The Sun.
London, England, 1829-10-22 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET.

IMr. William Clarke, whom a person named
Spencer bad apprehended and brought to the office
on Tuesday evening, on a charge of being the
Thomas Clarke, alias Bugsby, accused of robbing
the St. Neot% Bank, and for whose apprehension a
reward of 2001. had been offered, was yesterday
brought before Mr. BENETT, the sitting Magistrate,
for further examination.
The accused was attended by Mr. Overton of
Shoreditch, and Mr. Harmer, his friends, and pro-
fessional advisers ; and Mr. Gates, the solicitor to
the Association of Bankers, was also present at the
inquiry.
Spencer, the accuser, is foreman to Mr. Davis, a
shoemaker, in High-street, Shoreditch, and is stated
to have been for several years acquainted with Mr.
Clarke, who is possessed of very considerable pro-
perty in that neighbourhood.
The accuser was asked by the Magistrate if be
still persisted in charging the prisoner Thomas
Clarke, and he declared that his opinion remained
unshaken, and he had never known him by any
other name during five years that he had known him.
Mr. Harmer, after having questioned the witness,
declared that this was the most foul and shameful
transaction that be had ever met with, and was a
malicious trick, on the part of Spencer, to injure and
ruin, if he could, the accused, with whom he had
had some dispute. He had himself known Mr.
Clarke for many years as a public man, and a thou-
, sand persons could be brought forward, if it were
necessary, to prove that he had always been known,
as William Clarke.
Mr. Gates \vas satisfied that he was not the per-
son for whom the reward had been offered, and the
individual described was so very different a person
that it was impossible the accuser could have believ-
ed the Mr. Clarke now present to be the person so
advertised. A copy of the placard describing
" Thomas Clarke," the bank robber, was produced.
The description had no resemblance to the prisoner.
The only circumstance that could at all apply to
the accused was the single one of his residence being
in Brooksby-street, Islington, the advertised resi-
deuce of 'norms Clarke.

The Magistrate said, that under the circum-
stances in which Mr. Clarke was brought before him,
and so positively spoken to by Spencer, it had be-
come a duty to detain him in custody until the mat-
ter was cleared up. That was necessary even for the
sake of his own character, and any evidence he then
had to produce for that purpose should be heard.
Mr. Harmer then proceeded to call several tvit-
nessses, who had known Mr. Clarke intimately for
many years, all of whom spoke highly of him, and
said they had never heard of him by any other name
than William Clarke.

Forrester, one of the City officers, had previously
stated that the defendant was not the Thomas Clarke
for whom the reward was offered, and to prove the
said fact,

Joshua Hudson, the pugilist, was now called, and
stated that he knew the Thomas Clarke referred to,
who was not at all like the Mr. Clarke present.
Mr. Clarke complained bitterly of the treatment
he had experienced.

Mr. BENETT—It was my duty to detain you
under the circumstances, and if it were to occur
again I should be obliged to adopt the same course.
Let me now advise you to be patient.
Mr. Clarke--If you were placed in the same cruel
situation, Sir, you could not but feel as I do. I
have been locked up in prison, and refused even a
drop of water while I was there. You know that
last night bail to the amount of twice 10,0001. was
offered for me.

Mr. BEN ETT—I am aware of that, but I could not
take bail. I was obliged to keep you in custody,
but I left the choice of your place of confinement to
yourself, and sent you there in ►he care of our chief
officer. It was my order, too, that you should have
every accommodation consistent with your safe
custody.
Mr. Clarke—You did so, Sir, and I feel much
obliged to you for it. But instead of being so ac-
commodated, I was refused even a drop of spring
water when I asked for it at the New Prison.

Mr. Clarke was discharged out of custody, and
retired with his friends, with the intention, as he
threatened, of indicting the person Spencer who had
taken him into custody.