The Express. — 1862-10-17 (London, England)

EVENING}, OCTOBER 17, 1862.  robbed to a coesiderable extent, which was the cause of the bell being put up. The prisoner was committed for trial.  Robert Raiding. a determined-looking youth of 18 years of age, was charged with attempting to extort mosey from two Mies, by threatening and actual use of a knife. Miss Maria Skloser, a young lady residing with her parade at No. 7. Regius Cottages, Albert-grove, Rya-lane, Peckham, said that on the preceding afternoon, ketweaa the hours of three and foie o'clock, she, in company with her mother, waskceeeding along a lane leading from Albertgrove to the b-street, Peckham, when the miaow from behind passed twain them, and sanding in front and brandishing a knife, demanded their money. Witness was so alarmed at the time that she could nos recollect what she said, or whether ship said anything. The prisoner struck at her with the knife, but she warded off his efforts to reach her, and struck him with her umbrella. The prisoner also struck at her mother three or four times with the knife, but ultimately ran away, and witness followed him, calling out " Murder" as loud as she could. The prisoner was stopped by two men having the appearance of labourers, and on her coming up to him he asked her to forgive him. He said his name was Robert Thompson, and lived at Grove Cottages, that his father and mother were ill end starving, and that he had isi.t had • bit of bread to eat himself for two days. Mr. Norton—Was all this said by the prisoner without any remark from you? Witness—No, sir, not all. I asked him what could iaduce him to act in the manner he did, and then it was be spoke about the distress of his father and mother, and his not having any bread to eat for two days. Mr. Norton—lts you think he intended, from the manner he acted, to use the knife offensively, and to osmonally injure your mother or yourself, or thereby to frighten and induce you to give him money' Witness—Well, sit, I uow think the latter was his object, though, at the same time, 1 thought he might injure me if I had not prevented him. Mrs. Skinner, the mother of the last witness, was called, and corroborated the whole, or greater part, of her daughter's evidence. Mr. Holland, the proprietor of the Prince Albert beerhouse. Victoria-road, Peckhiun, said that on the evening before be was at his bar, and hearing the cries of "Stop him," be went to his door and raw two labourers stop the prisoner, and Miss Skinner come up to them. Witness ran towards them to learn what was the matter, but before reaching them the men let the prisoner go, and he was walking along Cut-throat-lane. He asked Mies Skinner what the matter was, and on her telling him he secured the primmer. The charge against him was repeated by the young lady, but all the prisoner said was that the lady had forgiven him. He then took the prisoner to the station-house, and after be was looked up he accompanied polka-constable 360 P along Cot-throat-lane, and in the ditch, a short distance from where the ladies were stopped, the knife in the posses. mon of the constable was found.  In reply to a question from the magistrate, the witness said the lane in which the robbery was attempted, and which is half-smile long, was known for ninny years as Cuttbrost-lane, and was not known by any other name. Police-onostable Samuel Terry, 360 P, corroborated the testimony of the preceding witness, and said the name and address given by the prisoner to the ladies were false. Inspector Frost here informed the magistrate that the prisoner had bees before is custody, and on one occasion had been convicted of felony at this court and sentenced to four months' imprisonment. He (Inspector Frost) further said that it would be shown that the prisoner bad stood for some time at the end of Cat-throat-lase before the ladies same up, and it was therefore clear that he had been watching for some person to rob. Mrs. Skinner and her daughter were recalled, and both 'said they observed the pnsoner standing at the end of the lane.  The prisoner, in reply to the cbup, said be had no in. tention of using the knife though he had it, and that the ladies promised to forgive him. He was fully committed for trial.