23 AUGUST 1828, Page 5

THE POLICE OF LONDON.

At the Mansion-house on Monday, John Kimber was brought up for re-examination, on the charge of being implicated in the exten- sive robbery committed at the shop of Mr. York Hatton, the watch and clock-maker, Fish-street-hill. He was found drunk in a public-house in Aldgate, by two officers, who had called there though not in search of him; and in the course of some conversation, he avowed his knowledge of the robbery, and said he had got 100/. for his share. As Ile expressed his wil- lingness to put Mr, Hatton in the way of recovering his property, he was

carried before that gentleman. The prisoner went into a minute detail of circumstances, which convinced Mr. Hatton that he must either have been a principal or accessory to the robbery ; but the prisoner refused to make the .disclosure necessary to trace the criminals, unless himself and family were first put in safety. Mr. Hatton declined to do anything which the law would not sanction. The prisoner said, "Then I won't split." As a free pardon and a large reward were to be offered to any accomplice who should make a full disclosure, Mr. Hatton wished the prisoner remanded till the effect of these temptations to a discovery were seen. The plea of drunkenness was again urged without avail, as an excuse for the words which the prisoner had spoken. He was remanded—Mr. Hobler holding that a man might speak the truth while drunk.

Henry Evans, a young man who had been in the service of Mr. Robert Moline, a cheesemonger in very extensive business in Lime-street, was charged with having embezzled monies to the amount of upwards of 400/, which he had received to the account of his employer. It was proved that he had received two sums of money, one 1601., for which he had not ac- counted. In August last year, the prisoner absconded to America, from which he had had the hardihood to return, and begin business in London in his own name. He was remanded.

A fellow named Kean was on Monday fully committed from Guildhall, on two charges of having obtained goods to some amount from tradesmen on false pretences.

Frewin, the assistant overseer of St. Andrews, Holborn, attended to show why relief had been refused to John H. Baker, ajourneyma.n bookbinder now advanced in years, that being his place of settlement. When Baker applied for relief, he had not a mouthful of bread, nor a farthing in his pocket, nor a shoe on his foot; and yet aid was refused because he dirl not sleep in the parish, and because the parish had before been troubled with his son and rathily. Alderman Farebrother reprobated the fashion which was gaining ground, of the office of overseer of the poor being done by deputy. "The march of consequence," said the magistrate, was keeping pace with the "march of intellect." It was a great evil that the overseers were above performing their own duties, and would not attend personally to the summonses of the magistrate. In answer to a question from the magistrate, Baker said he could not get work, because there was a general stagnation in the trade. He complained of Frewin's harshness of manner, and declared he would rather commit a disgraceful act than apply to him again. Frewin answered it would not be the first time he had been at the bar. "And," replied Baker, "has not one of your overseers been charged with picking a gentle- man's pocket of 4,0004 ?* I was honourably discharged." Mr. Alderman Ir Not alluding to any gentleman now in office.

Farebrother said it was cruel to upbraid the man in this way ; and if he had no other objection, he must relieve him. The rich lived by the poor, and the poor must be relieved by them in their necessities. " Without distinguishing the worthy and the unworthy ?" asked Frewin. "Relieve him, as becomes a Christian and an Englishman," replied the Magistrate ; and the parties retired.

At Bow-street on Monday, a fellow named Belasco, formerly a pugilist, and now a bully, preferred a charge against a pretty young girl for "abusing" him. The magistrate scouted the charge, coining from such a quarter ; blamed the constable for having confined the girl upon it; and dismissed her, to the great mortification of the complainant. The parties had scarcely left the office, when the girl entered and complained that the ruffian had assaulted and kicked her; and for this offence he was confined for lack of bail—though he attempted to prefer a counter charge.

A youth was committed from Bow-street on Tuesday for picking a pocket- handkerchief from the person of the Irish Master of the Rolls, in Duke-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields.

A young man was remanded from Worship-street on suspicion of having robbed several Public-houses of clocks. One or two cases were made out against him; and other publicans are expected to prefer additional charges.

Mary and Samuel Farrel appeared at the Town Hall, Southwark, on Tuesday, to answer the charge of having confined a lady named Kelly. It appeared that on Saturday the lady sent her servant to the shop of the de- fendants, for a loaf of bread, which being of very bad quality was returned ; the female defendant sent back a most insulting message, and then. Mrs. Kelly went herself to the shop to insist upon an explanation: instead of ob- taining it, she was assailed \ with a repetition of the offensive language, and twice threatened with a blow in the face from her clinched hand. The husband came in, and while lie was equally rude in his language, seized Nes. Kelly by the shoulder, thrust her into the passage, locked both the front and back door, and kept her prisoner for nearly half an hour. The defendants insisted, in a sanctified tone, that the complainant had been abusive to them and had called them, amongst other things, "A wretched

psalm-singing set." "That I most readily admit," said Mrs. Kelly, " but nothing further." "But how came you to lock the lady in ?" asked the magistrate. The husband said it was their custom to lock the shop-door every morning after breakfast for about half an hour, and the complainant refusing to quit, he had no other resource. The Alderman wished to know for what purpose it was done ; the wife informed him it was for the purpose of going to prayers, and hoped all Christians did the same. " Well, that's your own affair; but you must not lock people up at the same time—there's not much christianity about that : it's a very shameful affair, and you must find bail, unless you can prevail with the lady to forgive you." The com- plainant said, she certainly wished them to be bound over ; but, at the Alder- man's suggestion, consented to withdraw the charge on their paying 10s.. to the Female Charity School of St. George's.

, A master-baker, who resides in Lombard-street, was summoned to the justice-room, Mansion-house, on Tuesday, to answer for an assault upon a young gentleman who occasionally does business on the Stock-exchange. The complainant stated, that as he was passing through Lombard-street, he saw the defendant's son and daughter standing at the hall-door, and he joined them, and walked into the hall, where they were chatting or a short time, when the defendant came down stairs in a hurry, without shoes or slippers, and attacked bins in the most furious manner. Complainant was accniainted with the son, and therefore considered himself entitled to stand in the hall in con- versation ; but the defendant, without asking him a single question, struck him a violent blow for speaking to his daughter, and bundled him out of the house. The defendant pleaded guilty to that part of the charge, but submitted that he ought to be excused, in consideration of his duty as a parent ; he had certainly bundled the young gentleman into the street, but he had not struck bins. The fact was, he heard the complainant, with whom he was not acquainted, and whom he was not ambitious of knowing, talking to his daughter in the passage, and it occurred to him that he might as well put an end to the ac- quaintance at once. The complainant had his revenge afterwards ; for no sooner was he removed from the premises vi et arnas, than a large paving- stone was flung into the drawing-room through the glass, either by him or his companions, who kicked up a dust outside. Mr. Hobler (to complainant)— " And pray, Sir, what right had you to go into the house ? Was it your own ?" Complainant—" No, Sir, it was not my house." Mr. Hobler- " You had no business there, Sir, A father is the natural protector of his daughter." The case was then dismissed.

Atos late hour on Tuesday night, a gentleman named Armitage, who re- sides at Epsom, was brought to Bow-street in custody of Ledbitter the officer, under a warrant obtained against him on the information of a gentle-. man named Perry, and charged before Mr. Halls, under circumstances which were read from the office-book. It appeared that John Whitehead Perry, in the month of July 1827, contracted with William Armitage for the purchase of a leasehold estate near Epsom, for the sum of 4000/. On investigating the title, it was found that Mr. Armitage, in August 1824, had granted an under-lease of the premises to William Stanford, for a term of years, of which eighteen remained unexpired. As soon as this discovery was made, Mr. Perry declined to complete his purchase, unless a surrender of this under-lease were obtained, or satisfactory proof were adduced that it had been cancelled. In order to obviate the difficulty, and to induce Mr. Perry to conclude his bargain. Me Armitage waited on him and showed bins a piece of parchment, with seals and signatures attached, annexed to an affi- davit on the subject. He told him that the parchment was cut from the Under-lease to Sanford, and that the seals and signatures which appeared thereon were the seals and signatures of the instrument referred to. Under this representation, and the confidence which he placed in Mr. Armitage's.

assertion, Mr. Perry consented at length to pay the purchase-money ; and accordingly handed over to Mr. Armitage a bill of exchange for 2,300/. and 1700/. in money. Since then it had beets ascertained that the under-lease to Sanford was still in being, and operative, and not, as Mr. Armitage had stated, cancelled. This was the circumstance which brought the transaction under the cognizance of the criminal law. Mr. Halls—" That's the nature of the charge as far as it is known to me at present ; and as bail is to be put in, I desire to know no more on the subject." Mr. Armitage said, he was prepared to give bail, and required to be informed as to the amount that would be expected. Mr. Halls—" It must be considerable. Time sum, I perceive, is 4000/. Suppose I say Mr. Armitage's own recognizance in 2000/., and two sureties in 1000/. each; will that satisfy you, Mr. Recite?" Mr. Roche (Mr. Perry's solicitor)—" That will do, I think : it will cover

the transaction." Mr. Armitage's solicitor said, he feared it would be imprac- ticable to obtain bail that night. Mr. Halls-4' Well, it can stand over until to-morrow." After some further words, the parties retired ; and Mr. Armi- tage was conducted to the watch-house. ''Next morning, Mr. Lntwyche, a leather-dresser, residing in Skinner- street, Snowhill, and Mr. Masters, a schoolmaster, who lives in St. John's- wood, appeared before Mr. Halls to offer themselves as sureties for the ap- pearance of Mr. Armitage. The former gentleman' urged upon the Magis- trate that the bail required was excessive, inasmuch as only 1,700/. of the purchase-money had been paid by Mr. Perry. The bill for 2,3001., drawn by Mr. Perry, and accepted by Mr. Roche, had not been paid by the latter gen- tleman, he having suffered his acceptance to be dishonoured. Mr. Halls said, that the amount of security must be with reference to the sum which appeared in the warrant, which was 4000/. After both the sureties had been sworn as bail, an angry conversation ensued between Mr. Lutwyche and Mr. Roche, as to the qualification of the former to become bail for 1000/. Mr. Lutwyche indignantly repelled the insinuation of 1\l r. Roche, that he had ever been bankrupt ; and declared that he had always paid 20e. to every creditor he had. Mr. Masters was next examined; but he publicly declared he was not worth 1000/. He was not awaee that he would be re- quired to swear to that fact, as he thought the security merely nominal. lie would not justify- for more than 400/. Mr. Lutwyche then ;Reposed to bind himself in I600/. if Mr. Masters was taken for 400/. Mr. Roche said, that however averse he sins to put the parties to inconvenience, he felt that he ought not to comply, considering the way in which Mr. Lutwyche had spoken of Mr. Roche's having dishenoured his acceptance. If there had not been sufficient reason for ilishonouriug the bill. it should have been regularly taken up. Mr. Roche added, that 0:e aolotnit of the bill was at that mo- meut ready in his office, and if the fraud were removed from the case, the amount would be at once forthcoming. Mr. Halls also thought that Mr. Lie- wyche should have been more guarded, as the manner in which he had spoken implied a doubt that Mr. Roche was able to meet his engagement. Without entering into partimilars, there waa certainly a prima facie ground for Mr. Roches refusing to honour the bill. The parties then withdrew, for the purpose of procuring another bail.

Mr. Armitage, was liberated on Wednesday night, a surety having been obtained in the room of Mr. Masters.

Two young men were committed from Guildhall, on Wednesday, on the charge of having stolen a truss of ladies' cloth from the back entrance of mercer's premiees, in Newgate-street. They were observed to steal the property, and one ef them was immediately seized ; but he fled, leaving half his coat-tail behind him. Be was afterwards secured, stud his companion was taken in custody at the time of the theft.

George Barrow, alias John Thomas Hopkinson, a young West Indian, who stands charged with swindling to an enormous amount, was brought to Marlborough-street, on Wednesday, for re-examination before Mr. Dyer. The office was crowded to excess with individuals who had cases of fraud to pre- fer against the prisoner. The first charge to-day was his having ordered two table lamps, worth eight guineas, so long ago as 1827, from Mr.11'aylor, New Bond-street, under the assumed named of " George Barrow, Esq., Windmill Cottage, Clapham." The lamps were furnished, but Mr. Tayler heard nothing of his customer till June. when he received a letter, dated Irons Lord Mary- borough's seat at Ferne Hill, near Windsor, requesting some valuable as tides to be sent to Randall Park, Winsfield, near Windsor. The letter was sigmel "Thomas Hopkinson." On inquiry, before the goods were sent, it was found there was neither such a place nor such a man near Windsor. The second charge was brought by Mr. Mackenzie, a grocer, in Park-road, Regent's Park, who supplied the prisoner with groceries, in March, when he rented an elegantly furnished house, at No. 22, Park-road. He represented himself to be related to the present Archbishop of Canterbury, who was going to make hum Minister of St. John's Wood chapel, as he intended to enter into holy orders. The prisoner had a handsome carriage ; and one day he drove up to the Honourable William Maule's residence, in Cornwall-terrace, and gave the tradesmen in time neighbourhood to understand that he was pine to pay Mr. Mimic a morning visit. it was afterwards ascertained that Mr. Manic had no knowledge whatever of the prisoner ; who, notwithetandine-, wrote an order to a coal-merchant, dated from Mr. Maule's house, for twenty- two load of coals, to be son to 22, Park-road, and the order was execute. Mr. Mackenzie here handed hr the prisoner's card, with the address " Mr. Hopkinson, Trinity-Hall, Cambridge." It was handsomely engraved with his arms and crest. The next complaint was by Mr. Butler, a tailor, at No.

8, Ryder-street, St. James's' whom, under various pretexts, the prisoner had swindled out of a suit of clothes worth 10/. Mr. Butler, having concluded

his evidence, turned round, and regarded the prisoner with great attention; after which he exclaimed, "Wiry, the fellow has got on the coat anti waist- coat I made for him, at the present moment."—Mr. Fitzpatrick, the chief

clerk--" If you are sure of that, the prisoner must ship them off before he leaves the office." Mr. Butler said he could positively swear to the coat and

waistcoat, but he was not so sure of time trowseis. Mr. Dyer—" If they even are, we cannot strip him of the trowsers." Tile prisoner was then removed from the bar to a back room, and there stripped of his coat and waistcoat, and equipped in a patched garment ; and thus, like a half-fledged daw, he was again placed at the bar, presenting a most ludicrous appearance, so as to excite the laughter of all present, not excepting the ptisoner himself, who could not suppress a smile on viewing the sudden metamorphosis he had undergone. There were five other cases of swindling against the prisoner, for goods received front different tradesmen, and it was intended that he should be committed for trial on two of the cases. Time Magistrates gave strict orders that he should be closely watched, lest he should attempt self- destruction.

The prisoner appeared to be one of the most successful and accomplished swindlers that has figured abcut town since the notorious Major Lisle. if

a card of address belonging to any nobleman or gentleman accidentally fell in

his way, he resorted to the trick of representing himself to tradespeople as being an intimate friend of the gentleman whose name w:Li on the card, and ill this way obtained goods on several occasions. The yourge woman Matilda Nelson, who appears to be Barrow's acromplice, acted alternately the part

of his wire, sister, and laundress. A few months ago. Barrow was confined in the King's Bench at the suit of several persons whim he had defrauded, and during ids imprisonment he contrived to steal and dispose of everything he could lay his hands upon belonging to his fellow-prisoners.

On Thursday evening, three men, servants to Mr. Caldwell, ironmonger, Haymarket, were committed from Bow-street, on the charge of having

robbed their employer. Their names are Fryatt, Downes, and Moxan, the last of whom turned approver. They had carried on their system of plunder

for years ; and it was supposed had robbed their master of property to the amount of 10001. The receiver, a person named Ward, who keeps a shop in Crown-street, Soho-square, was also apprehended, and in his house the officers discovered property belonging to Mr. Caldwell, to the amount of about 1004 He, too, was committed ; hut the magistrates desired that he should not be sent to the same prison as the thieves.

Two gentlemen applied to the magistrate at the Thames Police Office, on Thursday, for advice. One of them said he was the proprietor of large estates in the Island of Dominica, where he kept a great number of slaves. One of them had made his escape to this country, and a few days ago pre- sented himself to the applicant, saying, " Massa, me glad to find you—me look for you long time—me your slave, and you my massa, bound to sup- port me ; me a poor fellow, half-starved—me curse glad to meet you ;" and ever since he had stuck to him like his shadow, followed him home and everywhere, under the impression that having once been his slave he was bound to maintain him. He wished to know what he was to do to get rid of him. The Magistrates declined giving any advice upon the subject, as they might have to act as judges, in the event of the parish officers raising the question as to who was bound to receive him.

Sir James Collaton, of Nottingham-street, has been held to bail at the Mary-le-bone Office, to answer any indictment that his servant Ann Christie may prefer against him, for throwing a pailful of water upon her while she lay in bed, and a tea-pot at her as she sat at breakfast. Sir James explained, that Ann was a sad slut, and had given strong provocation ; she preferred her own comfort to her master's, and he could not get either dinner or breakfast at the time he wanted—Ann's eating wits always in the way. The Magistrate said these were good reasons for discharging the servant but not for assaulting her.

James Brown, a person of respectable appearance, was brought to Bow- street on Friday, charged with having instigated a young man named Woods, employed in some department in the General Post-office, to secrete letters containing money. The prisoner, in the year 1817, was employed as a sorter in the post. office, but having been detected in a felony, he was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged : this sentence was commuted, and he went out to New South Wales, under sentence of transportation for life. Conducting himself in a very becoming manner there, he was ahowed at the expiration of seven years to return. Woods gave the following account of what had passed between him and the prisoner. " I had ob- served him for a length of time lingering about the Post-office, and gradually we became acquainted. One evening, as we were walking together, he re- marked that he had something of very great importance to confide to me. He then said he knew that I superintended, in a great measure, the sorting of the letters, and that I could, if I was agreeable, secrete one containing money. I replied what would be done if I was discovered. He said, if I would secrete the letter, and give it to him, he would take the money and destroy the writing. 1 afterwards told Sir Francis Freeling what he had said, and I was then desired to have a meeting with the prisoner, to say that I would agree with his projects. I did so, and a few days ago I took a letter containing a five pound note, which had been previously put in the box for the purpose, and gave it to the prisoner. An officer who was concealed took him into custody."

Sir Richard Birnie observed, that he could not distinctly comprehend bow they meant to make him amenable under the present statute. Mr. Peacock (solicitor to the Post-office) said he had committed an act of felony in receiving the letter. Sir Richard—" But what can you do with Woods ?" Mr. Peacock—" He has turned approver, and therefore, if it is sought can- not be prosecoted." Mr. Stafford remarked, that he did not see that the prisoner could he prosecuted in any other way than as having committed a misdemeanour. Mr. Peacock stated that he should be more prepared with midence at the next examination. The prisoner was then remanded.