SURREY Sessioes.—The sittings began on Monday. John Birmingham, aged forty,
was convicted of having stolen some articles of plate from a tavern in Houndsditch. The articles were missed soon after the prisoner left the house ; and immediate pursuit having been given, he was apprehended at Lambeth, with the plate in his possession. The prisoner was sentenced to be transported for seven years. He has before been convicted and imprisoned for a similar offence. Edward Gregsun, aged fifteen, who was associated with a gang of forty juvenile delinquents, known on the metropolitan roads by the name of the "Forty Thieves," was charged with having stolen a pocket handkerchief from one of the passengers by the Chatham coach. He was found guilty and sentenced to be imprisoned six months at Brixton, one month in solitary confinement, and to be publicly whipped 150 yards where the robbery was committed. The culprit is the illegitimate son of a man of wealth at Newington, who for the last four years has neglected him.
W. Saunders, an incorrigible little rogue, and another of the " forty," was also found guilty of having stolen a handkerchief from a coach-passenger. Ile was ordered to be transported for life. His parents are very respectable ; but they refused to interest themselves in his behalf, as the prisoner had behaved very outrageously towards them.
Marchant Barber was brought from Horsemonger-lane Gaol, on the charge of having robbed a fellow prisoner of some silver. The prosecutor, who is only eleven years of age, answered the questions put to him in a flippant and impudent manner; but his evidence was sufficient to convict the prisoner—who, it appeared, had rifled his pocket of the complainant's waistcoat while it was lying in the ward of the prison. Sentence—six months' imprisonment, and hard labour at Brixton.
Owen Smith, a mulatto boy, pleaded guilty to the charge of having stole* a handkerchief value two-pence. The boy wept bitterly. said that it was his first offence, and vowed amendment. The Court warned him that his admission of guilt would not avail him in mitigation ot punishment, but he would not retract his plea. Sentence—transportation for seven years.
William Warren and Richard Seale,were charged with having stolen a silk handkerchief from a gentleman at Camberwell fair. Sentence—fourteen years' transportation.
John Pammecott and Stephen Hilliard were indicted for having stolen a pair of scales and a piece of cake from a house in the parish of Lambeth. They forced up the window of the house, and Pammecott snatched the scales and-cake, and ran off with them; but a pursuit being commenced, they were taken into custody. The prisoner Pammecott said that it was impossible to swear to the cake, for it was originally about a pound and a half, whereas it was only at present about half a pound (laughter.) They were found guilty. Chairman, "You are both convicted of stealing scales." Pammecott, "I never had them, Sir." Chairman, "It does not matter : if Hilliard had them, and you were in his company, you were equally guilty." Pammecott, "He never had them either." Chairman, " Well, you are found guilty, and the sentence of the Court is, that you be both transported for seven years." Paminecott, "Thank you, Sir." Robert Ward, an Irishman, was convicted of stealing 300Ihs. of soap, the property of his employers, Messrs. Benjamin, Thomas, and William Hawes, soap-manufacturers, at Bargehouse wharf, Southwark. Being strongly recommended to mercy, he was sentenced to be transported for fourteen years. John Skinner was found guilty of having stolen a watch from under the pillow of a person who slept in the same room with him. Sentence—six months' imprisonment and hard labour. Three young boys were convicted of having stolen a work-box and some other articles from a house at Wandsworth. Sentence—three months' imprisonment, and whipping.
William Mawson and Thomas Aldridge were indicted for a breach of the peace, in having engaged in a pugilistic contest, for a purse of 25 sovereigns, in a field at Newington, on Sunday the 31st of August. The counsel for the prosecution said, that the frequent prize-fights which took place in the county of Surrey had become a complete nuisance ; the inhabitants were therefore determined, if possible, to abolish a practice which was detrimental to the morals of society. The charge against the prisoners was proved by some constables. The Jury found the ptisoners guilty, and they were sentenced to one month's imprisonment.
There were some other cases of juvenile depravity ; among them, that of a boy under seven years of age; charged with having stolen a pocket handkerchief. This thief, while in custody of the constable, and on his way to prison, actually picked another pocket. He was sentenced to a short imprisonment and to be twice whipped. The other delinquents were also sentenced to different periods of imprisonment.
The Adjourned Sessions for the liberty and precinct of the Royalty of the Tower, was held on Thursday. The only indictment was one against a beadle namedJohn Hasker, which had been preferred against him last sessions, and which charged him with having beaten and cleaned certain carpets on the King's high-way, to the annoyance and disturbance °Otis Majesty's subjects. The defendant was acquitted ; but before he was discharged, he had to pay sundry expenses, amounting to 2/. 17s. 8d. The defendant sent up the account to the Grand Jury; they forwarded it to the bench, with some remarks on the injustice of saddling an innocent man with such expenses. If the demand was countenanced bylaw, it would, perhaps, be better for a man to be guilty than innocent ; and it was hoped that the court would, if it could, remit the costs. The court, it seems, could not interfere. The petty jury considered the claim so unfair, that they gave their own fees to help the defendant to discharge the bill against him.
The Westminster Sessions commenced on Thursday, before Mr. Const and a full bench of magistrates. The first indictment was against a coachman and a cad, for a wanton assault upon a soldier ; for which they were sentenced to two months' imprisonment in the House of Correction. Three boys were then brought up, charged with having stolen Earl Ferrers' snuffbox, value Is. The Earl, true to his promise, seemed to have no wish to prosecute : he would not swear that the box produced was his—though it was very like it—to the best of his belief it was his. The boys were found guilty. One of them, an old and incorrigible offender, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and to be four times well whipped ; another to three months, and to be once whipped ; the third, to two months, and to be once whipped.
The Grand Jury found bills of indictment, at the instance of Lady Gresley, against Smith, her late coachman, and Johnson and Brannan, her late butlers, for the riot which they lately raised in her house.
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