Star.
London, England, 1821-12-19 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OP THE STAR.

St;—ln your Paper of this day's date it is asserted
that so the whole of the ban railings in Westminster
Abbey, which were erected round the various moon-
' menu, bare been removed. They were so-much de-
tiea cayed and broken, being made of wrought iron,
which so rapidly decomposes, that they gave a most
miserable appearance to this otherwise grand and
utiful mausoleum. There will not be any railings
again erected, but persons will attend visitors, and
prevent them from injonng the works." Now, Mr. Edi-
tor, it may be useful to the Public, although not for the
intended alterations, to be informed, that it is ascer-
tained as fact, that cast iron (sow metal) resists oxi-
dation, both in air and water, for perhapkan unlimited
time, as exemplified in the iron pipes for the original
water-works near London-bridge, the iron rails of
St. Paul's Church, &c.—Yours, &c.
Dee. 14, 1821. A READER OF TUE STAR. 1

1310121103 nt WMPTIMISTICS Allirle—QUlMPlNASlL—irester.
dog the Magistrates of this Office, T. Rat wasp:tap and F. J.
Worm Esqrs. were employed for some time in investigating a
charge made against someof the workmenemployed in repairing
.making improvements in Westminster Abbey, with having
mu y stolen some valuable antique ornanwnts and can.
Adana from Edward the Confessor's Chapel. From the state-
Mat of a Gentleman named Glanville, who belongs to the &Seel
Of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, it appeared that, in
of a resolution of the Dean and Chapter, about one
mired artisans of different trades were employed to clean, re-
Meatind beautify the Abbey. The various ornaments in the
containing the tombs of England's ancient Kings, tom-
pied of silver and brass of excellent workmanship; 'were re.
moved for the purpose of cleaning and repairing, and on last
Friday week some of the said ornaments wete stolen. The die.
orrery did not take place till Wednesday last, and then shoot
twenty or thirty men who had been employed in trig port One
holing where the robbery was committed were m.ebarged at
eamment's notice, by order of the Dean. Some of them had
wives and large families,' and the event was the cause of coed:
derable distress. Information was given at Queen:square Poles;.
tidier of the robbery, and George Pople and Handley, officers,.
were employed..to discover the robbers.—Yesterday, Thomas and
&mod Gregory (brothers), and a man named Drummer, were
broeght up by the officers, charged with stealing the property
from St. Edward's Chapel. The prisoner Drumnwr, on wit-
nessing the discharge- of such a number of workmen, and tie
distress it occasioned, felt some compooctious visitation' of con.
science, and on the following day went voluntarily forward and
admitted that he and the other two prisoners who were employed
with him, had stolen the property. The parties were appre-
hended, and the other workmen who had been discharged were
taken on again. Mr. f3boville said, that the chief object of the
Dean and Chapter was, to recover the property, as it was ma-
nufactured in the reign of Charles 11. and it would be airmen
impossible to procure models like them, or to get articles manu-
factured of the same pattern. The prisoner Drummer, to further
the ends of justice, was admitted by the Magistrates an approver.
Drummer stated, that himself and the prisoners were on Friday
Meek at work in St. Edward the Confessor's Chapel, and they
agreed to purloin the property, to sell it, and divide the money ;
they carried it off and conveyed it to the house of a dealer in
marine stores, and he purchased it, and they divided the money
amongst them. The officers, Pople and Ilandley, stated, that
on receiving the above information from Drummer, they went
to the house of the receiver, near Orchard.street, Westminster,
who said that he did not recollect purchasing such property, but
if he did, it was gone to the refiner's to be melted. The Magis-
trates committed the prisoners for final examination on a future
day, when the officers said they should be able, they thought, to
bring forward more satisfactory and conclusive evidence.
Matnnon-House.—Yesterday, a lad named Ada Rohe" ap-
parently not more than sixteen years of age, was brought ttfore
the Loan Marna, on a charge of having robbed a Mr. Reed
of a silver watch, chain, seals, &c. an the highway. The pro-
secutor stated himself to be shopman to Alt. John Danvers, of
Alderterate-street ; he was standing within the threshold of the
shop door at about sin o'clock on Monday evening, when an
ever-deben ox went by, followed by a great rabble of the vilest
&meters. As he was watching them passing, the prisoner
Mid in upon him, and at that moment the prosecutor felt his
watch escape, which he endeavoured to prevent, by seizing it.
The Omer, however, got it away by a desperate jerk, and
inn Wafter. his companions with the bullock. The prosecutor
punned him, and was on the point of wiring him, when he re-
m:bed two blows from behind, one of which felled him to the
ground, and he was glad to make his escape.—The prisoner was
fully committed.
Another man was brought up, on stivicion of being accessory
to the rubbery. Watchmen have been stationed et-the corners
of all the lanes infested by thieves, and the prisoner was "tired
while turning into one of them. There was, however, no fur-
ther evidence against bin.
HA TION-CARDEN.—MrS. M-=.-k, an aged Lady, was charged
with stealing one pound of beef-steaks and a small joint of meat,
hem the shop of Mr. Summers, of Somers Town.. Mr. Sum-
mers stated, that she had robbed him forty times before, al-
though she and her husband possessed an income of £!000
a-year; a Gentleman in his shop saw the act, sad on being
taxed with it, she offered him £3O to let her go. Ile knew
when she came in she would not quit .his house without steal-
ing something.—She was remanded, the Gentleman not being
in attendance.
Ebbw Leonard was remanded, for petering a counterfeit so-
vertigo to Jane Shore, who keeps a snuff-shop in Caswell-
iltrintOs prasat of s quarter of a pound of tobacco and two
amen emu,.
Aim Adams was also reminded, fora similar offence at die
shop of Mr. C. Reliable, a butcher, at the corner of &ries-
street, Leather-lane. She tendered the counterfeit for a joint of
acorns,. value- 3s. 6d. When searched, she had a good sore-
ealgn in her possession.
liaturososten-sraxer.--Tisterday, Thomas Strafford, the
Bayswater coachman, against whom the Coroner's Inquest on.
the body of Mr. Slade returned, on Monday night, a verdict of
Manslaughter, was brought before the sitting Magistrates by
Morgan, the officer attending the, Jury. Mr. Drag said, the
man stood committed for manslaughter, and no person having
appeared to offer themselves as his bail, be should be committed
to prison. The worthy Magistrate then gave directions to Mor-
i gun to conduct him to Newgate. Mr. Mantwasima said, the
conduct of some of the stage-coach.drivers was certainly
most scandalous. A spirit of opposition prevailed on the road
between the various coach-proprietors; and was it because they
chose to run races, that the lives of his Majesty's subjects were
daily to be trifled with? lie bad himself wit the most
furious conduct, and hoped some example might be made, or
some stoppage put to the furious driving of those persons.
Lastarrn-sram.—Yesterday Richard Christophe Cab, alias
Mack Bab, a man of colour, was examined on a charge of rob-
bing the firm of Orsfield and Willey, Sdrgeons, of Ratcliffe
Highway, of ten sovereigns, a £5 note, and twelty-six shillings in
silver. He went there with a pretended message. and took an
=pity of stealing the cash box. It was stated that the
had practised a similar mode of robbery on no less than
ebity bdividuals.—He was committed for trial.
stow harm.—A respectably-dressed woman, named Enmes-
h* Allen, was brought before L. B. Au.srxx, Esq. charged
with having obtained matey from several shopkeepers, by plead-
, Ing She cause of a fictitious person., The constable who accom-
pand tile Wen= to the Office stated, that he bad seen her go
ft the *mem of several shopkeepers, where she had asked cha-
rity for mother female, who, she said, was in this deepest dis-
tress, and in a state of pregnancy. The defendant, in a flood of
seers, said, that she bad, from motives of humanity, walked to
limn from Deptford, where the unfortunate woman lived whose
distresses bad so much affected her, for the pose of begging
ter her; that to &mac those distresses world be impossible,
'hot that the neighbourhood would completely justify
her in the the bad adopted to obtain the means of support-
*, Me fdlorr.amtare. The 31qpistrate, Mr. Ate
WEN, tech the address of the skk woman of Deptford, and
sent off the eenstabla and one of the police dicers to maks all
nesereary ibqdries. In two hours the messengers returned, and
mid that no such was to be found ths woman de-
' NNW by the M. Arrant; in astonishment,
tnrid toad to ills daindct, who had itothin to say-but that
do bad boo ergs may. The worthy Magistate, who do.
ci red that Is do saved his experience be had never seen so
ale as s ellineted her immediately to Brigtgo_floust
ef a belllbrg *am 141.eilis.

OLD BAILEY szssniNq.

Yesterday, T. Pates wai indicted for stealing two
silver watches, theroperty of 11. Barry, and another
person named W. Perkins.
The prisoner had pawned the watches, which he
had received to repair. He did this without the
knowledge or consent of the owners.
The Counsel for the Prisoner said, that was an
offence only punishable by the Pawnbrokers Act,
before a Magistrate.
The COMMON SERJEANT said, that he had no doubt
of this being a felonious appropriation of the pro-
perty to his own use, without the consent of the pro-
prietors. He would, however, reserve the point for
the opinion of the Judges.
The Jury, however, returned a verdict finding that
the prisoner pawned lie watches from distress, and
not from any felonious intent.
The COMMON SERJRANT said, he could not receive
that verdict; as, if they believed that the prisoner had
no felonious intention, they must acquit him s since
his conduct, in that case, could only be the subject
of a civil action, to recover the property.
The Jury, on this, instantly acquitted the prisoner.
The prisoner was then indicted again for a like
offence (upon exactly similar evidence), and found
Guilty, subject to the opinion of the Judges.
Mary Ann Davis and Hannah Hutchings were in-
dicted fer stealing twenty yards of poplin, the pro-
perty of E. Evans, 'privately in his shop.
The prosecutor stated that the prisoners came to
his shop and looked at some stuffs, when Davis held
up a piece before the other prisoner, and when she
put it down, the apprentice, who was sheaving the
goods, missed the piece of poplin off the counter, and
suspected that Hutchings had got it. After looking
at a great many things, none of which suited them,
they were going away, but were stopped, and the
poplin found by Hutchings side, underneath her
clothes. She said she had no intention of taking it
when she came into the shop.—Guilty.
The prosecutor said they had been three or four
times before, and bought nothing. Onie he missed
some property after they were gone.
G. Burrows, aged 23, was indicted for stealing a
shift, the property of a woman at Hornsey.
' The shift was missed off a hedge, and the prisoner,
who was in company with another, not in custody,
was soon after taken, with the shift tied behind him
by the sleeves, in the manner of an apron. It was wet.
The prisoner, when asked if he had any questions
to put to the witnesses, answered, in a tone of the
most hardened impudence—" What's the use ?
They'll swear that the dome of St. Paul's is bigger
round by five yards at the top than at the bottom."
When asked whether he had any witnesses, he replied
" No, and I don't want any."—Guilty.
Williams Collins was next put to the bar, and con-
victed of stealing a copper.
Eliza Jones, for stealing £l.ls. and Knid Hanson,
for stealing a shirt, were both acquitted.
Thomas Belcher, aged 68, was indicted for stealing
fifteen wine glasses. It appeared from the evidence,
that at a sale of wines in Piccadilly last month, the
prisoner, after tastingaseveral, was observed to leave
the room, and suspicion being excited, he was
searched, and the glasses found in his pockets. •
In his defence, the unfortunate man said he had
been in much better circumstances. Some years ago
he was a hatter, and possessed of some thousands,
but distress had driven him to the greatest necessity.
He could not deny the charge; it was clearly esta-
blished against him ; he therefore threw himself upon
the mercy of the Court. The prisoner was in tears,
Land the delivery of his address gave evidence of his
respectability.
One of the Society of
_Friends stepped forth-to the
prisoner's character, but refusing to take an oath, his
evidence could not be received. Another Gentleman,
however, spoke to his previous high character.
The Jury reluctantly found the prisoner Guilty,
but strongly recommended him to mercy. _
The RECORDER said the Court felt with the Jury,
and the slightest punishment would be inflicted.
The prisoner was then brought back, and the
Learned Judge sentenced him to pay a fine of one
shilling, and then be discharged.
A liberal subscription-was entered into by the Jury,
and other persons in the Court, fot the immediate re-
lief of the unfortunate man.
The Jury were then discharged, the RECORDER
observing to them that the country were indebted
for their services.
The whole of the prisoners foi trial having been
gone through, the undermentioned capital convicts,
had sentence of death passed upon them :
Thomas Thompson, for forgery Thomas Deakin, William
Hall, William Percival, Charles laces, Henry Turner, Mimi
Jago, and Thomas Beck, for burglary ; John Chester and Timm
Bertrand, for highway robbery ; Robert Watts, for housebreak,.
ing in the day-time ; William Page and William Cordell, for
horse-stealing; Nowell Wilkinson and Joseph Marsden, for a
robbery on the River Thames.
Fur minor offences, there were twenty sentenced to be trans-
ported for life ; five for fourteen years ; fifty-five for seven years;
forty-eight for various terms of imprisonment ; eight to be whip-
ped and discharged ; ten to be fined is. and discharged; and
four upon whom judgment was respited until the next Sessions.
The Sessions were then adjourned.
The house of Mr. ttir in North-street, Lam-
beth, was entered with picklock keys on Sunday
evening, while the family were at Chapel, and two
boxes carried off, one containing plate, the other some
title deeds and a quantity of sovereigns. The latter
box was picked up in the Waterloo-road the same
night, but stripped of the sovereigns.
Tuesday night the house of Mr. TRAVERS/ in
Euston-place, Mary-la-Bonne, was broken into while
the family were asleep, and plate of the value of £4OO
carried off. The villains left behind them a tremen-
dous bludgeon.
, Between seven and eight o'clock on Monday night,
as J. Forrester, a licensed hawker, was coming from
Battle-bridge to Bagnigge-wells, he was stopped by
three men, who knocked him down, and took from
him his pack, four sovereigns, a £5 note, and about
30s. in silver. The villains then threw him into a deep
filthy ditch which runs by the side of the road, and
escaped. The poor fellow got out in a shocking plight.
A man was detected at Leicester fair at what is
termed chqffing a horse: on being taken into a room
at the Spread Eagle, he made an attempt to burn,
some forged Bank of England notes, but did not
succeed; during the time the constable was search-
ing him, be tried to swallow them, and was pre-1
vented from so doing, by being seized by the tbroat,l
whicli obliged him to &rage the*
•