Star.
London, England, 1830-10-23 00:00:00

POLICE REPORTS.

Stephen Bird was re-examined, charged with stealing two gold
watches from the bed-mom of 3lrs. Goddard, of the Pewter Platter, in
Wood-strms.

The evidence which had already been taken was read over, to the
effect that the prisoner, who ly..d lodged on the second floor some time,
went out about eleven o'clock on the morning of the 16th, and did not
return at night ; that on this night it was discovered the two watches
had been stolen from Mrs. Goddard's room on the first floor, (although
it was locked,) after she quitted it at seven o'clock in the morning; and
that when the prisoner came home on the evening of the 19th, above
44 in gold and alive? was found on him, although he was known to have
been in great distress before. lie accounted for the possession of the
money, by saying he had borrowed it from a man named Wood, who
had gone to Margate to get a ship to India.
A shopman to Mr. Peachey. the pawnbroker, in Goswell street, de-
posed that a gold watch, which he produced, had been pledged with him
by the prisoner on the 18th, for 61. 10s.
➢lr. Goddard identified this watch as one of those which had been
stolen. _ _

I►lr. Whittaker, a pawnbroker, in Long-lane, now produced the other
stolen watch, and as positively identified the prisoner as the person who
pledged it with him for 41.
Mr. Clamps, a pawnbroker, in Aldengate-street, then identified him
as having Aired one of the swatches to him for 91. He stated that he
had two gold watches, but one was all that he required.
The pruoner said, eagerly, he did not tell him he had another
watch.

Well—(observed the Alderman), this is an admission that you
offered him one. Where did you get that from ? The prisoner de-
clined answering.
Thomas Herdsfield, the officer, produced, among other articles found
on the prisoner, the meurning.ring he bad purchased at Mr. Whit.
taker's. There was also a duplicate of a third gold watch, pledged
on the 12th of August.
The prisoner was committed for trial.
Bow•sTatET.—lsaac Bet!..*, the driver of the Cambridge stage.
coach, called the Times, appeared before Mr. MIN/HE'LL, to answer
to a charge of furious and improper driving, contained in an information
laid against him at the instance of Jeremiah Harman, Esq. the Bank
Director.

The Clerk having read the information to the defendant, he unhesi.
tatingly declared that he was guilty.
Mr. Al lIISHULL observed that, although the defendant had pleaded
guilty, it would be necessary for him to have the circumstances de.
tailed, in order to enable him to inflict a penalty adequate to the
offence.

Mr. Harman then proceeded to state that, about a week ago, as he
was proceeding in his carriage between Snatesbrook and Woodford, in
Essex. he observed the Times and a Walden coach racing in a
most improper manner. They continued this furious speed for se.
veral miles, and actually placed the lives of the passengers in im.
minent peril. :Ruth coaches were crowded with passengers, and he
(Mr. H.) never in his life saw so many persons so reckless of their
own lives, and so indifferent about those of others. He expected
every moment that one or other of the vehicles would upset, and he
could only attribute their keeping their balance to the judicious manner
hi which the luggage they carried was packed, for they wavered from
side to side as they proceeded along in the most frightful manner. The
defendant's coach upset a gig, and nearly occasioned a serious accident
to the person driving it. It was not his (Mr. Herman's) wish to punish
the defendant. He appeared there for the protection of his Majesty's
subjects ; and if the defendant, whom he know to be a respectable
man, would promise to drive with more caution in future, he would
be satisfied.

Mr. Mixsaim. said he hoped that the defendant had no wish to I
persist in so dangerous a practice, and which might wad, perhaps, to a
charge of manslaughter.
The defendant said that he usually employed great care, but that, on
the occasion referred to, his coach was heavily laden, and be was conse-
quently obliged to gallop his horses over a portion of the road that had
been newly gravelled.
Mr. 111trisauLL observed that the speed of stage coaches bad been
increased to a most alarming and frightful degree ; but from what
cause he could not conjecture. The system was highly dangerous,
and therefore ought to be stopped ; and be knew of no other means
of effecting that object short of the infliction of the full penalty, which
he felt it his duty to enforce in the present instance. The defendant was
then tined 10!. which, with the coats amounting to 10s. he paid on the
sPw•
Toww-HaLL.—Saruh Davie, 11 years old, was charged by her
mother with robbing her of 3s. 6d. Tile parent of the girl, after cm:-
merating several other petty acts of felony committed by the prisoner,
said her main object in bringing her before a Magistrate, was to get
her into some Penitentiary, where she might be secured from the utter
destruction on which she seemed bent. Mr. Alderman ANSLIT sent
her for 14 days to Brixton.
LAMBETH•STREB to... Yesterday several respectable persons residing
along the Commercial.road, attended before the Magistrates, Messrs.
WYATT and Mazza, one of them to substantiate a charge against
two females whom he had given in custody to a policeman on the pre-
ceding night, and the others to complain of the general and disgraceful
state of disorder which was permitted to exist along that line of road, to
the very great annoyance of the inhabitants, with the hope that the Ma-
gistrates would take some steps to its abolition.
On learning that the policeman had taken the females before the Ma-
gistrates, and got them discharged, without having mentioned a syllable
about the intention of the inhabitants of the road-side to appear against
them, the parties expressed much surprise, and stated their suspicions
that the policemen had lent themselves improperly to the case.
The Magistrates said they recollected the females being brought be-
fore them, the first charge, they believed ; but the policeman had repre-
sented their ease to be of so slight a character, that they at once dig-
charged them. It would, however, have been very different, were they
told that any portion of the inhabitants were about to appear against
them. In that case they would have ordered their detention, and awaited
the arrival of the parties making the charge.
Drew, an inspector, admitted that the conduct of the policeman who
had the charge was most reprehensible, and said he should repesent it
to his superior officers.
Several of the inhabitants complained of the disgraceful nuisance
which was permitted to exist without the interference of the police, in
the congregation of hundreds of women of the town along that line
of road, to the very great annoyance of the inhabitants. One of the
party said that, on his speaking to a policeman on the subject of the
nuisance, he actually charged him with keeping a house of ill-fame.
Indignant at such conduct, he went to the station-house to complain
of it. He was then told, on his expressing his dislike to deprive the
man of his situation, that the policeman should at once be removed to
another beat ; but, notwitieunding this promise, he was still continued
is the same place.
The Magistrates recommended the parties to give every person who
they saw offending in the slightest manner against public decency into
custody, and when brought before them there, and the charge pro.
pert y substantiated, they would punish them to the unmet extent
of the law, and by this means they had no doubt the nuisance
complained of would be shortly abated.
The applicants promised to act on this suggestion, and having
thanked the Magistrates for their attention, left the Office.
AIARLDOROUGH•STEEET.SagIeId MOW, a policeman, C Division,
No. 62, Burrews,_Mellows, and Rigleby, were charged with assault-
ing Mrs. Thurston, the wife of a publican, in B;oad-street, Camaby-
market. Mr. Henson, jun. of Bouverie-street, attended for the com-
plainant. It appeared by the evidence of Thomas Free and Thomas
Bohn!, shopmen, and'hlrs. Thurston, that on Wednesday night, about
a quarter before twelve, the three men, Burrows, Mellows, end Rigleby,
came into the house of complainant, and desired to have a quartem of
rum ; this was refused by reason of its being so late . • but,l
after refusing to go unless they had it, it was drawn.—
After they had drank it they refused to pay for it for some time ;
they however, ultimately did so, but refused to quit the house :
they were at length, however, got out of the house, when the
police officer came up and forced his way into the house, and
the men with him. Mr. Thurston, by this time, came down stairs ;
and finding a disturbance, desired the policeman to take out the other
three, to which he replied, " I'll be d—d if Ido ; I shall take you and
your wife to the watchhouse," and immediately seised Mrs. Thurston
on one side, and Burrows seized her on the Wier, dragged her to the
door with an intention of taking her to the watchhouse, and tore her
black silk dress. The men and policeman were, however, at length
got out, when Mr. Thurston again desired Samuel Moss to take charge
of the men, and he said, "You be d--d, and your charge too." Thurs-
ton afterwards, in proceeding to the station-house to lodge a complaint,siriej
saw Moss and the other three men in Broad-street, and again
!Woes to take charge, who again refused, saying, " He'd be ti- d if he
would."

The defendants severally denied the cluirge, and said they had been
very ill-treated; but having no witnesses, Burrows and Mellows were
fund 20s. Rigleby be. and Moss, the policeman, held to bail to appear
at the Sesrions.

ATTINPTZD BUNCILAIT.ThIIIiday two well.knowni characters,
Maw Jordanand Thomas Watkins. were brought to this office by
Sergeant Covington and two of his men, and charged with attempting to
commit a burglary at the residence of the Earl of Chesterfield, in South
Andlepstreet.
A private watchman, named Bishop, stated that he was employed to
watch the premises of the Bari of Chesterfield, and between ll and 12
o'clock on Wednesday night, as he was proceeding round the grounds,

he beard something move. llis suspicions were awakened, and after
leaving his lantern in his watch-box, he placed himself in a corner
of one of the walks, but had remained in that situation only a few
minutes, when he perceived two men, whc were advancing towards the
spot where he stood. On their approaching him he exclaimed, " Who
goes there ?" when one of the burglars replied, " A friend;"—
but they instantly caught hold of him, knocked him down, and en-
deavoured to strangle him, both of the men leaning the whole
of their weight on his body, and placing their hands round his
neck and on his mouth. The witness struggled desperately, which
obliged them for a moment to release his mouth, and taking advantage
of the opportunity he called out, " Murder" as loud as his strength
would allow him. The burglars then made off, and were nearly over the
wall before he could recover himself and obtain assistance. From the
fact of the men having their lingers down the throat of the witness, had he
not called murder at the instant the opportunity for doing so presented
itself, it was his opinion that they would have effected their purpose, as
he was nearly suffocated.
Mr. Roe inquired if the prisoners were the men that the witness saw
in the grounds ?
The watchman replied that he could not swear to the prisoners being
the men, but he thought that Watkins in appearance bore some resent-
blance to one of the individuals who attempted his life.
- -

A policeman of the name of Potter was next sworn.—He stated that
while on duty, between eleven and twelve on Wednesday night, he
heard some one cry 1, Murder." He immediately proceeded to the
garden of the Earl of Chesterfield, and ascended the wall and called
out but no one answered. On his jumping into the garden he per.
ceived a man getting over the wall. He instantly pursued him, and,
having come up to him in Curson.street, succeeded in securing him,
when he discovered that his prisoner had neither hat nor shoes on.
The other prisoner was secured wear the spot by another policeman,
who, with Sergeant Covington, was proraptly in attendance on the cry
of the watchman.

The prisoners were searched by Inspector Clements, and on Jordan
were found a phosphorus box and some pieces of wax candle. A dark
lantern, a pair of shoes and a hat, were also found on the grounds of Ches-
terfield-house. The inspector made Watkins try on the shoes and hat,
and they appeared, from the exactness of the fit, to belong to him.
The worthy magistrate interrogated the prisoners very closely, but
the account they gave of themselves was exceedingly unsatisfactory.
neither of them being enabled to state precisely where he had resided
for the last month.

They were then remanded till Monday next.
Woasnut-irazxx.—A person named Lefler, whose dress and
Lenard appearance indicated great distress, was brought before Mr.
TwirroaD. Some constables of the Pollee Division N. had observed
him passing from house to house on Thursday evening in a way which
appeared to them to be suspicious ; they detained him at their station
for further inquiry. A gentleman informed the Magistrate that the
individual before him was a man of talent, a musician, and formerly
attached to the band of the Italian Opera; but his appearance was now
socompletely changed, that it was difficult to know him. Mr. Leffler
mentioned Rose-lane as his present place of abode, a place in which there
were a number of lodging.houses, where multitudes of poor people are
huddled together at the tate of a few pence per night; and having
answered some questions put to him by the Magistrate, he was dis-
charged.