The Sun. — 1844-11-06 (London, England)

CLERKEN WELL.  Mr. Thomas Ashworth, a chemist and druggist, was charged with embezzling property to a consider• able amount belonging to his employer, and with attempting to commit suicide. John Latham, a Bow-street officer, deposed that at three o'clock on the previous day the prisoner came to Bow-street station, and asked witness if he had not received information of a quantity of books having been stolen from a Mr. Ambler, and en witness replying in the affirmative, he said, would you know the man who stole them ? Witness said he would not. The prisoner then exclaimed, "I am the man who committed that robbery, and I wish to give myself up." He was then locked up. Mr. Ambler, a wholesale bookseller, residing at 27, Compton-street, Clerken well, said about a month ago the prisoner came to him, assured him that he was in indigent circumstances, and requested some kind of employment. Witness, knowing that his friends were highly respectable, in some time after entrusted him with Prayer-books and Bibles as samples for country customers. In a few days after he received a letter from the prisoner, dated from Bexley, in Kent, in which he stated that he had lost the books, and requested forgiveness. The prisoner's friends having promised to make good the loss, witness commissioned the prisoner to take some books to Mr. Young, in Titchfield-street, Soho. The prisoner delivered the parcel, and borrowed money from Mr. Young. Witness subsequently learned that he had pawned the first parcel of books in several pawn. offices. The books were produced by several pawnbrokers' men.  The prisoner's step-father, an elderly gentleman, residing in Baker-street, Clerken well, stated that the prisoner was insane ; his father had been seven years in a lunatic asylum, and died mad there, and his brother, a solicitor, cut his throat. The prisoner's father had predicted that his son would die mad, and he verily believed the prediction would be verified. The prisoner had twice attempted to commit suicide— once by throwing himself into the New River. He had been in affluent circumstances, but was now much reduced.  Inspector Barton deposed that on the previous night, a short time after the prisoner was locked up in the cell, the constable, upon going the "rounds," saw the prisoner suspended there by his neckcloth. He was at once cut down, and was quite black in the face, and animation suspended. The police-surgeon was sent for, and he was, after a considerable interval, restored.  Mr. GREENWOOD directed Mr. Taylor to be sent for, that he might examine him regarding the state of his mind. Mr. Taylor came and did so, but stated the result to the magistrate in private. Mr. GREENWOOD decided upon remanding the prisoner, and added that Mr. Taylor had required further time to inquire into his state of mind. The prisoner, who conducted himself throughout with perfect composure and decorum, was remanded. A lal named Brown was charged with the followit,g attempt at robbing the house of Mr. W. Essex, a gentleman residing at 5, Gordoa-strect, Gordon-square. Thy, prisoner knocked at the door of Mr. Essex's honse-btween tea and eleven on the previous night, and said he had a sealed letter for Mrs.. Essex. fie handed the letter to the servant, e.nd came inside the door. The servant was going to deliver the letter to her wiatre4s, when fortunately Mr. Essex came down, and having opaned the latter, found it contained nothing hot a dirty scrap of paper. Mr. Essex's tiowe waa robigd a short time ago of a great deal of valuable property by a similar device.  The prisoner said he was sent with the letter by Mrs. Al!sop, of Regent-street, and afterwards told a different atari.—iJe vas remanded.