28 SEPTEMBER 1833, Page 3

Mrs. Hampton, the lady of Colonel R. Hampton, at present

with his regiment in India, applied at the Marlborough Street Office, on Saturday last, for a summons against Mr. Barnes, a jeweller, residing in Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square. It was alleged that Mr. Barnes had unfairly become possessed of a 50/. note, which Ann Vickers, Mrs. Hampton's servant, had stolen from her mistress. Ann Vickers (who is now in DoverCastle, on a charge of having committed this felony) had contrived, it was stated, to obtain jewels and plate to a large amount from different tradesmen, in her mistress' name, and then pawned them. Mrs. Hampton had an account with Mr. Barnes ; but, in a bill which had been recently delivered, there were numerous articles charged which she had never bought or received. Among these was a diamond necklace, charged at 1601., and a service of plate, at ISO/. Mrs. Hampton had discovered the fraudulent conduct of her servant by breaking open her trunk, and finding upwards of severity pawnbroker's duplicates, for property worth 4501.

The summons for Mr. Barnes to attend on Monday was granted. On the preceding day, Mr. Barnes had endeavoured to obtain a war- rant against Mrs. Hampton, on the ground that she had obtained goods from him on fraudulent pretences, and immediately afterwards pledged them. Mrs. Hampton had an income of 1,000/. per annum, and she owed Mr. Barnes 8001. The Magistrate said the case was one of debt ; and he refused the warrant.

On Monday, the parties appeared before the Magistrate. Mr. Barnes was attended by Messrs. Barstow and Reynolds, his counsel and solicitor ; and Mrs. Hampton by her solicitor, and a Mr. Tuffnell, a clerk in the Audit Office—a person of fashionable appearance. Mrs. Hampton then made the following statement.

" I am the wife of Colonel R. Hampton, who is at present in India; and I reside at No. 19, Princes Street, Cavendish Square. In July last, I received a

remittance from my husband of 3501., through his agents, Messrs. Gregson, Melville, and Co. ; at which time a female, named Ann Vickers, lived with me as lady's maid. The remittance was a check on Barclay and Co., the bankers, in Lombard Street; which I took myself, and received for it three 50/. Bank- notes and smaller change. Two of these 50/. notes, between the 15th and 221 of July, I gave to Ann Vickers, for the purpose of paying the account of Madame Foley, my milliner. Ann Vickers brought me back a receipt, per •

porting to be a discharge from Madame Foley. [Receipt produced.] This is the, receipt • it is for 150/. ; but I had previously paid a stun of 40/. ; and Ann

Vickers told me the two sums, with the discount, making the amount of the whole bill, was included in the receipt. I went to Margate a few weeks ago, and Ann Vickers accompanied me while there, Ann requested to be allowed to go to town for a day or two, which was granted."

Madame Amandine Foley, the milliner, denied having received the money from Ann Vickers ; she also denied that the signature to the receipt was hers or her husband's.

A clerk from Messrs. Barclay's proved the payment of three 50/. notes to Mrs. Hampton ; and identified a note shown him as one of those so paid. Mr. Tuffnell here remarked, that another of the notes, No. 1,247, had been paid into the Bank ; and it would be material to show that this note had been

in the hands of Mrs. Hampton, and paid regularly away by her, because it would strengthen the fact of her having had the other two 501. notes in her possession.

Mr. Chambers—" I beg, Sir, you will not interfere in this case. I will try to do my duty without your suggestions."

Mr. T. Mortiboy, a jeweller, proved that the note which the bank clerk had paid to Mrs. Hampton had been paid to Lim by Mr. Barnes. Mr. Tuffnell then gave his evidence- " I am a friend of Mrs. Hampton, and have been at Margate for three weeks previous to last Friday. On Tuesday evening the 10th September, while at Margate, in consequence of the non-return of Ann Vickers from London, at the request of Mrs. Hampton I opened her boxes, and there found upwards of fifty duplicates for property to a very large amount. There were also some let- ters and papers in a small green box, three of which I beg to produce. [ Three letters handed in.] All the papers found in Ann Vickers's box are here; none of them have been destroyed. On the following morning, Ann Vickers re- turned to Margate by the coach; and I immediately caused her to be appre- hended, and taken before a Magistrate, on a charge of felony. She was then re- manded till the next Saturday. On Thursday morning, Mr. Barnes came to Margate; I having previously opened a letter directed to Mrs. Vickers, to be left at Mrs. White's, which I found came from Mr. Barnes. This letter I dis- covered contained a copy of a letter I had previously written to Mr. Barnes, respecting a gold chain belonging to Mrs. Hampton, which had been given to Ann Vickers to take to Barnes for some purpose, and also a copy of his answer to me on the subject. The remainder of the letter was filled with remarks from Mr. Barnes on the subject, and a request that Ann Vickers would give an explanation of what the inquiry meant; adding, that as she would perceive, by the copy of the letter he had written to Mr. Tuffnell, that he had replied in an ambiguous style, in order to gain tittle."

This letter was banded to Mr. Mortiboy, who immediately pronounced it to be in the handwriting of Mr. Barnes.

Mr. Tuffnell continued—" On Thursday morning, when Mr. Barnes called, at the early hour of seven o'clock, I went to him, and collared him, saying, Barnes, you are my prisoner.' I scut then tier a constable. Mr. Barnes said I laid committed an assault and false its,prisenment on bins, and he began taking down the names of the witnesses present. I told him 1 would show him the difference; but, on taking him before a Magistrate, I was told it was out of Iris jurisdiction, consequently I was obliged to let bins go. On Saturday, Ann Vickers was brought up for reexamination, and Mr. Barnes wanted to be present ; but the Magistrates refused to permit him to remain its the office, in consequence of the let ters in his handwriting 1.tund in the box of Ann Vickers.' Mr. Reynolds asked what this evidence tended to ? llis client was there on a charge of a guilts• kturwledge of the possession of a stolen note. Mr. Tuffnell sail-I. the letters would show the sort of colt/lotion between Mr. Barnes rutil Ana ideas: ; and he wished the Magistrate to read the IIC t kneel- he should band in.

Mr. Chambers glanced over it ; and said, it appeared to lie a love-letter from Mr. Barites to Ann Vickers, and certainly put the intercourse between the par- ties beyond doubt. Mr. Barstow said, he certainly was not there to defend the morality of Mr. Barnes, but he could not think the letters now produced very martial. Mr. Chambers read the third letter, and said the contents of it were most material, as it referred to transactions in plate, &v. between Mr. I lames and Ants Vickers. The three letters were then allowed to be made evidence.

Mrs. Hampton produced several bills with receipts for purchases made at Mr. Barnes's ; and in answer to questions from Mr. Cham- bers, the 'Magistrate, positively denied having bought the diamond necklace, gold necklace, six silver teapots, &c., \ilia were all charged to her by Mr. Barnes. She then underwent the following cross-ex- amination by Mr. Barstow.

Barstow—" Did Ann Vickers go to MargateTwith you ?"—" Yes, she

di(111.;r. Barstow—" Pray, Madam, was Mr. Tuffnell lodging with you at Mar- gate ?"—" Mr. Tuffnell was on a visit to me."

Mr. Barstow—" I asked you if Mr. Tuffnell lodged with you in the same bemuse."

Mr. Tuffnell—" Only for a short t i me."

Mr. Barstow—" I hope the Magistrate will allow this case to be canducted in the regular way. This gentleman Iles shown a most extraordinary anxiety to interrupt the course of busiuess, and I must solicit the interference of the Magistrate."

Mr. Chambers (to Mr. Tuffne1)1—" You must leave this room, and sit down in the next one, as You appear not to be able to restrain yourself."

Mr. Barstow—" Now, Madam, be kind enough to answer this question,— was Mr. Tuffnell a lodger its the same house, with you at Margate? "—" He was on a visit to me."

Mr. Barstow—" Did be sleep in the same house ?"—" Yes he did." Mr. Barstow—" Was Ann Vickers in the habit of paying bills by your or- der ?"—" Yes, she generally paid my bills." Mr. Barstow—" Have you not from time to time given her money to pay the hills of Mr. Barnes? "—" I have given her money for that purpose ; but it was only on three occasions. I may state that I sold 'Mr. Barnes seine diamonds, and he paid his bill out of the memo-. I gave Ann Vickers no other money, ur instructions to pay Mr. Barnes's bill than what I have stated." Mr. Barstow—" Have you not been in the habit of directing Ann Vickers to pawn goods for you ?"—" Only on one or two occasions." Mr. Barstow—" Have you not on runny occasions given such directions."

Mr. Chambers—" Don't agitate yourself, Madam. 1 know the circumstances under which the pawning occurred, and 1 shall have them out for the sake of relieving your feelings. The articles were pawned in order to help your son out to India."

Mr. Barstow—" I regret to put unpleasant questions, but I am compelled from the facts of the case to do so. You, Sir, have your feelings interested and biassed by ex parte statements; and I trust your will do my client the justice to hear other evidence, for I have some idea, that when my whole statement is heard, the complexion of the ease will be materially altered." Mr. Chambers—" Well, Sir, you shall have every opportunity to produce • your facts. You may explain, Madam, if you choose, the circumstances of the pawning." Mrs. Hampton—" I would rather say nothing."

A number of questions were then asked relative to the articles which at different times ilIrs.:Hampton had authorized Ann Vickers to pawn; but she declared positively, that she never had pawned any of the articles she had bought from Mr. Barnes. Mr. Tuffnell was re- peatedly called to order during the examination, for exchanging looks, giving hints, &c. to Mrs. Hampton during her examination. Miss Fanny Barnes proved that she had paid the 50/. note to Mr. Mortiboy—that she had taken it out of the strong box where her bro- ther usually kept his money.

Mr. Chambers refused to admit Mr. Barnes to bail, and he was con- veyed to prison. On Tuesday,.the parties reassembled.

Mr. Chambers informed Mr. Barstow, who appeared for Mr. Barnes, that he had a very easy duty to perform : the solicitor for the prosecution had informed him that they had stated they could bring forward an actual case of felony, but the evidence not being fully matured, the prosecutor had applied to have it post- poned. All that the prisoner now had to do, was to produce evidence to show that bail ought to be taken.

Mr. Conant said, he had looked very minutely at the evidence, and did not think bail ought to be taken. Mr. Dyer concurred in the opinion of his brother Magistrates. Mr. Barstow:at great length addressed the Magistrates on the subject ; and concluded by observing, that, under all circumstances, he should act offer any evidence for the purpose of altering their opinion. Mr. Chambers expressed some surprise at the alteration in Mr. Barstow's opinion, as yesterday he distinctly stated he would rebut the charge by counter evidence.

Mr. Barstow—" That was any intention when I came here; but after hear-

ing intend . your decision that you do not to take bail, I shall certainly decline of- fering any evidence at present." After a long conversation between Mr. Chambers, Mr. Barstow, Mr. Dyer, and Mr. Conant, Mr. Barnes was fully committed for trial. A person connected with Messrs. Barnard and Co., Paternoster Row, called at the Office on Thursday, to inquire whether he could not edge measures against Barnes, for procuring a considerable quantity of p5-4te from their shop, under the pretence of showing it to a lady who wanted to purchase some, but really in order to pawn it ; which he did within an hour after its delivery. Mr. Chambers said, he had consulted the act, and found as there was no proof of the goods being unlonfully cstaitsned, the applicant could not prosecute Barnes. It seems that one arawahroker had received four new silver coffee-pots in pledge, in one

a

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Mrs. Hampton made an application yesterday to Mr. Chambers for warrants to search the premises of several respectable pawnbrokers ;

5or h:td since discovered that much valuable wearing apparel, besides plat;, had been stolen from her. The warrants were granted. Subse- e aently, some of the pawnbrokers came to the office, and said they were willing to allow Mrs. Hampton and the Policeman to inspect the neepeety alleged to have been stolen; and it was agreed that the war- eem: elitadd not be executed.