The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-05-16 00:00:00

STEALING A MANTLE.—Mary Ann Thompson, Cathe-
rine Davies, and Mary Parkinson, were charged with steal-
ing a mantle from the house of Mrs. Richardson, milliner,
in Richmond-row, on Saturday afternoon. They were re-
manded for seven days.
STEALING FROM A DWELLING-HOUSE. A young
woman, named Ann Clarke, was brought up by Detective
Officer Povey, charged with the theft of a shawl from the
house of Robert Thompson, butcher, residing iu Sussex-
street, Toxteth-park. Povey met the prisoner in Paradise-
street, on Saturday afternoon, and being aware that she
was a suspicious character, he followed her during the
afternoon, and at last saw her go into Thompson's house,
and as she came out with a shawl in her possession, he
took her into custody. The prisoner, who had been twice
previously committed, and who was well known to the
police, was committed for trial.
STEALING ON SHIP BOARD.—Gustavus Schutz, a fo-
reigner, was charged with stealing a watch and guard-
chain, the property of Captain Lemon, from the French
ship levalier, in Queen's Dock, on Friday afternoon. The
prosecutor stated that the prisoner had been in the habit
of coming about his ship since she came into dock, for the
purpose of obtaining any spare portion of victuals there
might be to be had. On Friday, he came, as usual, when
the prosecutor was at dinner; but on that occasion he was
told there was nothing for him, the captain at the same
time going on deck, where he was wanted. His watch
was hanging in the cabin when he left, and on returning
in a few minutes he found it was gone, and he, suspecting
the prisoner, intimated the theft and his suspicion to the
police. From the information given the prisoner was
taken into custody, but he at first denied all knowledge of
the watch and the prosecutor. On searching the prisoner
a pawn-ticket for the watch was found in his possession,
purporting that he had pledged it and the guard-chain for
30s. Further search in the place where the prisoner
lodged showed that he was in correspondence with parties
in London and abroad, from the tenor of which the corres-
pondence was thought to relate to stolen property, and to
be held with thieves. On being questioned as to the watch
and guard-chain, the prisoner admitted that he had taken
and pledged them for the sum stated, but said he was
impelled to do so by hunger, he having had no victuals
for several days, nor any money to buy them with, The
prosecutor having stated that his ship was ready to sail,
and that it would be very detrimental if he were detained,
the magistrates agreed to treat the case as one of illegal
pawning, and ordered the prisoner to pay 30s. to redeem
the watch and guard, and 10s. of fine, together with costs,
or be imprisoned for three months.
AN UNGRXTEPVL THlEF.—William Kean, who had
been apprehended at Chester, on a charge of stealing a
coat from the public-house kept by Stephen Jones, in
Williamson-square, and also on a further charge of steal-
ing a watch, the property of Robert Thomas, residing in
Back Renshaw-street, on the 18th of March last, was
placed at the bar. From the evidence of Mrs. Jones, it
appeared that the prisoner had been known to them
slightly through having lodged in their house' while they
lived in Lambert-street, and that on the 14th of March he
came to their house, and representing that he was in des-
titute circumstances, was treated in a kindly manner, and
permitted to remain in their house till he could find work.
Immediately on receiving this hospitable treatment, the
prisoner took the opportunity of stealing her husband's
coat, and shortly after, it would seem, contrived to steal
the watch belonging to the other prosecutor, Thomas.
On being asked what he had to say, the prisoner admitted
that he had stolen the articles. He was committed for
trial at the present sessions.
STEALING COALS FROM A CANAL BARGE.—Bridget
Brice and Mary Tierney were charged with stealing about
four cwt. of coal from a barge-in the new lock of the canal
near Sandhill-bridge, on Saturday last. A police-officer
said he- saw the two prisoners, along with four others,
furnished• with sacks, proceed towards the barge, hut
being unassisted, and knowing them to be dangerous
characters, he was constrained to watch their movements
instead of offering more active interference ; and in doing
so he saw the two prisoners carry off about four cwt. of'
coal, and hide them in a brick-field. He told the parties
in charge of the barge what he had seen, and on the pri-
soners returning to take away the.coal he took them into,
custody. Tierney, being an old offender, was sentenced:
to fourteen days' imprisonment ; but Brice, being unknown
to the police, was discharged. [ln course of the investi-
gation it was stated that from the number and boldness,
of the depredators of a similar kind to the two prisoners,
it was a dangerous matter for the owners of the property
or single constables to interfere in the prevention of such
robberies.]
ASSAULTS ON THE POLlCE.—Several parties were
brought up on charges of assaulting the police, and fined
in sums varying from 21s. to ss. and-costs.

LIVERPOOL BOROUGH SESSIONS.

YESTERDAY.

Tnn general quarter sessions of the peace for this.
borough opened yesterday, before Gilbert Henderson, Esq.,
recorder. The calendar was comparatively light, there
being but 45 prisoners charged with felony, and 4 with
misdemeanour.

The court sat at ten o'clock, and, having been opened:
with the usual formalities,
The following gentlemen were sworn on
Tim GRAND JURY.

George Badenach, broker, North John-street, foreman.
George Brown, rectifier, Vernon-street.
John Best, merchant, Fenwick-street.
William Latham Bailey, iron-merchant, Water-street.
James Jenkinson Bibby, merchant, Tower-gardens.
John Bateson, broker, Oldhall-street.
Andrew Ewing Byrne, merchant, Rumford-place.
Tyndall Bright, merchant, North John-street.
Charles Booth, merchant, North John-street.
William Durning, broker, Edge-lane.
William Purser Freme,i gentleman, Netherfield-road South..
Alured Gibson, merchant, Church-lane.
Hugh Perkins, merchant, Brunswick-street.
James Ryder, merchant, Fenwick-street.
Henry Bell S,itt,merchant, North John-street.
William Tarbet, junior, merchant, Tower-buildings.
Bower Tristram, hide-merchant, Dale-street.
William Watson, merchant,. Fenwick-street.
James Williams, merchant, Tower-buildings.
Percival Witherby, merchant, Rumford-place.
John Penson Whitaker, broker, Rumford-street.
The RECORDER, in his charge, said :—Gentlemen of the
grand jury, after a lapse of six weeks, I find a list- of fifty
names in the calendar, and this seems to warrant a hope
that the commercial activity which has happily prevailed
during that time in the port of Liverpool has not been
attended with any increase of crime. At the same time,
when I know that there are no less than 430 persons im-
prisoned under summary convictions, and that upwards of
300 of those persons have been committed within the last
six weeks, it is clear that there is a mass of crime to deal
with that requires the utmost exertions of the intelligence
and discretion of those who have to administer the law in
this town. Gentlemen, the cases to come before you are
generally light. There are two cases of plundering ware-
houses, but the property taken is in neither case con-
siderable. In ono instance a quantity of flour is stolen :
in another a quantity of Indian corn, and in this last
case, if the facts come out before you as they appear to
me on the depositions, you will probably think that the
conduct of the parties who dealt with the thieves for the
stolen property was extremely reprehensible. In neither
of those cases was there any dishonesty on the part of the
warehouseman. A case was discussed before me at a
recent Sessions, in which property of a very large
amount, several hundred pounds in value, was stolen,
and sold in the country, and the robbery had been
managed with the assistance of the warehouseman.' Now
this man had property in his custody and under his
control to the amount of many thousands of pounds, and I
confess it was a matter of surprise to me to find that a man
so trusted was receiving, as proved upon oath, the salary
of 10s. a week ; because it does seem to me that a man
with so small a salary, having the charge of such large
property, does expose his honesty to a constant and severe
trial. Probably if more liberality had been used with
regard to his salary, the property would have been saved,
and what is perhaps equally important, if not more so,
four persons would have been saved, two of them from
long terms of imprisonment, and two from terms of
penal servitude,—sentences which they are now serving.
Gentlemen, the calendar contains two cases in which knives
have been used, and I think for that reason that I should
repeat my opinion that every case in which an assault is
committed and wounds inflicted by aknife ought either to be
sent to the Sessions or to the Assizes. That would show
a determination to put the thing down, without which, I
am afraid, the cases will continue as frequently as before.
I believe such a course would diminish the number.
Gentlemen, the cases are fewer now, if I may judge from
the present calendar, and lately, in which felonies are
effected by stealing goods from shop-doors and the out-
side of shops. lam willing to believe that the attention
of the police has been called to this, and that they have
brought cases before the magistrates, but I think it is to
be desired there should be a more vigorous enforcement of
the law and the bye-laws than there does seem to have
been. Gentlemen, knowing well the great experience and
intelligence comprised in the grand jury-box at present,
I think it quite unnecessary to offer any directions or
suggestions to you as to the manner in which your duty
must be performed. I am in hopes you will not be de-
tained long, and I shall not detain you any longer by any
Ifurther remarks.
The trials then proceeded.

CHELTENHAM FLORICULTURAL AND FINE ART EMIT-
BITION.—ProbabIy in no town in England have greater
exertions been made to unite all the attractions of elegance
with salubrity than at Cheltenham ; and the result has
justified in a high degree the trouble and anxiety incurred.
It has long been celebrated for the beauty of its floral exhi-
bitions, and these have attracted pleasure-seekers from all
quarters. This year an undertaking of a more comprehen-
sive character is projected, and it is intended to commence
an exhibition, as novel as it will be unique, which shall
include everything that can trace a connexion with flori-
culture. The exhibition will open on the Ist of June, and
will be arranged in a spacious and elegant crystal building,
400 feet long, constructed for the occasion. The exhibi-
tion will continue open for three weeks, and Tuesday and
Wednesday, the 20th and 21st, will be the great days.
There will be several fountains, and these have been
entrusted to the management of Mr. Freeman Roe, the
hydraulic engineer and conductor of the fountains at the
Sydenham Crystal Palace. Messrs. Bach and Co., of Bir-
mingham, will have the superintendence of the steam-
power which will be employed to work the fountains and
various articles of machinery comprised in the exhibition.
Mr. R. Lambert, of Liverpool, will supply and take charge
of the numerous and spacious tents which will be erected
in the grounds. The charm of music will be added to the
other beauties of the scene, splendid military bands hav-
ing been specially retained, and on the opening day there
will be a public breakfast, a complete choir, as well as the
band of the Coldstream Guards, which has been procured
to " assist" at the inauguration of the exhibition. Spe-
cial trains will run from all parts of the kingdom, and
the prices have been so arranged as to suit all parties.
On the grand opening and flower-show days, the admis-
sion will be 65.; every Monday during the exhibition,
only lst; and every other day it will be 2s. 6d. What
effect the Cheltenham Exhibition may have upon its own
locality, or what influence it may exercise materially in
the development of taste and the furthering of art, it is
impossible for us to say. All we know is, that it is a step
in the right direction, and as such we Wish it every
success,