The Sun. — 1856-08-21 (London, England)

SOUTHWARK.  DARING WATCH ROBBERY.—George Jones, a young *ellow well known to the police as lurking about the diferent railway stations in the metropolis, was brought before Mr. Combe, charged with stealing a valuable watch and chain from the person of John Edwards, a master tailor, undsr the following daring circumstances The prosecutor stated that on the previous morning he had business to transact at Guildford, but when he got to the railway station ho found that the train had just gone. He accordingly went into the "Lord Hill" public-house opposite the station, in the Waterloo-road, to partake of refreshments and wait for the train, where he saw two Life Guardsmen at the bar, with whom he conversed for a short time, and afterwards entered the taproom with them. The prisoner was there, and sat alongside of him. Witness paid for some beer, which they all drank. A minute or two afterwards the pr'Boner took hold of the pot and handed it to him, and almost immediately after that he suddenly lost his senses. While he was partially recovering witness saw the prisoner take his watch from his pocket with one hand and his chain from his neck with the other, and as he was about to go away he caught hold of him by the collar to prevent him making his escape. They struggled very hard for some time, and he believed that the potman was endeavouring all he could to rescue the prisoner, but witness was too strong for them. He kept hold of him and said, "You vagabond you have stolen my watch and chain." The prisoner replied, "No, I have not, look in your pockets and you will find it." The potman at the same time pointed to his coat pocket. Witness still held the prisoner with one hand, whil with the other he felt his coat pocket, and found his watch and chain there. He did not hesitate to say that the potman assisted in the robbery. The prisoner struggled hard to get away, but a constable came into the house and took him into custody. Mr. Combo asked the prosecutor whether he was sober at the time ? He replied that h was, as he had not drank anything before he entered the Lord Hill pablichouse. Witness distinctly saw the watch and chain in the prisoner's hand as be was passing it to another man. Police constable 172 L said he was called into the Lord Hill public-house about ten o'clock on the previous morning, when he saw the prosecutor struggling with the prisoner, whom he gave into his custody for stealing his watch and chain.  The defence was, that the prosecutor behaved in a disgusting manner to the prisoner in the urinal in Fester-lane, and that he promised to give the prisoner 2s, and his old umbrella not to prefer a charge against him.  The jury found the prisoner guilty. His lordship said the prisoner had been guilty of a crime which he (Baron Martin) looked upon equal to that of murder, and to many men it was entire destruction. The prisoner appeared to be a man who went about selecting weak men, and he thought he had met with such a man in this instance and could obtain money from him. His lordship marked his reprobation of such conduct, and were 113 to deal leniently with him he would be unworthy of the position he held. He sentenced him to penal servitude for life.