Star.
London, England, 1819-07-13 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY SESSION'S.

Yesterday J. Slade, Jushri Smith, and William Smith,
were indicted for stealing a quantity of wheat, from a
barge on the River Thames, lying off Mill-wall, near.
Poplar.
It appeared Ly the evidence, that on the night of,
the Bth of March, a barge, belonging to Mr. Burgess,
a corn-factor, was moored alongside a vessel ac Mill-
wall ; and on the following morning it was discove-
red that the barge was gone adrift ; and it was found
ashore in a part of the River where the prisoner Slade
had a corn-mill. Upon examining the contents of
the barge, it was found that 16 quarters of wheat had
bee'n taken out, of it.

White, an officer of the Thames Police, proved that
he searched the mill, and found a quantity of wheat
belonging to the prosecutor there.
The principal e'vidence against the prisoner was
that of a man named Dickers, who was in the em-
ployment of the prisoner Slade. He stated, that on
the night of the robbery he was called up early, and
sent for to-the mill : when he arrived-there, he found
die door locked, and upon knocking he was admitted
by Slade himself. Slade told him to come in imme-
diately, as he expected the Police there every minute:
he added, that he himself and the two Smiths had
been up ail night at work at some wheat, that had
come out of a barge which had drifted on shore.—
While this conversation was pissing, one of the,
Smiths came up, and asked if there were 20 quarters
of wheat taken from the barge ? Slade replied—
" No, not half that." " Then that won't do for me;
(the other answered) we must have more." All three
prisoners then went and fetched some more wheat from
a barge lying off the shore, belonging to a Mr.
White, and Slade scattered some of the wheat in the
track from the mill to White's barge, as if all the
wheat taken into the mill had come from -White's

barge only.
The witness underwent a long cross-examination,
in which he prevaricated exceedingly.
The prosecutors were unable to identify the pro-
perty positively ; and the prisoners were, in conse-
quence of this contradictory testimony, acquitted,
without any summing up to the Jury.
Thomas Alabaster was indicted capitally, for bur-
glaviously breaking and entering the dwelling-house
of William Clark Blundell, in the day time, and steal-
ing therein a hat, six handkerchiefs, and other ar-
ticles, value 40s. and upwards, his property, on the
20th of June. Guilty—Death.
Patrick Brannan was convicted of stealing some
harness, and a number of Government account-books,
the property of General Drake, the Deputy Commis-
sary General.—lt was proved that the piasoner was
a jobbing servant to General Drake, and had sold the
accoutt:books for 4d: a-piiund to a butter-shop.
William Griffiths' was indicted at the instigation of
the Mendicitr- Society, as being a notorious and
commonimpoitor.• •
Mr. ,Witacian, in Stating the case, paid a just tri-
bute die exertions of the Society, who by their,
activiq .had brought those fellows to justice. The'
prisoner is one of those who lay about public streets,
gentlemetts doots,-und other' onspicuous places, in'
pretended fits, 4nd apparently in the last stages of,
life. He has been fiegnently apprehended, and as,
often committod,wcirison ; but nothing could cure'
him of his issepamillfrfor begging.
The;gonir riastittated hint to•three months' impri-
outiett,• and orderedlim bate well whipped; at
the saute time intimating, that his next offence was
likely to be his last in this country.