The Sun.
London, England, 1828-01-07 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.—On Saturday Mr. HALLS, address-
ing the reporter who attends here for this journal, observed,
" I perceive a statement in the Times of this morning,
containing observations affecting the character of a person
named Knight, who is the son of the unfortunate Mrs. Jeff,
whose murder is now the subject of inquiry. It is certainly
true that Mr. Knight had been in custody to abide the re-
sult of the Coroner's Inquest, and it is true, likewise, that
he was discharged from custody soon after the result of
that inquiry. It is not the fact, however, that Mr. Knight
is now in custody, and I therefore hope that the public will
be set right upon that point."
The Reporter said he would take care that any inaccura-
cies pointed out by the Magistrate should be attended to.
Mr. HALLS.-The whole statement is substantially in-
correct, notwithstanding it contained some circumstances
which were certainly true. There were many trifling cir-
cumstances that arose in investigating a case of this de-
scription, which, although seemingly unimportant in them-
selves, might nevertheless lead to the most serious results.
With respect to the medal said to have been pawned by
Knight in Lambeth, it was undoubtedly true that amongst
other places to which he bas been brought was to the pawn-
broker's in question. On being discharged after the ver-
dict of the Coroner's jury, Knight professed every willing-
ness to accompany the officers to where he said he had
been, and from the circumstance of his being seen so much
in company with the officers, it was probable the report
originated of his being in custody. Mr. lIALts then ob-
served, " I think it right to add, that when Magistrates
are engaged in investigating matters of this serious descrip-
tion, it would be better by far if newspapers would remain
passive with respect to the proceedings, and what might by
accident transpire. The Magistrates who are in possession
of facts must have good and sufficient reason for withhold-
ing them. In this case, however, the public may rest as-
sured, that when the affair is ripe for a public examination,
the whole of the circumstances connected with it shall be
made known."

Soon after these observations, Furzeman and Gardiner
entered the office, and Mr. Halls immediately followed
them to a private room. He soon after returned to the
office, and again addressed our reporter in even more de-
cided terms than before, and said, " In addition to what I
have already stated, I have now to communicate that Mr.
Knight's statement, as far as he is capable of giving it, is
confirmed in every respect by the result of the inquiries
which the officers have made."

About one o'clock on Saturday, a person called upon Mr.
HALLS, the Bow-street Magistrate, who is very active in
investigating the natter, and requested to have a private
interview with him, as he was led to believe he could fur-
nish additional information relative to the mysterious oc-
currence. Mr. Halls detained him a considerable time,
and we understand he entertains sanguine hopes, from this
evidence, in addition► to the facts already before the public,
that the active officers engaged in snaking inquiries on the
occasion will be shortly enabled to bring the offender to
the bar of justice. After the interview we have alluded
to, a messenger was despatched to Salmon and Gardiner,
with instructions relative to their mode of proceeding.
The person who called on Mr. Halls; is the grandson of
the deceased. Gardiner and he had a consultation with
the Magistrate about two o'clock.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.---Two very well-dressed
young women, who gave their names Elizabeth Chapman
and Hannah Hearn, were charged with shop-lifting.
Ernest Edwards, shopman to Mr. Taylor, linen-draper
in Greek-street, Soho, said that about an hour before,
the two prisoners came into Mr. Taylor's Shop together,
and Chapman purchased some yards of cotton, for which
she paid, and they were then about to leave the shop,
when he missed the two gown pieces now produced
from the counter ; and observing a protuberance under
the shawl of Chapman, he searched her, and found
there the missing property. The other prisoner- had a
bundle with her containing a handsome new crimson shawl,
and a pair of new lady's boots, which she said she had
just purchased in Oxford-street, but when taken there she
could not point out the shop she bought the articles at.—
Chapman, who said that she had lived once as servant in
the family of Mr. Tullock, in Marlborough-street, and
also at 94, in the Regent's-quadrant, denied that the pro-
perty was found on her person, but said that the witness
attempted to take improper liberties with her under the
pretence of searching her, and that he picked .up the goods
from the floor.

This was positively contradicted by the witness, and
both prisoners were committed for trial.
A very decent pretty-looking young female applied to
the Magistrate to know if he could afford her any redress
under the following circumstances:—
She said that she had been in town only a few days in
search of a situation, and on Thursday last, as she was
passing through Oxford-street, loOking for a house to
which she had an address, a gentleman came up to her and
said that she seemed to be a stranger, and looking for some
number in the street. She replied, that she was looking
for a house where she hoped to be engaged as a servant.—
He then said that his family were very much in want of a
servant such as she appeared to be, and if she would call at
his house he would hire her. She was delighted at this
accidental piece of luck, and agreed to call on the gentle-
man, who gave her his address, describing the situation of
the house at Hoxton, and wrote it down for her on a piece
of paper. Sheiaccordingly went to Hoxton, and entering
a baker's shop there with the address in her hankth request
a direction to the house, she was at once told that the
house she was going to was a notorious brothel, and not
to go near it. She then at once saw that an infamous de-
sign was intended toward her, and she was about to return
to town, when the baker desired that she would go to the
house and see how the inmates would treat her, or if the
gentleman who gave her the address was there, at the
same time that he (the baker) would accompany her to the
door unobserved, to see that she met with no insult. They
accordingly went to the house, the baker waiting outside
while she Went in, and was received with great kindness
as an expected visitor, and was assured that the gentleman
sOOO, and desired she would wait. She
would be in very
did wait a little while, but becoming very much alarmed
and agitated, she went to the window to see if her pro-
tector was outside; but the inmates having looked out also,
and seeing the baker close to the door, they suspected
some trap laid for them, and turned her out of the house

at another door, with great violence, and abusing her in the
grossest language. The baker being at the other door,
could not render any assistance on the instant, although he
came as quickly as possible to her aid, and for this abuse
she asked if she could have any redress against the persons
of the house in question.
The Ma ors Tatar. said that he regretted he could afford
her no redress, as she had gone voluntarily to tho house.-..
The young woman then withdrew, thankful for the atten-
tion the Magistrate paid to her claim.
Saturday being the day appointed by the Marquis of
Lansdowne's circular letter to the different police-offices,
directing a statement of the various occurrences at each
office to be daily made out, signed by one of the Magis-
trates, and forwarded each night to Mr. Stafford, of Bow-
street, to be by him sent round in a whole printed form,
the following morning, to each office, so that a constant
and uniform communication may be kept up as to the
transactions at each office amongst all the police Magis-
trates of the Metropolis, Mr. Fitzpatrick, the chief clerk
at this office, prepared for the first time this document,
which was signed by Mr. DYER, and forwarded as directed.
The Magistrates speak highly of this plan, and anticipate
much good to result from its adoption.
MARYLEBONE-OFFICE.—Mr. William Edington,
of Charles-street, Middlesex Hospital, applied to Mr. RAW-
LINSON on Wednesday for a summons to bring before him
a broker, who had charged more for making a distress than
is allowed by law.
By his statement it appeared that Mrs. Arden, of No.
18, Red Lion-square, is his landlady, and there were 201.
due to her at Christmas for rent, and within a week of
that time she sent Mr. Henry Cox Hippisley Justins, who
lives with her, and acts as her rent-gatherer and broker, to
demand it. When he came, although it was the first ap-
plication, he brought a warrant in his pocket ; and be-
cause the money was not instantly paid, for Mr. Edington
was from home, he immediately distrained the goods, and
put a man in possession. As soon as Mr. Edington re-
turned, he paid the amount, and was overcharged by Mr.
Justins, as the broker.
Mr. RAWLINSON granted a summons, and appointed the
hearing to take place on Saturday.
On Saturday, as soon as Mr. Justins entered the office,
he wished Mr. Ilawrarrsox to receive his plea of "guilty,"
and suffer him to pay the penalty and costs, without waiting
until Mr. Edington came, for he had another appointment
to attend.

Mr. RA wurrsoN said, without hearing the case he could
not ascertain the amount of the penalty.
" I know exactly, Sir," said Alr. Justins : " it is three
times the amount of the excess of charge."

Mr. ItAwtaNso N-What is the excess?—Mr. Justins—
I charged a guinea for levying the distress, and it should
have been 3s.

Mr. RAWLINSON—It should have been Ss., and you
charged a guinea ?—Mr. Justins—Yes, Sir ; and the man
in possession for one day should have been 2s. 6d. ; I made
it Ss. 6d.

Mr. RAWLINSON—What was the amount together ?
Mr. Justins-11. 4s. 6d.
Mr. RAWLINSON—What should it hare been ?—Mr.
Justins-ss. 6d.

Mr. RAWLINSON—The excess then is 19s. upon ss. Gd. ?
—Mr. Justins—Yes, Sir ; and three times that is 21. 17s.
which I am ready to pay, and the costs, if you will let me
know the amount.

At this time, Mr. Edington came in, and was anxious
for the case to be heard at length ; but Mr. HawratisoN
said, the defendant having pleaded guilty, rendered it un-
necessary ; and Mr. Justine, after he had paid three guineas,
the amount of the penalty and costs, left to attend his en-
gagement elsewhere.
UNION-HALL.— William TVatkins and John Wat-
kins, the sons of the landlord of the Lord Nelson Tavern,
in the Kent-road, and William Pickeling, were charged
on suspicion with having robbed a Mr. Densham, a horse-
dealer, of 3001. The complainant stated, that on Christ-
mas-day last, lie dined at the Lori? Nelson, with the land-
lord and a party of his friends. • After having drunk rather
freely, feeling drowsy, he leaned his head on the table and
fell asleep. At the time lie went to sleep he had 300/. in
Bank of England, country notes, and sovereigns, in tw
bags, placed in a pocket which was made inside his waist-
coat. It was between seven and eight o'clock when lie
first went to sleep. At that time there were in the room
the three prisoners, a Mr. Gibbous, Mr. Gale, and a Mr.
Scales. Between ten and eleven o'clock he was awoke by
the hostler and a young daughter of Mr. Watkins, when
lie discovered that the buttons of his waistcoat were un-
done, and the whole of the money gone ; he likewise found
all the company departed, and the candles extinguished.
There was no light in the room, except that from the small
candle brought in by the hostler. On missing his money,
he did not say anything about his loss to the hostler, but
walked out of the room, down stairs, and, observing that
the bar was closed, he paced up and down the passage for
about twenty minutes, and then went to his own residence,
which was next` door to the Lord Nelson. The next morn-
ing, on getting up, he went into the Nelson, and saw Mr.
Watkins, sen., to whom lie mentioned that his money had
beer► taken from him on the previous night, and remarked,
" You have been playing the high game with me last
night," believing that his money had been taken from
him by way of a joke. Mr. Watkins, however, declared
that he knew nothing about it, and persisted in his ig-
norance of not having the slightest knowledge of what
had occurred. Witness observed, " Then I suppose Gale,
or Scales, or some other of the lads, took it out for a bit
of a lark." On subsequent inquiry, however, all denied
that they knew any thing about the money, and from that
period until the present (the witness added) he had not
heard of his money. He suspected the prisoners because
they were sitting close to him when be first went to sleep.
He admitted that money had on former occasions been
taken from his pocket out of a lark, but it had always
been restored.

Two persons, named Gibbons and Scales, who dined
with the complainant, said, that they observed a bulk under
Densham's waistcoat, on the left side, which they believed
to be money.
Hall, the chief constable, said, that Mr. Watkins had
stated, that his youngest son had made use of this expres-
sion, after the robbery was committed, to the pot-boy of
the house,—namely, " What a fine opportunity of robbing
Densham while he was asleep, if the' devil put such a
thought into a person's head ;" to which the pot-boy an-
swered, " Ay, what good would that do, suppose any one
did it ?" Hall stated, that on questioning young Watkins
on this point, he admitted having used the expressions at-
tributed- to him.

Mr. Harmer said, it was certain that his client had been
robbed in Mr. Watkins's house, but they were not yet
prepared with evidence to bring home the charge to any
particular person.
Mr. CHAMBERS said, that he shouhl not discharge the
prisoners until they found bail.
Bail was offered, and accepted, for the parties accused.