Star.
London, England, 1821-07-23 00:00:00

BANKRUPTS.

Edward Sheppard, Grosvenor-street, wine-merchant, to sur-
render July 28, August 4, and September 1, at eleven, at
GuildhalL Attorney, Mr. Shiers, Mitre-Chambers, Fen-
church-- treet.
Joseph Gilbert, late of Maidstone, twine and rope-maker, July
24, August 4, and September 1, at ten, at Guildhall, Lon-
don. Attornies, Alessi-is. Noy and Hardstone, Great Tower-st.
Joseph LAwrance, Pimlico, wine-merchant, July 28, August
4, and September 1, at ten, at GuildhalL Attorney, Mr.
Brawn, Crauford-street, Portman-square.
William Ladkin, Leir, Leicestershire, victualler, July 30, at
six' 31, and September I, at nine, at the King's Head Inn,
Coventry. Attornies, Messrs. Long and Austen, Gray's Inn ;
or Messrs. Troughten am! Lea, Coventry.
John Flanders, late of Atherstone, Warwickshire, bookseller,
August 1, at six, 2, at ten, and September 1, at six, at the
Bull Inn, Nuneaton. Attornies, Messrs. Hilliard and Has-
tings, Gray's Inn-square ; or Messrs. smith and Baxter,
Atherstone.
Thomas Cnx, Crediton, Devon, innkeeper, July 23, 30, and
September 1, at eleven, at the Half Moon Inn, Exeter. At-
tornies, Messrs. Andros and Alderson, Chancery-lane; or
Mr. Pring, Crediton.
Genrge Arnold, Manchester, fustian-manufacturer, August 3,
4, and September 1, at three, at the Star Inn, Deansgate,
Manchester. Attorney, 3lr. lleslop, Manchester.
Jo' n Drake, Lewisham, master-mariner, July 28, 31, and Sep-
tember 1, at twelve, at Guildhall. Attorney, Mr. Simpson,
St. Swithin's-lane.
DI VI DEN I)S to be made at GUILDHALL

July CS, J. Nowill, Cheapside, stationer, at eleven. August
18, 1). Cox, Ikh-stztet, Southwark, stationer, at twelve.—
August is, G. Arney, lee of Bury-street, St. Mary Axe ware-
house-bet:in r, at ten. August 4, J. Wilson, Macclesfield, book-
seller, at ten. August 4, T. Lynn, Jerusalem Coffeehouse,
Consign, merchant, at ten. July 28, W. Brock and B. Lie
Mesurier, Warnford-court, Tbrogmorton-street, merchants, at
ten. August 11, W. and T. Bingley,Tavistock-street, Covent-
garden, lineu.drapers, at ten. August 11, J. Fuller, of the
Neat Houses, gardener, at eleven. August 11, J. inck, late
of Arundel-street, Strand, stationer, at twelve. August 11, J.
Hart, Lewisham, builder, at one. August 11, N. Farmer,
East-lane, Bermondsey, rope-maker, at one. August 25, 11.
Burgess and J. Ilubbard, Miles's-lane, Cannon-street, wool-
staplers, at ten.
CERTIFICATES—Ayr:us,. 11.

J. Cook, Oakley 31ills, near Eye, Suffolk, miller. J. Na-
tion, Gosport, victualler. M. Abitbol, Commercial Chambers,
litories, merchant. T. Like, Old Brompton, builder. J.
11. Billing, jun. New City Chambers, corn-factor. E. Harsant,
Wapping-street, carpenter. J. Kyflin, late of Limehouse-hole,
dealer. S. Ford, Great Bush-lane, Cannon-street, wine-mer-
chant. \V. Lushington, jun. late of Mark-lane, merchant.
It. Dawson, Norwich, linen-draper. S. W. Woolticb, late of
Stafford, druggist. It. Stainer, llchester, Somersetshire, inn-
keeper. J. Lethbridge, Carmarthen-street, Tottenham-Court-
mai, carpenter. J. French, Coventry, ribbon-manufacturer.
DISSOLUTIONS OF PA ItTNERSHIPS.

Lawrance and Co. Bromley-le-Bow, brewers. Parker and
Sampson, Crawford-street, Montague-square, chemist. Thorn-
ton and Co. Hull. Nash and Walker, Kenton-street, Brunswick-
sq :are, plumber.. Franklin and Nicholson, Liverpool-, sail-
siakers. Willis and Co. Warnford-court, Tbroginorton-street,
attornit.s. J. and W. Aked, Halifax, stone-masons. Wilkins
a Id Shiets, Great Russell-street, Bermondsey, fellmongers.—
liisslinpp and Carolan, George-street, Manchester-square, apu-
thecarks. Hogg and Holgate. Hendon. S;gmond and Heath,
T.A.th, surgeon dentists. Smith and Holland, Stockport, Min-
im- tv.ani.facturers. Round and Field, Reading, corn-dealers.
Clarke and Tellowley, Gracechutr.h-street, stationers.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, JULY 21.

CONSPIRACY AMONG POLICE OFFICERS, TO
EXTORT MONEY.

- _
Thecircumstantes, in this case, as proved in evi-
dence, were as follow: Some time since three lads,
the youngest of whom was scarcely twenty years old,
were apprehended on the charge of picking the
pocket of a person of the name of Alfred Nicholson,
of his silk handkerchief, in the crowd upon the occa-
sion of some procession with an Address going tip to
the Queen the beginning of April last, and conveyed
in custody to the Marlborough-street Office. Thither
the mothers of the two youngest repaired, and soon
learned in conversation with two of the officers, that
if money was to be had, something might be done to
prevent their sons being brought' to trial. An ap-
pointment was made for the following morning to
settle terms, when another officer, who had nothing
to do with the transaction of the robbery, made his
appearance in the character of an agent to negotiate
between the officers and the friends of the prisoners,
and it was at length agreed that the matter should
be made up for £5. ibis sum the two women with
great difficulty at length procured—one of them
having actually sold the bed from under her to raise
the money. The understanding being that the bill
should be thrown out, the poor women were greatly
surprised and alarmed to learn, as they did a few
days afterwards, that a true bill had been found
against all three of the prisoners. Their remon-
strances on this subject were quieted by the assur-,
ance that it would be all right; for upon the trial
two of the officers would be absent, and an acquittal
must therefore be the consequence. Notwithstanding
this promise the three prisoners were brought to trial,
and upon the evidence of these very officers convicted
and sentenced to be transported for life. From the
statements of the prisoners while in Newgate, Mr.
Sheriff Watrumaw learnt the particulars of the nego-
ciations which had taken place previous to the trial,
and rigid inquiry was immediately set on foot. The
women, too, were loud in their demands for the re-
turn of their money ; the regular Police-officers of
Marlborough-street Office, much to their honour,
disclaimed with disgust all connection with these
understrappers, and promoted the women's claim for
justice; the transaction soon reached the ears of Mr-
MAINWARING, the Magistrate ; a strict investigation
of the whole affair took place, the parties were ad-
vised to prosecute, and Mr. BURGESS (the Solicitor,
through whose active exertions the blood-money men
were brought to justice), volunteered to carry on the
prosecution at his own expense, the two women being
too poor to defray even the common necessary dis-'
bursements, and the trial came on at Hicks's Hall,
before FRANCIS Cowsr, Esq. the Chairman, and a
Bench of Magistrates, on Saturday last. Mr. Sheriff
WAITHMAN was also in attendance, and took his
seat on the Bench.

The prisoners names were Edward Breton, Wil-
liam Jones, and William Mason. The indictment
contained three several counts.

1. For conspiring to cheat and defraud the parties, under pre-
tence of settling and compounding a charge of felony.
2. Conspiring and obtaining money upon the colour and pre.
tence of refraining to give any material evidence upon a bill of
indictment for fidony, and thereby to cause the said bill to be
thrown out by the Grand Jury.
3. The general count for obtaining money by divers unlaw-
ful, fraudulent, and deceitful contrivances and pretences.

The first witness called was Mrs. Ann Horton, who
deposed, that on Thursday, April 5, she went with
Mrs. Hutton, the mother of one of the young men
who bad been taken up, to the Marlborough-street
Office ; they saw the defendant Jones in the passage,
and asked him if he had committed the three young,
men to Newgate? He said he had. They then asked
if anything could be done for them ? The defendant
Mason was with Jones, and they both replied, some-
thing might be done, and that what they had sworn
at the Mee, they need not swear to at the Old Bai-
ley. They then went all four into the Marlborough
Head public-house, opposite the Office, where Jones
and Mason had a glass of liquor each, which Mrs.
Hutton paid for. On their coming out, Jones pro-
posed that the friends of the three lads should meet
on the following Saturday at the Marlborough Head,
to endeavour to make up the affair. On the Satur-
day, Mrs. Hutton, Mrs. Howlett (the wife of one of
the young men), and Mrs. Gates (who passed as the
wife of the third young man), and herself, went to-
gether to the Marlborough Head, and inquired for
Jones. The defendant Breton was sitting in the tap-
room; he asked them their business, which they in-
formed him of, and also that they were there by ap-
pointment to meet Jones and Mason. Breton then said
he knew Jones, and that !.e could make everything
right. He then went over to the Office, and she
saw him in conversation with Jones and Mason at
the Office-door for some minutes; he then returned,
and said it was all right ; it could be settled for five
pounds, and the bill should be thrown out. Mrs.
Gates and herself then walked with him to Bow-
street, to see Mr. Jefferson, who she understood was
a street-keeper, about it. Mrs. Gates and she waited
at the public-house opposite to the Office; and shortly
after Breton and Jefferson came in, and had some-
thing to drink, which she paid for. Breton then said,
that the five pounds must be made up by the Mon-
day morning. They then returned back in company
together to the Marlborough Head, where they parted.
On Sunday, Breton called upon her and Mrs. Hutton,
repeated that he had seen Jones, that all was right
and settled, and that the bill should be thrown out;
but that the five pounds must be paid on the Mon-
day morning, which they agreed to. On the Mon.
day she went to Bow-street, where she saw' Jones,
Breton, and another man; she asked Jones if le
would step home with her? He replied, everything
was settled; but whatever was done, he must not be
seem in it, as he should lose his situation. Breton
then went home with her. Mrs. Howlett was there,
and in her presence Mrs. Howlett paid Breton El 14s.
'in part of the five pounds. Breton called again at
four o'clock by appointment, when Mrs. Howlett
paid him El 6s. more, making up three pounds, her
share. Mrs. Hutton not being ready with her share,
it was agreed that they should meet Breton at the
Lamb and Fiag, Clerkenwell-green, on the next
morning. Mrs. Hutton and herself accordingly went
there, and saw Breton. They then went together to
the Three Kings public-house, where Mrs. Hutton
paid Breton two one pound notes, as the remainder
of the five pounds; Mrs. Howlett also being present,

and Breton gave each of them a receipt. The re-
ceipts were here put in and read, as follows : •
London, April 10, 18c21.
" Received of Mrs. Hutton, the sum of 8., to be returned in
case the business is not accomplished. " IFDIVAUD 131M1Orl."
—The receipt to Mrs. Howlett differed only in the
name and amount. On the Wednesday she saw Bre-
ton again, who again said he had seen Jone-, and
that the bill should be thrown out. She saw Breton
again on the Friday. This was after the bill had
been found. She remonstrated with him on the hill's
being found, as the money had been paid. Ile told
her to make herself quite easy, as the officers had
the money, and it would be all right at the trial, as
two of the officers would be out of the way.

On her cross-examination, nothing came out to in-
validate her testimony, but her having described her-
self as the sister of Mrs. Hutton's son; but this she
accounted for from the ciicumstance of her having
been brought up with him, and for the purpose of
being permitted to see him in Newgate, as none but
relatives were admitted to see prisoners.
Mrs. Howlett and Mrs. Hutton were severally exa-
mined, and confirmed the testimony of the former
witness in every material particular. In the course
of their examination it came out, that the five pounds
was to be divided among five of the officers, and that
Breton was to have a one pound note for his trouble
in the business ; but in consequence of being so poor,
and the difficulty of raising the money, he agreed to
wait for his share-of the booty.
Mr. Clark, who keeps the Marquis of Angles=
public-house, in Bow-street, remembers Mrs. Horton,
Jones, and Breton, drinking together at his house,
and that Jones said all should be right.—This closed
the evidence for the prosecution.
In the defence, it was contended on the part of
Jones and Mason, that they had taken no part in the
negotiation for, or the receipt of, the money ; and
on the behalf of Breton, that he had acted only as the
agent of the officers, and had no interest whatever in
the issue of the transaction. , •
Mr. CoNsT, the Chairman of the Session, summed
, up the evidence with great minuteness and fidelity.
The Jury, after a short consultation, returned a
verdict of Guilty against the three defeudants upon
all the counts of the indictment.

The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to pass the sen-
tence of the law upon the defendants, and observed,
that such was the enormity of their offence, that he
feared the sentence the Court was about to pass upon

. .
them might be considered too lenient a punishment
for the crime of which an impartial Jury of their,
countrymen had pronounced them guilty. In con-
sidering the case, the Court had remarked the degrees
and shades of difference as to the participation in
these iniquitous practices; and as it Was always the
wish and intention of that Court to administer justice
tempered with mercy, their respective punishment
had been apportioned with a view to the degrees of
guilt that had been proved against them. Ihe sen-
tence of the Court was, that Edward Breton and
William Jones be severally imprisoned in the House.
of Correction, Coldbath-fields, for the space of two
years ; and that William Mason be imprisoned in
the same jail for the space of six calendar mink.
The defendant Jones formerly belonged to the
Patrol at Bow-street, but was discharged, and has
since got himself sworn in as a Parish Coirstable.—
Mason is also a Parish Constable. Breton was for-
merly a night-patrol, belonging to Bt. Giles's parish,
and latterly a sort of follower at the Marlborough-
street and Bow-street Offices.

As illustrative of this abominable system, it is to

be remarked, that when Howlett and his two com-
panions were committed from Marlborough-street,
the prosecutor, Nicholson, Jones, and a sort of Officer
of the name of Griffiths, were the only persons bound
over to prosecute ; but on the trial, the names of Ma-
son, Wilson, a Bow-streel patrol, and Duke, a kind
of thief-taker, were on the back of the bill. A Con-
stable, of the name of Pepper, stated to the Magis-
trate at Marlborough-street, that Mason had applied
to him to put his name on the back of his bills, and
offered to pay him ss. out of the expenses he might
be allowed in consequence.