The Potteries Examiner : — 1877-09-15 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

WHAT IT MAY COME TO. William Sikes was again brought up on Tuesday before the magistrate at Boviktreet charged with etooling a handkerchief. Mr. Hodges prosecuted, imtructed by the Treasury, and the prisoner was defended by Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Wigg;ns, and Mr. Wilkimon. The Bench Was crowded with Dukes, and several Bishops found places at the table usually reserved for sobritors. 'the first witness called Was Charles Bates, all,. "the Artful Dodger," who is now `undergoing a term of imprisonment at Mil!bank. Witness wore the usual convict's garb ; his hair was parted shown the centre, end 69 appeared to be a persou of remarkable intelli. genre and some education. He deposed as follows, examined by Mr. Hodges Know the prisoner perfeetly well. He was called "the Brain Spiller." (Laughter.) Supposes' he was called that because he broke skulls. (Roars of laughter.) He saw the prisoner take the haisdkerchief. There War no doubt about the matter. Cross-examined by Mr. Montgomery c He was 18 years old. He had been in prison on and off for several years. He bad been eharg,ol with robbing his mother, stealing from his father, and attempting to defraud his grandmother. He had also been charged with forging the names of seemmmel-twenty different people. He supposed some of the charges were true. (LaughtEr.) He knew that he bad been convicted on all of them. (Roars of laughter.) Mr. Montgomery Now, sir, answer me this question. Do you think ii convict's word is to be believed before that of an homiest man? . •  Bates (indignantly): That is a most improper question, and I appeal to the Court. (Applause.) Let me tell my learned friend that an honest heart may beat under a prison waistcoat, and lone hair does not always mean business aptitude, national honour, and hardworking integrity. (Loud applause.) Mr. Montgomery (with great warmth) t You must not call me your learned fr end. Bates I retract the ''learned.' (Roars of laughter.) Cross-examination continued : I hare been tried for murder. I rot off on an alibi. It was certainly rather crook. d. (Shoots of laughter, hi which the Bench not bar (dned heartily.) My maternal aunt did not like me Islore her death. I suppose she objected to me became I pat some poison in her tea. (Laughter.) She found me ont the first time, but the poison found bee out the second. (Roars of laughter.) The money was pail by the insurance company. I had insured her life for 1500. The prisoner had none of the proceeds. Cress-examined by Mr. Wiggins: The handkerchief I saw the •aisoner take was a cotton one. That I will swear. It was not made of 'when straw. Of that I am certain. Cro,s,xamined by Mr. Louis George t Until I was sent to prison I was an innocent little boy. My parents took great pains with rue. I NV:IR their hope and pride. I have always regarded the prisoner with feelings of affection. In my opinion be is a most respectable person, and quite incapable of stealing in handkerchief. ge-examinea by Mr. Hodges lam quite sure the prisoner took the p ,eket handkerchief. I saw him take it. The theft occurred in the brunt daylight. There Can he no donbt about it. Mr. Hodges then informed the magistrate that. although thiS NUI, a preliminary enquiry, it would be becessary for the Crown to call 42 more witnesses. He was sorry to say that the case might take im some time, and therefore he woold suggest that arrangements should he promptly made to allow for the Christmas, the Easter. ana the Midsummer holidays. The magistrate, after expressing an opinion that no time bad beet wasted, promised to consider the matter during the adjournment, and remanded the prisoner (for the forty.secoud time) until Thursday.