The Sun. — 1827-04-05 (London, England)

HIGHWAY ROBBERY. David Skinner was indicted for assaulting Mary Ann Hoare on the highway, and robbing her of a silk scarf, bag, &c. Mary Ann Hoare (a young woman of respectable interesting appearance) stated, that she lives at No. 10, Johnstreet, London Fields ; and that on the Ist of March last, as she was passing through London Fields, about eleven o'clock in the morning she observed the prisoner in an indecent situation ; witness turned away and the prisoner followed her and snatched a child which she held from her arms, and threw it on the ground.— He then seized on witness and put his foot against her side ; she endeavoured to save herself from falling, upon which he snatched her reticule and made off ; witness then screamed, and a young man leaped over a hedge and parsued the prisoner whom he brought back to witness with the reticule in his hand. Witness was at that period in a state of pregnancy, and was much alarmed. Thomas Gardner deposed, that he was walking under a hedge in the London Fields, on the day in question, when he heard a woman scream, and cry out murder. Witness then leaped over the hedge, and observed the prisoner running across the field. Witness asked the lady whether the fellow had taken any thing from her? She said, t, yes, her bag." Witness then pursued the prisoner, and came up with him, after a race of about a quarter of a mile. The prisoner then took the bag from his bosom, and threw it on the ground.— Witness let go his hold of the prisoner to recover the bag, and he again endeavoured to escape. Witness instantly took hold of him by the collar and insisted on his going tbhaeckbatgo astheher lady. When A the property. then assisted witness to take the prisoner to the watchhouse. When it was proposed to do so, prisoner said if he pyerson returnedl who thew as lady passing einlagim b claimed was carried to the watchhouse he would cut his throat, and he subsequently attempted to put his threat in execution, but was prevented. The prisoner, on being called on for his defence, said, that he had the honour of serving his Majesty, as coxswain, for 15 years; but, having lost his hearing, he was discharged without a pension, and was reduced to a state of deplorable distress. He protested to God that he had used no violence with the lady, but had snatched her bag with the intention of procuring himself food. Verdict— Guilty.  N John Russell teasEinWdict eCOUßT.indicted for ste aiing (Before Mr. Sergeant AL&lne.) a pair of silver sugar tongs, on the 19th of March, from the dwellinghouse of William Robert Keith Douglas, oug as, one of the Lords of the Admiralty. It appeared in evidence that the prisoner came to the prosecutor's house to get his signature to apetition ; the prisoner was left in the passage, while the footman went up stairs, and, when the latter returned, he missed the sugar tongs from the butler's pantry. The prisoner Was accused, and, en being searched immediately, the tongs were found in his coat pocket. The prisoner, On being thus detected, begged hard for mercy, stating that he was a true Scotchman, and hoped Mr. D. was the same. This ingenuous remark produced muck merriment in Court. The Jury, however, were not of his opinion, and found him Guilty. The REcoIiDER gave him an intimation that he would certainly make a voyage.