The Sun. — 1833-02-26 (London, England)

THAMES POLICE.  Yesterday Mary Ann Harwood, a young woman of decent appearance, whose connexions were stated to be highly respectable, was brought before Captain RICIrBELL and Mr. BaonExtr, charged with stealing property to a considerable amount from Mrs. Procter, wholesale slopseller, in Shadwell High-street, in whose employ she lived as servant of all work. The prisoner has before figured at Lambeth street-office under very singular circumstances. About two years ago she was charged with stealing a muff and tippet from the wife of a wealthy linen-draper, in Sr.eorge's-east, with whom she lived as nursery-maid, and she then set up a defence that she had been only a visiter to the lady, who once eloped from her husband and lodged for several days at the Portugal Coffee-house, and that the lady, who had admitted her into her confidence, gave her the  property to keep the secret. This story was told with such a❑ appearance of plausibility that it was for several days believed to be true, and the rumour of the lady's alleged infidelity gave great pain to her husband and family, but subsequent inquiry proved the accusation to be false; and the prisoner, who during the interval of the first and second examination attempted suicide in Clerkenwell prison, was afterwards convicted, and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. It appeared that she entered the service of Mrs. Procter, whose husband, the captain of a ship, is now at sea, last October. Oa Monday last Mrs. Procter, while looking over her wardrobe, missed a table-cloth, and a suit of clothes belonging to a gentleman named Oliver, which she had given to the prisoner the day before to brush and fold up. The prisoner, on being taxed with the theft, denied it, and her mistress left her in her bedroom, with an intimation that an inquiry should be made. Soon afterwards Mrs. Procter heard something very heavy fall on the floor, and sent Mr. Carter, her shopman up stairs. On breaking open the door of the prisoner's bed-room, he found her lying on the floor appa rently lifeless, with a silk handkerchief tightly fastened round her neck. She had suspended herself to a cloflits. peg, but while swinging, the handkerchief slipped off the peg, and she fell. After she.was recovered, she informed Mr. Martin, the mate of a ship, who lodged in the house, that he would find the duplicates of the property above named, two silver spoons, a shawl, and some other articles which she had pledged, in the slop-pail. She was then allowed to go home, but Mrs. Procter having subsequently missed a good deal of other property, sent for Blaby, a land-officer of Thames-police, on Thursday night, and he took the prisoner into custody. She confessed to Blaby that she had pledged the property which was produced by the pawnbrokers, but that Martin had promised, as far as SOL went, to assist her, if she would live with him. She endeavoured, when before the Magistrate, to implicate Martin, but failed. She then called him a base and faithless villain. The Magistrates committed the prisoner fur trial, and ordered her to be closely watched.  On Saturday last an inquest was held at the White Hart, in Ratcliff, on the body of Mr. R. SPENCER, aged 64, a coal-merchant, in Broad-street, Rateliff. He was a man of great wealth, and owned about 23 houses about Rateliff, besides several in other places, and the whole of Farnham-place, Ratcliff. Some months since he joined with an auctioneer in a bond for the payment of 2,000/., and the latter failing he was compelled to bear the loss of 1,000/. This preyed upon his mind, and he nem afterwards appeared in his right senses. A few weeks ago he purchased a ship load of coals, which did not turn out so well as he expected, and this added to his despondency. Some days since he called on Dr. CLELAND, of Ratcliff, and talked of going to a workhouse. Dr. CLELAND, in consequence, advised his family to watch him closely. On Thursday evening he left his house by himself, and at night he was found in the kitchen of one of his empty houses, at No. 6, Farnham-place. He was quite dead, and encircled by a pool of blood, having cut his throat from ear to ear with a case knife. Verdict..-Mental Derangement.