The Sun.
London, England, 1826-09-11 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-1101JSE.--Un Saturday a little gill named Con-
nor, the ilsughter of a woman who sells fruit in the streets, Waft
brought before the Loan MAYOR, charged her
mother with
having run away from her, to 6:4::ist, in begging, a woman named
Jonima, who, it was suit!, • had.. indumd UpWards of 100 little
girli to lint themselves under her tuition at different times to he
instructed ih the art.

The statement was to the Aiming effect :—The daughter, who.
is only eleven years of age, became acquainted with some idle
children, whosb parents Ahmed them tet ' rove about the streets
from morning till night. As the mother pursued her business in
the streets, the daughter had opportunities of associating • with
several young vagabonds of the same sex, and thought nothing of
staying out all night. The beggar-woman alluded to, was in the
habit of going through the streets eceompanied by several of these
children, between any one of whom and herself there was no
natural tie. They all appeared in tatters, and passengers were
touched with pity at the sight of the poor mendicant and her naked
and !starving family. Others of the family were to 'he seen shiver-
ing in the streets with a " nap'orth of matches" in their halal*,
and "not a few carried laces about for sale. As might be expected
the miserable children soon entered upon a worse line of business,
for which they found encouragement amongst sonic old miscreants
about the Royal Exchange, where they were to be often seen in gangs
running after their hoary aequaintances. There are many low
lodging-houses abotit Whitechapel, where moths are fitted-up for the
beggars of London, but the officers Stated,,that at these houses the
females have apartments to which the men who are in the same trade
are- notadmitted, and indeed; in which indecent conduct is checked
by the presence of superintendents. When the infant de-
fendant was asked why she had left her mother, sled where she
had slept lately, she replied that she could not stay at home
for want Of victuals, and that she slept in a lodging-house in
Wentworth-street, where she paid fourpence a night for' a share
of a bed.

" nut how," said the Loan MAvoa, " do you get a • liveli-
hood?" Thttgirl replied that she regularly earned from 9d. to
I td. a day by selling laces, and that she lived well upon tad. or 9d.
a day, which left her the price of her bed. A great many of her
acquaintance supported themselVes in the same Manner, and were
not looked atter by their parents.
The Loan
.144 von, seeing that .the mother of the child had two.
" black eyes," expressed his tear that the example was a bad one.
" Oh no, toy lord," said Mrs.. Connor; "I got those black eyes
for taking the part of a friend. It was friendship, and nothing
had, that gave them to me."

-The officers said the little girl appeared to. be wholly neglected,
and belonged to it gang of those little vagaltonds who are daily to be
seen about 'Change, and thk'she had Smite months ago been ap-
mhentled sts. it common nuisance in that neighbourhood.
The Lotto.,MAyoa said that be never witnessed such gross
neglect upon the part of parents with respect to their children
as he had observed amongst the lower orders in the metro-
polis. It appeared, indeed, that in a vest number of cases
children were left to shift for themselves us soon as they were able
tolwallto Ho belieVed that this abandontneut of poor • children
arose front the encouragement given to fruit women to stand iii
the streets when they might to he at home with their families, arid
showed the neewasity of checking that practice. Hit, t.tiro.thip
de-
sired the complainant to take her daughter home, and take more
mere of her. She said it would be all useless, Peggy would run
away from her again, and would come to a miserable end if not
kept.away front the iwgurs.
His Loansnir said be could not punish the girl. He be-
lieved that she had been grossly neglected,. and what could by
expected to' arise front parental eareleSsness but filial disregard?
He desired that an officer should inquire into the particulars of
the mother's conduct, and gave directions with regard to the un-
fortunate child.

quiLiniALL.—On Saturday Mr. Frederick William
Stephens was brought up for final examination betbre Sir PVT KR
Lauata, charged with willfully &tonging and cutting the dresses
of two females in Bartholomew Fair.

Mr. Harmer appeared on the part of the defendant, who was
attended by'a host of respectable friends.
'Before the case was called on, the Alderman held a long coo-
',irritation with the City Solicitor, to ascertain whether the uric
(lOW not be treated ai a more serious one than merel an offence
under the Small Trespass Act ; Sir Peter seeming to be careful
that an order to make compensation for the spoil committed, and
pay the expenses of conviction, was a kind of punishment insuffi-
cient to repress this mischievous sort of joke.
Mrs. Currey's former evidence being read over to her, and she
having stated that she had nothing to add thereto,
Sir Prse: risked her if any of her Clothes under the pelisse
were also cut?

Mrs. Currey replied, her petticoat was cut in two places.
Sir he strike you at all, or did you feel Jilin
:ugging at your dress?

Currey.—No; when T tvas about to seize Nina, he tried
to shuffle away by the Bide of the houses.

Mr: Harmer.Z.-When you' aeized him, you nearly strangled
I believe? You laid bold of his throat ?

Mrs. Currey,..-..Plaid )►old of his collar.
Mr. Ilarnier.—Ay, but not the collar of his coat ; you caught
him by the throat?
Mrs. Currey.—l seined him, and was determined not to lose

Harmer.—Where do you livp, Mrs. Currey ?
At this interrogatory the huly's cheek, began to flush, her
eyes. to sparkle." I am not come here to-day, Sir, (retorted
Mrii Currey most 'scornfully) to have my 'character tleeided. 1
am seeking. justice. What has my character to tin with the
queation,?
Mr. Harmer—Bless me, Madam, I have not said a single
word about character. My question was not as to your,character.
What can all this tenderness upon the subject mean ?
Mrs. Currey--I have always conducted myself on the strictest
principles—(a pause)—of paying every one their due. lam sine
all my neighbours will speak to my respectability—my peaCeable
and quiet conduct.
Mr. Harmer—Dear me, Madam ! now, who has doubted that
you pay your debts, and may he a quiet neighbour? Not a syl-
lable has been said to call for such an observation..

Sir Prrea, begged the lady not to be irritated by the questions
Mr. Milner might put. There was no imputation thrown upon
her character, and she should be protected while giving her
testimony.
Mr. Harmer—lt appears you Went to the fair at a late hear for
to respectable a lady.
Mrs. Currey---Not at all, Sir. I save many respectable ladiei
there, late as it was.
Mr. parmer—You must Mean genteelly dressed, that's all.—
You say the silk of your dress cost four guineas ; what may it
have been worth altogether ? Mrs. Currey said she would value it
at 41. . .

Sir Prrvit asked if it would cost 41. to replace the skirt, es that
was the only part injured?
Mrs: Currey Said she would he satisfied with 2/.
Oh," said Mr. flarmer, 44 I don't wish the lady to undeivalue
her thus. I hoped she would have fixed it any where shove 51.,
because, that would have put the case out of the Magistrate's ju-
risdiction at anco.—(A laugh.)
~The sup i
my client is to pays
up ohject whatever with him ; it istug character alone that he
fethlnie'etned about Pray, Madam, was there not a croWd
and myglit there not he home mistake as to the person who did you
the injury'?"
eu4eY (P4'KerV)-1. am sure he is the man that was
I,l7,oileirteAdtutuhtct)::*. Timte Ywe no people near us but the pi-
'llarmer—Why; whit pert of the fair could be so thin of
Bilks at ten &clock?
Mrs. -Currey.---I cannot tell. 1 am not acquainted, with
Smithfield. It was upon tht pavement, and there was Mule
crowding a little before us.
The dicer explained, that when he apprehended the defendant,
his coat was buttoned froM top 'to bottom, except' the tniddio

button, Where the scissors !night have been slipped into the waist-
coat pocket.

The evidence of Misses Wellesley, Lee, and Brown, was then
read over to them, in which each swore to distinctly seeing the
prisoner in the act of cutting Mrs. Currey's dress. Mr. Harmer
prudently refrained from putting any questions to then, foreseeing
it could only tend to make them clinch their testimony'against the
accused more firmly, which seemed already too circumstantial arid:
positive. . Mis►s Wellesley, however, pointed out the' defendant's
brother in the crowd of spectators present, as the person who
assaulted her, by placing his, knee against her hip, and pushing
her away from Mrs. Currey ; and this led to some cross-examina-
tion, but of no interest. The brother was in the Compter while
the charge was being taken against the defendant, and so was Miss
Wellesley, but she made no such accusation then.
Atterwell, the officer, said Mrs. Currey had something, further.
to state. A compromise ----.

Mr. Harmer (interrupting him with great vehemence)..-...8e
silent, Sir„--:your interference is most imprOper=the lady her-
self has told us her evidence, as taken down, Ls complete.
Mrs. Currey, although interrupted by Mt. Harmer, who kept
protesting in a louder pitch against her being beard, made, known
that a stranger called at her house in Buckingham-street, the
morning after the examination, and inquired if she would not he
satisfied if the value of her clothes were sent to her ; " and now,"
said she, turning to Mr. Harmer with a proud look of defiance,
what is your objection ?"
" My objection, is, (replied Mr. Harmer) that to receive what
you have stated would be contrary to the rules of evidence, be-
cause the (*entire did not conic fion► the defendant."

The defendant, his father, and brother, all solemnly denied
having made or authorized' such an application. •
Mr. Harmer said, front the instructions he had received, he felt
firmly convinced of the defendant's innocence. The gentleman to
whom. he had beets articled (Mr. Booth, of Punster-court) had,
front his remarkable steadiness, placed the utmost confidence in
him, and intrusted him with thousands of pounds. He dwelt
upon the impossibility of the defendant's being able, unperceived,
to place a shepth over the points of the scissors, and convey them
into his waistcoat pocket, he being seized and surrounded by three
ladies at the very moment of committing the offence, as they re-
presented. He once saw a person in the fair scratch a lady down
the hack with a rattle. She turned round instantly, and slapped
the face of another gentleman, whom she mistook fur the offender,
but who was really incapable of so insulting a lady ; and if she
could be so mistaken in broad day-light, how much more likely
was Mrs. Currey to make a mistake in the night? Whatever
might be the situation in life of these females, the offence could not
he palliated, and a:miscreant it must he who could be guilty of
such misconduct.- He called

Henry Alexander Stephens, who said he went to the fair with
his brother, the defendant, and, after. parting with a younger
brother and his fellow-apprentice, at, the corner of Hosier-lane,
they were returning home towards liartholomew-elose, when they
came up to these ladies, end he let go his brother's arm to pass
them. In doing so, his brother was seized by Mrs. Currey, one
of the young ladies having called out "a man is cutting your
clothes," and pointed to 'him: He thought Mrs. Currey would
have Strangled him on the spot, and he went forward to his assist-
ance, saying he was his brother. He , was positive the defendant
could not have cut the ladies' dresses. The scissors, it was found
on reaching the Qmpter, would not cut silk ; but next morning,
they having been in the officer's possemion in the mean time, they
Would cut it with facility.
The defendant's father, and Mr. Hubbard, who was examin-
ed before, swore the accused was a very paragon of sedate-
ness, and they believed him incapable of such an Offence. Mr.
,Booth was ready to . bear testimony in the defendant's favour
also, but

• Sir PETER LAURVIC said, he felt there was a doubt as to who
Was really the perpetrator of this act of wantonness. He be-
lieved the ladies did not come here to swear , falsely, but the
brothel', who could not be mistaken, had sworn most positively
that it was not the defendant Who committed the offence, and in
dismissing him therefor«•, he felt he should be acting agreeably' to
the opinion of every body in the room, as well as of the City So-
licitor and himself.

As the defendant retired from like bar, he exclaimed *energeti-
cally, " If they were the hist words I to speak,.l would pro-
test I am innocent."

The case of Ryan, charged with a similar offence, wan postponed.
MARLBOROUG stout-hmking :iailor-like
fellow, nuincumbered With • via, rwaisteott, shoe, stocking, or
hat, was tirmight *hire Mr. Roe:, charged with hogging in St.
Jfones'h-pllscc.
The Magistrate asked for a short sketch of -his life, to sec whe-
ther ha: Was most art.ohject. tbr .pity or nuniSimieut•
The prisoner !Jetfoil by telling that, his name wits Win. Walker,
his country the United States of America, awl that he hi:longed as
• a sailor to the merchants' service of that country ; that about three
months ago he Was coming in the Ship to which he belonged (the
John and Miuy) from Boston, bound for Bristol; that about
100 miles off the American coast the ship struck upon a rock,
and went to pieces.; that there were 12 hands on board beaides
the Captain ; they floated about for a good bit, until he (the pri-
soner) and five others of the crew were picked .up by a Bristol
packet, which brought them wiry comfortably to that. port.
" Well," said Mr. Boa, " and what became of the captain ?"
PrisOner—Oh t, the captain was gone.
" Gone ?" said ste. " gone where, was he drowned ?"
" No," said the prisoner, " not drowned ; he was gone to
America."

Mr. Roz asked how he managed that ; was it on a piece of the
wreck he Went ?

" No," the priermer said ; " but about three hours before he
and his five companions were picked up by the packet, the captain
and the rest of the crew started off in the boat back home again."
Mr. Ron said he thought this story not at all very probable,
because surely if the captain only set off in the boat three 'hours
before the coining up of the packet, the latter must certainly have
been within sight when the captain started, and it was not likely
that he would risk reaching the American coast in a boat when
he discovered a vessel in sight. Mr. Roe then asked. what was
the name of the rock they struck upon, was it a known or an un-
known rock ?

The prisoner said that lie forgot the name of the rock, but it
was one very well known, as it was laid down in charts, and yes,
aels had been wrecked on it before. In answer to further'ques-
tions from the magistrate, he said that he had remained ever since,
until thrce`daya ago, at Bristol, waiting for a ship to go out in,
and the American Consul there allowed him 9d. a day, but dui,.
ing that time there was no prospect of a ship at Bristol. The
Consul told him that he must start off to London and sec.about a
ship there ; so lie did set off, anti walked up in three days, yriv.
ink in town here only about an hour before he was taken begging.
114)I: said, that another very improbahle part of his story
was, that his Consul, who had behaved so kindly to him at Bristol
as to allow him Pd. a day for solong a. time, should suddenly send
him oirto London without any provision, or even a recommenda.
Sion to the Consul here ; and besides, there was a greater probabi-
lity. Of getting a ably at Bristol than in London, or why did he not
go to Liverpool, which was still better ? 'The Magistrate then
said, that lie should send him to prison for seven days for begging,
and when he came out, he could go to his Consul here, and if his
story were correct, no doubt a ship would be provided fur him.

MA RY LEBONE-OFFICE. —On Friday night, John dr Cabe,
footman to Ott: Corfield, of Grove-end-place, Regent's-park, woe,
placed at the . r, charged with having attempted to defraud Mr.'
G. Flint, of 103, in the Edgware-road.
On :Friday aftetnoou, *Cabe called at Mr. Flint's shop, and
asked for a pair of troneera, which he had some tithe before left in
pawn for 10s.; he threw down in payment a coin,' which in
size and colour resernblcsl a sovereign, but not in sound, and on
otainination Mr. Flint discovered it to be a farthing, strongly gilt.
Mr. Flint told him it was good for nothing, and M'Cithe said,
""if you do netlike it, I can give you another," and offered him a
seeond, exactly similar ttrthe first. Mr. Flint took up both piecea
and said, "'You have got a great many of these ?" MfCabe
rezr. Charlton,
plied,"No, a
I have noz zti4_b
more." fill,eisaid he had taken them of
East, in eliiiai'ni hiengefo wages.__
Mr. drawn by his master, for the purpose of paying
Me. Flint *cot his ahoptnau with the prisoner to Mr. Charl-
ton, who denied having exchanged a check for Captain -COrfield
within the timestated by Weithe, so he was taken into custody.
. When searched, no money whatever was found upon his person, or
in
pr ill,'11,8; trunk.rorQhae° lived etKI with the a little more than three months;
eayiseore fifamid,
iaiyhrother of the Captain, said, the
been entrusted with cheeks, to get them el
he bad frequently
changed; and until now he had been found correct ; and two can
markers had been lately lost from. the drawing-room, and he be-
lieved the coins in the, po*.teimieri of Mr. Flint to he the same.
'The prisoner said he found them in clearing the'roont after a
party—one in a basin, the ether upon a waiter.
Mr* BRminnrott said, the prisoner had evidently intended a
fraud upon Mr. Flint, or a felony upon his Master, it was difficult
to fa)" which; be. should therefore moire hail for his appearance
again, if the Magistrates, open consideration, think it proper to
proceed farther.
WORSIIIP-STREET.A young fellow :lamed livhes, mid
a; female named Inpren,'*ith whoire he cohabited, were brought
before Mr. ()saris. tt it, on the following charge of felony :
piti.litsohh.trotateliLoc,.t4„h:a7(elattioesti .TFaryicialoyr,
ihneoirtiinhinogrrlignliscoot;ubt.ol.;icaye:,sti
some informatton they had received, they went tO, the lo rings m

the prisoners in Britannia-street, City-rod, and on search;ng the
apartments they found a skeleton key, a dark-lantern, a chain,
and the three chairs produced. The prisoners were then in bed ;
and Hughes, on being queStioned about the chairs, said he had
half a dozen, but had sold the other three.
Mr. Bright, of Old-street, broker, identified the chairs as hay-
ing been stolen from his shop about a week before, and the chain
produced was one that he had used to fasten the chairs in his shop.
The female prisoner cried and protested her innocence. Hughes
also seemed to think it his cue to cry, and occasionally applied a
handkerchief to his tearless eyes.

Hughes was fully committed. The female was discharged.

CORONER'S INQUESTS.

On Saturday evening an inquest was held in the Com-
mittee-room of St. Thomas's Hospital, High-street,
Borough, before THOMAS SnEi)roN, Esq., Coroner, on
the body of Benjamin Harrison, aged 30, who was killed
on Friday last at the Coburg Theatre, in consequence of
an explosion of foul air being ignited by a lighted candle.
The case excited considerable interest, and, prior to the
arrival of Mr.' Shelton, several persons connected with the
theatre were in attendanee. The Jury being sworn, they
viewed the body, which appeared to be dreadfully injured,
On their return to the jury-room, Mr. George Baldwell
Davidge, proprietor and manager of the Coburg Theatre,
deposed, that on Friday morning last, about twelve O'clock,
he was on the stage of the theatre, with several other per-
formers, attending a rehearsal, when his attention was
attracted by a dreadful explosion, which seemed to pro-
ceed, from the aleove of the theatre. He ran immediately
from the Stage towards the gasometer, when he found that
Litt explosion had taken place, but the air was so excessively
dense, and the smell so strong, that he was necessitated to
return as quick as possible. Witness afterwards went
back, and discovered the deceased lying at the tope of the
gasometer, in a state of insensibility and two other indi.
viduals, named Webb and Dawson, who were employed in
the theatre, were lying close by, unable to move, and
dreadfully injured inconsequence of the accident. Wit-
ness instantly gave orders to the workmen in the establish-
ment to have them removed for medical assistance, aad
they were as speedily as possible conveyed to this hospital.
It appeared, from the statement of Mr. Davidge, that the
gasometer stood Contiguoui to the ...Aleatre, and• was ori-
ginally used to make oil gap, when, it not being found to
answer the purpose, it had been diseontinued for the last
two years. The gasometer had been in the water during
that period, and no notice taken of it; it was in the centre
of the tank, and the deceased, with the other meet, were
employed in pumping out the water. But one of the men
(Dawson), although repeatedly cautioned not to take a
light near the place, unfortunately disobeyed the orders,
or the fatal occurrence would not have happened. The
gasometer had rebounded against the ceiling, and the in-
juries which the deceased received was by being crushed
by the gasometer:against, the ceiling. Mr. Davidge further
stated, that as the Coburg Theatre was a public establish-
ment, it was necessary to explain, and he wished it to ,be
distinctly understood, that the gas was in no way connect-
ed with the explosion, as they had their supply from the
regular gas-works, but it proceeded only from the accumu-
lation of foul air underneath the gasometer.
Mr. James Astley Ingatestone, assistant-surgeon to the
above hospital, stated; that the deceased was brought to
the hespital between one and two o'clock on Friday last,
in a state of insensibility. Some of the brains were pro-
truding through the right ear, and his hair was singed.
He died about half-past two o'clock, in consequence of
the injuries he had received. Witness did not open the
body of the 'deceased,' as it' was not allowed without the
consent of the relationS:

(Here a messenger entered the jury-room, with the in-
telligence that the unfOrtunate man WilliaM Webb bad
that moment breathed his last. On this being announced,
a most peculiar sensation was felt' throughout the room.)
The Jury were again sworn, and Mr. Davidge recapitu-
leted Ins evidence.

Mr. Ingatestone, the surgeon, stated, that the deceased
man,•W ebb, was brought in, at the same time with Harri-
son ; he had a fracture on • the -collar-bone, and a violent
blow on the eye. The severity, of the blows had injured
the lungs on the left side; he laboured under symptoms
usual to persons having received injury on the brain.
Mr: SHELTON remarked, that there did not appear from
the evidence which they had received, that any blame was
attributable to the proprietor of the theatre.
The' Jury instautly returned a verdict of " Accidental
Death."

During the investigation Mr. Daviilge appeared'to be
deeply affected for the fate of the relatives of the unfor-
tunate men. Harrison has a wife and one child, and
Webb a wife and five children, totally destitute ; and it
appears that Mr. Davidge 'expects to be able to alleviate
their affliction by raising a subscription. We are happy
to state that Dawson, the Other• man injured, is in a fair
way of recovery.

NAPOLEON'S LlYE.—We'•learii• with satisfaction
that four volumes of Sir Walter Scott's Life of Na-
poleon are already nearly printed ;''what will not in-
dustry and talent united accomplish ? The work is to
consist of six volumes ; the first two are, we understand,
preliminary ; the last four devoted to the life ; and the
public will rejoice to. hear, that the continued good
health and steady, habits of application of the author
give full and agreeable promise of the completion of
this labour in good time.--,Seotsman.
THE RETORT COURTEOUS.--A lady, very like
her sister, was looking in the.glass ; and seeing a face
there, said to her sister, who was standing behind her,
" I am surprised you, can think of going into. corn.
parry with such a dirty face." " The remark," said
the sister, " ix not A 9 mal-apro,pos as you imagine,
for the face you see in the glass is not mine, but your
own !"—Stockport Advertiser.
SINGULAR OCCURRENCE.--4 few nights since
the watchman on the beat in Great Bath-street,
Clerkenwell, was alarmed by 'repeated screams of
" 'Watch, watch !" which he soon ascertained pro-
ceeded from an elderly gentlewoman in a white cotton
night-cap. On reaching liaker's-court, from whence
the melody issued, the affrighted spinster requested
him to search the house, for she had just been•
awakened by the limpid of a wagon and horses eau-
tioust.y'(how mysterious!) ascending up stairs towards
leer bed-chamber. The watchman, with the usual
politeness of that accomplished fraternity, proceeded
instantly toolook for the burglarious vehicle ; hut it
hadf somehow or-other, evaporated, together with the
quadrupeds. The next day all the. gossips in the
neighbourhood were at work to solve this: mystery,
and an unusual abundance of thick heads were shaken
portentously on the occasion. Some declared that
the old gentlewoman knew
,more 'about the matter
report that she had
than modesty allowed her to, "communicate ; others
il that the alarm pro-
(the more magitlative
icsnee settled down into
from
ad
ataldi;eyisic):Lonthti
cefieet
oviwoeu
or infant stamped with. these aforesaid
marks. been safely olslivered of a still-born waggon and horses,
Mr. Colton 's Stamford Ghost) was
abode in the coal-
cellar, facttatkheant
tai
pblhtic t
explained, in the oni cat, of superb
ya
ktt
es leastr.i e s
except
xf c
ea n t
irl
and; being somewhat hivingly given, (as the
best of' us must sometimes be had passed thepight
'in question by chasing the old s favourite tabby
circumference,ce llar, had
up and down stairs, till his a findingimportunities use-
less, he had given up all furl er pursuit, and, like a
philosopher, laid himself down in the coal-cellar,_to
meditate on the caprice of 'the fair sex.- The de-
fenceless innocent, we understand, was punished by
from the house, which his intrusion
instant expulsion
ucixtepcutlsi on