The Sun. — 1844-02-06 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (YESTERDAY.) CLERKENTVELL.  Edmund Thompson, James Heath, and Wm. Thompson, young men; the latter enveloped in a fashionable blue cloak, with a fur collar, were charged with having been concerned in the robbery of wearing apparel from the house of the Rev. William Barton, a Wesleyan minister, residing at No. 2, Chesterfield-street, King's-cross, also on suspicion of being concerned in other robberies. Police-constable Williams, 31 B, being on duty at King's-cross on Saturday evening, between seven and eight o'clock, saw the prisoners from time to time conversing with one another. As their appearance was suspicious be watched them narrowly. They separated, and soon after, hearing a door slam in Chesterfield-street, he saw the prisoner Thompson running out of No. 2, with a riding cloak, a great coat, and a mackintosh on his shoulder. On seeing the officer the prisoner immediately took to his heels, but was speedily arrested by Police-constable 62 E. He threw away the garments in his flight. Heath was; apprehended in a few minutes after, and on his person were found four keys, one of which opened Mr. Barton's door. Hopkin's was apprehended on the same night in Heath's house, No. 3, Sea Lion-street, New-cut, Lambeth.  The Rev. Mr. Barton identified the property seen upon Thompson as his property. Police-constable Gough, 831., deposed that on searchHeath's house he found there a writing-desk, a drawing box, a quantity of chimney ornaments, and other articles, which a gentleman in Court identified as his, and which had been stolen from his house on Friday night last. Witness perceiving one of the floorboards more elevated than the others, raised it with a chisel, and found underneath 27 skeleton keys, thirteen picklocks, and a crowbar were found hidden. On a woman in the house, who gave the name of Smith, and who, it subsequently turned out was the paramour of Heath, 57 duplicates relating to various descriptions of property were found. Thompson had been tried at the Surrey sessions by the name of Peter Nimmo, and was sentenced to twelve months' mprisonment, which he underwent. Hopkins was discharged ; the other prisoners were remanded ; but Heath was admitted to bail to the amount of 200/ to appear in this Court on Thursday next:  Thomas Bichett was charged with maltreating a horse by Ratcliffe, one of the officers of the National Animals' Friend Society. The officer being on duty at King's-cross on that morning saw the prisoner driving a horse and cart. The poor animal was so feeble and emaciated, that he was scarcely able to put one foot before another. In addition to his weakness, Ratcliffe, on inspecting the horse, saw a large wound under the saddle, and which was as raw and bloody as if the flesh had been: cut out of it. There was another wound on the shoulder, and the knees were boken. He took the prisoner into custody. Ratcliffe, in answer to a question from the Magistrate, said the Society to which he belonged were about applying to Parliament fora new Bill. _ _  ;fir. GREENWOOD thereupon observed that it would be a great improvement on the present law, if the owners were made liable, as they were frequently the most blameable.  The prisoner, in reply to the charge, said the animal belonged to his father.. The horse was to have been slaughtefed on Friday last. - . He was fined los., or seven days' imprisonment. William Kirkland was charged with feloniously attertlpting to stab Richard Bowles. The prisoner, prosecutor, and other young men were playing at skittles in the skittle-ground of the King's Arms public-house in Rawstrone-street, Clerkenwell, yesterday. The prisoner lost a game and refused to pay the sum forfeited. A dispute arose, in which he took his penknife from his pocket and opened it, the young man with-whom he had been playing attempted to prevent his egress by crowding round the entrance, the prisoner rushed through them and made a thrust of the knife at the breast of the prosecutor who had offered no opposition whatever, the blade passed through the left breast of the coat which was strongly padded, but fortunately did Hot enter the flesh. The prisoner was committed for trial to the Old Bailey, but bail was accepted for his appearance there. A poor demented looking creature, who gave his name as Robert Smith, was charged with having been found insane in the Chapel of Ease, Holloway. The prisoner, on Sunday week, placed a note in the hands of Mr. Robert George Steele, one of the congregation at the Holloway Chapel of Ease. The note was given by Mr. Steele to the police, and on Sunday the prisoner was apprehended in the chapel. Mr. Steele, who resides at 6, College-street, Holloway, deposed that he received the note from the prisoner,. whom he had never seen before.—(The note was handed in to the Magistrate, but its contents were not made public.) Mr. Semple, surgeon to the N-division of police, deposed that -he had examined the prisoner, and believed him to be insane. He told witness that he had been persecuted unceasingly for the last forty years, and that he would have committed suicide if he had had the courage to do so. Police-constable 172 N said he had been at the prisoner's residence, No. 2, Philip-street, Kingsland-road, and learned from the inmates thatle refused to use any other food than bread and water ; they believed him to be labouring under a delusion. The prisoner was remanded for the attendance of the parochial authorities of Islington.