OLD BAILEY, Wednesday, Ap...
Tihese sersions commeneedtto-day, before the LonD 71AYOR,Alr. Justice BEST, the COaMMOV SERG.EANT. &C. TlIonwsl' Frederick Crsees., aged 27, and 1?lizab7ct Harriet Crees, his vite, aged 36, wer.e in(licted for stealing in the dwe'ling-house of Sarah Christiana I{eighley, in Harlev.-treet, Cavendisli-square, a quantity of plate and jewellerv, to the 'value of 4001. or 500!., her propertv. T'he circumstances ofthia case werefullvreported wlM en the examina- tion of the prisoners at Bow-strest took place. It will be recollected that thefemale prisoner had lived iu the service of the pros-cutrix for a period of 17 y'ears,during which slhe maintained the mosthonest cha. racter; that she married the mnale priconer, who is a foreigner and teacher of languages,about 50r 6 years ago; that the prosecuctrix missed her jewellery and plate upon her rcturn from the country in October last, that sorneduplicates werefounda'terthefemale prisoner abscond- ed, by which the stolen property was traced; that the prisoncrs fled to the continent and, finally, riat Salmon, having been sent in pur- suit of them, di,c.vercd the female (who had been abandoned by her husband) in an obscure lcdging at Brussels. and :ccidentally met the other prisoner at O,tend, when returnins? to Eagland. The learned JUnGE left it to the jury to say.whether the *ife acted under the influence and coercon of her husband, or was an in- citing party in the commission of the robbery. In the first case she would be' entitled to an acquittal; but in the latter, she must be found guiltv. Tlie jurY, after some deliberation, acquitted the wife. as having acted under the influence of her husband: and founri the husband guilty, but recommende; hhn to rnercy on account of his youith. M4r. Justice Bxs r reprobated the conduct of the pawnbrokers, receiving property of this value from persons of the pritoncrs' appear- ar.ce and condition of life, without first makin.t inquiries. His Lordship afterwards said. that in justice to the pawnbrokers, hr should men:ion that they were stived to have made soae previouF inquiries respecting the fenmale prisoner, and also to have afforded every assistance in tracing the propertsv. Setill, howerer, he would not retract his former observation, thata respectabl2 pawbrosker ought not to receive valuable property from persons of this descripiero without first making proper inquiries respecting them; and if proper inquiries had been made here, they would have founed that this wo. man was a servant, and therefore not likely to have diamonds anne plate honestly in her possession. WVhen pawnbrokers lend money on property, they mnst tak- their chance ; and he, (the leaned Judge) for one, waS not sfrry wheni in cases like this, they incurren a loss. If this conduct was allowed, no person's property would bL safe; and if they persisted in it, they woul!d have cause to be sorry for it. Of D BAILEY, Wcdnexda;, April 7.