Star.
London, England, 1823-10-15 00:00:00

HATTON-GARDEN.

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Suspicion being entertained that the burial-ground for the poor
be onging to the parish of' St. James, Clerkenwell, had recently
been disturbed by some rude violators of the sanctuary of the
grave, Mr. John Scott, the Churchwarden, appointed a watch, the
report of whom confirmed his suspicions; and he accordingly, last
Monday night, resolved on watching bimstlf. The result was
the. apprehension of three persons, who were yesterday morning
brought to this office. They gave their names William Thomas,
Thomas Kelly, and John Shearing, alias Ammon.
From the depositions it appeared that two bodies were, on the
day preceding, interred in one grave. About one o'clock on the fol-
lowing morning, the parties on watch heard distinctly a noise as if
proceeding from the striking of a spade against a stone. They im-
mediately determined on entering the ground and securing whoever
they found there ; and to prevent any possible escape, parties were
stationed to watch at every corner of the ground. The party, on
entering the ground, found, on attempting to open the lock of the
gate, something within resist the key, and which afterwards they
found to be a skeleton key left by the body-stealers in the key-hole.
In consequence, before they could enter, a delay and noise was
made, so that on their getting within the ground, they saw the men
running towards the lower part of the ground, and immediately
after heard a sound as if of some heavy body dropping into a quan-
thy
of water. This sound was repeated thrice, and was discovered
to proceed from the dropping of the prisoners into the Fleet-ditch,
which runs along at the boundary of that part of the burial-ground.
On their attempting to get out of the ditch, they were secured by
some of the party on watch outside.
The sexton, as soon as day break, searched the burial•ground,
where he found two coffins on the surface of the earth, one of which'
was empty. The contents of the empty coffin were found close by,
concealed within a sack. _

Mr. Serjeant Strcon considered the evidence sufficiently conclu-
sive to warrant him in committing the prisoner.
Mr. F. B. Singleton and Mr. John Slagiaim were brought up by
Read, jun. tinder a warrant of assault.
Mr. Mason, shopman to Mr. Post, ironmonger, at Iblingtort,
stated, that they had been induced to give credit on the plausible
story told by the elder Mr. Singleton, but which account, for rea-
sons that had subsequently occurred to them, they felt anxious to
obtain. Repeated calls had been made, but no money being focth-
coming, Mr. Mason at last declared be would stay till he was
This being inconvenient to Mr. Singleton, he, with the aid of his
son, forcibly ejected his troublesome creditor from his premise,-
Mr. Serjeant Siamox, after a patient hearing of the case, declared
that Mr. Singleton was perfectly justified, as It did not appear that
hf had used more force than was necessary to effect the turning of
11r. Mason out of his house.

QUEEN-SQUARE.
Mr. Shirley, of Eaton-street, Pimlico, was charged with ob-
structing the sentry at Buckingham-house. J. Milts, of the Gre-
nadier Guards, stated, that he was on duty at Buckingham-gate on
Monday evening, when seeing the prisoner getting over the palings,
he attempted to prevent him, but he endeavoured to force his
way, and behaved with great violence till he was taken into cus-
tody. Serjeant Farquhar, of the same regiment, confirmed this
statement. Mr. Shirley, in his defence, said, he entered the Park
at the Horse Guirds, in which were several hundred people, and
in his way home thought it no harm to get over the paling,
when Mills ran up to him, and struck him a violent blow above
the eye, which stunned him for a moment. On his recovery,
he found the sentinel holding him by the leg, and attempting to
throw him into the Park, into which his hat bad already fallen.—
He was afterwards dragged through the Almonry, and a number
of dirty courts and alleys, to the watch-house; from whence, how-
ever, he was soon bailed. Mr. WMisa said, the Military had no
right to act as constables. There were officers at all times in the
Park ready to take cognizance of civil offences, and far their aid the
military should apply. It was not to be borne that the military should
be suffered to assault his Majesty's subjects; but as the Grand Jury
would be assembled In a few days, he should not hold the soldier to
bail, as Mr. Shirley might then indict him. This Mr. S. seemed to
Wish to decline. The htigistrato,however, pressed the necessity
of it ; and on Mr. S. acquiescing, the soldier was discharged.