2 AUGUST 1828, Page 6

THE POLICE OF LONDON.

Two fashionably dressed females, one an Englishwoman, who gave the name of Saville, and the other a Frenchwoman, who gave her name De

Curtsey, were brought to the Marlborough Street office on Thursday, charged svith swindling Madame Rosa Este, who keeps a shop in New Bondi Street :for the sale of French millinery. The complainant stated her case to the magistrate in tile French language. About a fortnight ago, the two prisoners Arent to her rooms, and after looking over a variety of goods, they requested her to send an assortment of different articles to their residence, Park-street. Park-lane. Madame Este accordingly went to the house herself, and tool with her .a quantity of valuable silks, and other goods for their inspection. On inquiring for the ladies, the footman s'ho opened (lie door, told her that the ladies were at home, and wished to take the goods tip stairs. Madame Este, however, was determined to be on her guard against any trick, and desired to see the ladies herself. She was then shown up into the dr:ache--

room, where the two ladies were sitting, and after they had examined true goods a little, they requested that she might leave them for it short time, as they were just then rather hurried. From the respectable appearance of the house and of the prisoners themselves, Madame Este did not hesitate to leave the things as they desired; but \du:a she retureed in half an hour, she was, to her great surprise told by the man-servant that the ladies had gone into the country a great distance, and that it was quite uncertain wriat time they would return. Este repeatedly called at the house, butt could neither see nor hear anything of her property, or of the prisoners. f'icetielil the airier, -who had been employed to apprehend them, described the difficulties he en- countered in executing the warrant. Ile had watched the house !tight acul day. The ready answer of the footman from the area beneath, was ever the same—the ladies had gone far away, and it would take twelve days to com- municate with them. bAt length the officer armed himself with a crow-hair, and obtained admission at the street door, only on threatening to apply force to it : in the drawing-room he found the French lady, and in an attic the Euglishwoman—both rooms were barricadoed, and the convenient footman had persisted to the last in protesting that the ladies were "not at home." The property was not found in the house, and Scofield brought them both in a coach, at their own request, to the office. Mrs. Saville, the English lady, who was the spokeswoman on the occasion, in her defence first laughed at the whole allitir as a monstrous good joke, and assured the magistrate that it was quite ridiculous to suppose that there was any thing like felony or rob- bery in the matter; butt on the magistrate assuring her in return, that how- ever ridiculous the transaction might appear, he should send her and her companion to take their trial at the Old Bailey, upon the charge, Mrs. Saville altered her tone amazingly, and asked if they might not be allowed to settle the matter with Madame Este, by paying that lady the value of her goods. The magistrate said that there could be no doubt but it was a clear case of felony, and at present he thought it a very fit One to send to a jury ; but he should remand the prisoners for further examination. 'Flue two ladies were then, in their fine flounces and huge balloon bonnets overflowing with ribands, locked up in one of the cells at the back of the office, until centered to Tot- hill-fields prison, at four o'clock, in the van amongst the general herd of pri- soners. Scofield said that he has had complaints for a long time, from va- rious tradespeople in all directions, against these two women, upon charges something similar to the present ; but they were constantly changing their residence from place to place, and the last time he heard of theta before this,, they lived in Manchester-street, Manchester-square.

Two years ago, Captain Charles Grindall, on the half-pay of the army, together with other persons was brought to Bow Street, on the charge of forcibly carryin.b off the Captain's uncle, a very rich old gentleman, under the pretext that he was insane, aud confining him in a house taken for the purpose near Tonbridge Wells. A prosecution which had been instituted against Captain Grindall, was waved upon his undertaking not to molest his uncle in future. On Thursday, Mr. Parkins a sturgeon at Kensington, accom- panied by Captain Stu rt of the Navy, and Mr. Haddon, solicitor to Mr. Grindall, came with a new complaint against Ceiptain Grindall and his wife, who live in the same neighbourhood. Mr. Perkins is the medical gentleman appointed occasionally to visit Mr. Grindall, at the house of Captain Sturt. He stated that on Tuesday last he was grossly insulted, both by Mr. and Mrs. Grindall. The former called him a d—d villain and a blackguard, and threatened that only for the law he would knock him down. Mrs. Grindall repeated the abuse and spit at him. Mrs. Grindall—" If I did, I am sure you de- served it." Parkins went on to state, that as he and Captain Sturt were passing under the piazzas at Covent-garden, they met Mr. and Mrs. Grindall, and distinctly beard Mrs. Grindall exclaim, " there go a couple of d—d villains." Mrs. Grindall.—" Oh! what a lie ; 1 said no such thing. I said indeed, "there go a couple of villains,' and I would say so again." Mr. MIN snuLt.—" But did you swear Mrs. Grindall Mrs. Grindall—" No Sir, I am sure I did not.' Mr. Parkins—"But why am I singled out?" Mrs. Grindall—"Hold your tongue; it is my turn to speak now. I will explain—" Mr. Grindall (pulling her back)—" Be quiet, will you ? This man (pointing to Mr. Parkins) has been in the habit of annoying me for a long

time. When I lived in another house, he used to send persons knocking at my door all hours of the day and night. They pulled the bell, nearly broke the knocker, and smashed my windows. Some of them would call out C Were you not in Coldbath-fields prison for trying to lock up your uncle ?' Others of them used to call Mrs. Grindall a common strumpet, saying that she was seen in the brick-field with men." Mr. MINSHULL—.." But what proof have you that these persons were set on by Mr, Parkins?" Mrs. Grindall—"Oh, we have proof enough of that. One of the bricklayer's people, who said 1 was cotehed' in the field with a man, acknowledged that

Mr. Parkins there bribed him to say-so." Mr. Parkins—" It is utterly untrue." Captain Sturt—" Really the conduct of this person and his wife is past bearing. I have no interest whatever in having the old gentleman at my bowie, and as to any undue restraint over him I deny it. Mrs. Grindall was certainly denied admittance to him, because, when she came to visit hint ome ticne ago she knocked him down." Mrs. Grindall—" How can you sten such lies ? You have heen carrying on a pretty game with the poor old

gentleman's property. All his funded estate you have got into your own hands, you and the rest of you ; but wait a little; the Lord Chancellor shall hear about it, and brine you all over the coals." Mr. Minshull—" I wish the case was now before his Lordship with all my heart." (A laugh.) Mr. Parkins observed. that it was not very likely he could have so far influ- enced the men in the brick-field, as to cause them to annoy Mr. Grindall in

in the manner he described. Mr. Grindall—" Oh, it is very well known, that if you but hold up your finger, you can get them to do or say just what Yell please. The poor devils,you know, get drugs and medicines at your shop for uothing, and it is not likely they would refuse you a little favour." Mr.

Crindall here suggested that both parties should cutter into their own recog-

nizance in 5001. to keep the peace towards each other. Mr. Parkins objected to that arrangement, saying that he had committed no assault and given 111,1

offence. Mr. Grindall—" But I swear that you have used threats both to me and my wife, and I can bring forward some men from the brick-field to prove that you set them on to abuse me." Mr. Minshull.—" Then let the

cast' stand over for a re-hearing." • At Bow-street, on Thursday, two notorious thieves, named BeNtk and .Mayston, were fully committed for stealing from the shop window of Messrs. Gilbert, jewellers and silversmiths, of Cockspur-street, a small silver com- munion service, such as is used by clergymen in their visits to the sick.

At Union Hall, a little boy, nameil Rooney, only ten years of age, was charged w ith stealing a Nvatch. Seeing the door of a house open, he went into the parlour, took down a watch which was suspended by a strict.. anti walked away with it. Ile was soon afterwards apprehended with the watch, in the act of handing it over to another boy, by whom it was to have been pledged. The pareets of the boy said that he had been a thief front his in-

fancy, and they had no control over him. His brother was transported a few sessions ago for felony. He was committed.

At Guildhall, on Thursday, II umphrey Murphy, an urchin scarcely twelve years old. was charged with obtaining seven collies of the Oninittin Gathernin, front Alr. Tilt, a bookseller, in Fleet-street , saving he was sent by a Mr. Kelly for them. Inquiries having been made, it appeared. that Ths Ecu v had never sent for the books ; and, on the ho>hs third visit to the shop, he was seieed. Ile stated that he had been instigated by a lad NV110 hawked prints about the streets, and would be found at the foot of Westminster-M.41ov in the evening ; but through the injudicious publication of the evidence in an evening paper of Wednesday, or from some other cause. the print-vendee was unit found at his post. The boy had been dismissed from the service of Mr. Kelly out the 1 lilt of July ; and his father had corrected him for the fault for which he was dismissed so severely, that the marks would still be found upon him; he hail not been at home for twelve days, and the father implored that he might be sent to sea. The boy was remanded for a week to solitary confinement, and the father was directed to find a ship for him in the mean time.

At Mary-la-bonne, on Thursday, Richard Clarke, alias Hughes, under- went a secend examination for fraud. Mr. Brown, a stable-keeper, etated, that about a month ago, the prisoner hired a horse of hint by the year, at the

annual at of 110/. He gave him a splendid card of address, printed in gold, as living at 32, Upper Berkeley-street; said he was a nem of fortune, and woulul pay quarterly. It Was also proved, that on the 16th of.] uly, the prisoner ordered two coats and two pair of trowsers of Messrs. Poole and Cooling, of Regent-street. IIe said he was possessed of large property in the neighbourhood of Bristol, and that Messrs. Clark and Star. surgeons, of 32, Upper Berkeley-street, were Ids guardians. Mr. Poole called in Berke- ley-street, the prisoner opened the door, told hint Mr. Clarke and Mr. Star were unfortunately both sent for to attend a lady, but he would introduce him to Mrs. Clarke. 'Mr. Poole was taken into a handsome room, well fur- nished, and containing a grand piano ; and had an interview with a lady, who said the prisoner in ten months was entitled to receive a large fortune; her husband, Mr. Clarke, was his guardian, and he would be answerable for his debts. The coats and trowers were sent in ; and on Saturday last Messrs. Poole and Cooling received a note front the prisoner, directing him to pre- pare some livery for his servant ; but a report of the prisoner's examination having appeared in the newspapers, the order was not completed. The pri- soner had shire confessed that all his representations vere false. He was again remanded. A fashionably-dressed young gentleman, who gave his address William Edwin Jelian Villiers, 21, Lincoln's-Inn-fields, appeared on Tuesday before Mr. Al inshull, the presiding Magistrate at Bow-street, and charged Mr. Augus- tus Thompson with sending him a letter tendineb.to provoke him to commit a breach of the peace. Mr. Villiers stated, that he and Mr. Thompson, who are both law students, lived in the same house, and had an equal right to the me of the kitchen ; but that some difference arose between them relative to the coal-hole, which could only be settled by a reference to the landlord, as it involved a point of law and not of honour. He accordingly wrote a letter to Mr. Thompson, and received an answer to this effect :—" I am truly happy to find that the fears entertained for your life are commilless. I thank you for your note, as I am extremely desirous that cm,- respective rights may be quietly adjusted. Indeed it has been far from roy wish to be under any obligation to you. As you have purchased the fertere of the kitchen, no doubt you have authority to remove them ; bun stilt ! think it right to Wen- tiOn, that as my landlord granted time my lease with the etc of these fixtures, I shall insist on the right which I have so acquired, while they remain ; and if you have purchased them under a bad title, that is not my fault. As to the coals, I have instructed my laundress, for wIrsever purpose she may require a fire, to light one with my coals ; and if ehe should fund a fire lighted, then to put on coals out of my cellar, and keep the fire up only on those occasions that will be required for my convenience. I do not feel my- self called upon to bring au action agaiust you ; but, at the same time, I shall be most happy indeed to defend one. Should you think fit to establish your right to the kitchen and fixtures, by expelling my laundress, as you have threatened to do, I take leave to tell you, that 1 rill hold you respon- sible in case you shall have recourse to force." On Satu-day last, Mr. Thompson assaulted Mr. Villiers ; that gentleman instantly sent a challenge, and a meeting took place at five o'clock on Sunday morning ; when the par- ties exchanged no less than four shots, the last of Ndliell wounded Mr. Villiers in the breast. Mr. Thompson's pistol was rather out of order, and there- fore, although Air. Villiers naturally enough exclaimed, " Oh, I am shot ! Oh, 1 am a dead man !" on receiving the ball of his adversary, he sustained no other injury than a slight flesh \vomitl on the right breast. After the par- ties had returned to town, and the matter might have been considered as at end, Mr. Thompson thought fit to send to Mr. Villiers the above letter. The wits, " I take leave to tell you that I will hold you responsible," that gen- tleman construed into a challenge ; and, therefore, as the subject was one that could be much more satisfactorily settled by an appeal to a court of law, than to the field of honour, he communicated the circumstance at this office, and a warrant was at once issued foe Mr. Thompson's apprehenelom Sir Richard Birnie—" What ! can it be possible, that you went out to take away each other's lives, about some paltry kitchen utensils ? " Mr. Thomp- son --" Sir, without th ni, my chambers are useless to me. I cannot break- fast, dine, or sup at home." Air. Minshull thought the parties had much better try the matter at law, but he did not understand the letter to contain any challenge. Mr. Villiers—" Why, Sir, Mr. Preston was sent to me for an explanation, which, coupled with the threat to hold me responsible, I sub- mit is a constructive challenge." Mr. Thompson declared that he sent Mr. Preston merely to obtain an explanation about the kitchen furniture. Sir Richard—" Ay, there, in the kitchen again." Air. Thompson—" There was no necessity for my sending a challenge, as Mr. Villiers apologized on receiv- ing a wound, and I then told him if he were not satisfied, I would give him any further satisfaction he required." Mr. Villiers—" I beg to say that I never apologized." Mr. Thompson--" Oh, our friends were witnesses." Mr. Villiers—" I deny once again having nettle any apology." Mr. Minehull- " I see you are alike fiery spirits, and must be similarly coerced." The par- ties were then ordered to enter into their own recognizances in 5001. each, and find four sureties in 250/. each to keep the peace for the ,space of two years. Robert Jones, a shabby-looking young man, and Georgiana Baxter, a dashing female, were placed at the Bow-street bar on Monday, the former being charged with robbing and abscondine front ids master, and the latter with acting in the capacity of receiver. Mr. George Cooper, the prosecutor, is a pawnbroker, residing m Great Suffolk-street, Borough. The prisoner was in his employ in the month of July; on the 19th, however, without giving the least notice of his intention, he absconded. Thinking such con- duct extremely suspicious, Mr. Cooper immediately commenced looking over his stock, when he discovered that a valuable gold watch, with its appendages, was missing. Besides this, he had reason to suspect that the prisoner had been in the habit of receiving money for pledges, Nvithout accounting for it, and of taking goods front the warehouse. Thomas Mat- thews, a Bow-street patrol, stated, that he was sent for by the last witness, who communicated to hint that he had reason to believe the prisoner and a woman were concealed at a lodging in Drury-hum. In eneSefilletlee of this he repaired to No. 17, Craven-buildings, and knocked at the door, about five o'clock on Sunday evening. After a length of time he was answered by the female at the bar, who refused him admittance. However, he at last entered the house, and on proceeding up stairs, he perceived the window of the apartment open, and the woman sitting by herself. Ile impuired of bier where the prisoner was; she disclaimed any knowledge of hint. He then questioned her concerning the watch ; after some hesitation she gave hint the duplicate. Ile next dropped out of the window on to sonic leads., and went over a great many houses and yards in pursuit of him, but was unsuc- cessful; when he returned, he interrogated an Irish woman, and she silently pointed down the stairs. He took the hint, and progressively descended four cellars under ground; when he arrived at the fifth, lie heard a slight noise, and perceived that the door was locked. He threatened to shoot the prisoner inside, but no answer was given. He burst open the door, and at the corner of the cellar discovered the unhappy man striving to strangle himself with a handkerchief. His face was black and swollen, and he was gasping in the most dreadful manner for breath. He ran to his assistance, and after removing from him every destructive weapon, led hint up stairs into his apartment, where he found no less than 160 duplicates. The woman who had remained in the room, and the prisoner, were then taken into custody. The female declined saying anything ; the other protested his innocence. Sir R. liirnie then directed the prosecutor to obtain further and more distinct proofs as to the identity of the watch; and he would remand the prisoners for further examination.

Wildman, a check-taker at the English Opera House, has been held to bail for an assault on young Crockford, of the celebrated establishment ie St. James's-street. According to the account of the check-taker awl others, Crockford had behaved insolently and disgustingly, and provoked the assault. The latter admitted that his curiosity had led him to take the somewhat indelicate liberty of peeplog into the book which contains the free list of the theatre.

Sir G. Farrant was engaged for a considerable time on Tuesday, in his private parlour at Marlborough-street, in investigating a most extraor- dinary charge of felony, preferred by a putleman of the name of Lawson, re- siding in East-street, Red Lion-square, against a remarkably interesting and fashionably dressed female, of the name of Riau. The Magistrate's table was covered with splendid articles, part of the Property alleged to have been stolen, and which Goddard am! Avis haul found in a house in Tottenham-court- road. The female on being brought in wept most bitterly. Mr. Lawson deposed that she had lived with hbn for seine time; about six months since he had occasion to go out of town, when he left the female in possession of

his furniture.. On his return she had ile 1, taking with her nearly all his property. Sir G. Farrant—"Did she 1:ye with you as a servant." Mr. Lawson—" No, Sir, she lived with me as my wife; when, owing to improper conduct, I desired her to give up my keys.; ml to go about her business; and

upon my return, I found on the table a wee, in which she stated, she had taken the things and I might prosecute her as soon I pleased."—Sir George

Farrant—" That alters the case; but does the female claim any part of the property en Miss Ryan---" Most certainly, Sir. I claim the whole of those articles." Miss Ryan then stated, that she formerly carried on business in Regent-street, when she unfortunately became acquainted st ith the pro- secutor, went and lived with him.; he afterwards pressed her to marry him, and %vent to St. George's, Hanover-square, for that purpose, but she refused to marry him, in consequence of his wife being alive; they then went to live in Devonshire-street, Queen's-square, Bloomsbury, where they passed for man and wife. Whilst there, site heard that his wife was %cry di, and site went to her and found her living in a cellar, in a very distressed state, hating at the same time the typhus fever ; she sent Dr. Johnston to her, and in conse- quence of the situation of the ale, she requested him to live with her again ; and went to her uncle without a single guinea or a gown to her back. She there remained five weeks, and during that time he came to her three times, and went on his knees, begging of her to return, sayine, if she did not, he would destroy Ithnself. She went back to him, and although they lit ed to- getherfrom the 2Uth of January 1827 to March 1828, she never had a far- thing from him, butt lived on her own property, ninety guineas of which went towards purchasing of the furniture, of which the present articles funned a part ; and they ultimately parted, on her renea ing her request to him to live with his wife. Mr. Lae son—" We parted in consequence of your going into a house of a certain description." Miss Rya n—" As there is a God iii heaven it is false." Sir 0. Ferrate-a" Did you buy any of the propertv ?" Miss Ryan—" My money as well as his bought it." Sir 0. Farrant—." It is certainly not a case of felony." Mr. Lawson—" She had no claims en me, for all she has done for me was making ten shirts which cost me two guineas a piece." Sir 0. Farrant—n‘ Do you deny her living with ymu iS Mrs. Lawson ?'' Nr. I.awson—" She passed as such, and we should have continued so to live, had I net seen her frequent certain Ilaces.' Aliss Bean —" I declare most solemnly that charge is false. It was my money which bought the fureiture ; the curtains were bought a ith my money." Sir G. Farrant—" It has already been decided when a person lets a temale essutne his name, he is answerable for law debts ; nor can he charge her a ith felony." Mr. Lawson—" I do not wish to press the charee of felony, if site will give up my property." Miss Ryan—" Sir George, I insist upon hie pressing the charge, and I beg of you to commit me for trial." Sir G. Farrant—" Pooh ; it is no felony." Miss Ryan—h Is he to have the property ?" Sir O. Far- Tallt ••••••NO ; you are to have it." (To Lawson.) Your remedy is only by a civil action." l'he worthy Magistrate, after a lapse of half an hour, dismissol. Miss Ryan out of cestody, and ordered Avis and Goddard to return the pro- perty to her, which was accordingly done.