POLICE COURT.—Yesterday.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 7, 14 October 1871, Page 2

POLICE COURT.— Yesterday.

(Before W. Fraser, Esq., AM.) Stealing from a Dwelling-iiouse.— Alexander Beaton and Ellen Peaton, his wife, were brought up ou remaud from the previous day charged with stealing, on the 11th inst., from the dwellinghouse of R. Vincent, Shorthand, one feather pillow and case, one sheet, two bars of soap, and three tumblers, the whole of the value of £l.—Mr. Bullen conducted the prosecution ; Mr. Dodd appeared for the prisoners, who pleaded not guilty. —Robert Vincent deposed: I am proprietor of the Globe Hotel, and know the prisoners. The female prisoner was in my employ as servant on the 11th inst., and the male prisoner had formerly been in my service. The property now produced is similar to what was upon the premises on the day in question. Never gave permission to prisoners or anybody else to take away these things.—By Mr. Dodd: I got some of the things at auction. The candles are from Messrs. Meyers. There may be others of the same kind elsewhere. The soap is just like what I missed, but there maybe more like it on the Thames. I am not much acquainted with soap. It is'an article I am not up in, but that produced is very like mine.—l3y his Worship: The property is worth £l. I consider that is a moderate price for it.—Fanny Vincent, wife of last witness, deposed to missing a feather pillow and other articles from the hotel shortly after the female prisoner had gone away after having been discharged from service. At once suspected her, and went to her about the matter. She denied having any knowledge of the stolen property, and witness came away, but shortly, afterwards the male prisoner brought to her the pillow how produced. Witness subsequently missed the soap, candles, &e., and then gavp information to the police. A constable accompanied witness to the house of the prisoners, where the sheet now produced, together with the soap, candles, tumblers, &c., were found. Witness’s sister was present at the time. The male prisoner said he had had the soap in his possession for three months. The sheet belongs to witness’s husband, and the other articles are similar to those missing from the hotel. Never gave permission to cither of the prisoners to remove the property.— By Mr. Dodd : I missed the things lialf-an-hour after the female . prisoner left. Before she went away she asked me to search her box, but I did not, as I am not in the habit of searching iny servant’s boxes. sNever had any quarrel with the female prisoner.;.. Did not discharge her, because she was married on the “sly,” as the saying is, but because I wanted to engage another young person. To the best of my' knowledge and belief, the things' are my husband’s property. —Police-Sergeant Green gave evidence of searching prisoner’s house on the night of the 11th inst., in consequence of information received. Found the sheet now produced used as a window blind. Mrs. Vincent claimed it. The other articles produced were found on the premises, and were also claimed by Mrs. Vincent. In reference to the soap, the male prisoner said it had been in his.possession for three months.—Ellen Sankey, sister of Mrs. Vincent, gave evidence corroborative of that lady’s testimony as to what took place between the parties ou tlqe of the prisoners' premises being searched. The witness also identified the articles produced as being similar to those missing from the hotel.—By Mr. Dodd : I have no ill-feel-ing towards the prisoners. God forbid that I should have any ill-feeling towards anybody. I have been used to washing, and being consequently acquainted with soap, swear that the soap now produced is the same soap as was iu Mr. Vincent’s house. I know as much, if not more, about the things in the hotel as Mrs. Vincent does herself. I believe the prisoners have been married about four weeks. I believe there was a bit of a row about the male prisoner going into the female prisoner’s bedroom through the window; that was before they were' married. ; I believe the female prisoner was a pretty good servant, but I’ve seen better.—Mr. Dodd said there was no evidence against the male prisoner, and that as to the female, it was a very weak case, of which she ought to have the benefit, lie asked for the discharge of both the (prisoners.—llis Worship said he thought there was not sufficient evidence to convict the male prisoner, and would therefore be discharged. There could be no doubt, however, that the case was proved against the female prisoner of stealing the sheet and pillow, and should order her to be imprisoned for one month, Transfer of License. —Mr. Tyler, on behalf of James Devin, applied for a transfer (if his license for the Empire Hotel to James Burns, which was granted.