Case Of William Ramsden R...
The Times, 1824-11-30T00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF TWiE TI tES. Sir,-Your imnpartial and candid report of the Inte trials of the above-named individual, William Ransden Robinsou, for stealinf various articles, as eontained in your papers of the 19th and 204 days of July last, induces me to request the favour thbt yoa wiU in- sert the eiicosed letter, received bv me on Thursday last, from Ir. Ranken, of Gray's-inti, which appears to mne to establish one of the most remarkable instances of mistaken identity that has happened for many years. I remain, Sir, your obedient serVar.L GEo. FRED. ABRAHAM. ireat lariborOugh-st., Nov.29. "Gray's-inn. Nov. 25, IB4" Sir,-In August last, I procured an intimation to be conveyed to vou through AM r. Dver, the m2gistrate, that some circumtstances haa recently transpired, the disclosure of which at a futare day, woald lead, it was hoped, to the removal of the doubts which, not- withstanding his acquittal on all the charges, with Ithe exception of one, and his immediate pardon under thefuvourable report of the Judge,with reference to thesingle charge on hbich be was convicted, stiO appeared to exist in the public mind with regard to the inno- cence of Air. William Ramsden Robineon. For the reason which [ shall preseatly explain, I considered it necessary at that time to withhold my name, and coafinemy communication to the single ob- ject of endeavonrinz to relieve the anxiety which I eould not but be eonscious must be felt by Mr. Robinson and hi.firiends; but I now ,eel it my duty to state, for yoar and their inftion, the circum- stances to which I then alluded. "The several trials-of Mr. Robinson, on certain of the charges preferred aeainst him, took place on Saturday, the 17th, and 10on- dav, the 19th1 oftJuly last; and on the ftrmer day he w-as convicted on the charge of having taken certain books from Alr. Dolby, but acquitted, bath then and on Alonday, on a'd the other charges on wvhich he was tried. On Monday, the 26th of July, 1 was profes- sionally consulted by the parents of a young person, who had but too much reason, fram an unexpected communication received only that mnorning, to suspect that their own son had colmmitted the dif- ferent offences with which Mr. Robinson had been charged; an!, in the course of the same day, the young person himselfconfessed to nwe his havisngmc evening delivered pir- sonally to me, the several articles w,hich I shall presently enumerate, amone which will be found the verv books for the stealing of which p,ir. Rlobinson had been convicteK, and other articles for which he was tried, though happily acquitted. All these articles the young per- eon assured mne had continuled in his own sssessior from tbe timeof thoxve f'g,}?e.sov' h3m iltoeitwo others,nanmv 3n4 i altlmi from Mr.Denbainmsl hich hebadgiven awayt,and ap..irpfrfors,wbidi, no his oferingahemoin piledge, had been stepped byt shopman of the pawnbroker, whom he mentioned as having heenoneof thewitnesses examined on Mr. Robinson's trials. These disclosures having beear nmade to me in conEdence, and after a pledge on mypart to act profes- sionally forthe wretched delinquent. if necessary, I felttconsiderable embprrassmentasto the rroper course to be -oursuedfordoingjustice to Al r. Robinson, witbout betraying my duty towards the other; and. ly mind having been much relieved., on finding by the public pa- pers of Tuesday that hlr. Robinson had, on the very day on which I had become possessed of this information, received His Majesty's pardon, I considered myself justified by that drcewmstance in dle- laying any steps towards his vindication until measures could be taken for securing the safety of the real oilender, and spar- ing the public exposure of the innocent and most respectable fa- mily who-have the misfertune te be connected with him. The young man having nowv left this country, probably for ever. I now feel it myv duty to communicate to von such inforimation as I possess, with the exception only oF the unfortunxte person's name, the disclosure of whbich appears to be unnecessary towards Mr. Robinason's vindication, antI woulsd only inflict needless nlain on inmnocent parties. I regret exceedingly that tlis conmumication should have bten so 013g deayed. but hope to satisfy you that no blamC is imputable to me on at ut. With Mll.. Rnoinson's person I am entirely unacquainted; but for the satisfaction of the wvitnesses who swore so positively to his identitY, as weli as of tbe jury who convicted him, I think it right to stste, that I am in_ formed by the father of the reat offender, who has seen M r. Ro- binson (although he is entirely unknown to Mr. Robinsen or, his friends), that his wretxehe son bears a most remarkable rescm- blance to that gentleman. ' I annex a list of thc articles detivered up to me by the young person, with the names of the parties (also furnished by hinm in writing) frorn whem they were taken. I have purp y kept tbese things in myr owyn custodv, until this communication should be nade to you, in order that such steps tnay be adopted for their identifica- tion by the owners, and other measures, as You may deem most ex- pedient for cstablishing hlr. Robinson's entire ibnocence with re- fereice to tbemi. oeu are also at liberty to snake what use you please of this communication bhut I hope I may be excused for adding, that although I have, and deservedly so, the highest respect for the family of the real delinquent, I amn not in any manner con- nected with iL-I rcmain, Sir, yonr obedient humble servant, ".'CHA. RANIKEN. G. F. Abrahai, Esq., Solicitor, Great Marlborough-Street." The following is the list alluded to :- One album, trom 'ir. Denham, Regeut-street. One ditto, from Messrs. (Grey and Fell, Piccadilly. One opera-glass, from Mr. 'Taylor, optician, Castle-street, Lei- cester-square. One tool-chest, with tools, from a shop in Mloor-street, ComptoN- street; naple not remnembered. Twentv numbersof plays, from Nr. Dotby. Four numbers of Proteus'e Life of an Actor, from lU. VeBk. One silver hunting watch, from Mr. Ault, Prince'-street, Hey- market. Three pairs of gloves, and 4 silk handkerchiefs, from a, shop in 'Wardour.street; name not remiembered. One pair of trouscrs, striped, from a shop in Ncw-street, Covent. garden. Ore ditto, white, from a tsop in the Strand, oppobite E;xeter 'Change. One pair of nankeen trousers; shbop not given. In the matter of illiamn Rassden Robinson, clerk to Mir. Geor,e Frederick Abralams, "licitor, No. 91, Marlborough-street. List of charges preferred against him at Great 8larlborough.str;Npo- lice-office, Junte 12, and 16, 1I24, with the namees of the i,sy caters, the articles stolen, the time whenl, & :- Lucy Denbam, Ib9, Regent-.treet, 5tahonei,-roalbams, May 26.-Tried and acquitted, July 17. Samuel Dolby, 55, Waidour-street, Soho, ssationer.-Eighteen or twenty coples of :Dolby's Plays, lay 1.-Tlried and acquitted, Jully 17. Elizabeth Clifton, 45 Wardour..strect, Soho, cmtler.-A pair of razors, silvermoGnted, heay 3^.'e4 ansd acquitted, July 19.- Mr. Taylor, 1, Castle-street, .ieictster-squere, opticien.-Opera glass, June 3-.Cba,rge made, being positive of the person, buet te- clined to prosectite..- Thomas Veck 3, Tavisock-row, Covent-garden, bookseller._ Four numbers os Forteus'`5 Life of en Act&r, Aplf2 5, altered to 29.-Tried'alidacquitted July M . Thomas Ault, Princes-street, Leicester-ssuare, watchmalcer- One silver watwh, Miy.,Charge suide, beingpositive of the person, but deci,ned to proqecute. John Shield, .10, loor.street, Sobo, tool:warelbouse-A tool chest, April 17.I-Ditto. -- Benjansinr BlinWpy, JO, Marylzbone-strect, Golden-square, boiler. -A pair of imankeensresera,rs y3O.-Ditto. - - Phtneas RH&Ieirth, Stu John-street. Smifiteld, watchtalker, one ailver watch, June 5j -ITdiitmenf found, but prosecutor declibed me proc= . -: -1 Ann Merchant4 s lxftrd2street.jeweller, a sed and brooch, June 8.-Tried and nacquitted, July L4.- Illesars a Gay abiddl , Pieuaill3l,-stationers, -one albbm.-arge made, being poaitive of the-person.bht declined to prseicote,- MSLr. 1cenron, fagtfr-vag atid watch-key, Slay B.--.Chnrg0 iiade, but-btlieves the iPseivt ianot thc-Tobber. -.- The atolen I#opeztv will tbnle,posItetl atBow-stret,ih the:' halnd of the niagistrates, 'for the i6spectioi of tibe prosecUVors, one of whom has 5dtntificdtli5t which waf6thlerem em. An inlividral lal tedo prii-on at Brus- sels, on aIcharge of uiy: he dmsded the right if" baWl lhie authorities 'asemltd,' uttolhim -they would require secuities to the asgoqnh6-f 709,001 forint-bu fl81s ~eterlizg -^ CASB OF WILLIAM RAMSDEN ROBINSON.