The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-08-26 00:00:00

POLL CE.

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--•0111Imon-
Ottltdonallee-Amoeg the prisoners brought up yestAdaty
before the sittiug Magistrate, Mr. Alderman Cent, were no
less than three individeals on charges of robbing their rel.
dy-tarnished lodgings. 11
The first, George West, a journeyman hatter oat or eel-
ploy,imittaken away and pawned two bed pillows, let with
the vogieirhe occupied at one Luther's, Oolden-lane.
'A second, Sagami Eddowee, had, under similar cir.
cunistanees, disposed of a candlestick, blanket, ssnoepan,
and pail, part of the furniture of her lodging, at Dan.
Plough Place, Fetter Lail.. The evidence in these two
cases not being complete, from the non•attendance of the
pawnbrokers with whom the property had been pledged,
the prisoners were remanded.
A third Cue was that of Elizabeth Shields, a market-
woman, who had pawned a pair of sheets, a blanket, and a
patchwork counterpane, from a room in the house of Peter
Ring, Bangor Court, Shoe Lane. The pawnbroker with
where she had pledged them produced the property, and
swore to her as having pawned them. The prisoner did
not deny the fact, but, on the contrary, seemed to think
she bad a tight to make any use of the property let to her
with the apartment that she might think proper, provided
she ultimately restored it; and, on this occasion, not having
sufficient money to make the purchases of fruit she wanted,
had pledged the articles in question to supply the Mena.
cy; and complained bitterly of being hardly dealt with by
her landlord, insomuch as she bad no intention to do other.
wise than restore the property when she turned her fruit, of
which she said she had 16s or 17s. worth in her room, into
money. Ring, howeverchad suffered, be said, so much in
this way, without getting any of his property back, that
be felt himself compelled to prosecute; and the Alderman,
considering it necessary, from the frequency of the offence,
to make an example, committed her to take her trial. -
The continual occurrence of cases of this description ren-
ders it important that the public should be aware, that by a
late statute, removing any property let for use with a ready-
furnished lodging, and pawning the same, or otherwise
Converting it to the party's own use,is made felony, and pu-
nishable by transportation. This cannot be too generally
made known, as every (Vs practice shows that poor people
in particular generally entertain the opinion expressed by
the prisoner Shields, and think it bard to be punished as a
thief for that which they cannot be brought morally to con-
sider as stealing.
HATTON HARDEN.-•••ADULTERATiON Or BREAD.—To
counteract as much as possible this too common evil, the
Magistrates of this office have repeatedly of late issued
warrants fot searching the premises of the different bakers
within their district. The result has been numerous cow
vietions for alum found in their possession. A warrant of
this kind was last week put into the hands of Read, jun.
Limbrick, and Thistleton, and in consequence yesterday,
Thomas Carpenter, a baker,-residing in Exmouth Street,
Easton Square, appeared on information charging him with
having bad a quantity of water strongly impregnated with
alum, in his possession.
The officers stated, that the lipid now produced was
part of a quantity found concealed in the bakehouse, which
they took away with them, and had submitted to a the
mist, who had declared it to be alum water. Read stated
this to be the second time they bad found alum in his pos-
session.
The Magistrate fined him five pounds and costs.
MARLBOROUGH STREIT.--A young woman was brought
to this office charged with having deserted her child.
About three weeks ago, as the watchman of Russell
Square was going his rounds, he discovered the child lying
at the door of the late Mr. Nansan, of the above square.
He carried it to the workhouse, when a piece of paper was
found attached to its person, on which was written—" For
lion's sake take care of the helpless infant, whose parent is
too distressed to render it support." The parish rendered
it every support, and issued bills offering a reward for the
mother, who was at length traced to lodgings in the neigh-
bourhood of Hampstead.
She confessed that the child belonged to her, and appear-
ed much grieved, but her distress she said caused the com-
mission of the act. She implored mercy, as now she Lad
the prospect of entering a situation which would place hyr
beyond want, and assist her to support her child ; and
there were several persons who spoke highly of her former
character. She was, however, committed for a month to
the House of Correction; but inquiry having been made
relative to her statements, which were all found to be cot.•
rect, and in consideration of her former good character, the
parish interfered, and urged for her dismissml, which was
coosen'ed to, for which she appeared grateful.

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WORffitlP STaett.—Yesterday a charge of wilfully set-
ting fire to the dwelling-house of Mr. Addington, in Spital
Square, underwent a long investigation, before ROBERT
BEVILL,
Mr. HARStert attended for the prosecution.
Mr. Addington and Mr. Lewis are partners, as surgeons,
at No. 7, Spital Square. The former resides there, and Mr.
Lewis resides at the next door. Yesterday week Mr. and
Mrs. Addington left town on a tour of pleasure. At home
they left two apprentices, named Berry and Humphries, a
servant boy, and s female servant, named Sarah Welsh•
ford, and for a better security, Mr. Lewis has continued
to sleep every night in Mr. Addington's bed-room. About
half-past ten at night it was Mr. Lewis's mown to see that
all was safe before he went to bed, and to take the key of
the front door up stairs into his sleeping room. On Thurs-
day morning last Mr. L. was first dow u stairs, and opened
the front door, but, instead of hanging up the key on its usual
place in the day time, he left it in the lock. The same night,
on going to bed, he missed it, and asked Sarah Welsbford
about it, and she said she had taken it out of the lock and hung
it up. On Saturlay night last the key was still missing, and
Mr. Lewis thought proper to see that the outer door was well
fastened with two strong latches and an iron chain, and to
one of the latches he tied a string, and fastened the other
end to the wire of the surgery bell, and went to bed. At
the same time lie left the door of the surgery latched, but
not locked, and the key in the lock on the outside. About
one o'clock on Sunday mottling be was awoke bra suffo-
cating smell of fire. He jumped oat of bed, and opened his
room door, when he beard the servant boy calling out. Mr.
'L. also called out to Berry. He then put on a few clothes
and ran down stairs to the kitchen, where he found smoke
issuing through the door. He ran up again to the front
door, where he and Berry found all fast, and the same as
they left on going to bed. Mr. L. on letting out, ran to-
wards Bishopegate Street, crying " hire." It appeared
also, that the servant bey waked Humphries, who went to
Berry in the next garret and awoke him, and at that time
he heard Mr. Lewis calling out, " What is the matter ?"
The servant boy knocked twice at the door of the bark gar-
ret to awake Sarah Welshford, who asked what was the mat-
ter? and not bearing her stir, he knocked again, and told
her the house was full of stnoks, and she would very soon
be smothered ; when she said, " very well." The servant
boy and Humphries took their boxes out of the garret and
placed them on the adjoining house, and it seems they went
downstairs, followed by Sarah. Berry had gone first, and
waisiat the door when Mr. Lea is went out. Before he re
turned,dieavis, the beadle,and two of the Bow Street patrol
arrived; anttput out the fires, and afterwards with Mr. Lewis
examined the house. They found that the shelves of a
closet in the front kitchen, and a drawer with linen .in it,
had been on fire; soother tire had been in the back kitchen,
which had burnt several tubs another tire was in'the front
parlour, which consumed a part of the sofa, from thence
they went to the surgery, which they found locked, and the
key gone. They broils open the dour, and found Mr. Ad-
dington's 'secretaire broken open, the inside drawers taken
out, and' the papers throWn about. The. cornices were
singed with fire. A screw driver and a chisel belonging to
the house were laid on the table. There were al.o marks
of an attempt to force an iron safe in the Same gym, and
also a plate cheat up two p 1.1: of stairs: it was evident