Star.
London, England, 1819-09-04 00:00:00

THE RECOVERY OF THE LOST CHILD.

)MANSION-HOUSE
Mrs. Mary Ridding, the wife of Captain Ridding,
of the (Oh Regiment, was'yesterday brought before
the LORD MAYOR, by Martin, the City Officer, who
stated, that he had just arrived from Birmingham
with the prisoner and the child of John Shrier, the
night-constable of Mile-end Old Town. The female
is one of respectable appearance, was extremely well-
' dressed, and did not appear much affected at her
condition, until she saw that there was a certainty of
prosecution. The Captain, her husband, was present,
and in great agitation during the whole examination.
He entered the Justice-room in tears, was scarcely
master of himself at any period of the investigation,
and he quitted the presence of the Loan MAYOR with
a heart almost bursting. The age-of the prisoner is,
apparently, about 24 years; the Captain has seen
double that number of years. Upon being first
placed at the bar, Mrs. Ridding betrayed some levity,
but, as before noticed; the change became obvious as
the evidence advanced. _ _

- -
John Shrier said, he resided at 21, Bencroft-place,
Mile-end, and had never seen the prisoner until
Thursday. He was on Saturday engaged at Lam-
beth-street Police Office, and in returning home was
informed by some of his neighbours, that one of his
children was lost. He bad no serious concern until
he learned that it was his youngest child, who was
little more than 14 months old. On going home he
found that his wife was seeking the child.' Ho fol-
lowed, and saw her in a state of distraction, for she
had received no intelligence that could lead to a re-
covery. Two young women came up, and said they
saw a Lady take the child from its brother's arms,
and walk across the fields with it. There were se-
veral children present when the Lady bore off the
child, but they had not sense enough to give proper
intelligence. A woman also said' that she saw a
Lady take off the hat of the child, and throw it in
the field, after which she put another hat, apparently
more genteel, upon it, and proceeded down Edward-
street, towards Stepney. Information was also brought
to him by a young man of gentility, who appeared
to exert himself very much, that he had seen a Lady
and child at the Three Pigeons, Stratford-green, and
that the &liner appeared in a very agitated, and the
latter in a restless state. The search of that night
was ineffectual. His wife had no rest, and as early
as possible they rose on Sunday morning, and went
to the public-house mentioned, where they heard
that no Lady of the description given had been seen
there. A person from Shacklewell informed the wit-
ness soon after, that a woman had entered her shop
in a sleet Astra/ion, and sat down much fatigued ;
that she said she was unaccustomed to carry a child,
and she felt the effects of it, being very tired. That
the Lady get milk for the child, and then, having or-
dered a coach, drove off to the Saracen's Head,
Snow-hill. The witness immediately set off for that
Inn, where he heard that a woman and child, such
as he had.described, had arrived there about four
o'clock ; that the woman had discharged the coach,
'but being disappointed in a passage to Leamington
or Birmingham, that she called another coach, and
that there all trace of her was lost for that day. The
activity of the officers, however, succeeded in a short
time. She was traced to New-square, Minories, a
from thence to the place where she was apprehend-a
through the medium of a letter which the Loan
Mayda had obtained authority of the Secretary of
State to open. The witness, upon going to Birming-
ham, and seeing his child, knew it immediately. His
knowledge of it was not only directed by its general
features, but by a scar on its leg, and Over the right
eye. He was asked whether the child was his P but
he did not immediately answer, as he wished to see
whether he, should be first recognized by the child.
On being asked why he hesitated ? he said—" Cer-
tainly it is my child." He was next asked by a per-
son in the room, whether he did not get a knowledge
ofthose marks while he was there? He was pro-
vided with an answer to that question, and at once
produced a bill which described the child.
Martin, the officer, stated that he was employed in
this case. He traced the woman to the Saracen's
Head, where he was informed by the waiter, that a
Lady such as he had described bad been there three
days before, and that he believed she lodged in the
New-square, Minories, at the house of a Mrs. Knight,
who bad applied at that inn for a character of her.
Upon going to Mrs. Knight's on Sunday night, the
witness heard that she had left her lodgings suddenly
the night before, took away her things, paid her
teckoning, and gave ss. to a little girl who attended
her. Mrs. Knight said she thought it singular that
Mrs. Ridding always carried a child's bat in her hand
when she went out; but the Lady said she might
think it a little singular, but that she bought it for o
soldier's child, and it served her as a ridicule. The
witness's attempts to find the coach in which she set
off from the Saracen's Head were without effect, but
Mrs. Knight's subsequent communication removed
the necessity of continuing that inquiry. The letter
alluded to by the former witness was, through the
interference of the Loan MAYOR, opened, and frost
that letter the witness learned that the husband of
Mrs. Ridding Was at Birmingham. It was from the
Captain, and one part of it mentioned, " If our deer
little boy is so ill, it is better not to remove him yet."
Witness went off to Bit mingham by the coach. The
father of the child had, in his agitation, got into the
coach without having the means of travelling ; and
by the advice of the witness, he postponed his journey
for some hours. Upon the arrival of the-witness at
Birmingham, he went to the public-house next to
which he learned Captain -Ridding lodged, and upon
inquiry found that the Captain's wife and child had
arrived the day before. He went frequently into the
shop, where he purchased a few books, and saw Mrs.
Ridding and the child, but said not a word until the
arrival of the father, which was on the succeeding
day. He then went in, and upon seeing Mrs. Rid-
ding, said he wanted to speak to her privately. He
said he was an officer from London, and had serious
business with her. " I have to charge you," said he,
" with having stolen a child." The prisoner replied
"If that's the case, they gave it to ine as mine." At
this moment the child was brought in by an, girl, and
the witness took it inhis arms and kept it. etain'then entered, and the witness mid him who
aid what his bbsiness was. Captain Ridding
was violently agitated, told him that he had been in
India some years ; that his wife bad been with hi*,

wc, '►

' but that some time ago be had sent her home, upon
which occasion she told him she was pregnant ; that
afterwards she informed • him that she had been
brought to bed of a boy at the Cape of Good Hope,
and that upon his arrival in this country she told him
his child was in London. The officer observed, that
the clothes of the child were most extravagantly ex-
pensive, and that it seemed to be most indulgently
treated. Mrs. Ridding told him that she had taken
the child with a good intention ; that she thought it
would make the Captain happy,
ii and that it would
increase the happiness of if they had a child.
She therefore determined upon adopting one, and
took that infant, thinking at the same time that the
hand of Goa put it into her arms.
The LORD MAYOR asked the prisoner whether she
wished to say any thing in her defence In reply she
uttered the following words without hesitation:—
" My motive for taking this child was one of huma-
nity. Having no child of my own, I was determined
to adopt that of some poor person, and of course I
should have treated it with as much tenderness as if
it was actually my own. I did not intend to steal a
child, but I saw a number of children playing toge-
ther, and this infant was placed in my arms, as I
thought by the hand of Paevinsuce. I waited for
some time; but finding that nobody came for the
child,- I considered it as left to my protection, and
walked away with it. I soon relented, but it was too
late, and I left the Metropolis with the resolution to
find out the parents at a future period. I bought
clothes for it, and have treated it with parental affec-
tion. My motive was good, and I intended no injury
to any body."
Captain Ridding here requested that the Loan
MAYOR would allow the case to stand over, until a
Solicitor could be procured. They had arrived in
town but that morning, and were wholly unprepared.
The LORD MAYOR said, he felt the greatest dispo-
sition to oblige the Captain, whom he sincerely pities ;
but the circumstance having occurred• in the county
of Middlesex, he felt himself bound to transfer the
case to Lambeth:street Office.
At Lambeth-street Office additional evidence was
adduced. The mother attended with the child in
her arms; she swore it was her offspring, and was
nearly 15 months old.
Samuel .Shrier, the brother, to whose care the child
was intrastect mid, that he went out on the afternoon
of Saturday into the adjacent fields. He took his
four brothers with him, amongst wheim was Benja-
min, whom he carried in his arms. He sat on the
grass, when a Lady came to him, asked him whether
that was Bencroft's-place, and if there was any cake-
shop in the neighbourhood? She next asked him,
whether the child in his arms was his brother? Upon
his saying yes, she took it from his arms, gave him a
shilling, and told him to get three-pennyworth of
cakes. He went for the cakes, and on his return the
Lady and his little brother were gone.
Sarah Holdgate' who resides at No. 4, Golds-hill,
Shacklewell, and keeps a green-grocer's shop, said,
that the prisoner came there on Saturday last, asked
for • some fruit, and appeared much fatigued and
flurried. She had a child wrapt in a shawl about the
hsLlfi:ereidt,tnlbtu.adbssmuytdidosiedthatpriyne.h:eotrinfint was dirty compared with the
wishtte:nraurretiedshoneedtowastoagetwhageryoia: nanacoacgs;h:onsia:aid
yasypm,risoarrkueadcnhdwha
after a person came to the witness, and said she be.
lieved the Lady who had just left with a child had
stolen it. The witness sent a sailor after the Lady,
and be said, upon his return, that she had told him
it was not her child. The witness herself went then,
but could not see the Lady.
Captain Ridding applied to the Vagistrate to post-
pone the commitment of his wife, until a Solicitor,
who was unavoidably absent, should attend.
The Magistrate said, that he should be glad to
comply with any request, provided it did not inter-
fere with his public duty. He did not know how de-
lay could serve the Lady, and it was his determina-
tion' even lithe whole Bar should attend, to commit
her for trial

CORK ASSIZES, AtIGUSr 19.
John Crowley, Men►y Dennehy, John 111,Carthy,
Michael Linehan, and John Ambrose, were put to the
bar, charged with a burglary in the house of Mrs.
Minton.—Mrs. Minton heing sworn, deposed, that
she resided at Beechmount. On the night of the
18th of June, the house was attacked at eleven o'clock.
The family were in bed, and were alarmed at the
noise of breaking in the windows. She did not see
any of the robbers, but afterwards missed a plated
bread-basket, two toasters, and a bed-chamber can.
dlestick and snuffers.

William Carroll, an informer. The evidence of
this and the following witness developed a scene of
confederacy. and villainy, which has seldom been
equalled. He knew the prisoners, he said, and ac.
companied them to rob Mrs. Minton's, in June last.
It was twelve o'clock when they attacked the house,
with a sle4ve hammer, which they took from a smith's
forge the night before, and with which Crowley broke
the window. Five of them remained outside, among
whom we', Dennehy and Linehan, to give the alarm,
if any onewas coming. After getting in through
the window, they broke the parlour-door, and then
the hall-door, in order, If there was a pursuit, to got
off. The sentries outside whistled, and they went of
with the property.
The following cross-ezaminatic
Mr. O'GoastAx took place :
If all the robberies you ever committed were put together, ho w
aunty would they make ?—I don's know ; I'm use long robbing.
How long are you robbing l—About Is months.
In that time bow many robberies have you couunktoo--
Only AM
In any of those robberies were you war spread 7—No.
If you were, would you not have murdered whoever opposed
vas t—l-woisid (41 trksent lIISS through the usiniski
Were you tried at the last Mosinee—l was tat ; I wasamigase.
For what?—For
Did you ever rob the stuns mon a second time P—l did.
Whit was his name?..—caudan. •

on of this witness by

Did you rob Lien a third diduat.
Did you ever rob your own daughter?—l didn't ; I sin not old
eneukts to have a daughter who Could have anything of her own.
Haw many 'rives have you had?—l was twice.
Are they aloof-410, they are not. •
What happened to theta l'--Tlusy died regniady.
I—regularly?--Oie of these had been drowned._ .
Wien dawned herl4—'Twas the water drowned her.
ilwasn't you was tt?—No, 4t-was nt; I intuit there. She
Irmielf: she was earning comb( abase, and bad halt
I ale& of strata to go—and that's, this way she oaf drawood.
Whir* of your wives was that??-.The Deal wassetsaarried te.
'What happened to poor other MVET—lllit died In her bed.
Where were you tisep?—l wasn't with her.

.Did Toe eves zo Kr. Timothy Lane? 40.
Did you ever fire at him?—No; but I seized i wan
who was hired by another titan to fire at him.
What happened to bite—He was hanged.
Did you inform against binft—l did.
Did you ever rob your brother?—No, I didn't.
Did you ever esierunit a robbery near Youg:ial?---%
Were you ever in the army ?—I was.
What regintenti—l was in the 24th, the North Curl,,:

Afterseim ' .

- _
'Thstrle- bet.

IDid Toe eves rub Kr. Timothy Lane?-,Sto.
Did you ever fire at him ?-No ; but I seized I us- , , •
who was hired by another bun to fire at him. ma
1111
What happened to hint?--He was hanged.
Did you inform against binft-I did.
Did you ever rob your brother?-No, I didn't..
Did you ever can-unit a robbery near You .•1' v
Were you ever In the army ?-I was.
What regiment ?-I was in the 24th, the North Cur., ,4i, i .
Did you desert P-No, I was discharged at the put, At 1
Worry Militias. .
coming from ilrance.
How did you live there ti.-On whatever was going,
Did you pay for it?-Sometimes I used, and sonn•
t,/
used not. •
Were the articles charged in this robber' found in
rm.
session?-1 hey were in my lodgingo.
Timothy Murphy, the smith from whom the- ~
was taken. was called merely to prove that fact; f o
could not tell by whom. .4
Philip Torpy.—.This was anotl- er of the gang, , il
though not present at the robbery in question; 4
inferior to none of his associates in villany. Her e
coming from Bandon with Dennehy and anci tl
man not present, and inquired from a woman it,-
they met with on the road, who lived at Mrs, , 0
tons, whether she was' a widow, had any sons, , o
any money? and having obtained the necesqrf F
formation, cam! to Cork, and communicated It to .. 0'
rest of the gang, who agreed, when they got . .. ti
to go and rob the house. F
Croosazamioed by Mr. W Goaoas.--How ?nor tow • 1
hares you been guilty of in your life ?.-A great n.„3.. 6
When did you commence robber?-Lau Assizes fit
You were then tried, wern't you?-No, I wasn't.
But you were in jail ?-I was; but I was discharged. '
How keg after you were discharged did you commit the ,
robbery 1-About a week.
Whom did you rob first?-Callaghan SPCarty. r
Did you get any money from him ?-No.
Whom did you rob neat?-One Lloyd, a farmer at •
twohill.
I suppose, if you were opposed on either of these . - :.. ol
you would have committed murder?-7b be sure I wuld. ft
Where did you rob the third tittie?-At a farmer's at D F
manway. in
Did you get say money there?-Sixty guineas in gold.
What did you do with them ?--W e spent them. a
But you're quite sure if any body opposed you, yon
have murdered them ?- To be sure we would. to
The Carer Balms told the Jury, that the fire; • s:
di
saner: were capitally indicted for burglary and r.,
bery. No doubt the burglary and robbery were pro%
an
to have been committed, but there were no wt.., .
for the Crown of . unimpeached character, and a., A
was no instance of an execution having taken plat' F.
this country upon such evidence. The wi . Fl
were in that situation, covered with crime, and
F
cording to their own confession, ready to co,,D
.murder, that they ought to be regarded with cat... is.,
and doubt. Somebody should be produced to p
either that the prisoners were near when the rcb..
' was committed, or that the articles were found in ii. 01
Si,
possession; or some circumstance should be acidu.,
a 7
to connect them with the transaction. The two ',, Fr
nesses who were examined just so far cond. .. al
each other as one desperate character could another is,
De;
but here the evidence closed ; and though it was . an
' duty to tell the Jury that this was legal evidence,
was also his duty to tell them they should be .
and unwilling to believe it.—Not Guilty.
The same men, and several others of the -
1
gang, were subsequently put to the Bar for .
hareems, but were obliged to be acquitted, as .. •
was no evidence against them but that of the inf. .. . 'IX
Ht
N7LW GA TE AIM LEADENH ALL M ARK ETS, SEPT if
(By the Carcase.) sin
lad ... ..... -.as ed to 4s id I Veal 4s 04 to St To
Mutton .........4a 4d to es ed 1 Pork Ss 44 to 6s al
lamb, 44 ed to is ad. nu
ticl
PRICES or HAY ono STRAW YESTERDAY. the
• re. taxes's. worrornaga of
Hay 51 es- ed to el Os Od Hay... 51 5s to d Si the
Straw 11 16s Od to 21 Ile 64 Newdo.ol Os to of Cs
Clover 01 Os ed to 01 Os Od Straw 21 104 to 21 164
Clover 71 71 to SI 8. Ni
. PN/CE OF HOP&
wise mob. 141 w POCEITi.
Went
Basses EI 16a to 31 10s Sussex 2l Itis ta 1. the
Essex ...... oi ' os to 01 os Essex
Foreign ... 21 Oa to 111 Os Farnham
' PRICX or TALLOW, SOAP, &c per i it& Win
Town Tallow 63s ed Dine rough
Yellow Russia ... ..... 63a Od Yellow Soap ............
tan
White ditto -a Od Mottled ... .............. ..
Soap ditto .. elk Od Curd i. Soo
Melting 5tne.............. Ws Od Palm
----
PRICE OF CA N DLBS-Frona Tallow Chandlers' IBA
Candles, per doz. les Od-Moulds, 13, 64; 6d. per dose
allowed for ready money.
Ind
COAL' MARKET, •Strzzatars 3. la
Ships at Market. Ships Sold. Price.
to 1
In Newcastle 15e 31s 0.1 to 59s 91
Bp
5 Sunderland 5 54s 3d to 401 Od
En
1 Culm . I 34s ed to - au
COUNTRY MARKETS. rail
Ozreaa, Sere. 2.lahe priceof a Bethel of Wheat Bs. • Pea
The Half-peck Loaf, Wheaten, is. !O.- Homeholii, is. 70 Ap
LOWRY, SM. 2.-Wheat 71. toile. 6c1.-Beans Si. a la
9tlzefec6l4-tVoes39cbto,s
ed OpaeOdr
soieuarttrr bushel.-eadßarleyos
104, 36:atopetck : . 1E!
56s per sack. t
Ussairma, Sam 2.-Wheat, per load, El 7 Os to fel '
New Wheat, £l4 Oa to Xl9 101-Barley, per quarter, 241 DrNo
40,--thos, 26s to 344—Beans, 425 to 555-Peas, Os to '
-Rye, 00s to 00a. 141Ilallef lie
Nzwanar, Bums, Sart. 2.-Wheat, S2s to 755-- 1
32s to 40s-Oats, 241 to 31s-Beaua, 401 to 601,-I'ui
La,
to 3114.-Bread, le 741 to Is Sd. per Gallon. t..:,
....,
August 16, at Drains, Carse of Cowrie, the wife d s •
bearing man, named Alezaader Moodie, woa safely - ' A
of three children, a boy and two girls, who are all drag
The healthy and lively appearance of these infants has sat , "P
t
bestheenziecncee of
air taking
mite;
alapetuenarCarseint,emwhtoi,n wthieithrthwte•iirfol. ,
the
MARRIED.
August 27, Carl Gamow, Baron Von Bulow Wirrl'"aer° lu Itl
to Helen Hay, third daughter of the late Henry novel I " k 1
Esq. Advocate, Edinburgh. 'VI
im,
nur H ' Pi
DIED.
•ri•
l.
0. the 2d instant, ore decline, at the house of ...c.
Esq. Highgate, in the 21st year of her age, Jame, daughter
to
the late Rev. Joseph Whiteley, of Leeds. rs
Sept. I, at Brighton, aged 25, Lot.ism, daughter elf tIV
~ i
1/4',_.'
Wm. Lewis, Esq. of Twyfoid Houle, Bishop Stortford..7 tet
August so, At Paris, aged 20, Emma So?hia, the 1413
Major-General Sir William 'Parker Carrell, KoiSbt__c4 0
go+ lIN
111.0 Spain, Ste. and-only daughter of M. E. Sb"'"'" 1-,,
of Kew.greee, Surrey. ,_., • 1
February I*, on the march from Hvelpnor to Jaw." y. Di
mown-Colonel Clarks Heath, of the East India Con43'. lzr.
service. /1
February 5, at Sourataya, Java, Mr. Peter Kirkwood' thr
shipnian en board the India ihip Marchioness/ Deer, ''''
Mr. Peter Kirkwood, late mertisaat in Diunla_______-,--...- k,
_ ~- -=-,---.,* ---- ''' - ---- - ROW le
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Morning - j - SS mirstesdW
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