Star.
London, England, 1825-02-21 00:00:00

POLICE IM7'ELLIGENCE.

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I '7
Bowdrragsto •
pigped was on Saturday again brtlught beta' Untsnuta., on
eharge•Orhorse-stealing.' The prosecutor, a 'miller, named Mere-
dith, Featnden, n Olouceitetildrel stated, that on Thursday, the
10th of the present month, be had placed the mare which formed
"theltubject of the present charge, in an•orchard adjoining his mill.
He had seen it safe about ten o'clock in the evening, and at seven
on the following morning be migsed it. .When he informed his wife
of the eiraimstance, she told Lim that Probert, who has resided in
the neighbourhood some week, past, called on the preceding Toes:.
day, and made some inquiries respecting the place in which the
mare was kept. Mr. Meredith then commenced a search through-
out the neighbourhood, and by the assistance of the smith, who hail
shortly before shod the mare, he traced her tcethe house of Pro-
bert's mother. She was at home, and on being told that very strong,
suspicions existed of her son's guilt, with reii act to the disappear-
ance of themare, she said, that if Probert bad taken the mare, but
had not paned with it, it should be returned. And even if he had,
the value should be paid him. For this purpose she would write to
him by the next post. The poor than complained, that even if the
value were restored to him immediately, the loss of his beast had
almost ruined him, since, having no other, he had been forced to
disappoint his customers. He was also informed by a neighbour
that he had met a tall man, similar to Probert, with the mare, at
some distance from Fearnden, on the night she was lost. The night
being quite dark, he held up his lantern. to the face of that person,
and thus bad a full opportunity of observing his features. The
person, whoever he was, made no answer to his inquiries. In a
field it the side of the road, near which the stranger had been seen,
a quantity of horse hair of the same colour and description as that
of the mare lost, was discovered. A statement of these facts was
made at dow-street, and from the description given, one of the
principal offizers, named Ellis, took Probert into custody on Friday.
At the time be met him, he was. in Windmill-street, Haymarket.
The following is the evidence, fixing not only this offence, but a
charge of a much heavier nature against him. The mare, in a vet*
jaded state, was brought to Dixon's Repository for sale on Thurs-
day, with a note to the knowing effect
" Ma. Dixon—l have sent my man with a mare, she isperfectly
sound and free from vice, and is worth 30 guineas; you will sell bet
fir the best priCe she will fetch. " Yours, &c.
(Signed) " Mr. COUZ ENS."
Mr. Dixon, knowing a dealer named ("mums, sold the mare to
a Gentleman named James Eames, for 20 guineas, which it seems
was to be paid on Monday ; the horse was then taken to Mr. Eames
brother's, the Angel Inn, St. Clements, where it was found by
the officer, and on bring examined by Mr. Meredith, he declared
it was his property, and had been docked and cropped in such a
manner as to spoil its beauty, and, from the rapidity with which it
was rode to town, it was much injured. Mr. Dixon, on. hearing
of the mare being stolen, gave up the note authorising him to sell
it, and Mr. Conzens came express from his residence at Kensing-
ton, and declared, on being sworn, that the note produced was not
his hand-writing; he had known Probert 14 years, and the note
was his band-writing, although much disguised; he had frequently
seen him write, and on Friday met him in Regent-street, and
conversed with him, but Probers never mentioned a syllable about
the sale of a mare. Another witness, named William ',trip, also
proved the hand-writing to be the prisoner's.
Mr. hlinsnuu. asked him If lie chose to say anything in his de-
hisce ?—Probert, who appeared rather abstracted, said hesitatingly,
Why, Sir, I have a great deal to say, hut not at present, as I
shall be able to prove a clear alibi."
Mr. Mixsum.r--You will he remanded to the house of Correc-
tlon.—Probert : How long am I to be detained there? the bed I
slept In last night was thoroughly damp.
Mr. MINSHULL —I have written to Mt. Vickery, on the subject
of your care, and you will be comfortably accommodated.
Probert was well dressed in a drab top coat, and top boots, and,
if we may use the phrase "Looked well." lie has beets living a e
time at iearmlen, which is his native place, and the residence et his
mother. llowever, the infamy with which his more is surrounded,
from his connexion with Gill Hil's Cottage, caused him to be shun-
ned by every person. Throughout the examination, he manifested
great coolness, and took his snuff in a most degosi style.

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