The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-22 00:00:00

CROYDON.

A man named William Bates, who has for a great
many years been confidentially employed by Mr. T. L.
Robinson, wine and spirit merchant, and also a
banker at Croydon, was taken before Messrs. Reed,
Adams, and Sutherland, at the Town Hall, charged with
plundering his employers to a very large amount in
wines and spirits.
Mr. R. Russell, of Croydon, attended in support of
the prosecution, and a solicitor from London appeared
for the prisoner.
From the statement of Mr. Russell, and the evidence
that was adduced, it appears that for a considerable time
Mr. Robinson had missed large quantities of wine and
spirits, but no suspicion was at first entertained of the
prisoner, on- account of the long period he had been in
Mr. Robinson's service, and the good opinion that was
entertained of him. On the 2d of this month,
a bottle, containing a gallon of gin, was found
in the bottling-house, where it had no business
to be, and Mr. Robinson's principal clerk, who
was informed of the circumstance, directed that
a mark should be placed upon the bottle, and that it
should be watched. The bottle was subsequently re-
moved by the prisoner, and he was shortly afterwards
taken into custody. Mr. Robinson, believing that many
other persons were concerned in the plunder, and that
his property had been feloniously removed by parties in
the neighbourhood, then told the prisoner that if he
would tell him the whole truth, and who were the re-
ceivers, he would not prosecute him. The prisoner at
first denied that he had robbed his master, but after-
wards he admitted that he had stolen the bottle from
the bottling-room, and he showed the officer where it
was concealed under a bundle and some pea sticks
in Mr. Robinson's garden. Upon the prisoner's house
being searched by Inspector Collier, there were
found no less than twelve empty bottles, some
of which had contained wine, and others
spirits of different kinds. A quantity of pale
brandy was also found concealed in a clock
case, and in other parts of the house several bottles full
of gin were discovered, but the spirits, of course, could
not be identified. The prisoner's solicitor did not attempt
any :defence upon the merits, hut he urged that Mr.
Robinson's observation to the prisoner amounted to
such an inducement as would exclude the prisoner's con-
fession from being received in evidence, and, as the
case was by no means complete without it, he was enti-
tled to his discharge. Mr. Russell, on the other side,
contended that, even should the magistrates consider
that Mr. Robinson's promise to the prisoner ought to
exclude the confession, yet the act of the prisoner
in taking the policeman to the place where
the bottle was concealed was clearly evidence
and coupled with the other circumstances made
out a sufficient prima facie case to justify the bench in
committing the prisoner for trial. The magistrates then
consulted together for some time, when Mr. Russell said
that if the bench really entertained a serious doubt upon
the matter, he was sanctioned by Mr. Robinson to state
that he did not desire to press the charge. The magis •
trate then told the prisoner he would be discharged, but;
he must not therefore imagine that the bench considered
him innocent. They had doubt of his guilt, and but
for the inducement that has been held out to him by
Mr. Robinson to make a confession, he would certainly
have been committed for trial. The prisoner was then
discharged.

THAMES POLICE.
A good-looking young woman, named Mary Anne
Adelaide Newman, was finally examined on the charge
of creating a riot in the Old. Church, Stepney, on
Tuesday..
The circumstances of the case are rather curious. It
appeared that the prisoner had been acquainted with a
young man, named Gregory Mathams, journeyman to a
baker named Durand, in High-street, Shadwell. After
twelve months courtship they went to church to get
married, but were five minutes too late. He, however,
put the ring on her finger, made her a solemn vow, and,
after much persuasion, induced her to go home with
him. The evening was passed amongst their mutual
friends in the same manner as if the ceremony had
been performed, and on his promise to wed her the
first opportunity, she consented to cohabit with him.
He postponed the performance of his promise from
time to time, on the plea that he had no money to
pay the clergyman, and to obviate this objection,
she began to lay a little by, until she made out
the amount. He promised to marry her on Monday
last, but when everything was in preparation he made
some frivolous excuse to delay the ceremony for a few
days, to which she very reluctantly assented. On Tues-
day, to her utter sorrow and surprise, she heard he had
gone to Stepney Church to get married to another young
woman, with whom he kept company, and cohabited
previously to his becoming acquainted with the prisoner.
She hastened to the church to stay the proceedings, but
only arrived in time to meet the wedding party coming
down the aisle, and being very wroth gave the bride-
groom a slap across the face.
Mr. Bl o6gair? remanded the case until Saturday, to
see whether it would be taken up by the churchwardens,
and having ascertained that it was not their intention to
pursue it, said that they had shown a wise and humane
discretion under the circumstances ; but it should be
distinctly understood that such indecent practices would
not be tolerated, and if the laws were again violated,
the penalties must be put in force. The prisoner was
then discharged.
William Clarke, a dock cabman, was charged on sus-
ap after
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and wel,ll-Tlculated to excite suspicion. It appeared he
had. been taking gi;;;no for the Anne into a vessel
itlii1:11 lay alongside, and asked the cabin boy of the provements so much desired can be lulls, accomplished; but
former whether there was any grog aboard. The boy still, in many instances, they state their conviction that
ship." About 12 410* that night, lire broke out in
answered in the negative. Ile said "I'll set fire to the
but
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not to remove, many of the evils which now prevail. Much
much might be effected under the existing laws to mitigate,
the forecastle, which was entirely consumed. It could has already been done on these imptiolorletr:sitilbjefic:se,
more remains for the Commission to achieve.
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THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE QUEEN'S PARK.—
Although the formation of a carriage drive from the
Watering-stone by liolyrood, the foot of Arthur-street,
the Echoing Rock, Samson's Ribs, Duddingston, and
across the eastern edge of Arthur's Seat to Parson's-
green, was commenced about a year and a half ago, the
progress, in consequence, we believe, of the want of funds,
has been less rapid than was desirable. A good deal,
however, has recently been accomplished. An excellent
roadway and footpath have been formed between the
Watering-stone and the stile at the north-end of the
walk round Salisbury- Crags ; and that portion between
the foot of Arthur-street and the road leading to
the Powder Magazine is now nearly completed.
One intermediate marsh between these two portions not
having been yet drained, the junction of the two parts,
now almost finished, cannot be effected till the operations
connected with the drainage are completed. We under-
stand the drains will be commenced in the course of the
ensuing month, and that this important link in the com-
munication will be completed with as little delay as pos-
sible. The portion finished under Salisbury Crags is now
exquisitely beautiful, and daily attracts crowds of persons
who take an interest in the work. The wall running
up the valley has been removed, the debris from the hill
and other incumbrances and nuisances cleared away, and
the surface smoothed and sown with grass, already form-
ing a rich and verdant carpet.—Edinburgh Paper.
STATE OF LARGE TOWNS AND POPULOUS DISTRICTS.
—From a report prepared by the Commission for inquiring
into the state of large towns and populous districts, just
presented to Parliament, it appears that, in the course of
their investigations, evidence was afforded of the pollution
of wells and the increased offensiveness of emanations from
sewers, caused by the infiltration of water passing through
contiguous grave-yards. Among other important topics
also inquired into by the Commissioners, was the subject
of sanatory regulations for common lodging-houses, and
the prevention of the filth and overcrowding which often
render them the seats of contagious diseases, a question
which atio Involves local regulations of police. Their at-
tention has also been invited to the means of giving facilities
for providing " public walks, baths, or other convenient
bathing-places in the vicinity of populous towns." But
their attention has been especially turned to the means of
improving the worst and the most crowded districts in large
v""' • a subject of great importance and of great difficulty.
t lo,ir anxious attention. They
• ',•courie to the