The Sun.
London, England, 1828-01-15 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY, JAW. 14.

Constant Steck, a native of Germany, and a per-
son of respectable appearance and address, stood
charged with stealing an inkstand,value 55., the pro..
perty of John Jones.
From the respectability of the accused party, the
trial excited a good deal of interest. The prisoner
was undefended.

John Pedder was in the auction-room of Dawson
and Cafe, in Great Marlborough-street, on the day
named in the indictment, when he saw the prisoner
take an inkstand off the marble slab, with which he
walked away. Witness told the prosecutor of the
circumstance, and the prisoner said he had purchased
it of a person who had left the room.
John Jones, the prosecutor, saw the prisoner with
an inkstand, which he considered to be his property;
hence he gave the prisoner into custody.
The prisoner, when called upon for his defence,
addressed the Court in the following words, which
we give verbatim :—" My Lord and Gentlemen of
the Jury,—Overwhelmed as I am at the deplorable
situation in which I now stand before you, will, I am
fearful, preclude the possibility of my revealing to
you what I have suffered both in body and mind, in
consequence of the accusation which is now prefer-
red against me, and of which I most solemnly avow
lam perfectly innocent. I trust the verdict which
you, gentlemen, are about to return will bear me oat
in that assertion, and restore me to that liberty of
which I never had the misfortune to be deprived
until the present occasion. Gentlemen, I beg to
call your attention to the circumstances of this (to
me) distressing case, which are simply these :
Having occasion to pass through Marlborough-street
on the day 111 question, I was attracted to notice a
bill of sale attached to the auction-room and was in-
duced to go in. :While there, I was looking at an
ink-stand which stood on the table, when a man
standing close by me asked if I would buy it, adding
that he had just given 4s. for it, and if I would give
him Is. advance, I should have it. I agreed to do
so, and paid him 55., and he went away, and I pro-
ceeded to do so in about half an hour, when I was
accused of theft and given in custody, although there
was no concealment of the article, and I took it from
the table in the presence of a number of persons. I
need hardly advert to, the fact that the case appeared
to be exaggerated against me, probably taking
advantage because I was a foreigner, and conse-
quently unable to convince them of their doubts re-
specting my respectability. Gentlemen, no cause ex-
ists why I should be induced to purloin an article of
trifling value, as the means I derive from my parents
are amply sufficient to procure me a comfortable
living in England, independent of which my educa-
tion and pursuits are a source of income. I came,
gentlemen, to this country 12 months ago, in order
to study mathematics, and perfect myself in the
English language, and was about to return home on
the Bth of this month, and had procured my pass-
port accordingly, which is now become useless in
consequence of this abominable charge, which not
only gives rise to delay, but will be the means of
deranging my domestic affairs. My passports, cer-
tificates, and other credentials, will show that my
character has always been unquestionable, and there
are persons in Court who will give verbal testimony
to that effect. My Lord and Gentlemen, as a fo-
reigner I throw myself upon your protection. lam
entirely innocent of the charge, and rely upon your
justice, your humanity, and respectability as a
safeguard; and hope that after taking the circum-
stances into consideration, you will, by your ver-
dict, not only restore me to liberty, but thereby en-
able me to return to my country and friends, where
important affairs demand my presence."
While the unfortunate gentleman delivered the
address, be was at times considerably affected.

Mr. Taplin, the proprietor of a tavern near Soho-
square, stated, that for the last two months Mr.
Steck had lived at his house; he kept gentlemen's
company, and appeared at all times to be a gentle-
man himself, by his conduct and by his pecuniary
means.

The Jury, without hesitation, returned a verdict
of " acquittal."

Mr. Sergeant ARABlN—Gentlemen, I agree with
you upon every principle, and I heartily hope that
this circumstance will never operate to his future
disadvantage. Let the gentleman be discharged im-
mediately.
Thomas Newman was indicted for stealing a
gelding, value 121., the property of Thomas Twy-
ford.
Mr. Sergeant ARABIN summed up the evidence,
and the Jury returned a verdict of " guilty"—
Death.

William Meyord,Charles Melford, and Jeremiah
Sullivan were charged with breaking open the pre-
mises of Marianne Norbury, of Birchin-lane, Cornhill,
and stealing money and articles therefrom to a con-
siderable amount. _

The Jury, after a long trial, gave a verdict of
" guilty" against all the prisoners.
The Recorder waited for a short time, and on Mr.
Alderman Crowder seating himself on the bench,
proceeded to pass the dreadful sentence of the law
on all the three prisoners, admonishing them not to
entertain the least hope of mercy being extended
toward them. _ .

The younger Melford appeared to feel much, as
did Sullivan; they retired from the dock, each sup-
ported by an officer of the gaol.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, JAN. 14.

William Damien, Esq., a person of some note in
the city, who was about two months back held to
bail at Bow-street, himself in 6001., and two sureties
in 300/. each, on a charge of indecently assaulting
two soldiers, and against whom two true bills were
found at the last December session, the trial of which
ought to have taken place at this session, has
thought fit to forfeit his bail by not appearing to
take his trial. The witnesses for the prosecution
were in attendance each day, but finding at last there
was no probability of his appearance, they applied
to the Court to relieve them from the necessity of
further attendance, by discharging their recog.
nizances, and also to allow them their expences.
The CHAIRMAN inquired of Mr. Allen, the clerk
of the Court, whether there was any reason for ex-
pecting Mr. Dorrien would yet come in to take his
trial ?

Mr. Allen considered there was none.
The CHAIRMAN, under these circumstances, or-
dered the recognizances of the prosecutors to be
discharged, and their expenses to be allowed.
Edward Brown, who on Friday pleaded " guilty"
to an indictment charging him with having endea-
voured to incite Mr. Martin to engrave for him
2,500 imitations of the notes of the Sunderland
Bank, was brought up to receive the sentence of the
Court.
The CHAIRMAN sentenced him to the nziniinum of
the punishment fixed by one of Mr. Peel's late acts
in cases of aggravated misdemeanour—namely, two
years' imprisonment and hard labour in the House
of Correction.
We understand the friends of the prisoner con-
sider him to be decidedly insane.
Ann and Mary
lifalony and _Elizabeth O'Neill
were indicted for an outrageous assault on Mrs.
Wells, of Crown-street, Soho. Verdict--" Guilty."
The Court sentenced each of the prisoners to six
weeks' imprisonment, in addition to the two months
they had already been in custody.
John Allen Robinson, aged 20 years, pleaded
guilty to an indictment, charging him with „wilting
his own father.
The CHAIRMAN sentenced him to six months' so-
litary confinement.
The Court at its rising, adjourned until Thursday
week.

THE SUNDAY MEETINGS.--VC have just
heard that Mr. LAMB has issued directions that all the
Police Magistrates shall be in attendance during the entire
of Sunday next; and we understand that the garrison will
be under arms. Thank God, and thanks to his most gra-
ciows Majesty, the Papists have now got something to pray
for....Dulgin Evening Mail.