The Sun.
London, England, 1827-12-24 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.—On Saturday, a fellow named Ed-
ward Brown, well known in the prize ring us " the Sprig
of Myrtle," charged a young and rather good looking woman,
the wife of a baker, named Phillips, at Kensington-gravel-
pits, with robbing him of a sovereign.
Mr. MiNstroLL.—Who are you, Mr. Brown? " I
am a dealer in horses, your Worship."
" He is a prize-Sghter, your Worship," said Jones, the
gaoler, " and he goes by the name of the Sprig of
Myrtle.' "
The prisoner underwent a strict examination, the result
of which left no doubt that the charge of felony was wholly
unfounded.

The accused said that she and her sister, Caroline Alex-
ander, ❑ow present, went to visit another sister, also a
married woman, and on their return home they met two
men in a cart near Knightsbridge Barracks. The accused
had in her pocket two sovereigns and 12s. Gd., having
spent 2s. (3,1. in some trifling purchases. It rained hard,
and wishing to get house as soon as possible, she was im-
prudent enough to ask the prosecutor and his companion
to give them a lift. They got into the cart accordingly,
and on arriving opposite the Prince of Wales public-house,
the men pulled up, and she offered to treat them with some-
thing to drink for their kindness. They all four entered
the parlour, and drank three glasses of spirits and water.
About nine o'clock, the two men, Brown and Bevan, went
out of the parlour, and her sister, who had heard them whis-
pering, informed her that she believed they intended to rob
them. By the advice of her sister, she went to the bar of the.
public-house and deposited 2/. 10s. with the landlady for
safety. She then returned to the parlour, and Brown, whose
companion had seen her give the money to the landlady,
accused her of taking a sovereign from him. She denied
the charge, and Brown swore an oath, " that he would
have it out of her." He afterwards said, that he would
forego the Charge, if her sister would go home and sleep
with him. She told him he was a ♦illain, and endea-
voured to get away from him. When they all were in the
street together opposite the door of the public •house, Brown
struck her a severe blow on the face, and she fell under the
horse's feet, screaming " Murder" as loud as she was able.
Bevan then attacked her sister, when fortunately a con-
stable came up, and they were all taken to the watch-house
where she was charged by Brown with robbing him of a
sovereign.
Caroline Alexander confirmed this statement, and swore
positively that her sister did not attempt to touch Brown's
money. _ • . _

The constable of Knightsbridge had made inquiry of the
landlady of the Prince of 'Wales public-house, and found
that Mrs. Phillips had deposited 21. 10s. there according
to her statement.

Sir R. BIRNIE had not the least doubt that the object of
Brown and his companion was to make the women drunk,
and then rob them. He did not believe one word of
Brown's story respecting the sovereign.
Mr. MiNsnum. concurred in this opinion, and Mrs.
Phillips being acquitted of the charge, both she and her
sister, in their turn, accused Brown and Bevan with assault-
ing- them; and as their bruised faces, in addition to their
plain story, formed sufficient evidence of the fact, the two
fellows were ordered to put in bail, in default of which
they were committed.
MARYLEBONE.—On Saturday Signor Velluti, of
the King's Theatre, charged Mr. West, a tailor, in Gol-
den-square, with unlawfully detaining two coats.
Signor Velluti's complaint was laid before Mr. GRIT-,
Funs by means of an interpreter, as follows :
Mr. West received orders to make him a coat for six
guineas, and as he had a drab one which he wished to dis-
pose of, Mr. West .agreed to allow him 3/. for it in pay-
ment, and according to the evidence of two witnesses care-
fully examined it at. the time of the bargain. He after-
wards refused to keep it, because it was moth-eaten, and
detained that and another given to him as a pattern, by
way of compelling Signor Velluti to pay him six guineas
in cash for the new one. The new coat was also complain-
ed of as not-fitting, and being made of different cloth to
that chosen. 1

" You hear. what has been stated, (said Mr. Gain-rots
to Mr. West); I think you bad [totter fulfil your con-
tracts'•'

" I made no such contract, (replied Mr. West ;) I took
the old coat home to dispose of it for Mr. Velluti, thinking
I knew a gentleman it would suit, hut I found it full of
holes as if it had been shot at, and not worth a pound.
Mr. GRIFFITH—Your better way is to send the two
coats back. Mr. West—When Mr. Velluti sends six
guineas for the new one, 1 shall do so, and not before.
Mr. GRIFFITH—You are a little too peremptory. If I
say you shall, you must.
,Mr. West—l consider this a case
for the decision of a jury, and not a magistrate.
Mr. GAIFFITII-You and I can't talk law together : you
must deduct 31. from the bill, and pay costs.
Mr. West not being provided with silver, Signor Vel-
luti paid the ousts for him, and they were to be deducted
from the balance..
Sarah Young, charged on suspicion with the murder of
her infant child, underwent a final examination.

The prisoner's mother, a widow named Evans, at
Creamer Hyde, near Hatfield, in Hertfordshire, earns Bd.
a day on the grounds of Lord Melville, and with these
small means, it is stated by the officer who apprehended
the prisoner, she is left.. to support four small children be-
longing to the prisoner, whose husband has deserted her.
Henry Coxeter, a Paddington coachman, was charged
with endangering the lives of his Majesty's subjects in
the New-road, on Sunday, the 16th instant, by furious
driving.
Mr. Thomas, of No. 6, Great James-street, Bedford-
row, gave evidence in support of the charge, and
Mr. GRIFFITH asked the defendant what he had to say
in answer ?
_ . _

Coachman.—'Pon my honour, Sir, the gentleman's
mistaken; my mare can't gallop, she's been used to carry
a lady, and she is rather groggy.
Mr. Clarmrir—Groggy! I thought yOu was speaking
of a horse. Coachman—Yes, Sir, of my little brown
mare ; she is groggy.
Mr. Gairmir—Your mare groggy! What do you
mean, man ? Do pray speak to be understood. Coachman—
Why, Sir, when a horse is shook afore, and lame a both
legs, we call 'em groggy, and they can't gallop.
The defendant ;produced no witness, and he was fined
50s. and costs.

QUEEN-SQUARE.—On Saturday John Mansfield
was bfotight up for final examination before W. A. A.
WHITE, Esq., charged on suspicion of being one of the
persons who robbed Mr. Thomas Cushen, in Hyde-park,
of 16 sovereigns, and afterwards threw him into a gravel-
pit. On the first examination Mr. Cushen could not
identify the prisoner.
Charles Smith, a private watchman to his Grace the
Duke of Wellington, stated, that the prisoner frequented
the Park every night along with a woman who was in the
office. The prisoner generally stands near the statue of
Achilles,

Another witness deposed to the prisoner's nightly frequent-
ing the park with a woman ; he watched about while she
picked up uten.
Mary Saunders, the female with whom the prisoner co-
habits, here stepped forward to claim two cornelian stones
which were found on the prisoner, which she said were
her property.
Mr. WI-arr.—What is the reason you frequent the Park
every evening? Witness-1 o get my living, as other un-
fortunate girls do.
Mr. WHITE—You meet with men in the Park, and the
prisoner acts as your bully, I suppose. Witness—Never, Sir.
Mr. WHITE.--..1t looks very like it : if you are living with
him, what occasion has he in the Park?
Smithers, a tow-street patrol, stated that Saunders told
him that the prisoner came to the Park to get his living, as
many other men did there—The prisoner was committed,
and ordered to give 24 hours' notice of bail.
Mary Jones, a respectably dressed woman, was charged
with stealing a piece of pork and two pieces of beef from
the shop of Mr. Stent, a butcher, in Charles-street, West-
minster.—Fully committed.
The prisoner is the widow of a soldier who lately died on
the continent, and the money found upon her was the
amount of a subscription raised among the officers of the
regiment.
WORSIIIP-STREET.—Charles Melford, William
Melford, and Richard Moss.—These three young
men have undergone several examinations before R. E.
PIeOUGIITON, Esq., for felonies of the most outrageous
nature. On Saturday, the Magistrate informed the two
Melfords that he should finally commit them for the robbery
of 111 r. Prig's house, in the City-road, and for that of Mrs.
Norbury's house, in Birchin-lane, London.
Charles Melford is about seventeen years old, and his
brother, William, about nineteen. They have both the
appearance of determined ,haracters. William's face is
disfigured by disease, but Charles is good-looking, and re-
spectably dressed.
Mrs. Mary Pring, a respectable-Looking lady, gave her
evidence in nearly the following words ;....1 am the wife of

John Pring, of No. 9, Plummer's-row, City-road, cheese-
monger. The prisoner Richard Moss has been in our ser-
vice as a servant generally for the last eighteen months. He'
slept in the house, but on a Sunday he did not dine with
us, he used to go out about eleven o'clock, or a little after.
Last Sunday week, the 9th of December, lie did so, and he'
said he was going to dine with his sister in Grub-street.
At the time he went out, it was about eleven o'clock in the
forenoon. I was alone in the house, my husband was gone'
to church. Between eleven and twelve, about half an
hour after Moss had gone out, I was up stairs in my bed-
room over the parlour. I heard a ring at the shop-door ;:
I went down stairs, and to the shop-door, which I
opened. The prisoner, Charles Melford, stood at the door. '
He said he wanted a piece of good Cheshire-cheese, for,
Mr. Law, surgeon. I said, "We don't serve on Sundays,:
but I don't wish to disoblige Mr. Law." tie walked into
the shop. lie passed me. When he was in, another man,
whom I had not seen before, also walked into the shop._
As soon as the other man was a short way into the shop, I
said I have no one to send. The last that walked in said,
"We must, then, take it, I suppose." I walked behind
the counter, and pulled down a piece of cheese from the
shelf. I saw then the shop-door was shut, but I don't re-
collect who shut it. The moment I had taken the piece of
cheese down, Charles Melford came round the counter
close to rite, and, I think, touched me on my left arm. At
the same moment the man on the other side the counter
presented a pistol very near my face over the counter.—
Charles Melford, at the same time presented another
pistol at the side of my head. ' The man opposite said, ,
" It is your money we want; and if you make the least'
noise, you are a dead woman." I said, " God forbid." The
man in front said, " Don't be frightened, we won't hurt you,
but we must have your money." I said nothing, but
stopped a little, when Charles Melford said, " Come, come,
show us where the money is." I walked from behind the
counter and said, "If you'll atop here, I'll fetch it to you."
Charles Melford said, " No." I then went np stairs, Chas.
Melford close behind me. He followed me into the bed-
room, and said, "Where's your cash-box and your plate?"
I went to a chest of drawers which stands in a small room
over the shop, and he followed rne. I opened the top-
drawer, and he stood over me while I took out a purse
containing 5/. 4s. in silver. Ho said, " What's that?" I
said, " silver," and I gave it to him. .1 then took out a purse
containing nine sovereigns, and gave it to him. He said
that was very little, lie thought there was more. I said I
had no more, and that was true, though we bad more two
days before, but on Friday my husband paid away 40/. I
heard our dog bark below, but he barked a very little, and
then was silent. 'We came down stairs, and I went to the
parlour. I saw a joint of meat, which was on the table
ready to be cooked, before these men came in, then lying
on the floor. The other man was in the parlour, just
turning from the cupboard. I said, "You have taken my
husband's silver spoon. It is a family relic, pray give it
me." He said, " What spoon ?" and presented it to
me, and I took it. He went out of the parlour, and stood
on the mat at the door; and looking at me in the parlour,
he pulled out a cord from hie pocket, and said, "We must
tie you." I said, " For God's sake don't tie me, pray
don't tie me, I can't do anything, I won't move." lie
said, " You must not move for a quarter of an hour ; if
you do, we have plenty Outside." He then went into the
shop to Charles Melford, and I heard one of them say the
money was very little, and presently the door banged to,
and I sat still in the parlour till my husband came home
from church.

Mrs. Pring then stated, that she made this known to the
police, and described the robbers. In the course of that day,
Garton and Hanley showed her more than a dozen thieves
at the King's Arms, in Charles-street, baton; but she
said none of them was either of the robbers. About ten
o'clock that night Moss came home, and Hanley told him
he suspeted him of being concerned in the robbery, and
asked him where he had spent the day ? He said, he
(lined at his sister's in Grub-street, and had spent the rest
of the (lay at the west end of the town, with a young
man as respectable as himself. Hanley said he must know
the name of that young man. Moss said, his name was
Charles Milton ; at least so Hanley understood him, for it
brought to his mind the name of the poet. Moss also said
he lived in Henrietta-street, Hackney-road. The next
morning Hanley went to Henrietta-street, and inquiring for
Milton he found Melford. There he apprehended Charles
Melford, who was at home with his another and sister.
He took him to Mr. Pring's shop, in the City-road, and
seeing Mrs. Pring in the shop he directed bis prisoner to
walk in by himself. The moment he entered the shop,
Mrs. Pring lifted, up her hands in the wildest alarm and
said, "That's one of the men that robbed me." Having
secured his prisoner, Hanley returned to Henrietta-street,
where, at that time and subsequently, he found a horse
pistol, loaded and primed ; a number of bullets and flints;
a bullet-modd; a sword-stick, a cut glass cream ewer, two
smi
iacsek. s,
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two prisoners were undevexamination in a private room at
the office, a young man named Henry Tibbs was shown
into the room by Hanley, and lie swore that Charles Mel-
ford was one of the men who robbed his mistress's house,
in Birchin-lane, on Sunday, the 11th of November last.
He also described another of the men, whose nose was
partly destroyed, and whom the officers knew was Charles
Melford's brother.

The mother and sister attended the office at this exa-
mination, and in consequence of a judicious watch e'er-
-cised by the officers, they obtained information of the retreat
of Wm. Mefferd. They went to the Olive Branch, in
the Maze, in the Borough, where they apprehended him.
On his person the officer (Brown) found four duplicates.
He was brought to the office, and on the next examination,
being placei in the midst of the crowd, with hats on, Mrs.
Pring immediately recognized him as the other man con,
corned in that robbery.
Henry Tibbs then related the circumstances (as witnessed
by himself) of the robbery at Mrs. Norbury's,
monger, which, as it was similar to the first in violence
and address, committed on a Sunday, under similar cir•
cuinstances; we forbear to detail.
With respect to -the prisoner Moss, there aro circum-
stances Of strong suspicion. The two Melfords were not
known as reputed thieves, but have been seen in bad corn-
piny.
In justice to the officers, and particularly to Hanley,
much praise his due for the skill used on this occasion.

UNION-HALL—The' Magistrates of this office have
issued directions that the whole of the public-houses within
the district should be visited by the officers on Sundays
during the hours of divine service, for the purpose of a
strict observance of the Sabbath..

Joseph Smallwood landlord of the Boatswain and Call,
in Great Maze-pond, was summoned for serving some of
his customers with liquor between eleven and twelve o'clock
on Sunday, the 16th instant.
Gill and Hammond, the officers, having proved the
charge against the defendant, and it being his first offence,
he was fined in the mitigated penalty of 40s. and costs,
making a total of 21. 15s.
Thomas Rolfe, landlord of the Hone-shoo and Wheat-
sheaf, in Southwark, was summoned for a similar offence.
fhemouasiees at
standing ten mi-
nutes -
at the bar, one of them was served with • liquor. On
He was also fined 21, and 15s. costs. ' •
John Champ, the landlord of the Two Sawyers, in
Glean-alley, Southwark, was the next whose case was
sal three
heard. He pleaded "not guilty."
Hammond deposed that on Sunday, the 16th inst. he
'
nobuttaeisnpedastadtxmveitltvaencemioentko,
andthe
v defendant's
going into the tap-room he also saw a man and woman.
drinking; they both seemed to be drunk. •
Gill confirmed the evidence.
The fine was mitigated in this case, as in the two pre-
ceding it.
Win. Gelding, landlord of the Olive Branch, in Maze-
pond, Borough, pleaded "not guilty" to an information
charging him with suffering tippling in his house, on
Sunday the 16th instant. —He was fined V. and costs,
TOWN-DIALL, SOUTHWARK.—James Cane was
summoned at the suit of the officers of St. Olave's, fur re-
fusing to maintain his wife Ann, who had become burden-
some to the parish.
After some demur, the husband agreed to allow her ss.
per week till he could legally get rid of her, which he ex-
pressed himselfdeterrnined to do, if possible.