The Sun.
London, England, 1828-03-26 00:00:00

POLICE INTtLLIONINCI.

GITILDHALL.—Thomas Kirke, who had far some
years held a confidential situation with Mr. Fleming, a
pawnbroker, in Newgate-street, was brought before Sir
PETER LAURIE, Knight, charged with embezzling money
and goods to the amount of 400/.
Mr. Harmer stated the case. Mr. Fleming, who is SO
years of age, had engaged the prisoner to superintend the
business. About three weeks ago stock was taken, and
according to the account of money outstanding upon unre-
deemed pledges, there was a deficiency in the amount of
property in the house to the extent of 2001. Mr. Fleming
did not know which of his servants he ought to suspect;
but a clue was unexpectedly obtained on Saturday night.—
One of the shopmen, in looking over the ware rooms, had
the curiosity to open a parcel, which had been in the house
above a year, and which, from the label, appeared to con-
tain a pocket-book, brooch, miniature, and a coin,
pledged for 30s. The contents, however, actually were
a worthless old pocket- book, and some waste paper. This
fact was communicated to Mr. Fleming, whose two rSon,
came to the premises on Monday, and commenced an in-
vestigation. The prisoner was searched, and in his pocket
were found two duplicates, one of which related to a'watch
which had been pledged for I/. This should have been in
a nest of drawers, all the 1/. watches being kept in a
drawer by themselves, those pawned for 30s. in another,
&c. ; but the prisoner, en being questioned, gave up the
key of his private drawer, and there the watch was found.
Upon search being made, it was found that not oily 2001.
had been entered as lent, the pledges for which could not
he found, but there was nearly as much more entered
upon sham pledges, manufactured by the prisoner in his
bed-room, as he himself confessed. Mr. Fleming, jun.
had a bag full of these pledges in the office, upon which
100/. had been taken from the till as the loans on them,
while the real value of them altogether was scarcely se.
Pewter tea-pots were ticketed as pledges for 5/. The
tickets on the,e sham pledges were all in the prisoner's hand -
writing. There was another clear case of embezzlement
of money. Pawnbrokers are petty hankers, to whom the
poorer class of tradesmen, and especially persons from the
country, who frequent the markets, entrust their money,
for safe custody. A Mr. Ryalls, a hardwareman, in Fleet-
lane, bad for years sent his s:nall change to 'Mr. Fleming,
to whom it was useful in his business, and who gave notes
of large amounts for it, whenever required, the deposits
sometimes accumulating to 100/. Two memorandums
would be produced in the prisoner's writing, acknowledg-
ing the receipt, from Mr. Ryalls, of 201. on the 23d of
February, and 19/. on the 13th of March; and it would
be proved by the books that the prisoner had never ac-
counted for these sums.

Sir PETER LAURIE desired that one of the sham pledges,
labelled "12 brilliants, 101.," should be opened. its con-
tents were a few grains of gum *rabic. Another, labelled
neckchains, 51.," was a little box containing some old
screws and a penny-piece.
Witnesses were examined in proof of these statements,
the Alderman sifting the evidence very minutely, and start-
ing all the difficulties he could, for the purpose of having
the case strengthened in every possible way, being desirous
as he said, that he might not send a ease from Guildhall
which would break down elsewhere.

The prisoner was much affected, leaning down upon the
bar, and covering his eyes with his hand ; and when asked
if he had any thing to say to the charge, replied that he
knew it was useless.

Ile was committed upon only two of the charges; that
of embezzling the 381. received from Mr. Ilyalls, and of
stealing the watch which he had placed in his own drawer.
Sir PETER LAURIE expressed his astonishment that the
prisoner bad allowed any difference to exist between the
apparent stock in the house and the account of monies lent,
when the manufacturing of a few more parcels of gum
arabic would have accomplished the matter.
Mary Burke was charged with stealing a gold ring and
four shillings and sixpence from Mary Harris, a laundress,
in Augustus-street, Hampstead-road.
The complainant, an elderly woman, who calve to
Loudon for the first time three weeks ago, was passing
over Blackfriars'-bridge on Saturday morning, when the
prisoner, who was walking by her side, stooped, and pre-
tended to :pick up at her feet a watch-chain wish two
dashing seals. She offered to share her good fortune with
the complainant, and led her into Water-lane, Illackfriars,
where they overtook a young man. The prisoner tapped
him on the shoulder, asid asked him the worth of ,their
prize, telling him how it had been found. He valued it
at 301., and eventually a bargain was made that the laun-
dress should receive 121. for her share, and should hold the
property while Mary Burke went home for the money,
Mary taking the complainant's address, her wedding ring
off her linger, and all her money, as security that she would
faithfully await her return. Mary was to come back in
an hour and a half, but the laundress waited at the ap-
pointed place (the end of Fleet-market) for three hours in
vain, and on reaching home found the prize was worth
Is. only. Going over the same bridge on Monday, how-
ever, the complainant again fell in with Mary Burke, and
caused her to he apprehended. The young man who had
valued the seals was also at hand, and spoke to the prisoner,
but he was not secured. A woman named Hillocs, who
brought the wedding ring and some money to the watch-
house for the purpose of compromising the matter, was
detained, but the Alderman now discharged her, and com-
mitted Burke for trial.

Sir PETER LAURIE asked the laundress whether, during
the first hour she waited for Mary Burke, she did not build
many castles as to the spending of the money ?—(A laugh.)
The woman would only confess one project--that of
giving her daughter, now eight years old, a little education.
MARYLEBONE-OFFICE.—Mr. Sheward, a livery-
stable-keeper, was charged with riding a horse in one of
the pnblie streets of Paddington, for the purpose of exer-
cising it, contrary to the local Act in favour of that parish.
The Rev. Dr. Goodwin, of Frederick-street, Connaught-
square, caused the information to be laid, and supported it
by his evidence.
" I have, Sir, said the Dr. to Mr. GRIFFITH, " on for-
mer occasions prosecuted poorer individuals, for beating
carpets and breaking horses in the streets. I now bring
before you a rich stable-keeper, and swear solemnly to
his riding eight times past my house on Saturday, the
15th inst."

Mr. GRIFFITII-For the purpose of exercising his
horse ?—Dr. Goodwin—Certainly, and for no other pur-
pose. I desired two constables to seize him, or watch him
home, but 1 suppose they were afraid of him, and there-
fore the task devolved upon me; and after he had gone by
the door the eighth time, I followed him to his stables, in
Green-street, Grosvenor-square.
Mr. GRIFFITH to the defendant—You hear what this
gentleman swears, do you wish to say any thing ?—Mr.
Sheward—l do, Sir; I deny the charge.
Dr. Goodwin—l know the sound of your horse's feet ;
I could tell when you were coming, and I swear solemnly
you passed my house eight times on that day.
Mr. Sheward—l never exercise horses, I keep five or
six men for that purpose. I have a saddle horse for my
own use, I pay the duty for it, and I do not see why the
curate should prevent my riding it through Frederick-
street.

Mr. GRIFFITH-Yon are not charged with riding
through it, but with riding up and down for an improper
purpose.—Mr. Sheward—l ride for pleasure.
Mr. GRIFFITH—Then, for your pleasure, I shall fine
you, because it is contrary to law.—Mr. Sheward—lt is
an unjust decision ; I shall appeal.
Dr. Goodwin—l will bring other charges against you,
for I have more notes in my pocket.
The fine is 50e., and Mr. Sheward gave notice of appeal.
The recruit, charged with having committed an assault
and a robbery on the towing-path of Paddington Canal, is
again remanded.

HATTON-GARDEN.—A fortune-teller of the name
of Stewart, a deaf and dumb man, nearly approximating
to his grand climacteric of 60 years, was brought up to
this Office on Monday night in custody of Waddington and
Raven, two of the officers, and charged before Mr. LAING
with obtaining money under false pretences.
Waddington stated, that having received information of
the prisoner being a fortune-teller, and in that character
practising upon the strange credulity of the public, he en-
gaged two females, whose evidence would be immediately
heard, to whom he gave a certain sum of money, privately
marked, with all proper and necessary instructions to
detect the impostor, and sent them to his residence hi Lily-
street, Saffrou-hill, while he, accompanied by two other
officers, remained in waiting at one of the opposite houses till
the moment approached, at which a signal was to be given
for them to enter. The signal was shortly given, and
they accordingly having entered, found the two females
sitting at a table with the prisoner, who was then in the
act of divining their fortunes, and legibly writing them
with chalk upon a tea-tray. As soon as they made their
appearance in the room, he instantly recognized them to
be officers, and snatching up a vet towel that lay beside
him, attempted to erase the marks of the chalk, but, before
he could effectually do it, he was secured and taken into
custody.
The officers stated, that in an ante-room, through
which they passed to the prisoner's penetrate, there were
several persons, both male and female, seine of whom were
very respectably dressed, and appeared to be considerably
above the lower order, in attendance, waiting to have the
mysteries of their destiny unfolded to them, being anxious

to know whether that destiny was to be matrimonial strife
or single blessedness through life.
The two young women, Maria Bullock ficl Anne Sher-
win, who acted the subordinate part to Waddington, now
came forward and stated, that before the prisoner would
consent to tell them their fortunes, he demanded, by signs,
the sum of 3s. 9Ad. which having been paid him, he wrote
with chalk upon a tea-tray that the former was to he
married in May, 1829, to a baker of the name of James
Thacker ; and that the latter should live till she was 30
years of age, and be then joined in the bands of wedlock
to a young squire of large fortune. When he was asked
to disclose the name of the person, and his address, who
had stolen a dozen of silver spoons from Anne Sherwin's
mother, he wrote " John Baker, a cadger."
The prisoner's wife, a very interesting girl of about 18
years of age, who has been married to him only a fort-
night, she being his third wife ; and his mother, having
given him to understand by signs the substance of the
above evidence, and the chief clerk having stated it for
him upon paper, he took a pen and wrote, in very legible
characters, "Pity my case; pity my three children."—
The officers having searched him, and finding the money,
which had been previously marked, upon him, Mr.
LAING ordered him to be taken to the House of Correc-
tion, and confined to hard labour for the term of three
months.