The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-12-03 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

OLD BAILEY.—(Tnis MORNING.)
These Sessions commenced this day before the Right
Hon. the LORD MAYOR, Mr.JllllfiCe BATI.RT. and Mr. Baron
HuLLoca.

James Compton and Thos. Denton, were capitally in-
dicted for burglarionsly breaking, and entering the dwell-
ing house of Wm. Hammond, of Southgate, on the 20th
of October last, and stealing thereoat two great coats,
value 51., his property.
The prosecutor stated that he is a surgeon residing at South-
gate, which is a hamlet of the pariah of Edmonton. On the
night of the day named in the indictment, he had a call, and left
his house at nine in the evening, and returned about 10. At
that time the coats were hung up in the surgery. They must
have been taken from thence between nine and twelve that
night; the surgery is attached to the dwelling house. To ena-
ble persons to get into the surgery, a wall must be scaled, and
a gate unbolted ; entrance may then be easily effected by forc-
ing a spring lock of common construction, which was secure
that night; the door was fas:ened so as to require force to enter
it. [The officer here produced the coats which were identified
by the prosecutor as Ida property.] Prosecutor continued—The
prisoner Compton had been his coachman, and was discharged
from his service, only a few days before, for intoxication. In
his cross examination he said, that the surgery was attached to
the premises, rather than the dwelling house.
The prisoner Compton here said, :he door was not locked on
that night.
James Clarkson deposed, that he got the coats from th
prisoner Denton's wile, on the Friday after the robbery. The
prisoners were at that time in custod y. iteess took thee
prisoner Denton with him to the house, and told his wife to
fetch the emits, which she did, observing that she had cut them
to pieces, except the skirts.
John Birch saw the prisoner Denton offer two costs for sole
at the Thatched House, at Islington. the morning after the
robbery. Compton was with him—does not know what was
the price asked for them. The conversation about them Was
not directed to him, Out to a Jew clothesmati, who refused to
purchase them.
Several other witnesses were called, who corroborated, the
foregoing testimony.
Denton, it appeared, was the person who attempted to dis-
pose of the coats, and said to persons to whom they were
offered for sale, and in the presence of his fellow prisoner—
" If you hear any thing about them, don't be alarmed, for they
belong to Dr. Hammond."
Reeves, a How Street Horse Patrol, stated a conversation
that took place between himself arid Compton, when on
their way to prison, in which Compton stated that it was
Ithe intention of himself and two other per.ons to rob 1/r.
Hammond's, and for this pnrpose they all went together.
I He (Compton) knowing the premises, got over the wall
land let in one of his accomplices, while the other kept watch
outside. They proceeded to the " Fowl house" and twisted
t the necks of ten of the fowls, which w:•re put into a sack,
and conveyed to market next day. The surgery was then
broken open, and they carried off the coats in question.—
Compton denied having participated in the produce of the
plunder of the henroost.
The prisoner Denton made a long defence, and denied
all knowledge of the robbery. He called to character
Jonathan Corbet, of No. 42, Clerkenwell Close, who had
known him twenty years, and who stated that the prisoner
had been in the employ of Mr. Lee the Banker, who was
so well pleased with him that he made him a present of
twenty pounds on quitting his service.
Reeves the Patrol had also known him five years, and
never heard any thing prejudicial to his character. if it
bad been bad he must have heard of it.

Mr. Juvrica &may summed up the evidence, and the
Jury after Borne cutißultation returned a verdict of Utility
against Coupton, and acquitted Denton.

THE REMOVAL OF THOMAS THURTELL

TO GIVE EVIDENCE AT HERTFORD.

THOMAS THURTELL was this morning removed by virtue
of a writ of Habeas Corpus from Newgate, to attend tbe
approaching assist., at fier'esea to give evidence against
the three prisoners now cent]. n the gaol at that place,
charged with the murder of 3lr. &rare.

WORSHIP STREBT.--(LasT NIGHT.)
HIGHWAY ROMBERY.—Two jonng men, named Thomas
and Nailer, were placed at the bar, charged on suspicion of
a highway robbery, committed in the Kingsland Road.—
Before the evidence was received, Glance, the officei.phiced
Nailer's brother before the Bench, for attempting to pervett
the ends of jostler, by endeavouring to influence the
witnesses.

The Magistrate said that he made some. allowance for
bim as a brother. but if he repeated it he would send him
to prison.
Atkins, a butcher io the Kingsland road, then deposed
that on Sunday night he was out with the prisoners on a ram-
ble. They were a little fresh, and in the Kingsland road, they
seized upon him, and took his watch from his fob, and a pin
from out of his neckerchief. He thought at first it was fun,
but he ultimatey found it was not, and that the two prisoners
made off by the water side. He was afraid to f'tlow them lest
they should put him into the water, and just at the time Mance
and Van, officers, came up, and to them he detailed the circum-
stance. The following morning they were taken into custody.
Mance, the officer, said that when he took the prisoners into
custody,they appenred to be perfectly well aware for what pur.
pose they were wanted, but neither watch nor pin here been
found. . .

The prisoners, in their defence, said they were all drunk
together. They were not aware of having acted as stated, and
that if they had had any property of Atkins's the following
morning, it would have been returned, but they bad not.
The Magistrate said it was something more serious than
fun, and thought they would find It so. lie then ordered the
Clerk to take the depositions, and the prisoners were ful'l
committed to take their trial at the present Old Bailey Ses-
sions.