Star.
London, England, 1830-08-28 00:00:00

POLICE REPORTS.

111Assiox-itouse.—A man named Thorn, who was said to have
been at one time a member of the Society of Friends, and connected
with a gang of cast-off quakers, who are in the habit of plundering
tradespeople by using the names of respectable traders of that sect,*was
brought before the Lord Mayor. The prisoner walked lame, not !W-
-ing yet quite recovered the effects of a cut which he gave himself across
the throot two years ago, and which severed the windpipe. Upon that
occasion he had been charged with an offence similar to that which
cons'ituted the present accusation, and he was carried from Newgate to
the Old Bailey on a man's back, to take his trial.
Mr. Dillon, of the house of James Morrison and Co. stated, that on
Thursday a letter was delivered to him by a ticket-porter, signed " H.
Clayton," and ordering Oros de Naples and kid gloves to the amount
of 15L Hkl. He knew that the letter was not in the handwriting
of Mr. Clayton, and he believed that it was in the handwriting of a
person who had deceived the finn on a former occasion, and obtained
goods by the deception. Witness sent the goods according to the direc-
tion to the Blue Boar, in Aldgate, but he instructed the bearer to de-
tain the person who should be in readiness to receive them.
Samuel Brede, ticket-porter, stated that he was sent by a porter to the
coffee-room of the Blue Boar, where lie received a letter from a gentle-
man, who told him that he was to deliver it at Messrs. Morrison and
Co.'s. He did as he was ordered, and was told that the letter was a
forgery, but lie received the goods,with instructions to detain the prisoner.
Mr. Hobler said, the attempt to defraud had certainly been made, but
Messrs. Morrison and Co. could not say that they were deceived, for they
admitted that they knew the letter was not genuine.
Mr. Dillon said the prisoner had succeeded in several instances.
The gaoler informed the Lord Mayor, that when the prisoner was
conveyed to the Compeer, he was recognized by a fellow prisoner, who
had prevailed on him to place a silver watch in his hands, upon his
promise of bringing the unfortunate fellow 31. the moment he should
be set at liberty. The credulous man, who had thus given all he had
to the prisoner, never set an eye upon him since, until a fresh charge
brought them once more togetaer.
Mr. 11011LEIL said the prisoner was known to be a very bad fellow,
and . .

—.-
The LORD MAYOR committed him for further examination.
GUILDHALL.—A lad, named Thorotegood, about 19 years of age,
attended before Sir JOHN PERRINO and tlr. Alderman ATIINS, to
show cause why he should not be adjudged the father of an illegitimate
child, now chargeable to the parish of St. Ann, Blackfriars.
Ann Blundell stated that she was 22 years of age, and that she had
lived as servant in the family of .lr. Kay, a saddler, in Lisle-street, to
whom the defendant was apprenticed. She would swear the defendant
was the father of her child, and no other man.
Mr. Harmer, for the defendant, cross examined the witness at some
length, the result of which was, that from the dates she mentioned, if
the child was not born at the end of eight, instead of nine, months, the
defendant was not the father of it. She also denied that she had ever
said the intimacy commenced on a Sunday, when the family were at
Gravesend. She had stated this, it was a limed, in the presence of a
fellow-apprentice and a journeyman in Mr. Lisle's employ, but they
were not produced to confront the witness.
Mr. Harmer said the youth denied that any intimacy had ever occur.
red between them, and from his conduct and his declaration to his friends
he believed him to be in this instance the victim of foul perjury.
To show that the child was born prematurely, the young woman's
mother, at first with some doubt, but afterwards without any, gave her
opinion, as the mother of nine children, that the child was not perfect.
111 r. Harmer prayed an adjournment, for the purpose of having the
benefit of the evidence of the accoucheur on this point, be being a better
qualified and a more impartial witness than the mother. .
The youth asserted his innocence.
The Magistrates, however, agreed in being satisfied with the oath of
the female, supported by the evidence of the mother, who was ready to
give her opinion on oath; and they adjudged the defendant to be the
father of the child, and to pay 3s. per week towards its maintenance. ,
Mr. Harmer intimated this tkcision would be appealed against.
HATTON.OARDEN.—BAIL AGENCY.—Yesterday Mr. Kilsby,
Governor of the New Prison, came before the Magistrates as prosecutor
in a case, one of a description of a troublesome nature, which has for a
long time been known to exist.
A number of persons are in the habit of visiting acquaintances in
the prison, and undertake to procure bail for those who are com-
mitted for want of ,bail, and by these means obtain sums of money
from the unfortunate persons who are induced to procure their services.
Mr. Kilsby stated that he had ordered a man to be taken into
I custody who had this morning in this manner obtained five shillings
from a prisoner, and a witness was present who could give the necessary
evidence. . . .

A dark complexioned man, about five feet nine inches, was put to
the bar as the person charged, who gave his name Valiant Powell.
A short stout man, fair complexioned, with an aquiline ;tore, was
sworn as witness, who gave his name and address, iVilliant Hemmings,
weaver, Albion-place, Commercial-road.
Before he had time to commence his evidence, Mr. Laura asked the
witness if he knew what the prisoner was ?
Witness replied, " No, your Worship, 1 do not."
Waddington, who happened to be the Officer in attendance, rejoined,
" How can list be, when you and he were joint bail together at this
office not many days ago for Ann Sullivan ?"
Alt. LAING questioned Waddington closely, who said he recollected
both the prisoner and the witness, and particularly the latter, as, at the
the time when the book was put into his hand to swear, he only kissed
his thumb, and had to be told to kiss the book.
The minute-book of the Office was referred to, and the names of the
bail for Ann Sullivan were tound to be William Burman, Bedstead-
maker, No. 12, Golden-lane ; and John Jones, Butcher, Whitecross-
street.
Before the names were anrounced, the Magistrate asked Hemmings
under what name he had bailed Sullivan ?
Hemmings, after considerable study, replied it was " Brimmer"—be
really appeared to have forgotten the name. And when asked how he
came to give one name as the bail, and another when he came as a wit-
ness ? lie replied, that the one was the name of his father, and the other
was the name of his mother. When reminded of the difference of the
residences, and told that he had become security to the King under a
a fictitious name, and had thereby 'committed perjury, he replied, " I
was not at all aware of that, your W'orship."
he Magistrate told him that he should be made aware of it before hir
was let go hence, and ordered him to be placed at the bar along with Va-
liant Powell.

Powell was next questioaed relative to the bail for Sullivan, but he
could not recollect the circumstances at all distinctly. He said his name
vim Valentine Jones Powell ; he resided at Walworth, and it was a
long time before he could recollect the name of the street, but at
last he thought that it was No. 7, Little George.street; he was a Ca.
binet.maker by trade. lie sometimes, he said, took one or other of his
three names, and sometimes he used them all ; but he could, when
the time came, produce plenty of persons to speak to his respectability.
Mr. Lama ordered the prisoners to be taken out and searched, and
on each were found several notices of commitments from four or five dif-
ferent offices, and different correspondences, by which it appeared, that
the prisoners had an extensive trade in being bail, and that they had
each at different times assumed a variety of names and addresses.
On the case taking this unexpected turn, the original charge was ne.
glected, the prisoners papers were kept, and Waddington was or-
dered to make inquiry at the different addresses, and to apprise the
officers at other offices to come forward to prove the acts of alleged
peuury.
The prisoners were ordered to be locked up separately.
Mr. LAIN° said, that he would not give them up easily now, when
he had got so clear a case against them.
It appured, that the circumstance which brought the affair to the
knowledge of Mr. Kilsby was, the two worthies having quarrelled about
3s. a part of the fees obtained from a person who was in prison for want
of ball.

WOESHIP.STREIT.—A soldier in uniform, named Dole who re-
presented himself to be a Sergeant of a Recruiting Staff in I:iverpool,
commanded by Col. Jordan, was on Thursday charged with practising
the following impositions :
The prisoner, who was accompanied by his son, a youth 14 years of
age, was placed within the bar.
Henry Harding, waiter to Mr. Hill, of the Paul's Head, Chiswell-
street, stated that the prisoner came about four o'clock the day before,
and produced a billet for two nights, which he (witness) took to his
master, who returned it again, desiring him to do the best he could with
it, as he bad no accommodation. Witness told the prisoner so, and
asked him if he should like to be paid out; to which he consented. He'
then asked him how much would do ? The prisoner said that he would
leave it to him ; upon which he replied that he thought 2s sufficient—
't he prisoner said that he ought to have 2s. lid. and witness gave him
2s. and a glen of gin, upon which he left the house.
Mr. Benson, landlord of the Coach and Hones, in the same street,
said the prisoner came into his house about five o'clock, at the time he
was serving at the bar, and presented a billet. He told him he had no
accommodation, and opening his till, put down a shilling on the coun-
ter, saying, " Will that do ?" The prisoner said he would not take it,
and sat down, telling him (witness) that he would stop all night, and
called for a pint of porter, which he paid for. Whilst drinking, he said
between man and man he ought to have 2s. which would be a fair thing.
Witness then put down the 2s. on the table, and the prisoner left the
house. _ _

Mr. Cater, landlord of the Pied Horse, in the same street, deposed to
the prisoner coming into his house about six o'clock, when he was in
the back parlour, and his wife was serving at the bar. The prisoner
offered his wife the produced billet (the 3rd billet), who asked him if he
was the person to be billeted upon ? The prisoner said no, it was a
boy about 14 years old. His wife then said very well, and that she
would take care of him. The prisoner observed that it might be more
convenient to him to pay him out ; but no money was paid him, nor
did any boy come into the house The prisoner shortly afterwards left.
John Heid, police constable, 147 G, stated that at the time the pri.
Boner entered the Paul's Head, he was present, and afterwards accom-
panied him to the Coach and Horses, where he left him ; and in cone.
quence of inquiries he male, he suspected he was an impostor, and
therefore followed him and took him into custody, as he was leaving the
Pied Horse.

John Priestman, a boy and assistant to Mr.tWall, the Vestry Clerk
of St. Luke's, stated that the prisoner came that day to the committee.
room, and said he wanted three billets. Having a number of them
ready signed by the high constable (Mr. Earl), he, by Mr. Wall's or-
der, gave him the three billets produced.
Mr. BENETT observed that the constable himself ought to insist on
seeing the men before the billets were given out, which would put a
check to such a system.
Mr. Spring, of the Macclesfield Arms, City-road, being present, told
the magistrate it was a system of fraud carried on to a great extent.
Some time ago a soldier presented five billets to him, for which, to dis-
pense with accommodating them, he paid 235. although only one man
was present.
The prisoner, in his defence, said that, as respected his having taken
out more billets than one, he was guilty, and threw himself on the mercy
of the worthy magistrate. As related to taking compensation, he would
rather have been accommodated, for it would cost him more money out.
Mr. BEeeETT told him it was fortunate for him that he had not taken
the 2s. for the third billet, or he should have held him to bail. As it
was, he was then under military authority, and he should therefore order
minutes of the case to be taken down, and forwarded to the Secretary of
War, and that he should send him with them, where he might make
his defence. _ _ _ _ . .

Prisoner.—l hope not ; it's very hard, after being 27 years in the
service.

thrum HALL.—Yesterday one of the police constables of the M. di.
vision, brought up a man to the offi,x, who voluntarily surrendered him-
self u the =minder of an individual some years ago, at or near Man.
cheater. . . _

The magistrate (Mr. Swabey) on being apprised of the nature of the
self-accusation made by the man in custody, directed that he might be
placed at the bar.
The man was accordingly placed at the bar, he was meanly dressed,
and his manner and looks indicated that he
,was labouring under ex-
cessive agitation of mind.
The magistrate desired the policeman to describe the manner in
which the accused had delivered himself up into custody.
The policeman stated, that while on duty that day about twelve',
o'clock, near St. George's church, the man came up to him and said,
" 1 am unhappy In my mind, and I wish to divulge before a magis-
trate the circumstances of a murder which I committed in the neigh-
bourhood of Manchester, in the year 1822," he added that the dread.
ful act preyed so much upon his mind, that he was wretched, and that
he had now resolved to deliver himself into the hands of justice, in
order that he might meet with the punishment he deserved. The po.
lineman then inquired his name, and he replied that it was Joseph
Pratt, and as he still persisted in declaring himself a murderer, he was
accordingly taken into custody.
Mr. Swabey asked Pratt if he wished to disclose any thing, remark.
ing, at the same time, that he was under no compulsion to make any
statement that might tend to criminate him ?
Pratt, with great solemnity of manner, said, " Can 1 be furnished
with half a pint of beer before I unfold this dreadful tale ? I feel faint
as well as thirsty, and should feel thankful for that little indulgence be-
fore I commence." _ .

The Magistrate smiled at the request, but at the same time permitted
him to have the quantity he asked tor, and no more. Pratt soon dis-
patched the half pint of beer, and after he had swallowed it a deep al.
fence reigned throughout the office, in the expectation that he would
then relate the " dreadful tale." He, however, remained as silent as the
rest, until at length the Magistrate asked him if he was desirous of say.
in g any thing upon the subject he had voluntarily surrendered him.
self upon ?
Pratt muttered, " I am mute from obstinacy !"
The office being excessively full of people, the Magistrate desired that
Pratt might be taken into the private room, as he seemed averse to dis-
close the particulars of the murder which be confessed to the Policeman
having committed.
In the private room he said that be had murdered a Mr. Wood, at
Manchester, but refused to disclose more.
the Magistrate diricted that he should he kept in custody until in.
quiries were made at Manchester relative to the murder of the in.
dividual named by Pratt, and was accordingly remanded until a fu-
ture day.

Early on Tuesday morning last the premises of Mr. Dea-
con, of Skinner-street, were entered by the thieves removing one of the
bars of the cellar window facing Holborn-hill, by which means they
ascended into the coffee-room and broke through into the coffee-mart
adjoining, where they opened a cheat of tea and packed up 401 b. but
were disturbed by the early rising of one of Mr. Deacon's servants, and
escaped with 25a. left in the till the over night. The public situation
of the premises leads us to conclude the neglect on the part of the watch.
men must have been very great ; three of them were near at hand when
the man came down and found the door open, at half-past four, and the
tea near it, but they appeared to know nothing about it. One of them
has been discharged in consequence.
A fire broke out about ten o'clock on the 25th inst. at a
farm-house belonging to Sir William Rowley, Bart. in the occupation
of Mr. law Jackson, at Stoke-by-Nayland, Suftolk. The fire first
originated in a shed, where a traveller had slept the night before, and
is supposed to have set it on fire, by which a long range of sheds, and a
cart stable for eight horses, with a large barn filled with wheat, &c. was
entirely consumed ; providentially the dwelling-house was preserved,
although within 20 feet of the barn, the wind blowing very strong from
it, so that by assistance of water the the was prevented from spreading
that way. So great was the heat, that a house 100 feet distant, and two'
others at the distance of 200 feet from that, all belonging to Sir Wil-
liam Rowley, was burnt to the ground, and had it not been for a plan-
tation, many more house. must have been consumed ! The inhabitants,
in forming a line of more than a quarter of a mile in length, got a sup.
ply of water from Sir W. Rowley'a canal. A man is in custody and
committed to Bury gaol, for further examination this day week.
Wednesday night a young man named Price, the son of
a respectable tradesman in the Strand, committed suicide by cutting his
throat, at his lodgings in Cock.court, near the new Post-office. The
deceased some time since had a dispute with his father concerning family
affairs, which caused a separation, since which he hu resided in the above
place. The circumstances preyed so on his mind as to lead to the cont.
initial of the rash act. He had been for some days previous in a low
and desponding state of mind. The deceased was a young man of anti.
able manners, and was in no way to blame for the circumstances which
caused (he melancholy event.