Breaking into the house of the Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police while he was abed.
'448. FREDERICK DRISCOLL (21) and CHARLES SMITH (21) , Breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Melville Leslie Macnaghten, with intent to steal, Driscoll having been convicted at Clerkenwell, on June 19th, 1893, to which
DRISCOLL PLEADED GUILTY .
MR. ROOTH Prosecuted.
MELVILLE LESLIE MACNAGHTEN . I am chief constable of the Metropolitan Police, and live at 32, Warwick Square, Pimlico—on May 3rd I was awoke at 2.30 a.m. by the ringing of a bell outside my door, and I went down and saw the door across the hall open, and the prisoner Driscoll about six feet inside the door—he said, "It is only me, sir. I have broken in. I am hard up"—I arrested him and handed him over to a constable who had another man in custody outside—entrance had been made by a window which was shut when I went to bed,
EMILY GREENFIELD . I am parlour-maid to Mr. McNaghten—when I went to bed on 2nd May at a little past eleven I shut the library window, but did not fasten it.
WALTER SOMERS (111 B). On 3rd May, at 2.30 a.m. I was on duty by St. Gabriel's Church, and saw Smith outside No. 32—he turned towards Aldeney Street, walking very sharply—I examined the house, and while I was in front of it Smith returned—I asked him what he was doing there—he said he was just going home—I asked him if he knew if there was anyone else about there—he said he did not—I took him in custody, and shortly afterwards I saw Driscoll strike a match and walk round the library—I handed Smith over to a constable and blew my whistle—a lady opened the door, and I went in and found Driscoll—Smith was charged at the station—he said he had just come over Ebury Bridge and left two pals there—I asked him if he had been talking to a woman—he said "No"—I asked him if he had been there before—he said "No"—I saw a woman a long way off—I did not know Smith before.
Cross-examined by Smith. I was near enough to you to see that it was
See original
you—you were not going to walk straight past me, you stopped in front of the house while I was in the doorway—you did not come to me before I called you, and ask me if there was anything wrong.
JAMES THOMPSON (103 D). Somers handed Smith into my custody—he said, "What are you holding me for; I was only coming along the street: I am not going to get away and make a fool of myself; let me button my coat, I feel rather cold."
JOHN WATTS (Detective A). I know the two prisoners; I have seen them together eighteen months or two years ago—they do not live in the same house, but I have seen them standing outside the Star and Garter, Great Peter Street.
Cross-examined by Smith. I know you were in Wales, but that was previous; it is between eighteen months and two years since I saw you together—Driscoll has donetwelve months' imprisonment.
Smith, in his statement before the Magistrate and in his defence, denied ever having seen Driscoll before, and said that as he was passing the house the officer arrested him. SMITH— GUILTY . He then
PLEADED GUILTY to a conviction at Clerkenwell on July 23rd, 1894, and two other convictions were proved against him.— Fifteen Month' Hard Labour. Four other convictions were proved against DRISCOLL.— Eighteen Months' Hard Labour. '
'448. FREDERICK DRISCOLL (21) and CHARLES SMITH (21) , Breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Melville Leslie Macnaghten, with intent to steal, Driscoll having been convicted at Clerkenwell, on June 19th, 1893, to which
DRISCOLL PLEADED GUILTY .
MR. ROOTH Prosecuted.
MELVILLE LESLIE MACNAGHTEN . I am chief constable of the Metropolitan Police, and live at 32, Warwick Square, Pimlico—on May 3rd I was awoke at 2.30 a.m. by the ringing of a bell outside my door, and I went down and saw the door across the hall open, and the prisoner Driscoll about six feet inside the door—he said, "It is only me, sir. I have broken in. I am hard up"—I arrested him and handed him over to a constable who had another man in custody outside—entrance had been made by a window which was shut when I went to bed,
EMILY GREENFIELD . I am parlour-maid to Mr. McNaghten—when I went to bed on 2nd May at a little past eleven I shut the library window, but did not fasten it.
WALTER SOMERS (111 B). On 3rd May, at 2.30 a.m. I was on duty by St. Gabriel's Church, and saw Smith outside No. 32—he turned towards Aldeney Street, walking very sharply—I examined the house, and while I was in front of it Smith returned—I asked him what he was doing there—he said he was just going home—I asked him if he knew if there was anyone else about there—he said he did not—I took him in custody, and shortly afterwards I saw Driscoll strike a match and walk round the library—I handed Smith over to a constable and blew my whistle—a lady opened the door, and I went in and found Driscoll—Smith was charged at the station—he said he had just come over Ebury Bridge and left two pals there—I asked him if he had been talking to a woman—he said "No"—I asked him if he had been there before—he said "No"—I saw a woman a long way off—I did not know Smith before.
Cross-examined by Smith. I was near enough to you to see that it was
See original
you—you were not going to walk straight past me, you stopped in front of the house while I was in the doorway—you did not come to me before I called you, and ask me if there was anything wrong.
JAMES THOMPSON (103 D). Somers handed Smith into my custody—he said, "What are you holding me for; I was only coming along the street: I am not going to get away and make a fool of myself; let me button my coat, I feel rather cold."
JOHN WATTS (Detective A). I know the two prisoners; I have seen them together eighteen months or two years ago—they do not live in the same house, but I have seen them standing outside the Star and Garter, Great Peter Street.
Cross-examined by Smith. I know you were in Wales, but that was previous; it is between eighteen months and two years since I saw you together—Driscoll has donetwelve months' imprisonment.
Smith, in his statement before the Magistrate and in his defence, denied ever having seen Driscoll before, and said that as he was passing the house the officer arrested him. SMITH— GUILTY . He then
PLEADED GUILTY to a conviction at Clerkenwell on July 23rd, 1894, and two other convictions were proved against him.— Fifteen Month' Hard Labour. Four other convictions were proved against DRISCOLL.— Eighteen Months' Hard Labour. '
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