Town Hall: Thursday: Before A. Paget and J. Stafford, Esqrs: … Charge of Stealing Cigars: — Wm. Orton (15), Thomas Orton (18), and Andrew Pinsent (19) were charged with stealing yesterday a bundle of cigars, value 2s. 1d, the property of Thomas Payne, tobacconist, Little Brunswick-street: Mr. T. Wright appeared for the prisoners: Prosecutor stated that about 9.45 the three prisoners came to his house, Wm. Orton and Pinsent to have their hair cut, and Thomas Orton to be shaved. When they were gone, he missed a bundle of cigars from the shop which he had seen safe half an hour previous to the time when they came in. He gave information to the police. P.C. Atkinson said he arrested the two Ortons at their home last night on the charge of stealing the cigars. He took them to the Woodboy street police station and accused them of being in the company of another and committing the theft. Thomas Orton said he was not guilty, and Wm. admitted the offence. He afterwards apprehended Pinsent, who made a statement incriminating Wm. Orton. Subsequently at the police station Wm. Orton said he had thrown the cigars into the river. Wm. Orton pleaded guilty, the other two not guilty. Mr. Wright said with regard to Wm. Orton, he had committed an act of folly for which he could not divine a reason. The lad admitted that he did take the cigars, and afterwards threw them into the river, but why he (the lad) did such a thing, or what gratification there was in it, he could not conceive. He hoped the Bench would take into consideration the fact that he had not been before the Bench previously, and also his youth, and not visit the offence with any severe punishment. As to the other two, he trusted the Bench would dismiss the cases against them, as they really took no part in the theft. They had all hitherto borne a good character, and their parents occupied respectable positions, Pinsent’s father being the employer of the other two. Thomas Orton and Pinsent were discharged. Wm. Orton was fined 40s. or 21 days’ hard labour, the Bench hoping these proceedings would be a caution to him in the future.
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Referenced
GROxxxx Tiverton (?)