The Warwickshire Herald. — 1896-02-20 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

RANSACKING A CHURCH.  William Starkey, 17, describing himself as • hawker of salt, was charged, before Mr. John Glover, at Highgate Police-court, OD Saturday, with breaking and entering Priem Barnet Parish Church and stealing therefrom five surplices, 10 pocket handkerchiefs, one pair of gloves, one bottle which contained brandy, one pair of boota, metal ring, a postage stamp, and a farthing, value 15e., the property of the Rev. Frederick Hall, rector of Frien Barnet. The church is only about a mile and a half from the scene of the murder at Mumsll Hill. The prisoner is well known to the police, and it is only some months since he was bound over to come up for j•iiigment if called upon on • charge of burglary.— The posecutor said that at 8 o'clock on Friday Intoning he went to the church, where he found • number of policemen waiting at the door. He had the keys with him, and they all entered the church. Both the clergy vestry and the choir vestry were found to be in groat confusion. Boxes and cupboards had been forced open, and the contents strewn about the floors. At the police-station the articles mentioned in the charge were shown to him, and he identified them as hie property.—Policeconstable Huggett stated that just before 3 o'clock on Friday morning he was in Priern-lane, when he saw • light in the church. He went to one of the vestry windows, and saw prisoner with • lighted candle in his hand. He saw him break open • box, a cupboard, and some drawers; but he could not find out how be got into the church. He, however stopped outside, and, just after 5 o'clock heard a noise, and saw the prisoner running away. After a chase he caught him in the grounds of The Friary, a residence near the church. Prisoner, who was wearing the surplices underneath his overcoat, said that he entered the church by a window in one of the vestries.—Police-constable Pontin said that he kept observation with the previous witness, whose evidence he corroborated. He added that the prisoner drank some of the brandy whilst in the church.—Prisoner was remanded.  Sir W. Gilstrap, Bart., of Forntuam Park, Bury St. Edmunds, died on Saturday from the effects of • severe chill caught • few weeks since. Sir William, who was in his 60th year, was a J.P., and DeputyLieutenant for Suffolk. The journals cf the House of Lords contain an entry of petitions having been presented by Flora Wilde Campbell (by marriage Flora Wilde Good. ridge, of Elm Bank, Paignton, South Devon) praying to be granted the title and dormant honours of the Earle of Marchmont ; and by Eveleen Smith (wife of James Maclaren Smith, of the Boltons, South Kensington) clai ,ing to be Baroness Gray in the peerage of Scotland. Both petitions have been referred to the Committee of Privileges to consider and report.  Mrs. `Adkins: "I'm afield my darter is 'awful unhappy with that new husband of hers." Mrs. HO: "Do tell! Have you heard so ?" "No, but I've seen him in the F tre et every day since he got married, and he walks along ju t as chippy and inclapendent as ever. He doesn't look subdued a bit." Neighbour: "What beautiful bens you have, Mrs. 3tuckup!" Mrs. Stuckup: "Yes, they are all imported fowls." Neiehbour: "You don't tell me so. suppose they lay eggs every day ?" Mrs. 3tuckup (proudly): "They could do so If they saw proper, but our circumstances are such that my nos are not required to lay Nes every day."