The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-20 00:00:00

SERIOUS CASE OF SUOPBREAKING

Alfred Richardson was placed before the stipendiary ma-
gistrate on a charge of having broken into and robbed the
shop of his brother, Mr. Thomas Richardson, cutler, at the
corner of Postoffice-place. The prisoner was in a very dirty,
and apparently distressed condition.
Joseph Archer; constable No. 147, stated that at three
o'clock yesterday morning, he was on duty in Church-street.
When passing the shop of Mr. Richardson, he beard a
" crack," which he thought was occasioned by the lighting
of a lucifer match. He listened, and again heard the same
sound, and immediately after he saw a faint light through the
fan window over the shop door. At that moment, another
officer, who was on duty in Clayton-square, knocked for as-
sistance, and witness went to him. Having assisted to take
a prisoner to bridewell, he returned to Mr. Richardson's
in the inside of which he heard a noise. He got another offi-
cer, and examined the place, both at the front and back, but
they found all secure. Witness then sent for his inspector,
and for Mr. Richardson, who, he knew, did not sleep on the
premises. Mr. Richardson came and opened the shop door,
and he and witness entered. Inspector Campbell then came
up, and, in conjunction with Mr. Richardson, examined the
premises.
Inspector Campbell stated that he went into the coal-cellar,
and on the coals, and under the grid, he found the knife pro-
duced. The grid is secured by a chain, which fastens to the
wall by a staple. The chain was loose, and the staple had
been drawn out of the wall ; but the grid was upon the hole.
The coal-hole is an enclosed yard. After removing the grid,
a person could get into the coal-hole, and thence into the
shop, without breaking open any door. After having exa-
mined the cellar, witness and Mr. Richardson went into the
yard, which is surrounded by a wall about nine feet high.
There are in the yard three or four privies. in one of which
the prisoner was found. Witness brought him out into the
yard, and searched him, and in his pockets and hat were
found about seventy knives of different descriptions, a shav-
ing-box, a pocket-book, four dressing combs, eight silver
pencil cases, a caustic case, two gold pencil cases, a gold
tooth-pick, a gold buckle, a pair of razors in a case, a loose
razor, a shaving brush, a gold clasp, and fourteen pairs of
scissors, together with 21s. in. silver.

Mr. Thomas Richardson stated that when he left the shop
on Tuesday night, all was secure. He identified the articles
produced, which had been found upon the prisoner, as his
property. The value of them was about £3O. The prisoner
was the brother of witness, and had formerly been employed
on the premises, with which he was well acquainted. When
the inspector was taking the articles from the pockets of the
prisoner, witness said to him, " Alfred, why did you rob me,
who took you in when none of the family would do so ?"
His reply was, that he had been ill-used by his family—that
he was starving and that that was the reason he had done it,
and that no one was concerned with him in the robbery, or
knew of it.

James Lepsett, a porter in the employ of Mr. Richardson,
proved that the grid of the coal-hole was fastened to the wall
on Tuesday evening.
The prisoner, on his voluntary examination, said, " It was
through my people neglecting me and ill-using me, which
caused me to do such a thing."
Mr. Rushton observed, that that did not appear to be true;
the prisoner seemed to stand in his present position through
having neglected the good advice of his family.
As the case was a somewhat serious one, Mr. Rushton
committed the prisoner to the assizes.

OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PTIETENCES.

An apparently shrewd and clever lad, about 17 or 18 years
of age, named John Morrison, was placed at the bar, on a
charge of having obtained money, in the name of a relative,
from two persons.

It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner, until about
three weeks ago, had been in the service of Mr. Robert Mor-
rison, a provision-dealer in Whitechapel. On Saturday last
he went to Mrs. Ann Whittingham, whose husband keeps a
provision-shop in Jamaica-street, and who had dealings with
Mr. Morrison, and said, "Will you please to lend ►ne 17s. 6d.
for Mr. Morrison ? lam that sum short in paying a bill to
Mr. Tate." Mr. and Mrs. Whittingham, who knew that
the youth had been in the employ of Mr. Mc
not aware that he had been discharged, lent

t were

.out hesitation. Mrs. Mary Morrison, who keeps a pro-
hop in Barter-street, also lent ss. 6a. to the prisoner,
plied for it in the name of Mr. Morrison. That in-

VLSIOI3-s

dividn'al, having learnt of these applications, gave informa-
tion to the -police, and on Monday afternoon the prisoner
was apprehended in a brothel, in a street :war the railway,
by Inspector Rolston.
The prisoner declared that he had borrowed the money in
his own name. He was committed to take his trial at the
ensuing sessions.

CKET-PICKING AT THE POST-OFFICE

Margaret Duffy, and old woman, was brought up under

_
the following circumstances:—
It appeared that on Sunday afternoon Mr. William Martin
went to the post-office, around the window of which a crowd
was congregated, and whilst there he had his coat pocket
picked of a silver snuff-box, which he had felt in his pocket
about a minute before. He gave information of the robbery
at the police-office, and on going there yesterday morning,
the missing box was shown to him. It had been pawned on
Monday with Mr. Morley, by the prisoner at the bar, who
received on it the sum of ten shillings. The article had been
taken in because the prisoner was known ; but when a bill
describing the robbery was given in, Mr. Morley delivered
up the box to Mr. Dowling. On the following day, the old
woman again presented herself at the shop of Morley,
and offered in pledge a book. She was detained, and given
into custody. The prisoner, having nothing to say, was
committed to the sessions.