EXTRAORDINARY ROBRERY BY AN ADMIRAL'S SON.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 670, 5 May 1870, Page 4

EXTRAORDINARY ROBRERY BY AN ADMIRAL'S SON.

At the Southwark Police Court on February 13th,* David Slaughter, 50, a respectable-looking man, who described himself as a son of Admiral Slaughter, and in the employ of the East End Mission Relief Society, residing at 20 Victoria Cottages, Samwell street, Woolwich, was placed at the bar, before Mr Benson, charged with stealing a razor, value one shilling, from Messrs Smith and Son's bookstall on the North Kent platform of the South - Eastern Railway, London Bridge Terminus. John Earl, an assistant at the bookstall in question, said that he saw the prisoner come up and throw his cloak over the stall, where there were books, razors, and perfumery exposed for sale. Witness called the attention of Mr Knight, the superintendent of the stall to the circumstance, and he came and removed the cloak, when witness missed one of the razors, and as the prisoner wa3 walking away Mr Knight asked him if he had taken it. He replied indignantly, "No ; what do I want with a razor ?" As a train was about to start for Woolwich he ran down the line and jumped into one of the carriages. Witness went to the carriage and communicated with the guard, when the razor was found -on the seat behind him. A constable was called, and he was given into custody. The defendant here said that he had to apologise to his worship for interfering with the case, but he was placed in very distressing circumstances. He could not deny taking the razor, bnt it was really with no intention of stealing it. He was the son of an, admiral of the British navy, who was near ninety years of age, and he had a wife lying ill with consumption, with three helpless children, and it would be the death of them if they became acquainted with his present position. Mr Taylor, the superintendent of the prosecutor's railway business, here informed his worship that they suspected the prisoner of committing former depredations. There were two books .found on him, which had names inside quite contrary to the prisoner's. Prisoner here assured his worship that he came by them honestly. They were sent to the society by the Hon. Mr Noel for distribution. He obtained his 'appointment through Lord Lawrence, who had been in the army in India, but being an uncovenanted servant he was not entitled to a pension. He afterwards proceeded to New Zealand, and on his return to this country he obtained his present employment. He assured his worship that his previous character was unblemished. He, however, could not deny taking the razor. Mr Benson said that he must be remanded, so that full inquiries might be made about him. On Feb. 17 the prisoner was again examined, when the magistrate considered the ends of justice would be met if he required him to enter into his own recognisances in the sum of L2O to come up for judgment when called upon.