Police.
The Times, 1824-06-05T00:00:00

GUILDHALL.-Josep7i Farritngton, agrOwiV lad, in the eixploy of Alr. Fanshaw, riband-embosser, No. 11, Addle-siteet, was charg- ed before the sitting magistrate (Mllr. Alderman Bntowv) withw being a party concerned in a burglary and robbery at a house, No. 40, in Lower lVhitecsoss.street, on the evening of Wednesday last. A man of the name of Ronkin, and his two daughters, lodgers in this house, had all gone out, as it should seem, to get a sight of llr. Graham and his balloon, and in their absence their room-door had been opened with a false key, and wearing.apparel andother articles to thc value of between 3L and 4L taken away. Sophia, the ybangeSt daughter who was the last out and the first to return, deposed to Ieaving te door locked at half-past three o'clock, and finding it open, and the things gone, at half'-past seven. No part of the pro- perty had been traced, nor was there any thiug found, upon searching the prisoner, to strengthen the suspidon of his guilt, which rested entirely upon the information of one of the charity-boys in CrioppI- gate-ward school, named Henry Barton. Before takinu the evi- dence of a child so young (for he was only 11), upon. a charge of so serious a kind, the Alderman questioned him very impressively as to his understanding of the nature of an oath; and finding his com- prehension exceedingly clear upoII the subject, directed him to be sworn. The boy then said he was standing under the gateway adjoining the house where Ronkin lives, about a quarter to 7 o'clock on AZWednesday. when he saw a gentleman pull out a funny key (a skeleton keyl out of his pocket, and put it up his coat sleeve, and then go up tfie stairs and return with a bundle, which he gave to the prisJer; he then went into thehouse again, and rmturned with another bundle, and then he and the prisoner went away together. The gentleman told him (Barton) that he was going to see a lady that lodged on the second floor, and gave him a halfpenny to watch that nobody came and caught him. He knew the prisoner well by his lodging anid working in the neiglhbourhood. IMIr. Fanshaw, the prisoner's master, now stepped forward, and expressed his astonishment at tle evidence given bv the boy. The prisoner had worked for him some weeks, bore an excellent character, and didnot leave his employ on the evening in question till after the time therobbery wascommitted, as stated both bySophia Ronkin and the boy Barton. He (Dlr. Fanshaw) would swear that Farrington did not quit his house till half-past 7. Joseph Batler, a lad in Mr. l'anshaw's employment, corro'horated his master's evidence. The prisoner and he took their meals toge- ther; they left the shop on rednesdav at 25 minutes past 5, to go to tea, returned at a quarter before 6, and finally left work together at half-past:7. They then went home, and remained together till past 9 o'clock. Barton, OR being re-questioned, repeated that the hour wvas a quar- ter to 7, and that he was quite sure as to tbe person of the prisoner. The weight of testimony, how ever, preponderating in favour of the prisoner's innocence, the Alderman concluded the boy must have been mistaken in Forringron's person, and he was accordingly dis- charged. BOW_STP.EET.-TnE LATE MiR. HARrLIS.-Whlen this unfor- tunate gentleman was about to ascend from the Eazle gardens on Tuesday se'nnight, he recollected that lie had not brought a watclh with him, and he borrowed one from Alr. Richmond, she derk of this office, who was an intimate acquaintance. This watch, together wilth a gold pencil case. w.as foand upon M1r. Harris when his body was conveved to the IIfougli, and delivered to the constable of the parish. Application was subsequently made for the restitution of these articles, and it was retused upon the ground that the Coronier's expenses, and the tavern bill for the jurors, must first be paid. Alr. Thompson, one of Mlr. Harris's committee, applied at this office for the advice of the magistrate upon the subject, and was told that he must wait upon the Coroner: a magistrate at Bow-street could have nojurisdietion in the matter. ,MAILBOROuGH.sTUEET._Jvfh Bethel, a aentleman of very jovi3l appearance, who stated himself to be an officer in the navy, was brought to this office fiom St. Giles's watcllhouse, where le had passed the night before ois a charge of being drunk and disorderlv in the street. The watchman, who took the defendant to the watchhouse, stated, that as he wasgoing his rounlds in Lincoln's-inn-fields, about two o'clock that morning, he saw Mir. Bethel sitting very quietly on the pavement near the iron railing that surrounds the square; his hat was off, and he was looking steadfastly upwards,apparentlv counting the stars in the firmament. The watchman requested hini to remove and make his way tovards his bed, but M1r. Bethel, who, although tipsy, seemed in perfect possession oi his faculties, positively, re- fused to stir, saying that he had a right to sit there as long as he oleased, while he did not conduct himself improperly, or make any disturbance; but the watchinan not exactly agreeing with this posi- tion removed him to the watchhouse. ilr. Bethel, on being asked by Mlr. DYER, the magistrate. wvhat reply he had to make to this charge, said, that the fact was, he had been spending the evening with some friends, and after parting from tihem, he tbund the night so inviting, and the air so delightfully cool and refreshing, that lie took advantaze of the opportunitv to roam about the square of Lincoln's-inn, which, having the namn1e of fields attached to it, gave it a peculiarly romantic attraction for musing and meditation, in which mood he hiappened to be at the time. After walking for some time, he sat do wn to rest a little and con- templite the beauty of the heavens, when he was suddenly and, ius he thinks, most unjustifably interrupted by the vulgar command of a watchman to depart, and on hsis refusal to do so, he was taken to the watchisouse. IUr. DYER asked Mr. Bethel if the charge of his being intoxi- cated were correct. He replied that he certainly had drunk a tolerable portion of wine, but was by no means drunk. He was, however, he was vell aware sufficiently so to subject him to the penaltiesof the law, what- ever thev were for that ofrence. Mr. 15YE i said, that the fine was 5s. on such occasions. Slr. Bethel replied, that he should certainly pay the fine, as the law of the land so awarded it, but it did appear to hint most stranae how any set of men, having their proper senses about them, conld frame a law to fine a gentleman because he chooses to get drunk and not only that, but to lock him up all night, as he bad been in the damp cellof a watchhouse. Under this lav, no man in thecountry was safe; the first men in the country were liable to be thus treat- ed. }What would that highly gifted man Richard Brinsley Sheridan have said to this ? He was sure that that great friend to public liberty had no hand in framing such a law*, and how would a magistrate deal with that great character were he nov alive, atid found on his way home nerhaps a little elevated, after enlightening and delight- ing a happj and convivial circle ? Mr. DVEBt said, that in answer to this question, he should only say, that if under such circumstances ir. Sheridanhad been brought before him, andproved to have been intoxicated, he should most un. doubtedly iiave fined him. MIr. Bethel said thathe had notanother observation to make, but that there was no social principle or feeling in such a law. He then pail the fine, and was discharged. It is a carious fact, (and if affjrding any proof of the improving morsas and habits of the people a gratifying one), that out of the five parislies of Sr. Giles, St. Anne, St. Oeorge. St. James, and St. Pancras, which belong to the districtofthisoffice,therewasyesterday only one solitary watch-house charge. *Mr. sethel Is right asto his fact: the law Nvas passed In the reign ot Elizabeth. POLICE.