The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-03-08 00:00:00

vIEDIATE SESSIONS.

or this borough commenced on
, Esq., recorder.
.mes of 59 prisoners for felony,
issaults.
'e sworn of the grand jnry :
Charles W. Jones, Esq.
William Logan, Esq.
Thomas Martin, Esq.
James Molyneux, Esq.
William Perrin, Esq.
Augustus Radcliffe, Esq.
John Shand, Esq.
James H. Smith, Esq.
Peter Serjeantson, Esq.
Thomas Tobin, Esq.

The proclamation against vice and immorality having been
read, and all the usual forms of the court observed, the
Learned Recorder delivered his charge to the grand jury.
He observed, that though the calendar showed a large num-
ber of prisoners, yet, as regarded crime, it was exceedingly
light. In alluding to the recent devastating hurricane, the
Learned Recorder dwelt on the dangerous state of the chim-
neys in this town, and hoped some effectual measures would
be taken to render the dwellings of the inhabitants more safe.
Having observed that there were several cases in the calen-
dar of persons who had been apprehended for stealing wreck-
ed property, he drew the attention of the grand jury to the
defective state of the executive along our coasts, and reiter-
ated his opinion, so frequently before expressed, that an effi-
cient coast guard, or more effectual system of police, should
be organized, for the purpose of protecting wrecked property.

CHARGE OF STEALING TARPAULINGS.
Richard Parry, aged 34, was indicted for having stolen
from Mr. Peter M`Kinley, a tarpauling, value £4.
Mr. CARR conducted the prosecution, and Mr. MURPHY
the defence.

It appeared that some time previously to the 21st of Jan.,
Mr. M`Kinley, who is a cart-owner, missed three tarpaul-
ings. He gave information to constable Lloyd, who found
that the prisoner, who had been in Mr. M‘Kinlev's employ,
had placed a tarpauling in Mr. Poole's hay-loft. Lloyd went
to the loft with Mr. M`Kinley, and the latter claimed the
tarpauling. The prisoner was taken into custody. He de-
nied that he had more than one tarpauling, and said, that
that one had been given to him by two men named Hughes
and Mullen. Both the individuals alluded to denied that
they had ever given him any tarpauling. The witnesses for
the prosecution gave the prisoner a good character.
Hughes and Mullen, in their cross-examination, swore
that they did not know where Poole's yard was. A witness
named Peers was called. He swore that he saw Hughes and
Mullen at Poole's yard in company with the prisoner. The
jury acquitted the prisoner.

STEALING AND RECEIVING.
Josiah Pendleton, aged 14, and Elizabeth Pendleton, his
mother, aged 45, were charged, the former with having felo-
niously broken into the dwelling-house of John George Roth
Bishop, and stolen a counterpane and a quantity of apparel,
the property of the said John George Roth Bishop, and the
latter with having received the property, knowing it to have
been stolen.

Mr. RUSHTON conducted the prosecution.
Elizabeth Bishop, wife of the prosecutor, stated that she
resided in Clifton-street, Everton. On the evening of the
28th January last she was at home, and heard a door banged
to as if by a draught of air. She went afterwards into the back
bed-room, and saw a chest which usually contained gentle-
men's apparel standing open. Part of the apparel had been
taken away. She also missed a quantity of clothes from the
beds. Beneath the window of this apartment there was a
small building, over which it was easy to obtain access to the
apartment through the window. On missing the articles,
she immediately sent for her husband.
John George Roth Bishop stated, that he was sent for by
his wife, and on hearing of the robbery he communicated
with the police. About two o'clock in the morning he went
with police-officer Kennedy to Codrington-place, Coiling-
wood-street, where they found the female prisoner in bed,
with one of his counterpanes over her. On searching the
place, they found the male prisoner, and a quantity of wear-
ing apparel, his property. The woman said, if they had
gone higher up the court, they would have found more pro-
perty, alluding, as he understood, to a cellar which they had
already searched.
Police-officer Kennedy, No. 216, corroborated the evidence
of the last witness, and produced the property. He asked
the female prisoner how she became possessed of them. She
said, they were thrown over the rails into the cellar.
A large quantity of valuable property was produced, and
identified by Mr. Bishop, who said it was worth upwards of
£5. The articles taken were altogether worth about £3O.
Josiah Pendleton, on being asked what he had to say.
said, " Gentlemen, I am not guilty."
Elizabeth Pendleton said, she unfortunately had the pro-
perty in her possession ; but she hoped the jury would acquit
her honest boy, who bad worked for every bit of food he had
put into his mouth for the last seven years.
Mr. RUSHTON said, he was bound to say that there was
no proof against the boy.
The RECORDER took the same view.

The jury acquitted the boy, but found the mother guilty.
The RECORDER said, he should make some inquiry into
the character of the prisoner previously to passing sentence.

WEDNESDAY.
Thomas Jones, stood indicted for stealing a quantity 01
wearing apparel and money, from the house of Wm. Jones.

with whom he lodged, and the property of the latter. It
appeared, that the prisoner, a labourer, had lodged with the
ro psecutor in Aldersev-street ; that confidence was placed in
him, and that he had a latch-key—by means of which he
could at any time obtain entrance to the house. They were
not related to each other, but usually slept in the same bed.
On Saturday evening, the 19th of January, the prisoner paid
to the sister of the prosecutor, who acted as housekeeper,
the sum of six shillings, towards his board and lodgings,
stating that that was all he then had, and that he would pay
the balance of what he owed when he received some further
wages due to him. On the afternoon of the following day,
(Sunday,) the prosecutor saw the prisoner in bed with his
clothes on, apparently asleep, and there left him, (alone in
the house) without speaking, and went to chapel. Prosecutor
then saw all safe, and locked in the room his own box, con-
taining a suit of clothes, three half-sovereigns, and some
silver, in all amounting to £3 3s. 6d., together with one
East India coin—a rupee. The prosecutor, on his return
about eight o'clock, found the street door partly open. On
going up stairs, a bread knife, which had been constantly in
use below stairs, was found on the floor of the room much
jagged ; and the prosecutor's box had been broken open, and
the clothes and money abstracted. The prisoner dic. not re-
turn to the house, but was met by the sister of the prose-
cutor on the evening of the same day in Renshaw-street, and
being taking into custody on her information, when there
was found upon him three half sovereigns, some silver, and
a rupee. Several witnesses spoke to the good character of
the prisoner. The jury found him guilty.
The RECORDER, in passing sentence, notice the previous
good character of the prisoner, and concluded by sentencing
him to 12 months' imprisonment, and hard labour.
Elizabeth Mack, 18, a woman of the town, was charged
with having stolen a sovereign, eight crowns, and ten shil-
ings, the proper of Robert Cheers. The prosecutor, a dull-
looking man, advanced in years, said, that he had met the
prisoner and another girl in Roe-street on the 18th January.
and was persuaded to go with them (though a married man)
to a public-house, and afterwards to their lodgings flattered,
it appeared, by their addressing him as a young man. He
paid for some drink at both places, and when about to go was
detained by the prisoner, and several other women, one of
them, who demanded his money, threatened to take his life
if he did not deliver it up. The prisoner, while the others held
him, took his money from his pocket. He afterwards recog-
nized her in the street, and had her taken into custody. The
jury found the prisoner guilty. The Recorder said that she
should not be sent out of the country; but to a penitentiary,
where she would receive good advice and instruction, by
which, he hoped, she would profit. (Mr. Murphy, counsel
for the prisoner, said, " I hope you will also admonish the
virtuous married prosecutor—the ' fine young man.' ") The
Recorder (as we understood him) intimated that the conduct
of the prosecutor was highly reprehensible, but the robbery
was nevertheless flagrant ; and the sentence of the court was
that the prisoner be transported for seven years.

FELONIOUS APPROPRIATION OF PROPERTY FROM A
WRECK.
- -

Robert Parry, a well-dressed young man, but who, ac-
cording to the calendar, could read and write but imperfectly,
stood indicted with having feloniously stolen a watch, the
property of some person unknown.
Mr. Henry Bolton, a watchmaker, in Oldhall-street, stated
that on the 16th January, prisoner brought to him a gold
watch for sale, for which he wanted £5 and another watch
(a lever.) He said that he had found the watch at Hoy lake,
and that his name was Joseph Jones. He also gave his ad-
dress. Be said he wanted some money, and witness gave
him 55.; he retaining the watch, suspecting that it was not
properly come by, and stating to the prisoner that be required
some time to ascertain its value. u itness was leaving the
shop to take the watch to Mr. Dowling, of the police, with
a view to the affair being investigated through that gentleman,
when the prisoner returned to the shop, and asked for ano-
ther watch then, as part payment. Witness gave him one of
an inferior kind, to keep him in play, and, also, on his so-
licitation for further money, the additional sum of 3s. He
then went to Mr. Dowling with the watch, which was a gold
repeater, with a duplex escapement, worth from 60 to 70
guineas. In cross-examination it appeared that prisoner was
told by witness that he (witness) was going to take the watch
to Mr. Dowling, and that prisoner did not run away on
being so informed.

Tile further evidence was to the effect that the prisoner
had told various stories as to his possession of the watch,
and also an untruth as to his residence. To the constable
who apprehended him he said he had taken it out of the ca-
bin of the Pennsylvania, wrecked in the late gale. It was
further proved that he was one of those employed by the un-
derwriters to protect the property of the vessel. The pri-
soner received a good character from several individuals.
The RECORDER, in summing up, said that no man of com-
mon honesty would, who had found such a valuable article,
have done less than advertise it, or deposit in responsible
hands until the owner could be found. It was a mistake to
suppose that such property was to be appropriated by those
who " found" it, much less by those who took it occultly
from a wreck. Such property was as much protected by the
law of the land as was any other description of property.
The jury found the prisoner guilty.
The RECORDER, in passing sentence, said that it was neces-
sary to mark this crime—unhappily too frequent—by some
considerable punishment, and had not the prisoner hitherto
borne a good character, he would be dealt with more se-
verely. The sentence of the court was, that he should be
imprisoned for twelve calendar months, and kept to hard
labour.

Henry Thornhill, 35, pleaded not guilty to two indict-
ments—one charging him with having received twenty yards
of satin, twelve pairs of socks, and one piece of tape, the
property of some person unknown, before then feloniously
stolen or carried away, he knowing the same to have been
so stolen. He also pleaded not guilty to another similar
charge, but withdrew his plea on both indictments, and
pleaded " guilty." This was also a case arising out of the
wrecks. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment and
hard labour.

Charlotte Wilde was charged with having received 14
pairs of silk stockings, she knowing the same to have been
stolen, and pleaded not guilty. This case, althought it occu-
pied the court for a considerable time, was not of peculiar
interest. The stockings had been received from Nottingham
by Messrs. Todd and Naylors, of this town, and had been
stolen, from their premises in South Castle-street, They
were identified by the manufacturer from Nottingham. The
prisoner made a moving appeal for mercy, in consideration
of her sick husband and her child, and earnestly prayed that
she might not be sent out of the country. She was found
guilty of receiving, but recommended to mercy. It was
then stated that she had before been imprisoned as a reputed
thief—but this she strongly denied, and, it was admitted
that the statement was a mistake. The Recorder pronounced
sentence of seven years' transportation.
Thomas Brewer, 20, was charged with having stolen 201bs.
of sugar, the property of G. J. Wainwright, whose appren-
tice he was. The prisoner, a cooper, had been sent, on the
20th of February, from the office to sample a large quantity
of sugar in a warehouse in Tyrer-street North, and was ob-
served by a policeman with a basket on his arm, which he
took into an uninhabited cellar in Denison-street. Suspecting
something wroug, the officer went into the cellar, and in a
back cellar found the prisoner, with 20 samples of sugar, 18
of which he had just deposited on the floor. The other two,
as well as a quantity of loose sugar, about 201bs. weight,
were in the basket. Mr. Murphy, for the prisoner, took an
objection on the evidence being heard, that it was not proved
that Mr. Wainwright had lost any sugar at all out of his
stock, and that consequently, the indictment would not stand,
This, however, the court over-ruled. Several respectable
persons spoke highly of the prisoner's character. He was
found guilty, and sentenced to 12 month's imprisonment and
hard labour.

Michael Rennet and James Maxwell, lumpers, were found
guilty of having stolen three logs of timber, the property of
Charles Chaloner and partner. It appeared that Retina, who
produced respectable witnesses as to character, was but
slightly concerned. Both were found guilty. Maxwell, an
old offender, was sentenced to be transported for seven years,
and Renna to two months' imprisonment and hard labour.