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I've been coming across a number of cases that seem to link John McCarthy of Miller's Court to various scams involving the use of prostitutes and hired thugs, this being one of them:
THOMAS SMITH, Violent Theft > robbery, 21st November 1898.
Reference Number: t18981121-39
Offence: Violent Theft > robbery
Verdict: Guilty > other
Punishment: Imprisonment > hard labour
See original
39. THOMAS SMITH (17) , Robbery with violence on Julius Legrand, and stealing a watch and chain, his property.
MR. OLIVER Prosecuted.
JULIUS LEGRAND . I am a waiter, of 8. Boniface Street, Westminster Bridge Road—on October 31st I was near Spitalfields Church—I met a woman—the prisoner came up and asked me if I wanted a bedroom—I said, "Yes"—he said he would go and see his friend and get the key—he returned without the key and some other men surrounded me and took my gold watch and chain and £2 10s. and some coppers, and ran off—I called "Police"—a policeman came up, and then the prisoner came up—I said, "This is one of them"—he said he was not there—when I got up I could not see the woman—the place was lighted—the prisoner was in front of me when he took my watch and chain—I saw him three times—I pointed him out a quarter of an-hour afterwards.
WALTER GUMBLETON (430 H). On October 31st I was on duty at a little after 2 o'clock—I heard shouts of "Police," and saw the prosecutor standing at the corner of Palmerston Court—he made a complaint—lie was sober—I walked round with him and in about a quarter of an hour we saw the prisoner—the prosecutor said, "Here is the man coming who took my watch and chain," and gave him in custody—the prisoner said, "I know nothing about it; I have just come out to get some sausages and broad"—he had 6d. in coppers in his hand—this was 10 or 12 yards from the spot—there is enough light there for one man to identify another.
WILLIAM KITSON (386 H). I have known the prisoner twelve months—on October 31st I was on duty near Paternoster Row and saw the prisoner—that was about 30 yards from where the robbery took place—men are in the habit of standing there and letting beds to men and women, instead of letting them go to lodging-houses—the prosecutor came to mo and I went with him to Dorset Street and met the prisoner, and before we got nearer to him than 20 yards the prosecutor said, "That is one of them"—the prisoner said he was going to get some German sausages; and there was a shop open there.
Cross-examined. McCarthy lets beds there and you used to work for him.
Witness for the Defence.
MRS. SMITH. The prisoner is my son—he lives with me at 3, Dorset
See original
Street—on this night I went to bed and fell asleep—I cannot tell what time he went out—I could not understand what was read over to me before the Magistrate.
The Prisoner's Defence: "I went up the street to my brother-in-law and met the prosecutor, and he saw, "That is the man who took my watch and chain."
GUILTY .
—He then PLEADED GUILTY to a conviction of felony at Worship Street on February 8th, 1898, and another conviction was proved against him.— Twelve Months' Hard Labour.
THOMAS SMITH, Violent Theft > robbery, 21st November 1898.
Reference Number: t18981121-39
Offence: Violent Theft > robbery
Verdict: Guilty > other
Punishment: Imprisonment > hard labour
See original
39. THOMAS SMITH (17) , Robbery with violence on Julius Legrand, and stealing a watch and chain, his property.
MR. OLIVER Prosecuted.
JULIUS LEGRAND . I am a waiter, of 8. Boniface Street, Westminster Bridge Road—on October 31st I was near Spitalfields Church—I met a woman—the prisoner came up and asked me if I wanted a bedroom—I said, "Yes"—he said he would go and see his friend and get the key—he returned without the key and some other men surrounded me and took my gold watch and chain and £2 10s. and some coppers, and ran off—I called "Police"—a policeman came up, and then the prisoner came up—I said, "This is one of them"—he said he was not there—when I got up I could not see the woman—the place was lighted—the prisoner was in front of me when he took my watch and chain—I saw him three times—I pointed him out a quarter of an-hour afterwards.
WALTER GUMBLETON (430 H). On October 31st I was on duty at a little after 2 o'clock—I heard shouts of "Police," and saw the prosecutor standing at the corner of Palmerston Court—he made a complaint—lie was sober—I walked round with him and in about a quarter of an hour we saw the prisoner—the prosecutor said, "Here is the man coming who took my watch and chain," and gave him in custody—the prisoner said, "I know nothing about it; I have just come out to get some sausages and broad"—he had 6d. in coppers in his hand—this was 10 or 12 yards from the spot—there is enough light there for one man to identify another.
WILLIAM KITSON (386 H). I have known the prisoner twelve months—on October 31st I was on duty near Paternoster Row and saw the prisoner—that was about 30 yards from where the robbery took place—men are in the habit of standing there and letting beds to men and women, instead of letting them go to lodging-houses—the prosecutor came to mo and I went with him to Dorset Street and met the prisoner, and before we got nearer to him than 20 yards the prosecutor said, "That is one of them"—the prisoner said he was going to get some German sausages; and there was a shop open there.
Cross-examined. McCarthy lets beds there and you used to work for him.
Witness for the Defence.
MRS. SMITH. The prisoner is my son—he lives with me at 3, Dorset
See original
Street—on this night I went to bed and fell asleep—I cannot tell what time he went out—I could not understand what was read over to me before the Magistrate.
The Prisoner's Defence: "I went up the street to my brother-in-law and met the prosecutor, and he saw, "That is the man who took my watch and chain."
GUILTY .
—He then PLEADED GUILTY to a conviction of felony at Worship Street on February 8th, 1898, and another conviction was proved against him.— Twelve Months' Hard Labour.
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