The Miner and Workman's Advocate. — 1865-06-10 (London, England)

BOXES.—At the Glasgow Police-court, John Hart, a sharp, intelligentlooking boy, who might be about fourteen years of age, was placed at the bar charged with robbing the letterbox of Messrs. Hutchinson and Dixon, on the morning of the 31st or night of the 30th utt. An officer explained that the lad lodged in a house in Saltmarket, which was much frequented by thieves, and, on searching the bed where he slept, toncealed in the chaff, an instrument was found for extracting- letters from letter-boxes. He produced the article, and described how it was worked. It is made of lead, shaped like a foureided wedge, having a broad base, and tapering towards a narrow apex, the length from base to apex being about 34 inches, and the breadth -at the base about two inches. The centre of gravity being thrown' towards one side gives it, when suspended by a.carcLwhick-passes through a hole at the front, an oblique inclination. One of the sides being smeared with birdlime the article is dropped ,into the letter-box, swinging on the cord attached to a small piece of stick, and when it reaches the bottom, naturally falling on its side, the letters adhers to it. Cautiously drawn up, the hand of the thief receives the letters at the aperture, and pulls them out. The prisoner tearfully denied having ever seen or heard of such a dodge, and hinted that it was a conspiracy 011 the part of the detectives to show their own cleverness, and make aacapegoat of him. Bailie Salmon said he was a very clever boy, whose ability would make something grea t of him if put to an honest use. In the meantime, the charge being found proved, he would be imprisoned for thirty days, and afterwards go four years to a reformatory.  MURDEROUS AFFRAY AT WEST HARTLEPOOL At the West Hartlepool Petty Sessions, on Saturday, William Donohue, an Irish labourer, was charged with wilfully cutting and wounding John Hagen, on the morning of the 28th ult. It appears that both parties reside at California, in the outskirts of the town, and about one o'clock in the morning prosecutor, who was in bed, was awoke by a row outside. He got up to see what was amiss, and found two drunken men lighting. The night was very dark, and the landlady was holding a candle while the encounter was going on. Prosecutor went up and separated the pugilists, and as he was about to return to the house, prisoner, who was sober, said to one of the drunken men who had.been kiting, "Will you fight me?" They were about to figh-, when a fellow lodger named Manley interfered, and prisoner struck Manley over the head with a weapon he had in nis hand, and the blood flowed most profusely. Prosecutor rushed forward.to endeavour to take the weapon from him, and they both got hold of each other and scuffled for some time. Prisoner, taking advantage of an opportunity, levelled a frightful blow with tho weapon he had at the head of the prosecutor, and some of the mob picked up stones mid throw them at him. The head of the prosecutor was cut open above the left temple, and the skull was laid biro. He became-insensible, and was afterwards carried into the house, and Dr. Munroe was sent for. The doctor, on arriving, said he found the prqsecutor in a very- weak state from loss of blood, and he has been nnable to appear until Saturday. Both Manley and the prosecutor appeared In court with their heads plastered up, and the wound of the latter was considered of a very danzeious character. A long piece of thin iron was found the next morning near to where the affray took place, and one of the men who witnessed the fight said, "This is the wea)on that killed the boy.' The magistrates committed ;he prisoner for trial at the ensuing Durham AsAzas.