The Express. — 1867-05-04 (London, England)

THE POLICE COURT&  MANSION HOURS.  A young man, who had to give any name, but who was recognised by Agar, the warder of the City prison, as a notorious thief, named Jolts Betts, and who had been frequently in custody for robbery, was yesterday brought before the Lord Mayor charged with stealing a watch the property of a person named Charles Cadge, residing at Colebrook-terrace, Mile-end. The robbery was one of a very daring character. The prosecutor was walking with his wife in Graoechurchstreet about 11 o'clock on Thursday night, when they met the prisoner, who looked the prosecutor fall in the facie, and then made a rush at him and snatched his watch from his pocket, breaking the guard, and ran off. He was pursued, and • cry of " Stop thief!" was raised, and upon the prisoner turning into Crutchedfriars he was met by Inspector White and one of the City constables, who stopped him, and ho then threw the watch away. The prisoner, who had conducted himself in such a noisy and violent manner before the case came on that it was necessary to remove him, made such a noise while the witnesses were giving their evidence that it was with very great difficulty anything theysahl could be heard. Upon being asked his name he replied that he should not tell his name unless they frave him half • pint of beer, and he commenced shouting and singing • Champsgne Charley." The Lord Mayor told the prisoner to conduct himself properly. The prisoner—l shan't. I want half a pint of beer. I have had nothing this morning. Look at my tongue. (Laughter.) The Lord Mayor, when the evidence had been completed, told the prisoner that he should commit him for trial.  The gaoler, Partridge, was then about to remove him, but he made a most desperate resistance, and it required the exertions of several constables to get him out of the dock and down the staircase leading to the cells. As he was going down he made a most desperate kick :at the glass partition which gives light to the lower part of the building, but it was too thick for him to break it. He was then placed in a cell by himself, but he had not been there long before he smashed everything that be could lay hold of, and armed himself with a large piece of broken glass in one hand and a piece of leaden pipe which he had succeeded in wrenching up in the other, and he threatened with frightful imprecations that he would murder any one who approached him. At this time he had divested himself entirely of his clothes with the exception of his shirt, and he stood facing the door of the cell, armed as above described, in the attitude to strike down any ono who entered. This state of things being reported to the Lord Mayor, directions were given that he should be secured and at once conveyed to Newgate, but it was evidently a very difficult matter to carry out these orders. The moment the door of the cell was opened the prisoner made a violent blow at the gaolers and the constables who bad oome to their assistance, and it was evident that he intended some serious mischief. After the parties bad been in this position for several minutes, the prisoner appeared to feel that be had better relinquish his design of violence, and he called out with an oath that if they would give him half a pint of beer he would give up his weapons and not commit any further acts of violence. As the best course to be taken under the circumstances, and upon his declaring that if his request was complied with he would fulfil his promise, a small quantity of porter was handed to him, or rather placed on the floor of the cell ; but the prisoner said be would not give up his weapons until he had tasted it, and discovered that it was "all right." Having done so, he threw out the missiles that he was armed with, and he then sullenly dressed himself and was subsequently conveyed to Newgate.