The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-10-04 00:00:00

CIRCUIT COURT, GLASGOW, Faunal, SEPT. 26.

, 'George Laidlaw and George Spittal, secnsed of breaking
foto the shop of Messrs. &lemma and Hadkins. jewellers,
Nelson' Street, Glasgow, on the 30th March, 13:12. by
tutees of false keys, and of stralint therefrom a number
of gold and silver watches, and other articles, were put to
the bar, and pleaded Guilty.
Tim Lord Justice Clerk having advised them to weigh
rein their pleading, Laidlaw pleaded Not Guilty, after the
Jswy was swortl.
Mou Solomon being a Jew, was sworn with his hat ma
kis-heed and a Bible in his hand. 1 shut np our sho cc
deresitaing of the Vtli, at half past nine o'clock.
Asir was secured with a lock, a hasp and a padlock.:4'
Tbejsmellery was in the cases, and the watches wire
reeseved from the window to a desk. On the 30th wan
Informed that thb shop had been robbed; and on goisig
thew found that nearly oar whole stock of jewellery, be-
sides watches, hal been carried awty. The fastenings if
the shop door had not been iti any sumer injured by,
Slata housebre:::.ers. 'f he value of property stolen would
Ibe upwards of 6001; or 7001. 1 have seen Lti.llaw in oar
diem repeatedly, and once about three weeks before the'
;gebberv, he purchased knobs for furniture. We have a
Ur:ailed Savage. On the 9th of April, 1 saw some et
Idly goods which bad been stake. in the hands of Donald
Ild•Donal.l. I saw some more in the shop of Mr. Cronb
skulks, bardwareman. In the latter some seals, rings,
beads, spoons, and brooches. The watches now shows
found in a baker's sloop in Argyll Street, and IBA
heed taken from oar shop. [Mr. Solomon Isere identified
kW numerous productions libelled on the indictment.]
Moat Hadkius corroborated the evidence of former'
ikons.
Nathan M'Coll, police-officer:-1 was a watchman on
station, Nelsoa Street, anti found the shop fastened
sedan right at ten o'clock ; but at eleven folios' the door
epee, when I reported the circumstance to the Police Office.
figotattsistance and I entered the shop, and it had the I
*premises of being rifled. The lock was open, but the
riser was closed.
Hairy Savage-1 know Laidlotv. He came sonsetimer
&see else shop in the morning, before the masters came, and
wive be sac the keys of the shop ION; he would lift.
thee, sell tell me to put them past. I met Laitilow near
At Post Office, abort a month before the shop was br..ken.
I was carrying the keys of lock and padlock. tle asked
itself say key would suit the lock of his warehouse, and
look my key and went up three waits of a staircase In
Beckman Court, and I followed him, and he wet me
elsiallaw down the stair. He saidtthe key would Jost 'salt
Illeather, anti he desired me to come away and he wtuld
4fereolee of the same; and we went to 311`Callunes, Salt-
market, and bought a key to match ail te; I got my own
Noy, and went to the shop. This was the key of the door,
11, about a week afterwards, be also got the padlock.
dad asked what one of the same kind and size
would cost, and I said about a shilling. He kept the pad-
Llllle
k for about a quarter of an hour, when he returned it.
Jattee 31'Intyre, sbopman with Mrs. Stirling-1 know
f Wean. Last spring, at breakfast time, he came to our
lihop, and looked out a padlock. He bad a key, and tried
to get one to suit, which be got, buying a padlock and
key; but did not get it away at the time, as he had not
mosey ; got it afterwards. This took place before the
house betaking was committed.
Mary Drammontl—On the 3d of April I saw Laidlaw
in a steam-boat going to Greenock. He had a ring on his
finger, .. \Alai I asked him to show me, and the " gentle-
man" did so. The ring was put on my finger, and it fitted
'welt I kept it a short time, Ant when I offered it to
Laidlow he toll me to keep it. which I did until I heard of
his apprehension, when 1 called on Solomon & Co. with it.
' I saw Laidluw have some seals hanging at his watch.
David Stewart.-1 am shopusan with Mr. Craiksbanks.
Laidlaw called at our shop after the robbery with a neck-
-Ilice, mils, a tea-spoon, and I identify the several articles
sow produced, some of them were sold; and a search
leak place in our shop.
ELzabeth3lerchant-1 am servant with hir.Hanter,Argyll-
street. I know Laidlaw. One morning last sating Laidlaw
came alewn stairs, and took the key. our of my hands, and
Lau the cellar, and I heard a jingling; and hearing
is, ihe[cisurse of the day that Laidlaw ha I been apprehended.
nay master and I went Into the cellar, where we tound some
seals and a paper parcel. Afterwards another search was
:shade, when a pocket handkerchief was found, containing
gall and silver watches, spoons, &c. I carried these arti-
cles ap stairs, and gave them to Mr. Hunter, with whom
Mr. Gibbed happened to be at the time.
Wm. 31'Kenzie.-1 searched Mr. Crnikshanksl shop, and
lotted several seals, some beads, an-I other articles.
• From the declarations of the panels, it appeared that a
'pillow-slip was employed to carry away the stolen goods.
The libel in the case of Spittal was restricted to an ar.
ttitrary 'punishment, and he pleaded Guilty ; the A drodate
Depute giving as a reason fur exteading clemency to this
prisoner, that Laidlaw appeared to have been the most at.
ti.v3 in the perpetration of the crime. -
' Coun'et did not address the Court.
L trti Ilermand charged the Jary; who unanimously
I toned the prisoners guilty.
Laidlaw was sentenced to be executed on the 29th Of
October : an I Spittal was sentenced to transportation for
life. ,
• Lord. IlermapJ reflected on those shopmen who gave the
fac siudlies of the keys, and said that it was an absurdity to
sopposa tbat the Royal mercy would be extended to a eel.
'tainal convicted of such an offence as Laidlaw's.
UMW", who is a young man, appeared to be very muds
111fitefed:
Wlteu Solomon & Co. applied to the Clerk of the Cowl
f;itite restitition of their property. produce,' on the trial'
,
an entestusettt, by a person who chained the reward of 50/i
, which. 4 been offered by these gentlemen fur the detect
Of eta i
.4t,itousebreakers, was laid in the hands of the Clerk
'titurf,dfiet Judges however ordered the Clerk to deliver ti
Wormer& (o. the stolen property, in the seam mans*,
as he did in all other cases; thus deciding that it, is 111611
compedent,to rest in the Clerk's hands any property .that
nsiir7kelfratlisceil as evidence on a trial.
I ..11/tUistin White was charged with having on the 13th,
.I.lllxr.ibitcaltess into the sloop of Mewls Urtiniaart & Ca. pee.,
fitmersOittcheson Street, and stulco 15 silver fAtititativel.:
40 sll'ier tienil-ca.ses, three dozen 'of' gold linger-rings, sit
.dietyStud finger ring, three dozen of gold breast-pins, I.
' pairs 0f.g01.1 ear-flogs. and a number of, other &nicker
au.' Jed(' Pe.ley, Alargar t 31`1sIsn er Paisley, Lttilt