The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-22 00:00:00

GREENWICH.

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE.—On Friday the house of the late Steven-
son Seavers, Esq., in the Blackheath-road, attracted a great number
of persons, in consequence of a warrant having been placed in the hands
ef the police, to make a forcible entrance into the premises for arrears
of assessed taxes. Every means had been resorted to to evade pay-
ment and prevent an ingress by the widow and daughter of deceased,
who kept several persons on the premises to resist the enforcement
of the law. The interior of the house had been barricaded with the
strongest timbers and iron fastenings, so as to defy ordinary means of
attack. At twelve o'clock, however, Edward Lcgh, Esq., Chairman,
and John Sutton, Esq.; one of the Commissioners of Taxes, accompa-
nied by Messrs. Smith and Flinch, clerks to the "Board, Frederick
George Hammond, Esq., late a county magistrate, and landlord of the
house, headed bylan inspector of police, three sergeants, and aposse of
constables, proceeded to the gate, rang the bell, and knocked ; receiving
no answer, a wheelwright named Mack stepped forward with a sledge
hammer, and commenced the work of destruction by smashing in
the panels of the doors, which were strongly lined with iron plates.
At this moment Mrs. Seavers put her head out of an upper window,
rang a bell, and asked the police what they wanted. If it was the
taxes, she was ready to pay. Ingress having been effected, the land-
lord followed, and found the house divested of nearly the whole of the
furniture which lie had let with the premises for a term of three years.
Mrs. Seavers, her daughter, and two men, who had offered resist-
ance to the law, were then taken into custody, and conveyed before
tke magistrate at the Police-court.
Mrs. Seavers and her daughter were first placed at the bar, charged
at the instance of Mr. Hammond with filoitinusly removing a large
quantity of furniture, &c., from the premises.
The prisoners, who gave therr-mimes Catherine and -dfaria Seaver:,
were dressed in deep mourning.
Frederick Geo. Hammond, Esq., of Notley Park, Kent, deposed
that he let the house and furniture to Mr. Seavers for a term of years.
He had taken every legal means to get payment ef his rent, and had
long suspected the house had been despoiled ef the furniture. He
found on entering with the tax-collector that not only furniture and
music had been clandestinely removed, but four coppers had been
pulled down. The property removed consisted of furniture, a guitar,
rugs, curtains, decanters, carpets, a variety of ornaments, Scz.. The
police had found 91 duplicates hidden in the garden by the younger
prisoner, which ke had no doubt related to most of the missing
articles.

John White, 180 R, deposed that he found a red bag buried under
some loose earth adjoining the summer-house, which he could call a
witness to prove had been placed there by Miss Seavers, after pos-
session had been obtained; it contained 91 duplicates for all kinds of
property, pledged at various pawnbrokers, in the name of Thomson.
Sergeant Fenn, 31 R, deposed that he apprehended Miss Seavers,
who denied all knowledge of the bag and duplicates, or of the pro-
perty missing.
Sergeant Booth, 21 R, deposed that he took Mrs. Seavers into cus-
tody, and that she denied all knowledge of the missing property.
On Mrs. Seavers's person three 51. notes, three sovereigns, and 10s.
In silver were found.
Police-constable Brooks said he distinctly heard Mrs. Seavers call
out that she would pay the Queen's taxes, but the door was then
forced.
Mrs. Seavers said she held the lease of the.prendses from Morden
College for an unexpired term of sixty-two years, and Mr. Ham-
mond had nothing to do with the house after Saturday (this day).
She denied all knowledge of the missing property. Two men had
broken in on the 9th instant, and she could not tell what they had
done; they were ejected from the premises.
Mr. Geovx—The police will hold possession of the premises, as the
parties are charged with felony.
Denis Collins, who said he is gardener to Mrs. Seavers, and John
Manning, a labourer, were charged as being accessories, and resist-
ing the police in the execution of their duty, by endeavouring to pre,
vent an entrance.
William Joseph Perkins, a butcher, deposed that he was employed
by Mr. Hammond, and accompanied Cozens, the officer, to effect a
levy for rent. The male prisoners resisted Violently, assisted by
others not in custody, and he was forced into the road. Collins used
a poker and threatened his life.
Evan Thomas deposed that he saw Miss Seavers go and deposit
the bag containing the duplicates close to the summer-house, under
some mould, which she scratched with her hand.
Mr GROVE said he should remand the prisoners for a few days, in
order to afford time for the police to trace the missing property. Ile
would, however, take sufficient bail for their appearance.
Mr. Hammond pressed for heavy bail, as the property involved In
the transaction was of considerable value.
Mr. GROVE said he should require the female prisoners to give two
responsible sureties in 1001. each respectively, and themselves in 2001.
each ; and for the other prisoners 201. each, and themselves in 401.
The prisoners, not being prepared with ball, were removed in cus-
tody of the gaoler, to be sent to Maidstone prison in default.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—Scarcely
week passes without some new addition to the already unequalled
collection of scientific inventions which are to be found in the mu-
seum of this noble institution. The last practical introduction is the
illustration of a useful, and at the same time healthful, recreation—
viz., the art of swimming, which is daily shown in the tank of water
(in which all aquatic experiments are conducted) by a little fellow
only eight and a half years of age, whose wonderful feats on the sur-
face and under water induce one to believe that he belongs to an amphi-
bious race rather than to mother earth. It is realiy an interesting
sight to see this little diver plunge from the top of the diving-bell to
the bottom of the water, and bring up articles purposely sunk.
Among the articles illustrative of the arts is one to which the atten-
tion should be directed, as showing that nature may be all but
rivalled by art ; we refer to the weaving of hair, and could be
scarcely dissuaded from the belief that the artificial head there seen
is not of Nature's handiwork. The lectures on chemistry, natural
philosophy, and other scientific subjects, are still continued by Dr.
Bachhoffner, and his numerous audience seem to be highly delighted
by his manner of delivery. Some s_peciments of caligraphy also
prove that the arts have an endless field for cultivation,
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—TIVELVE THOUSAND DOL-
LARSSTOLEN.—The police received information onThursday, of
the loss of twelve thousand dollars, besides a number of papers
and documents supposed to be of considerable value. Ile
property was safe on Monday night on board the brig Vava-
seur, Captain V. Stronich, from Buenos Ayres, and consigned
to Messrs. Rheil and Davis, bullion-merchants, of St. Helen's-
place. The property for security had been deposited in the
captain's cabin, and the vessel was lying off Gravesend on
Monday night prior to going into the dock next day. Two
men, of the names of Wallis and Probine, together w:th the
"41)111-boy', having absconded, ua auspectedthe
of tobbiay.