Star.
London, England, 1818-05-14 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY.

Yesterday Mary Anderson, aged only 15, stood in-
dicted for stealing three shifts, a bonnet, and other
articles of wearing apparel, the property of E. Brice
Watson.—The Jury found her Guilty, but recom-.
mended her to mercy on account of her youth.
Mary Ftlis was iniicted for stealing a pelf :se, a
hat, an umbrella, a silver spoon, and a loaf of bread,
the property of George Webber.—Guilty.

John ill'Gregor, a very interesting looking boy,
of about thirteen years old, was indicted for stealiog
thh-ty-nine knives and seven forks, the property of
''Fhotnas Dale; and Thomas Avery was also indicted
for receiving part of the property, knowing it to have
been stolen. •

Mr. Anotrrtus stated the case to the Jury. The
circumstances were the following :—The prosecutor
is the proprietor cf the Belvidere Tavern, Penton-
vile. The young pri.ioner, M'Gregor, was occasio-
nally employed to assist the waiters at the Tavern
within the last twelve months. During that time,
the prosecutor missed a great many knives and forks,
but could not account for the manner in which they
were taken. At length suspicion falling upon Mac-
Gregor, he was watched, and detected taking three
knives. He then confessed that he had been in the
habit of taking as many as he could for a long type,
that he sold them to the prisoner, who lived in the
neighbourhood of Batdebridge, at a penny each, and
he added, that Avery told him to bring as many
more as he could, and gave him twopence as an en-
couragement. After this confession, the prosecutor,
accompanied by Read, the Officer, took M'Gregor
to Avery's house, where they found thirty-six knives
and seven forks, which were proved to be Mr: Dale's
property, and which had been stolen by M'Gregor.
Avery, in his defence, stated that the boy came to
him, and, representing himself as the son of a cutler
in great distress, begged Gf him to purchase the
knives and forks, in order to supply his father and
family with the means of subsistence.

Eight witnesses gave Avery an excellent character
for honesty and sobriety.
The COMMON SERJEANT summed up the evidence.
and the Jury found both the prisoners Guilty, but
recommended them to mercy—the boy on account
of his youth, and the prisoner Avery in consequence
of his previous good character.
The COMMON &WEAN? observed, that the feel-
ings of the Court were quite in unison with those of
the Jury, with respect to the boy ; but the punish.
ment of the other prisoner _hould remain a matter of
consideration. Persons in the situation in which
Avery then stood, were, in many instances, the de.
strnction of young boys circumstanced as M.Gregor
was. The appearance of good character was fre-
quently, the passport to the commission of such f-
fen ce s as that on which the Jury had decided.
John Read was found Guilty of stealing a variety
of horse furniture and other articles. No less than
three places were broken open in one night, and part
of each.of the properties stolen wa:. found upon the
prisoner. . _ _

-•
The following prisoners were acquitted, viz. Eli-
zabeth Botthatn, Margaret Fitzgerald, Zleanor
P. Mark, and 11. ration.

Masta.soaoreu-sestrer.—A case of importance was canvassed
at this cilice yesterLy, relative to the carriages of the ,Royal
Fainil7 paying toll, no part of the Royal Family being therein.
ft was on an information against General Wen:Arena, in the
suite of the Duke of Kest, for refusing to pay a toll of nlnepenc.:
at Nottinghlll Gate, on the Uxbridge road, the turnpike men be-
lieving the carriage which the General was in not to be a Royal
carriage. The General stated that he conceived himself exempt
from the toll, he beie in the suite of the Duke of Kern, ant on
his business, but admitted the canizge wets his own.—A nominal
cooviction wok place, but no penalty attached, at the desire of
the toll-taker, who required costs only, which was eorSpried with.
Woasuir-srisra...—J. Owns was charged with selling forged
Bank-notes. A fortnight ago the wife of King, employed in
Whitbread's brewhouse, met the prisoner at the Crown and
Sceptre in Arthur-street, St. Luke's, when he told her he couLL
furnish her with one pound Bark-notes at lOr each, which she
could readily pass at the Fairs. She pledged articles to the amount
of one pound, with which she perchased two forged notes, and
went to redeem the pledge with one of them; but the pawnbro-
ker questioned her, and she told him the circumstance, and he
detained the note, and advised her to inform a Constable, which
she accordingly did, and met the prisoner by appointment at the I
Prince Regent in Arthur-street, on the !Vandal, following,where
she purctiased four more with money f mei shed by the Constable,'
who was in wait hig,and took him into custody. Fully committed.
Id aossois-Housx.—&ridget .l 1 lota w ts yesterday charged with
stealing a child, aged two years, the daughter of H. Davis. The
prosecutor deposed, that he resided in Barclay's-cunt, 7,lolborn
On Tuesday the child was playing in the court, %hes witness
perceived 'he prisoner speak to it. Suspecting her intention, be
informed his wife of it, and they bctb watched for nearly a
quarter of an hour ; durieg which time she continued conversing
with the child, and drawing It towards the end of the court. At
length she suddenly took it up in her arms, and ran off. The
witness was about to pursue her' when his wife dropped lifeless
on the door. Having however placed her in 'ha care of some
neighbours, be ran in search of the delinquent, and overtook her
near St. Andrew's Church. He instantly snatched the child, and
calln,g for an othcer, gave the prisoner in charge.—The prisoner
in her defence said, with a strong Hibernian accent, " By my
soul, your linr.our, I did'nt wish to run away with the darling;
the little creature so struck my fancy, that I wanted to know who
it belonged to, and all about it."—The Loan Maros," Are you
the mother of children Prisneer, ."flie devil a-one, your
'honour; I would have had plenty long since, and plske your
Heinous, but I cuuldn't get a husband to my lilacs.' The pri-
soner was fully committed for trial.