The Examiner January 14, 1810

PROVINCIALS

A daring depredation was on Saturday evening committed on the Post from Manchester to Oldham. It appear the boy alighted and entered an Inn in Hollingwood, leaving his horse and its load at the door. In the meantime the Oldham bag, containing letters with bills and notes to a considerable amount, was dexterously extricated from the saddle, and carried away.

Wednesday last, a private soldier, belonging to the 82d regiment, in the barracks at Brighton, having been sentenced to receive severe flagellation for repeated desertion, to avoid the punishment cut his throat; and at the moment the guard entered the apartment in which he was confined, to march him to the halberts, he was found weltering in his blood. He had, however, although the incision in his neck is a very deep one missed the vital parts, and he is expected to recover. 

On Friday three young ladies, nieces of the Hon. Mrs. Cavendish Bradshaw very narrowly escaped being drowned in the Serpentine River. The young Ladies were taking an airing in a vis-a-vis and the coachman was driving towards the upper end along the strand and close to the water’s edge; but as he advanced, he found the ground towards the water becoming rather steep and attempted to turn about; in doing which, he was obliged to drive through the water about three yards from the edge. In this attempt the horses were suddenly immersed almost to their depth and the carriage was overset. The young Ladies were in the utmost danger; but the footman and coachman plunging into the water nearly to their necks extricated them from the carriage and carried the safe on shore.

Five Professional Bruizers says an Observer have been lately licensed as Publicans, namely Gully, Gregso, Ward, Daniel Mendoza, and Richmond the Black. How far this is beneficial to the public is left to the serious consideration of the Magistracy.

It is not in the least surprising that burglaries are so frequent in the metropolis, when the wretched state of the system of watching is duly considered. It is a well known fact that in many parishes aged and very infirm men are selected for this duty merely to save the expense of keeping them in the workhouse.

If the following paragraph, which appeared in several of the Papers be correct, the City Police cannot be complimented for its activity:--On Saturday evening the pickpockets and hustlers were unusually busy in plundering the gazers at the different pastry shops in the city. Tit Shields a returned transport, was at the head of a gang in Fleet-street. Bob Burney and Bill Wood commanded a detachment at the pastry cook’s in St. Paul’s Church-yard; the cake-shops of Cheapside were closely besieged by another party under the direction of Alick Dew and Harry Woodford; while the Rifle Corps of the Poultry and Cornhill performed their maneuvers under the immediate superintendent of the notorious Joe Hough and Ned Ellis.

OLD BAILEY

On Wednesday, Samuel Walker otherwise Lesson, was capitally indited under the Statute commonly called Lord Ellenborough’s Act,, for wilfully, maliciously and unlawfully presenting a pistol loaded with gunpowder and leaden shot, at Thomas Boswell, and drawing the trigger whereof, with intend to kill and murder the said Boswell, or to do him some bodily harm. Boswell is a gardener at Enfield Chace; and on the day stated in the indictment, the prisoner came to his house, under pretence of purchasing a quantity of potatoes. The prosecutor’s wife was in the act of frying some sprats for dinner and the prisoner observed “I see you have got sprats.” The prosecutor invited him to sit down and partake which he accordingly did; but while at dinner he suddenly turned to the prosecutor drew out a pistol, and presented it at him, and demanded his money. But the prosecutor and his wife, with equal resolution and presence of mind, instantly sprang upon him and seized him; the prisoner snapped the pistol at the prosecutor, but fortunately it missed fire and he was disarmed, secured, and given into the custody of Handcock, a Police Officer, belonging to Hatton-garden Office. The prisoner had nothing to say in his defence and was of course found Guilty.--Death.

ACCIDENTS, OFFENCES &c.

On the night between Friday and Saturday week, a most daring robbery was committed in the shop of Messrs. Coward and Co., silversmiths &c., in Cornhill. The thieves by means of instruments, completed a breach through the window shutters, sufficient to admit a hand, in spite of the difficulties which presented themselves. The shutters were lined with iron-plate, which, of itself, was deemed a sufficient security; but to such a pitch of perfection have the burglars brought their instrument for their calling that human precaution cannot guard against them. By introducing their hands, and forcing a wire case, they obtained in watches, silver articles and light gold plunder to the amount of 400l. The gang consisted of several persons who employed themselves in pacing the street backwards and forwards; not only by way of guarding against a surprise, but also to make a noise to prevent the instruments at work upon the shutters being heard. At times, where they were occasionally disturbed, the hole they perforated was covered by a sheet of paper painted the colour of the shutters; so that there appeared nothing striking to attract the notice of the passengers. During the several hours the robbers were thus employed no watchman was heard which is but too common a case under similar circumstances. The villains were once observed by a person going to Covent-Garden market, and who knew part of the gang to be housebreaker, particularly a cripple and a drover; but as he afterwards explained, it was as much as his life was worth to interrupt or even to let it be supposed to know them. This man came forward next day, and gave information on the business. It has been since ascertained that a gang of forty thieves of this description meet nightly at a house in the vicinity of Shire-lane, where they plan their nocturnal depredations. Since their success at Messrs. Coward’s, the same gang, according to description, attempted Mr. Plumly’s on Ludgate-hill, but were disappointed of their booty. Whilst they were perforating the window shutters they were observed by a butcher’s boy, but who seemed ignorant of their intention. Finding that to be the case they hoaxed the youth by telling him they had been in pursuit of a mad bullock which had just turned the corner towards Fleet-market. This had the desired effect the lad set off full speed to join the chase; in due time he returned, and finding the villains hovering about, he suspected their views; and from his close remarks finally obliged them to quit their prey.