The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-09 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BO W-STREET.

On Saturday Mr. Rowbottam, the proprietor of "the
Finish," James-stnet, Covent-garden, appeared befire
Mr. HALLS, to account for the possession of a Bank of
England note for 20/., the property of a Mr. Wood, who
had either lost it, or had it picked from his pocket on the
26th of September last.
Mr. Wood stated, that on the morning of the day in
question, he went as far as Blackfriars-bridge, and on his
return home he missed the note from the pocket of his
trousers, where he had placed it when he went out. The
following morning he went to the Bank of England, and
knowing the number of the note, lie requested that it might
be stopped if presented for payment. lie also caused hand-
bills to be circulated, offering a reward of 5/. for the reco-
very of the note. It appeared that it was paid into the
Bank on the 7th of October, but by some neglect or omis-
sion, that circumstance was not announced to him until a
few days ago. Upon inquiring at the Bank, he learned
that the note had been paid in there by Mr. Rowbottoin
on the day above named. The initials of Mr. Rowbottam
appeared upon the note, together with the letter W.
Mr. HALLS examines! the note, and asked Mr. Row-
bottam from whom he had received it ?—Mr. Roit'bottam
replied, that he really could not recollect the person to
whom he had given change of it; but he supposed that
his name began with W., as lie had written that letter
upon the note together with his own initials.
Mr. HALLS observed that the giving change for a 201.
note was not an every-day occurrence; and it was there-
fore not a little extraordinary that Mr. Rowbottam should
have forgotten even the name of the individual whom he
had obliged on this occasion.—Mr. Rowbottam answered,
that he changed bank-notes for so many persons, he really
could not charge his memory, particularly after so long a
period, with the name of the person from whom he had
received the note in question.
-Mr: HALLS.—Are you usually in the habit of giving
cash for large notes, Mr. Rowbottam, without marking
them with the names of those from whom you receive
them ? Mr. Rowbottam.—Why, Sir, there ate several
gentlemen in the habit of frequenting my house who do not
wish that their names should be known; and it is there-
fore usual for me to write their initials only when they re-
quire change of Bank-notes.
Mr. HAILS.—A very wrong practice indeed for any
tradesman to follow, and more so for you, Mr. Rowbot-
tam, keeping the house you do. I have no wish to make
any harsh comment, but really, situated as you are, it
behoves you to be very cautious. You must refresh your
memory with respect to this note, or I tell you plainly that
it shall be refreshed in some other way. Mr. Rowbottam—
I really cannot call to mind the person who passed me the
note, or I should most readily declare it. If I had a little
time to consider, I might be enabled to find it out. The
best proof, however, that I had no improper motive for
concealment, is the fact of my having paid in the note my-
self at the Bank a few days after Mr. Wood states he had

lost it.
Mr. HALLS—It is, notwithstanding, most extraordinary
that you yourself acknowledge to have written this letter
W., and yet you cannot recollect the person whom you
meant to represent by it. That this note was either lost
by Mr. Wood or stolen from his pocket, there can be no
doubt, and beinc, traced to you, it behoves you to give a
proper account of it.
It was finally settled that the inquiry should stand over
for a week, to give time to Mr. Rowbottam to refresh his

memory.
Mrs. Donkin, of Stamford-street, who, it will be re-
membered, charged a young girl named Funny Phillips,
with robbing her of a valuable shawl and bonnet, appeared
before Mr. Ham,s in the course of the morning, accom-
panied by a person named Woolley, who called himself an
attorney's clerk. The object of their appearance was to
state to the Magistrate that there was no intention to pro-
secute the prisoner, part of the property alleged to have
been stolen having been recovered.
Mr. HALLS asked by what means it had been restored,
The prisoner replied, that Mrs. Donkin and some other
poisons had been to the prison, where she had been con-
, tined, to prevail upon her to give up the propel ty.
Mr. HALLS said, that the prosecutrix, and those who
had advised her, had done themselves but little credit in
the business from first to last. They began by making' a
charge of felony, and ended in compounding it.
Mrs. Donkin complained that the statement made by
the prisoner, as reported in the public papers, that the
shawl and bonnet had been lent to her for the purpose of
prostitution, was most unfounded, and calculated to do her
(Mrs.. Donkin's) house considerable injury.
Mr. HALLS said he had nothing to do with that part of
the business. It was most likely, however, that the injury
was not material.
Abs. Donkin's professional friend having failed in endea-
vouring to offer some farther explanations, withdrew, ac-
companied by his client.
At the evening sitting, Fanny Phillips was discharged.
In reply to the letter of Mr. Buckeridge, proprietor of
the Minor Theatre, Catherine-street, Strand, complaining
of a report under the head of " Bow-street," which ap-
peared in the Times on Thursday last, the Reporter begs
to say, that the circumstances described by him on that
occasion were, with very little variation, stated before the
Magistrate who heard the case. The manner in which the
report is given may not be palatable, but the charge of
fabrication the Reporter utterly denies, and refers Mr.
Buckeridge to the reports in other newspapers, in which
the same facts are described.