The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

21.   JAMES LONG (35) and   WILLIAM MARLOW (26) , Burglary in the dwelling-house of   Stephen Lawrence, with intent to steal.

MR. P. C. PROBYN Prosecuted.

MR. HUTTON appeared for Long and MR. BURNIE for Marlow.

  MAURICE MORTIMER (Sergeant 83 Y) proved a plan drawn to scale, of the neighbourhood of the burglary.

  GEORGINA ELLICOTT . I am the housekeeper for Mr. Lawrence, pawnbroker, 386, Hornsey Road—about 3 a.m. on October 31st I was woke up by a slight noise at my bedroom window, which I had fastened before going to bed, and which looks on to waste ground at the back—I lay a minute or two and watched the blind, which moved—I heard again a noise at the window—I got out of bed and palled up the blind—then I saw my window was open at the bottom—I looked out and saw a ladder that did not belong to us at the end of the yard—I locked my bedroom door and went downstairs to the front door and spoke to a man who was passing—the police came—I went to the police-station at 6 a.m.

Cross-examined by MR. HUTTON. I hare not said that I heard footsteps outside the house—I asked the inspector if the man was wearing silent boots because I had not heard any steps—at the station I did not notice that he was wearing thick boots.

  GEORGE CLOAK (514 Y). About 3 a.m. on October 31st I was on duty in the Hornsey Road in plain clothes—I watched the prisoners who were loitering—I knew Long kept a shop in the Hornsey Road, and I have seen Marlow there—I saw them enter a gateway adjoining 384, Hornsey Road—I was on the opposite side about forty feet away—the pawnbroker's shop is 386—I kept observation at the rear of the premises in Pine Grove—I saw them leave the rear of 384 and hurriedly walk away—I was standing at the bottom of Gladstone Street and Pine Grove in the middle of the road—they came over the wall of the old brewery of Lovibond's, which is now untenanted—I followed them across Tollington Park to Burnham Road, a continuation of Pine Grove—I ran to catch them—they turned and saw me and commenced to run—I gave chase and blew my whistle—I followed through Moray Road into Durham Road where they separated, Marlow ran through Bedford Terrace and Long through Hatley Road—I followed Long who was stopped by P.C. Baxter at the corner of Palmerston Road and

Lennox Road—when Long was in the custody of Baxter and Sergeant Wright, he said, "Let me lace my boots, let me put my boot on"—it was half off, he was trying to get it on; it was unlaced—I saw the prisoner's faces in the Burnham Road under a light—I lost sight of them when turning the corner only for a few seconds—Marlow was brought to the station at 7 a.m.

Examined by MR. BURNIE. Long made no noise—I do not suggest he was running with his boots off—I was observing them about 35 feet away—I lost sight of them when they went in the gateway between 283 and 284 belonging to Phillips' stores, about quarter of an hour or twenty minutes—when I saw them the second time I was 25 yards off.

Cross-examined by MR. BURNIE. I did not then know Marlow lodged with Long—I do now.

Re-examined. I saw them when the light was on them—I hare no doubt they are the men.

  OLIVER BAXTER (706 7). On October 31st, about 3 a.m., I was in Durham Road with Sergeant Wright going towards Moray Road—hearing a whistle Wright ran towards Moray Road and I ran through Lennox Road—I saw Long running towards me and turn into the Hatley Road—I went back and stopped him at the corner of Lennox Road and Palmerston Road—he ran into my arms—I said, "What are you running for?" he answered, "Nothing" and placed his hands behind him, drew this revolver from a pouch attacked to a belt he was wearing round his waist—he presented it at my stomach with his right hand—I knocked the revolver aside and closed with him—after a severe struggle I wrenched the revolver from his hand—Wright came up—I handed the revolver to him and with his assistance took Long to the station—the revolver was fully loaded in five chambers—when I searched him at the station I found this leather pouch in his trousers' pocket containing 10 more cartridges; they fit the revolver—also a bunch of keys and a £5 Bank of Engraving note.

Cross-examined by MR. HUTTON. There was gas light and the moon was shining brightly—he went quietly to the station after I with difficulty got the revolver away—I was not in uniform.

  JOSEPH WRIGHT (93 F). I was with Baxter in Durham Road and heard a police whistle from the direction of Tollington Park—we ran and when between Lennox and Hatley Roads we saw the prisoners running—at the top of Bedford Terrace they divided—Marlow ran down Bedford Terrace—I recognised them—I knew them, but had forgotten Marlow's name—I was between 50 and 60 yards off or a little more—both were running towards us—it was a bright moonlight night; the moon was about full—I gave directions to Baxter, who doubled back, round Lennox Road—I followed Long into the Hatley Road—in Palmerston Road I saw Baxter struggling with him, and I ran up and caught hold of Long—he had this five-chambered revolver in his hand, and Baxter told me he had pointed it at his stomach—Long made no remark to that—Marlow turned down Bedford Terrace, in the direction of Victor Road.

Cross-examined by MR. BURNIE. I was not 300 yards off—I might

have been 80 yards—I know Marlow lodged at Long's, where he was arrested.

  JOHN NOLAN (Sergeant Y.) I arrested Marlow in the Hornsey Road at 7.30 a.m. on October 31st—I told him I should take him into custody for being concerned with James Long in committing a burglary at 286, Hornsey Road, a pawnbroker's shop; also for presenting arms at the police—he said, "I can prove where I was from 2 o'clock yesterday"—I conveyed him to Hornsey Road Police-station—he said, "I suppose the b—fool 'Gip' has put me away"—Long is known as "Gip."

Cross-examined by MR. BURNIE. I did not make a note of what he said, because it was such a short statement—he was about ten yards from Long's shop—he lives there.

  JAMES COMPTON . I am a milkman, of I, Paddington Street, Durham Road—on October 31st I was going my rounds in Victor Road about 3.40 p.m.—in the garden of No. 49 I found this dark lantern and two jimmies, as though they had been dropped over the gateway—I took them home—the next morning, when I served the police-station, I took them with me.

  WILLIAM MOUNTFIELD (Inspector, 7). I am stationed at the Hornsey Road Police-station—at 4 p.m. on October 31 dt I saw Long, who was detained there—I examined the premises at 386, Hornsey Road—I found the window-sill had been forced with a jemmy—there is a wall ten feet high, and a ladder had been taken from the adjoining garden—the gate is left open, and by scaling the wall and getting on the top of the sculleries one could get into 386—another ladder was also used—I found the back bed-room window of 386 had been forced by a jemmy, and the yellow paint on the sill is identical with this on the jemmy—the window catch was forced off, and I found it by the side of the window in the room—I went to the station—I charged Long with burglary—he said, "I do not see what that has to do with me, Inspector"—I proceeded to his lodgings at an address he gave me—I saw two women the prisoners were cohabiting with, and in consequence of a con venation with them, and a description by Cloak and Wright, I caused a telegram to be circulated giving Marlow's description—that eventually appeared in the printed information—Marlow was brought to the station at 7.30, and identified by Cloak and Wright—on my charging him he said, "I can prove where I was from 2 p.m. yesterday"—the woman made a statement which I read to Marlow in her presence.

Evidance for Marlow.

  WILLIAM MARLOW (The. Prisoner, sworn.) I have been lodging with my wife in the same house as Long—on October 31st I went out about 6.30 p.m. to London Street, Tottenham Court Road, my mother's place—I left her about 10 45 p.m.—I went to my club in Golden Square—that has since been raided as a gambling club I believe—I stopped there about an hour and a-half—I left there with a prostitute—we went to a house in Percy Street, Tottenham Court Road—I stayed with her till about 6.30 or 6.45 a.m.—from there I went to the Hampstead Road, got a tram and went home—I knew nothing of this burglary till I was arrested the next morning—I never said at the station I supposed "Gip" had put me away—I said what the officer said, that I knew nothing about it, and could prove where I was.

Cross-examined. When I left home I saw the clock in the public-house, and it was between twenty minutes and half-past six—it was thirty minutes' ride by the tram to London Street—I saw my mother, brothers, and sisters that evening and a sister-in-law—the club I went to was the Alsatian—I had been there on several occasions—I went there to see this young woman—I went there with her—I intended to go to Shaftesbury Avenue, but she took me there—I had a drink at the King's Head at the corner of the Euston and Hampstead Roads—it took me twenty minutes in the tram to get home—I was arrested nearly directly I got off the tram.

GUILTY .

—They then PLEADED GUILTY to previous convictions—Long at Ely Quarter Sessions, in October, 1896, in the name of William Shepherd, and Marlow at St. Mary, Newington, in January, 1895.

LONG**— Ten Years' Penal Servitude.

MARLOW**— Five Years' Penal Servitude. There was another indictment against Long for shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The police were commended by the Court for their courage, promptitude, and discretion.