The Sun.
London, England, 1827-07-09 00:00:00

SUMMER ASSIZES.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.
Yorkshire—Saturday, July 29, at the Castle of York.
City of York—The same day, at the Guildhall of the said

City.
Durham—Saturday, August 11, at Durham.
Northumberland—Wednesday, August 15, at the Castle of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Town and County of Newcastle—The same day, at the
_ _ . _

Guildhall of the said Town.
Cumberland—Monday, August 20, at Catlisle.
Westmoreland—Saturday, August 25, at Appleby.
Lancashire—Wednesday, August 29, at Lancaster.

TONBRIDGE WELLS.

i This place has, for several days, been in con-
siderable commotion in consequence of a robbery
on Tuesday last, of rather a singular nature. It
appears that Lady Grey Egerton, who has been
some time residing at Mr. Pegg's (the Sussex
Hotel), had, on retiring for the night, left in her
sifting-room a box containing jewellery and
trinkets of very considerable • value, amongst
which were three watches (one of which being
set round with brilliants, was supposed to be
worth upwards of one hundred guineas), and
about 171. in money, together with a vi.riety of
papers. On entering the room in the morning
to breakfast, the first thing she had occasion to
' go to was the boy in question, when to her great
consternation she found it gone. Her Ladyship
immediately questioned her own servants, who
pleaded total ignorance, anti consequently
Pegg's domestics were looked upon with an eye
of suspicion. Mr. Pegg, for the ,-redit of him-
self, the respectability of his house, and those
under his immediate employ, lost no time, nor
spared any expense, to fathom this mysterious
affair. He despatched a person to Bow-street
for an experienced officer, who, in a few hours
was on the spot ; but he could get no clue to a
discovery, yet said there, was no doubt it would
be proved to be some person near at hand.
Soon after he had left the Nik, ells, the delinquent
was found out from the following circumstance
—The man-servant of another lady who is also
lodging at the hotel, and had but lately come
into her service, had been in the habit of fre-
quenting the dwelling of Mr. John Mercer, a
tailor, near the hotel, whom he had occasionally
employed to work for him. From his knowledge
of the premises, by having at times " dropt in. "
for a little chit-chat, it seems he had availed him-
! self, in the absence of Mr. Mercer, to deposit
under his counter the identical box which was
afterwards missing ; but its contents were care-
! fully packed in a parcel which he had given to
Mr. Mercer in the morning, with this mjunc-
tion, " that he wished him to take charge of it,
but on no pretence to open it ; if he did, he
should know, as he had tied the string in a
! particular manner." This was on the Tues-
day, the day of the robbery. The next day
Mr. Mercer was from home ; but on the
following morning (Thursday) he had to
search under his counter for some materials,
when he discovered the empty box. The cir-
cumstance of the robbery then being the topic of
conversation and inquiry, brought to his recol-
lection that this very servant had been in his
shop on the Tuesday whilst he was at dinner
below stairs ; and he therefore drew this conclu-
sion, that the paper parcel, delivered to hint
about nine o'clock that morning, must contain
the property missing. The embarrassment a
tradesman must have felt in his situation, at
gotten property being unknowingly secreted on
his premises, and deposited in his hands, and
understand,s
n
aet
IN ad ever,
,r feogr accessaryuae
st moment odii
communicatedl et ni
causedt hpohreeigssssoeol
suspicions
s vpdot
rfibi
oaei
nnppgsr
go_consideredhtgpoe,es ritawa pthfierooir
friend,
what way to make it known. He soon, how-
e
n
he
l opened the parcel, and found the stolen property
r carefully packed in different papers to avoid sus-
picion. The thief was immediately taken into
custody, and, the same evening, underwent a
minute examination before our Magistrates.
This day (Friday) was nearly occupied in inves-
tigating the witnesses, which ended in the final
commitment of the prisoner to the county gaol.
From the evidence of Mr. Mercer and the in-
mates of his house, it was proved that Mr. M.
was totally ignorant of the contents of the parcel;
parcel up
for when the man gave ittfiohrsitmb:eolof
took
expressedoitnheet
tlon. consider
The
IhiiemisMtsearvrsc.
asked " why should you give it to me in charge ?"
hi n gst
uh
ra
The reply was in a very jocose manner.
prise at the injunction delivered with it, and
it is only a trick, and you will find it out to-
, morrow. '
stairs, but soon after threw it into an out-house,
t
might prove offensive by keeping it in-doors, and
there it was left till the discovery of
the box, as
before stated, which brought the whole to light.
Mr. Mercer was
supposing
hilly acquitted by the Magis
trates, who said they
a r ious t r
oa
fn transac-
tion. felt great pleasure in assur-
ing him, that they had not the slightest reason to
parcel, conducted himself with the greatest non-
chalance ; but since the investigation h' has ar
aaonMntp.t,eaenrtrbctyseerfionr et this
sen discoverye
pcared very penitent, and acknowledged himsi
to be the only one who deserves to suffer for
deviating from the path of hon tes y.---Maidstono
Gazette.