20 APRIL 1861, Page 5

The detective police have been engaged in endeavouring to put

a stop to the numerous robberies which have lately occurred on the banks of London. Expert thieves, carrying bill-cases, haunt the counters, and appear to be intent on business when they are watching for an opportunity to possess themselves of the money and notes passing from the clerks to customers ; and they follow likely-looking persons into the street in the hope of extracting pocket-books from the pockets of those who are unwary. Brett and Hayden, two de- tectives, have been vigilantly watching two men, 'Moore and Day., who haunted the banks in and near Lombard-street, and wbo did no business therein. Having observed them sufficiently, the detec- tives arrested each his man, and searching them, found on each con- siderable property, and two bills of exchange, which had been paid. Accused of being in banking-houses with intent to commit a felony, they refused their addresses, and have been remanded to give time for inquiries. The Bow-street magistrate has committed Durden and Holcroft for trial on charges of feloniously stealing certain specified sums from the Commercial Bank. It may be remembered that Durden was the clerk of the bank, and that Holcroft is accused of having been his accomplice. It is an open question whether Durden will not be indicted for forgery.. The gross amount obtained from the coffers of the bank by the ingenious frauds of Durden is between 60,0001. and 70,0001.

Even threatening bricklayers do not escape without punishment. Thomas Burton, a bricklayer, ordered three men to leave their work because the employer would not give the regulation 5s. 6d. a-day. He threatened to break the legs of one, who, however, did not heed his threats, but returned to work. Another, who had left, went to the employer and explained why he had abruptly departed, and the employer took out a warrant against Burton. Mr. Leigh, the Worship-street magistrate, severely lectured the prisoner, and sent him to prison for three months. The Guildhall magistrates have held to bail one Edward Chater, collector for the firm of North, Simpson, and Graham, on a charge of embezzling 8001. The cashier of the firm killed himself, and it is believed that he had cognizance of these transactions. One Henry Herbert has been committed for trial on a charge of plundering the house of Lady Emily Hardinge, and one William Kimptdu has been remanded on a charge of stealing a locket from the residence of Lady Dungarvan. M. Bisset, a Frenchman, has met with a strange adventure in Spi- talfields. As he was driving in a cab through that district the cab broke down, and when he got out a mob of men and women sur- rounded him. Among them were two women and three men. These laid hold upon M. Bisset, and in spite of an energetic defence on his part, tore open his coat, and speedily emptied his pockets of bank- notes and gold to the amount of 721. The women were very active. One man snatched at his watch, broke the chain, but failed to secure the watch. M. Bisset at length was allowed to run away. Called back by a policeman he went with him to the station, and the upshot was the arrest of the accused. They have been remanded. It is re- markable that the people in the street did not interfere to prevent M. Bisset from being robbed. The whole affair took place in broad daylight.

A shocking crime has been committed near Stockport. Two boys, each under nine years of age, decoyed another little boy, only two years and a half old, into the fields near the town. There they stripped him, thrust him into a brook, took him out, and deliberately cutting sticks, beat him to death, and then left the naked body in the brook. The body was found, suspicion fell on these two boys, and they confessed when arrested. They are of "respectable parentage." A jury has found both guilty of "wilful murder."