Star.
London, England, 1830-01-14 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS, Jan. 13.

The commencement of the trial of the prisoners took place this
morning before Mr. Sergeant Scants, CHAIRMAN, and a Bench of
Magistrates.
Thomas Moore was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the Bth
of December, at Effingham, in this county, a sack and tour bushels
of bailey. the property of Mr. James King.
Mr. Jenimett stated the case, and called several witnesses, from
whom it appeared, that on the Bth of December last the prose-
cutor's men were winnowing barley in his barn. In their absence
a sack of barley was stolen, and several barleycorns were traced
from Mr. King's "remises to the prisoner's house, where some
barley was found, which, however, could not be sworn to.
Mr. Pratt cross-examined the prosecutor, who admitted having
recited a letter from the prisoner's attorney, threatening him with
an action for malicious prosecution. At the Kingston Assizes the
Grand Jury threw out the bill on the same charge.
Capt. Stringer, in whose employ the prisoner resided, deposed to
the prisoner having confessed committing the robbery ; he observed
then, it was the first time he bad done such a thing.
The prisoner received a good character.
The Jury returned a verdict of—Guilty.

Some country bankers, it is said, have hit upon the
expedient of issuing notes of 6,7, and 8/. so as to enable
themselves and the public, in their neighbourhoods, to
arrange fractional payments.
A party of the inhabitants of the united parishes of St.
Giles in the Fields and St. George, Bloomsbury, have announced
their Intention of applying for an entire revision of the parochial
system at present existing hi that parish. The most important of
the projected innovations is the appointment of " permanent efficers,
to be substituted instead of overseers annually elected." The ex-
penses of the application to Parliament to be paid out of rates to be
levied under the said Act.
It was reported yesterday in the City that very serious
disturbances bad taken place on Tuetday at Norwich • the Riot
Act was read in three different places iu the town. The cause of
the riots was the attempt of the manufactures again to reduce the
wages of the labourers.
DREADFUL FIRE AT SHEERNEB9.—..WeIaMeIIt the
obligation of publishing an account of a most destructive catas.l
trophe, which occurred at Sheerness on Friday night, by which fifty
houses were burnt and destroyed. The calamity was discovered at a
quarter past It o'clock on Friday night, at which time a watchman,
on going his rounds, discovered smoke issuing from the top of the
shop door of Mr. Munk, grocer, in Union-street, Blue Town. On
looking through the key-hole he perceived the shop in flames, and in-
stantly took the necessary measures for alarming the inmates and the
neighbourhood. The authorities of the Garrison and Dock-yard
speedily lent their assistance, but the violence of the flames was
such that they could not not be arrested until fifty houses, as stated
above, were destroyed. The greatest thanks are due to the Com-
missioners and Officers of the Navy and Army, for their exertions
in causing the men to render every assistance. The property is prin-
cipally assured In the Sun, Guardian. County, and Norwich Fire
Offices, and a small part in the Kent. The Independent Chapel,
as well as the house of the Minister, the Rev. J. Prankard, were
slightly injured. The fire was stopped here by the application of
wet blankets; and it Is a remarkable circumstance, that at the last
fire, when many houses were destroyed, and which approached
the chapel in another direction, the flames were subdued on reach.
ing the building, which was then only slightly damaged. We are
happy to learn that no lives were lost on dila melancholy occasion.
The loss will be little short of £2o,ooo.—Mnidatene Awned.

TILE MINT ROBBERY.—TiIe, Government has adopted
the most likely method of effecting the apprehension of Keith, who
is charged with stealing in the Shot gold blanks for coining sove-
reigns, of the wainscot sli.ooo. Police officers have been dispatched
to France and Holland, to Dublin and Edinburgh, and also to the
different sea-port towns in England, In pursul• of him. Not less
than eight officers have been sent in various directions from Bow-
street Office, and Ma apprehension is considered almost a matter of
certainty. A hand-bill has been issued by order of the Muter
' of the Mint, offering £6OO reward for the apprehension of Keith.
ATTEMPT AT HIGHWAY ROBBERY.—A young lad,
named Chandos Hoskins, was proceeding on horseback to Kin-
martin, between seven and eight o'clock on Friday evening, when,
about half a mile beyond Clogbeen, as he was getting on at an easy
pace, he observed two men, one of whom approached, and after
presenting a pistol, caned upon him to deliver. Hoskins caught
the pistol, and turned It from him, when it went off. The horse
took flight, and galloped away. In the momentary struggle, the
robber let go the pistol, which Hoskins retained. Ott Saturday he
gave information of the occurrence at the Head Police Mace,
where he lodged the trophy of his victory—an old horse piotol,
made about the middle of the last century..—Babthe menthes
Readier. '
Last week a prisoner confined in Southampton gaol
contrived to effect his escape by making a hole in the
chimney.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

31 ANSIO N.HOUSE.

Yesterday morning, three young men, named Callaghan, Fletcher,
and Johnstone, were placed at the bar before Sir Peres Unto.,
charged with having committed a desperate assault on two or three
watchmen.
The principal complainant is a watchman, who was unable to at-
tend, on account of his having received a severe injury at the hand;
of Fletcher, who threw at the watchman's head a wash hand basin
when at the watch.house. .

From the evidence of two other watchmen, it appeared that tl.t
prisoners were engaged in a scuffle on Tower-bill, and that con•i-
derable violence was used to the witnesses. On searching Callaghan
a set of housebreaker's implements were found, viz. a centre-bit, It
dark lantern, pbmphorus box, &c. •
Sir P. Lanais thought great suspicion attached to Callaghan and
Fletcher, ordered Forrester to make Inquiries about them, and re•
mantled the prisoners.
BOW-STRSET.

Patrick Ei tug', a fellow who has long been known to the police,
and one of the St. Giles's gang who robbed Horace Twigs, Esq. o'
his watch, was yesterday morning brought before Sir Blooms'.
Baaanz, by Perry, a police constable, capitally charged with having
robbed a gentleman named Battyle, who resides at Stopleford, in
Cambridgeshire, of his watch and appendages, value A'S and .
upwards.
Mr. Sattyle stated, that between twelve and one o'clock on
Tuesday night, as be was crossing from the corner of Brydges
street to Usurylane Theatre, the prisoner rushed against him
and anteceded In taking his watch from his fob; having done
which, he instantly took to his heels, but was clo-ely pursued
and finally captured. In the race be threw the watch away, but
a gentleman who saw him do so picked it up and delivered it ti,
the constable. Mr. Battyle identified the watch as his property.
Sir K. Bums asked whether the prisoner bad been lost sight of
at all? The offence was one which serious.y affected the prisoner's
life ; and it was therefore necessary that there should be no doubt
about his identity. . _ _

Mr. Battyle said he kept the prisoner in his view from the
moment he ran away until the instant of his capture.
The prisoner declared that he was taken for quite a wrong person.
Sir it, Mame observed. that he must convince a Jury of lii,
innocence, and committed him to Newgate to take Ms trial.