Police.
The Times, 1824-06-17T00:00:00

BOW.STrET T.-Mr. W. H. Williams, of the Thfatre Royal, Drury-lane, applied yesterday for a -warrant againrstRll.W Elliston. Esq., Ito ansvwer for inflicting aviolent blow upon the head of ihe said Mr. Williams. MIr. Williams stated to the magistrates, that having played in the first act of the play on Tuesday night, aMd having some time upon his hands between the play, he went round to the portico of the theatre: that shortly afterMr. Elliston came, and on perceiving Mr Williarms, very roughly ordered the sentinels to turn him awav, sayinghe was 'a mostsuspicious character!" Thatonhis rcturn to the theatre, he asked the meaning of Mr. Ellstor's condulot: that the lessee then began toabuse the complainant, and saidhewouldnot lhave any of his performers lurking about the front of thehouse: and upon receiving an explanation, the onlr return he made for it was knocking thecomplainant down. Under these dircumstar;es, the inagistrates granted the warrant. 31ARLBOROUGU-STR'ET.-W. B. Robitsono, a articled clerk with Mr. Abraham, tie solicitor, Great Alarlb.rough-strect. the young man who hid been some days in custody upon charges of felo- niously taking away books and ether property from various shop_ keepers, and respecting whoxe identity much contradictory eyidence had hitherto been adduced, was yesterday brought up for final ex- amination. Since the last examination, the prisoner's friends, who feel convinced of his innocence, and believe him to be the victim of an unfortunate resemblance to some other person, have ben indefa- tigable in their endeavours to trace out, if possible, the person whom tbey suppose to be the realofftender, and with this view, advertise- ments have been put forth in the public papers, of ering a reward for the apprehension of this ether erson, with a refere.ice to Alr. Abra- ham, the prisoner's master, wliose real and activity in his behalfhas becn highlylaudab!e, convinced as he seems tobe of his entire inno. cen In consequence of these advertisementr, Mr. Abraham has had communications from various auarters upon tke subiect. At 12 o'clock, the honr appointed for the examination, the ofice and all the approaches to it were cro*ded to excess, by persons attracted by thepublicationofthelastexamination, as iU asby a number of highly respectable friends of the prisoner, amOngSt whom was his brother, a Mlajor in the arw, and who seemed te take a deep aud painful interest in the proceedings. Sir G. FATtHAsrT and H. MI. DrEst, Esqrs., magistrats. Ila-v ing taken their seats on the bench, the prisoner was brought and placed at the bar; he was dressed as on the last day-blue coat, buff' waistcoat, and white Russia duck trousers, with a fancy pattern handkerchief round his nec1, and his shirt very fallv plaited in frent; his hair and complexion are remarkably fair, featuresand figure handsome, and his toutt cnemble genteel and fashionable. Mr. ANDstEWS ths Counsel, and Mr. AixaAu , attandeid as on the fonner dayin theprisoner's behalf. The Magistrates having inquired if there were any persons present who had any charges to prefer against the prisonerat the bar, a roar ofvoices were heard answering in the affirmative, and-- Mrs. Taylor, the wife of Dr. Taylor, optician, No.1, Castle.street, ;eicester-square, first came forward. This witness stated, that on Thursday, the 3d he darne, a young maofahwering the de cription given in the newspapers, came to her husband'sshop about 9 o'clock in the evenling, and said he wvanted to purchase an opera.glass. She accordingly showed him one, worth 25s. He then asked to look at another vwhich stood in the wvindowv: anld whlen she reached over to han.d it to him, he darted out ofthe shop w7ith the one he held, stud disappeared in an instant. Mrs. Taylor was nowc directed to look at the prisoner, which she did, and requested to see him with his bat on. The prisoner put on his hat, and AMrs. Taylor said that she had not the slightest doubt but he was the person; but, on her cross-examination by llr. Andrews, and learning that the prisoner's life miqlt be in danger, she said she should not like to swear poeitively to aim, and ultimatelv declined doing so. The next witness wvas MIr. Thomas Veck, boolsellor, No. 3, Tavistock-row, Covent-garden.-He deposed that early in tie day of the 25th of April last, a very fashionable young man came to liBs shop, and asked him if he had goe any of the numbeis of Protaezres Life of an Actor. Mr. Veck said he had not, but could essily get themn fbr him, and that the price would be 3s. CH. a number. The gentleman then ordered him to get ready four numbers of the work, together with Oxberrv's edition of thc plays of Hamlet and Cato, and he would call in the evening for the whole. He accordingly did call in the evening, about nine o'clock, and the books were handed to him. He then asked Air. Veck to hand him another book that stood behind him on a shelf; and. when he tarned round his customer disappeared in an instant with the books. Alr. Veck prcsred a watchman, and searched all about Covent.garden, but could see nothing of him. Mlr. Veck said thathetbougTtt or heard nothing more on the subject until lie saw the statement in the papers of the prisoner's examination. This he gaw down -in the couatry, where he bas bewn for some days, and he came up to town for tfe pu ro et of attending. MIr.Veck now looked at the prisoner both with and without his hat, and swore in the most decisive manner that he was the person who robbed him; he had a perfect opportunity of seeing him, for he was aboutt 20 minutes in the shop. The only difference he saw in his appearance then and now was, that at present his hair seemed rather darker, and whien be saw him before, he appeared te wear an artificial colouring on his cheeks. Mlr.. M'Lennon, jeweller, residing fit Rathbone-plaee, stated, that in the early part of May last a yoang man, answvering the de. scription of the prisoner, came into his shop about nine o'clock at night, and asked to lookat a chtased gold ring and watch key, which. were handed to him, and the moment he got posssion of.them he darted out of the shop antd disappeared, letving hlr. MU'Lennon paralysed with soit.tt Wat2teu was itstot aScnt'ea that, the prIsoner was the persn, bat his hair seemed as if it haa beel colourTed since. it Was here ascerhinedl by one of theo officers, that the prisoner's -hair had beets-olledasinco thela,t exvaiination. Witnessc continued.....e said, that although he had no doubt upon the subject, iethbe would not venture to swear positively to the prisoner, but he shiould know his ownt ring ancl ke~y again, if he could see them. Scofieldl,'the ofricer, and Miss Deuham, who seized the prisoner. hiere said. that when he was taken he had a watch with a riband and- key hangilng fromn it, anid that he also had a ring on his finger, all of whichi have since divappeared. Scofleld! said, that the reasois he did not search thei prisoner, anud take these things from him, was, that so Renteel and respectable was bis-apnearance, he felt almostecertain atthe time that Miss Denhams was mistaken in his person, and he was unwilling, with this impre-s- sion, to hiurt the gentleman's feelings. Mfr. DYESt saiid, that althouigh, perhaps, a-s the case now.stood, it might have been more satisfi atory to have searched the prisoner, yet he could never think of censkuriingan officer for an act arising out of feelines of delicacy 2n.1 humanity towarcds a prisoner. The worthy mnagistrate now R'sked if the arisoner w ished to give any ac- count of what he hadl done with the-watch and ring. The prisaner cdeniea altog'ether baving had a ring, Ian was about to state what hehladd(one with the watch, vhen Air. A-.-D REws stopped him, anid told Dilr. Dyer tbathie was quite prepared. at a proper timne, to account for the watch. Mr. Thomias Hault, watchmaker, residing in Prince's-street, Soho-squelre, next stated, that on some clay in thne monthi of Alay th e pris-i er. or aperson verylike him, came to his shop andl as'ked to see a gold watch, as hie wisRhed to purchase one. Witness handed him a valuable one, and the moment he got hold of it lie ran like lighntning out of the shop, lea-ing him in the utmnost consternation, and without his watch. He hea heard nothing of thme p3erson since~, until he Saw the statement in the newspapers. He fullv believed the pris6ner to be the person, but would not swear positively tohimn. Mr. Benjamin Blinkley, hosier, in Marviebone-street, Golden- stnuare, stated that on the evening of the 30tis of Mlay, about nine o'clock, a person very, much resembling the prisoner came to his sbop, and said-he wished to purchiase some nankeen and other trou. sers. le spoke in avery low toineofvoiceanndhismannerliethought was the nost gentlemanly he had ever witnessed; but the very in- stat he got hioldI of a pair, of nankeen trousers, 'he darted out of the shiop, and.vanished, takiing the trousers' with him. Mr. Blink- ~k.ieyai that he liadl not the slightest doubt but the -prisoner was the person, hut he slhould not wish to swecar to him positively. Mr. Jame,% Hedworth, watchmaker, re-siding in St. John-street, Westminster, deposed, that on Satuirday the 5th of June. the pri.. soner camne to his shop in the morning, and said he wishedl to -pur- chase a watch; several were shewn to him, and be selectedl a silver hunting watch. which he desired to he put aside for him, and he would call in the eve-ning with the money and pay for it; h e did call on that ndight, about half-past ten o'clock, andI askted for the watch, which was handed to himn, and in an instant he darted out of the sliop withi the watch. Mlr. Hedwortim purisued him as quic'k. Tr as-his surprise would allow, but he could see notbing of hiim ; nor didl he hear any thing until he saw the report in 'tile newspapers, which induced him to come forwardl. Mr. Hedworth now, in the most positive and decided manner, declared the prisoner wvas the pCr.son "ho r1 obbed him. Thiis.witness underwent a long cross-examination by M1r. AN- nitzws, who-asked him, if three respectable persons cae ow ar to swear that at the very time the robbery was committedaat his shop on the 5th of this month, the prisoner xwa in their company, and coiuld not possibly be at his house, would that chiange hiis miadI . Mlr. Hedworthn -aid that if 50 persons swore it he would not be- lieve thiem, and he should die with the impression he niow hadl of the prisoner's guit.- Mrs. Ann AMarchant, ttie wife of MNr. Mrerant, jewellera 350, Oxford-street, deposed, that between the hours of two ana ou.r o'clock in the afternoon of the 8th of June (the day on which the prisoner was takcen by Miss Denham), the prisoner passed her bus. band's simon twice, and looked very, steadfsstly at her whiIe she stood near the d(ior: he at las3t entered, and said he wantedl to puirchase a watch-key. Shetrook-out atray of keys and seals, and laid them on the countir. Prisoner then raid that the sort of kevhe wiumtea was withi a stone, and he believed thtere was one in tliewindow. WVit- ness then went outside the shop.window to be shown the key by the prisoner, whom she experted to follow her, but to her surprise lie did not, buit met her at the door aLs she was returninig, andI said that he was mistaken : it was -not tIme sort he wanted ; -and begged her pardon for giving hier so mouch trouble. On her afterwards ex- amininig the trays, she foun-d that two gold Seals aind a brooch had bran taken away. The witness also swore, in the most positive marnner, as to the prisoner's identitv. Mr. Shiel. tool-manufacturer, Nlos. 10 andc 1I. MHoore-street, Soho, stated, that a young man very -lic the prisoner came to his warehouse about eighit o'clock in the evening of the 17th of April last, and said he wanted to purchase a portable set of tools, and one was handed to him of the Size of 18 incises by 8, a-Ad the instant he got hold of it he put it under him arm, and darted off' like a'shot. MrI. Shiel s-aid he was convinced the prisoner was thieperson, and lie reMark-ed him particularly as havingrather an oddlexpression of eye; but still lie wouild not ventur-e to swear to him positively. The-se being the whole of the cases produced upon thtis occasion, Mr. ANDREWS Said, that at present he should not enter into anv ftirther defence of tie urisotter than what had already appeared; but this case was so lextra6rdinarv, and so thoroughlvy convinced w:e. he of the young man's innoccen-ce, thatt he wished to request, in the moat pressing manner, of all those persons who were robbed to j-oin and advertise an accurate description of the various article.4, So that the pawnbrokers who may have them, or others who may have pur- chased thiem, may be invited to comie forward and speak to the identity of tihe prisoner, and either declare hiis innocence, or put his guilt beyond all doubt: and if the parties did not do so, he would stronzly advise Mlr. Abrabam to do'it on the part of the prisoner. The prisoner was then remanded. Mr. Abraham. said, that in consequence of his interference in favour of this young mian, his apprentice, he had received, through the twopenny~post, anonymous letters of the most offensive sort, tauntinsg hiim with knowxir.g very well that the prisoner was guiltv. These letters, he_ suppos,-d, qamefrom somo-of the parties who hid- Iwu- ~iit he coulanothelp thinkingr it exceeding-ly ungenerouis to attack- him in this mainner for exerting himself in biealf of a young mnen, of whiose innocence he was convinced, and wh-lo wash's appren. tice. His mother, having died'a short time ago, left this young man, and a considerable propearty forhis use, in his (Mr.Abrahani'S) care. He had Since madle thec prizoner a wvard of Chancery, for the better protection of his property. That Court at present allowed 1001. a year for his use, -which lie received as he wanted it, through his (M,1r. Abrahalms) haniis; and it might beproner to mentiollthat the young man selo aske fo nyad mighithave hadlanylhewished for. The -witnesseis who swore to the prsoer's identity were thein all C. F Fenel th shpma ofMr.Hariso, pawnbroker, Totten. ham-our-rod, n hmebundove, sid hatlie was misunderstood on te lst ay,forhe dd nt man o sear positively to thle pri- sonr aperon;~utliebeleve hi tobe the person; nior should he now swear futer than to his belief. MAXYLEROVE-oYFicE..Y esterday Casptain L'rorfeThr, of the atrmy, appeared before Afr. GamRIFFrTS, at the instance of the pa. rochial officers of Marylebone, on an order of affiliation preferrea against him by a worman named WIIalker. Ayounggentleman, w'ho aPpearedl professionally for the defend. ant, requested a private examination. The Magistrate inquiired on what did he ground his request. The youxng zgentleman said, he was afraid the publicity which the business might obtain would impede the due course of justice. The Magistrate having decidedl azrainst the request, the woman on her oaLth Said that about thiree years since shie had become acquaint- ed with the Captain, and ins the course of a fbwv months that ac- qusintancewas attended with the usual results ; she denied hiaving obtained any assista-nce from him during her pregnaLncy, andshe -was eventually 6bligea to swpar the child (a male) to hiim. The Captatin's solicitor asked her if at any time she had informed Captain Cr6wtlier of her pregnancy. Thewroman repliedI ves, nearly sZix manthshefore she had declae him to the parish officers to be the father. She had never said any other parson was the real father, and had informed the housekeeper wera she lived, ia Calimell-bmuildings, that Captain Crowther was the father of t'he " chopping boy." The Captain declared the woman had never informedI him of any thing of the'kind, and indeed hebhad only accidentally heard. tirough his agent, to whiom she had written two or three months beflore herI lying in, of sueht a c-harge being againist him. The wom-an he be- lieved capa'ee of swearing to anv person wlio would best be able to suppqrt ihe offlipring of h'er infaijious amm6ius. 31r. GRIFFIsTHS Maid, that sutch observations were uncalled for, and did not att all shake the case. After some ofther conversation, an awardl of 3s. 6Id. per wee-k was tussle upon the defendant,with, all the expenses, amounting to 141. lO0s. QurEEw.scnuA-ReE.-J.,osep11- Roberts was brougzht 'before A. WHITEr, andl E. 1AltKLAwrD, Esqrs.,~ charged withi creatinig a dis- turbatnce in a chapel last Sunday evening. Mr. William Taylor stated that hb wuas preacher at a W"esleyan Mlethodist chapel, situate in Westminster, and on Sunday eveningz last, during the service, -the congregation was g;ecatly annioyed by loud and repeated knocking at tlichbapel doo-rs and wiindow-shutters, inisomuchi, that he was prevented from proceeding in h;s dovout pursuit, and ultimately left the pulpit and ptoceeted to the chapel door, where he saw the prisoner at the heaa. of a set of disordleri- persons; lie remonstrated with thiens on -the impropriety of their condluct, butlieonly received in return a volley of abusive epithets and horrid imprecations; lig thierefore was comnpelled to olaim the protection of the B]l agistrates. L ,ydia Newman, one of the congregation, stated, t'hat before the members of the society were congrega tedl, the prisoner created a riot; and after ADin Tavlor had commenced his exhortation, the prisoner pulled of the fiats of the persons outside, and threw thein among the hearers, This sort of conduct has been persevered in during the last two mionths. Prioner.-lnstead of its being aplaeeof worshiip, itis inade fuii of. Mr. MARRLAND.-Never mindl; every one has a right to pursue hisownpla ofworhip no shll he be interruxpted ; every one offbninglys hmsel opento aproscutn, ad uponbe brng con- victei, t a pnaltyof 21. 1shalltherforeinsist upon bail for you apearncet te sssins,yousel in100.,and two sureties in fPOLICEF