The Sun.
London, England, 1829-06-24 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

John liancock, 4 young man dressed in livery, a
footman in the service of Mr. Edwards, of Conduit-
street, Bond-street, was yesterday re-examined on
various charges of robbery committed by him in the
chops of different jewellers at the west end of the
town.
Mr. Humphreys, tine solicitor, attended on behalf
of the prisoner.
Mr. Edmund Trani, of No. 33, Burlington Ar-

cade, jeweller, stated that on Wednesday last the
prisoner came to the shop and asked to look at some
brooches ; a box containing a variety was shewn to
him, and he was occupied for some time in examin-
ing them. He selected one and asked the price of
it ? he was told that the charge would be one
guinea. He professed to admire it very much, and
observed that as he intended it as a present for a
young woman of his acquaintance, he should like her
to see it before he made the purchase, and he re-
quested that it might be put by for him till seven
o'clock in the evening, when he would bring the
young woman, and if she liked it he would pay for
it. Mr. Trant acceded to the prisoner's request,
and the latter left the shop. Shortly afterwards, on
Mr. T. going to the box, he instantly missed a gold
brooch, which contained a locket in the centre, and
was set round with garnets. He was convinced
the prisoner had taken it, and the more so, Lecause
he did not come at seven o'clock with the female,
according to his appointment.
Priece, the constable, stated that he apprehended
the prisoner for stealing a gold seal in the shop of
Mr. Duncan, jeweller, of Bond-street. He ascer-
tained that he had been committing depredations at
many of the jewellers' shops in that neighbourhood.
On searching his box at his master's house, he found
the articles of jewellery, &c., which he produced.
Mr. Trant selected from the articles produced by
the officer the brooch that he lost at the time the
prisoner came to his shop. In the inside of the
ocket, which had a secret opening, was a piece of
paper, on tvhich was written his private shop mark.
Priece stated that the prisoner went to the shop
of Mr. Fish, watch-maker, in Hill-street, Hanover-
square, and asked to look at some gold seals. He
examined a great many, and observed that the prices
were too high ; when the shopman observed a dis-
play of slight-of hand on the part of the prisoner,
which induced him to watch him narrowly, and he
caught him stealing two seals worth about six guineas.
One of the seals he found up his ceat sleeve, and
the other in his left hand.

Mr. MINSHULL asked why Mr. Fish was not in
attendance to prosecute the prisoner? The officer
said that it was since the former examination of the
prisoner that he had discovered this attempted rob-
bery ; and he learned that Mr. Fish took the seals
from the prisoner, and let him go about his business.
Mr. MlNslium, said that there were already se-
veral clear cases against the prisoner, and he intended
to commit him for trial; but he was determined to
bring Mr. Fish forward to prosecute, and he directed
the officer not to give up any of the property found
upon the prisoner to any one who claimed it, unless
the party came forward to prosecute.
The prisoner was remanded till Friday next. He
appeared quite unconcerned during the inquiry.
Yesterday a young man of respectable appearance,
who said his name was Percival Hardwick, came
before the Magistrate, and stated that about a fort-
night ago a young man, whose real name was Wil-
liam Stephens, was brought before the Magistrates
of this office, charged with committing a number of
frauds on different grocers, and he was committed
for defrauding a Mr. Lovejoy, of Fleet-market. Ste-
phens, at the time of his examination, said his name
was Percival Hardwick, and that it had appeared in
all the public journals as the name of the accused.
Mr. ;1i INSIIULL —The villain, then, took the li-
berty of using your name ? Applicant—Yes, sir.

Mr. MINSHULL—Did you know him ? Appli-
cant—Yes, Sir; we were both apprenticed at the
same time to Messrs. Bennett and Son, of Hereford,
but I nave never associated with him since I have
been in London. My parents were dreadfully
alarmed on seeing my name in the papers, coupled
with so bad a transaction.

Mr. MINSHULL—No doubt they would be; it was
a cruel thing in the base fellow to adopt your name.
What has become of him ? An officer informed
the Magistaate that Stephens gave his real name
after his committal, and he was tried in the name
of Stephens ; and on being convicted, he was sen-
tenced to six months' imprisonment.
Applicant—All I require is, that the newspapers
which have unwittingly given go much pain to my
feelings, and to those of my relatives, will be so
kirid as to insert that it was not Percival Hardwick
that committed the fraud, but William Stephens.
Mr. MINSHULL said that from his knowledge of
the press, he was convinced that would be Willingly
done by the gentlemen who had the management
of the different newspapers who had inserted the
original report. -
The applicant thanked the Magistrate, and left
the office.