The Sun. — 1846-05-18 (London, England)

SELF-ACCUSED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ROBBER, MURDERER, &c.  Id The Sun some time since appeared an account of a young man, named Henry Norman, aged 27 years, clerk to Mr. W. Hoof, the extensive builder and railway andcontraetor at Kensington, having absconded, stealing taking with him the sum of 571. in gold and silver, the money of his employer. Also of his having sent a letter to Mr. Hoof, to Dr. Pallen, of Barnes, &may, at whose school he was educated, and also to another gentleman to whom he was known, accusing himself of having, " while in the Customs at Jamaica, before he was 21 years of age, robbed the revenue of thousands of pounds, and afterwards, while in the United States, having at New York robbed a pawnbroking and silversmith's store of money and property- to the value of 1,0001.; and committed numerous other crimes, not even hesitating at murder." In another part of his letter he distinctly stated that " he had committed more than 1,800 distinct robberies, and. had been concerned in five murders, besides many other atrocities." At first, the confession was considered by many persons as the emanation of a fevered and excited brain; but from the inquiries which have since been instituted into the truth of the state ments contained in the letters, it has been found that Norman did at the time stated till an important situation in the Customs at Kingston, Jamaica, which he eventually resigned, being at the time a defaulter to a large amount. On his return to England, lie offered as a reparation to lay open the villainous proceedings of others connected with the same department, and was for several days under examination by the Custom House authorities, but on his statements being submitted to the Attorney and Solicitor-General and other law offs. cers of the Crown, it was found that they were so loose that no reliance could be placed on them, and he was suffered to go at large, his defalcationsm beiintghgasaidalbsyo b those whose duty it was to have ore sit icily ostvaeittlesoduockhbeyad nim,r: 32 discovered aii rev e thatted hishi statement his dishoneststam ent career.respecting the robbery of a jeweller's More at Nevir York is correct, robbery having taken place at the time pussipnicoeioantsise gave him, and a true bill has been returned against him avthe also at he at tiththine thNeewlast York two or Sessions.thre daysS was concerned in the murder and robbery committed about eight years since, at the premises MM of r. Richard Westwood, the watchmaker, in Princes-street, Soho, which has ever since been enveloped in great mystery. It is known that he was in England at that time, and it is believed that he was staying at the house of his father, who was at that time a respectable pawnbroker and silversmith in Princes-street, afe doors r. Westwood's house. Ever since 17 from M is absconding, the police have been indefatigable in their endeavours to trace his retreat., but without effect, until Friday last, when information was received by letter from Liverpool, that a young man answering, in every particular, the description of Henry Norman, was in custody in that city. An officer was immediately dispatched to Livernool, and the prisoner will be brought up to London forthwith.