FUN AT THE OLD BAILEY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LX, Issue 9798, 7 May 1924, Page 2

FUN AT THE OLD BAILEY.

PRISONER AS A WITNESS. PAY FOR A “NIGHT’S WORK.” ONLY THIRTY-ONE SHILLINGS. Some amusing evidence was given by a burglar in the trial, at the Old Bailey last month, of Samuel William Price, aged 53, gold and silver refiner and Charles Gill, aged GO', Ins assistant, .on charges of receiving a largo quantity of stolen goods. Mr , Travers Humphreys (for the Grown) said tho question was whether t!ie defendants, when they bought the articles, knew they were stolen. He suggested they must have clone so, because, according to Wells—a witness who had stated that lje had stolen certain of the articles —challenge clips and a coffee-pot, present* ed to a clergyman, bore inscriptions when they were sold by Wells to the defendants. These inscriptions were afterwards removed.

I’lie mistress of the girls’ school said that one of the articles stolen from her school was a cricket challenge cup. The Common Sergeant—Do girls play cricket? Mr Travei-.s Humphreys —They play everything I believe. The Common Sergeant —I should think they would bo l.b.w. all the time. (Laughter). A j. weller who bought various articles from Price said that _ they were displayed openly in the window of Price’s shop. It was not unusual for presentation articles to be sold with the inscription remaining. IN PETTICOAT LANE.

Moss Miller, antique-stall keeper in Petticoat Lane, said he purchased two Georgian mugs from Price at 8s Gd an ounce, and sold them ton minutes afterwards at 12s Cd and 18s an ounce.

! Sir Henry Curtis Bennett (for the defence.) —So that if Mr Price gave , 6s an ounce for them, lie did net got ' so much profit as you did? —I gave him .all he asked, £ could not do any more. \ The Common Sergeant—lt makes the mouth water. Do you often do ' such things?—-No, they are very rare. (Laughter.) I Weils, in his evidence, said that he was serving sentence of six years’ penal servitude for burglaries. Ho ! a.greed that “W. G. Yells/’ the name by which he had passed, was ! not his real name. He detailed various burglaries be had committed, and the prices lie had received front tbs defendants for the articles he sold to them. ' He went to Price’s shop quite by chance, lie said, and saw an assistant named Mackenzie. Next day be took the presentation coffee-pot, and Price told him it. was only worth melting i price, as the inscription would have jto lie taken out. He was paid two j shillings an ounce. Gill said. "I ; suppose you are a dealer?” and wit- : ness replied. “Yes,” and gave/ Ins nama and address as “Y . G. Y ells, j King Henry Road Hampstead.” i Mr Pereival Clarke —Y as that a i true name and address?- —No. ■ In March and April of this year were you idle or occupying your S time?—l had had done one or two ; things. . . . , ~ . Witness, continuing. said that Price gave him an open cheque on one occasion, and lie cashed it at the Lank next to Bow Street Police ' Station. ; Counsel —The safest. place you ; could think of?—Yes. (Laughter.)

A MISUNDERSTANDING. Wells said that lie remembered one burglary because be received such a price for the thing —Cl 11s Id. Mr Clarke —Why do you call that a good price?—You misunderstand me sir. I moan it was not very much for a night’s work. (Loud laughter, in which the judge joined.) Counsel—l see it stirre-d you to further efforts, for you committed another burglary the next night. (Laughter.) Wells also caused much amusement by describing how he sold some challenge cups for Gs, and saw one of them afterwards in Price’s window, marked six guineas. “I went into the shop in a temper.” he said, “and told them thov were a nice lot of robbers. Gill replied that it was expensive getting the cups done up, and Price bad complained that he had been paying me too much for them.” He also protested that he was being paid less than pre-war price for gold articles. He added that lie was arrested on October 25 after a burglary at Working and be then gave information to Scotland Yard detectives.