The Sun. — 1845-09-22 (London, England)

BALLANTINE—There might have been as many as forty dealers. Had known the prisoner for some time. He is in the habit of frequenting the sales and making purchases. There are many persons who live by that means. Articles of this description are passed ftom one dealer to another with a very small increase of profit. The pi ironer attended the sales as usual after the robbery. buying and selling articles as he had previously done. Mr. John Sturt stated that he is a clerk in the employment of Messrs. Debenham and Starr. Remembers the robbery at the salerooms. On the following morning witness was in the office ; the prisoner was ilso there. Witness reoeived directions to go round to all the bullion dealers in the city, and inform them of the robbery, and caution them as to purchasing property of this nature. It was a quarter to one o'clock when witness received these directions. In consequence of the instructions he received he left the office, and was proceeding down Bedford-street, when he was followed by the prisoner, who asked him where he was going to? Witness replied, " Into the City." The prisoner then inquired if he had dined ; and on witness saying that he had not, he proposed that they should dine together, and afterwards go into the City, when he (prisoner) would inform him of the best places to give information, and of those places where his information was useless. Witness accompanied him to Maiden-lane, and they dined together. In the course of conversation at dinner the prisoner said that he believed inspector Pearce was the officer employed by the house. Witness remarked his manner as he said this, and from further circumstances his suspicions were aroused, and he excused himself on some pretence, and returned by a roundabout way to his master's office. On reaching the door of the sale-rooms he was surprised to see the prisoner already there. Witness went up to him, and the prisoner inquired what occasioned his return? Witness said that he had forgotten something, and then made a communication to Mr. Debenham. Oa coming out lie found the prisoner there, and on stating that he was about to go round to the bullion-dealers, the prisoner proposed that he should accompany him to the Blue Boar, in Holborn, to see his wife off to Bedford. Witness went as far as the Blue Boar, and then excusing himself, he went round to the bulliondealers. Edward Collingrichie stated that he resides at Clerkenwell, and is a gilder and a refiner. Witness purchased some gold from the prisoner in April, 1844. It was in the form of what is called a skillet, or flat piece of metal. The simple furnace of a common jeweller would be amply sufficient to melt such a quantity of gold. It weighed 11 oz. I4dwts. Witness gave him 141. 4s. 3d. forlt. He never dealt wi' the prisoner on so large a scale before. William Pocock, an officer, stated that he took the prisoner into custody, He told him that it was for the robbery at Debenham and Storr's, and mentioned the circumstance of his having sold nee watch. The prisoner said that he bought it at a sale at Robins's, in Coventgarden. Mr. Robins was called. He produced the catologues of his sales since April, 1844, and no such watch was sold by him. Mr. BALLANTINE addressed the jury in defence, and called several witnesses, who gave the prisoner an excellent character. After deliberating an hour and a half, the jury returned into court with a verdict of Guilty, but strongly recommended the prisoner to mercy. The CostsioN SERGEANT said that it was his intention to transport the prisoner, but in consequence of the recommendation of the jury, the sentence was that he be imprisoned and kept to hard labour in the House of Correction for two years.  DETERMINED SUICIDE OF A GENTLEMAN IN THE RGzsT's