The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-27 00:00:00

CLERKEIVWELL.

if illiam St)hrs, aged seventeen, dressed in a light
Taglioni, was charged by James Evers, of No. 5, Old
Ivers•street, Hoxton, with having picked his pocket of a
silk handkerchief. The prisoner was also charged by
Mrs. Maria Dent, of Charles-court, St. John-street,
Clerkenwell, with having stolen her pocket, containing
two half-crown pieces and other articles.
It applared that on Monday afternoon the prosecutors
acre induced to enter an exhibition of wax-work and
legerdemain, on Clerkenwell- green, and %bast there they
were both robbed by the prisoner, who was observed to
throw the handkerchief and the pocket away, on being
taken into custody.
Mr. Evers and Mrs. Dent identified the prisoner as
having been close, to them and fumbling at their persons
when they missed their prop rty ; ',their attention at the
time was fixed on the gentleman who was performing
legerdemain tricks ; they mule an alarm, when the pri-
soner was given into costoly. lie threw a pocket hand-
kerchi.4, a pair of comp:s'es, and a bottle away, and
he dropped Mrs. Dent's empty pocket on the floor. On
being searched two half-crowns were found in hit pos-
session.

Jsmcs Tayl3r, the proprietor of the exhibition, who
described himself as a "ciAnedian," a "legerdemainist,"
and a performer of " dexterity illusions," stated that he
had engaged the place on Clerkenwell-green for the ex-
hibition of wax-work figures, and he conducted the "es-
tablishment" in a respectable way. He was performing
his "deceptions" when an alarm was made that some
persons had been robbed by the prisoner, who was
pointed out to him. He immediately jumped over the
table before him and collared the prisoner, who threw
the handkerchief, &c., under the table, and he dropped
Mrs. Dent's pocket.
Mr. GREENWOOD—What is the price of admission ?
Taylor—Only the small charge of one penny.
Mr. GREENWOOD —What sort of tricks do you per
form ? Taylor—Exactly the same sort as Mr. Ander-
son, the Wizlrd of the North.

Mr. GREENWOOD—Are you as clever as that per-
former ? Taylor—l leave that to th:l judgment of my
audience and the public. There is a great advantage in
having a name.
Mr. Mould (the clerk) said he had noticed the exhibi-
tion. Taylor appeared to be an itinerant competitor. of
Madame'Tussaud, for he had already wax effigies of
Tawell, HoCker, and Tapping in his collection.
Mr. GREENwooD—Is that the fact ? Taylor—Yes,
your worship ; I try to cater for the amusement of the
public.` It is the duty of managers, and I trust my col-
lection is not inferior to some,of. the best. _ _

_Thurisoner, in his defence, denied the robberies. A
person- know'd" Was the thief, but he did not
like to expose him. He merely went to see the wax-
work like other people, without intending robbery. He
was out of work. _

Mr. GREENWOOD inquired of the officers whether the
prisoner was known ?
Waddington and Duke, the officers, did not know him ;
but on examining his taglioni they discovered that the
pockets were out at each side of the garment, to enable
him to put both arms through the holes, and when in a
crowd to use his hands freely with the pockets of parties,
and after extracting the property he could remain in a
deliberate position with it in his hands, as it' he had not
disturbed them from his pockets.—(Laughter.) This,
they said, was an old and co►nmon trick with pick-
pi.eket3, and they had no doubt as to his being a thief.,
The prisoner denied all this, but he was fully com-
mitted for trial on both charges.