothesay and
;It its vicinity a tremulous motion was experiencc°'
which lasted for a few seconds, and is Said by
some to have been accompanied by a sound sinw
lar to that of the distant rolling of carriage'
wheels.- We understand it was also felt berg
though.so slightly as not to excite speculation
corroborated by . the above information frool
Bute.—(Grecnock Advertiser.)

DARING ROBBERY.---Yesterday a most -ancl3'
cious robbery was committed in the Sessioas'
house, Clerken well-green. William Pitcher,
constable,-brought a sheet of copper, value 6€'
into Court, for the stealing of, which a wool.
was to be tried, and the copper was to be
produced. The constable happened to la;c".
the copper by his side, and in a few moments 1t
was missing. Shortly after a man of the na!ne f
;Tames Hare was stopped by another constable:
leaving the Sessions-house with the ident:ol
sheet of copper in his possession. He was takeil
More the Magistrates at Hatton Garden, vvh-°
committed the prisoner for trial.