Southeastern Gazette, 15 February 1853.

John Lawlor, shoemaker, was charged with aiding and abetting in the robbery of Charles Nye, at the "Bricklayers’ Arms," Stone-street.

Nye gave evidence of a similar character to that given against Lodge on Friday last, and identified the prisoner as one of those present when he was in the "Bricklayers' Arms."

---- Briggs, railway porter, said he saw the prisoner in the room at the time in question, as well as prosecutor; the latter had been treating those in the room, Lodge amongst others, who asked Nye where he was going to lodge that night, when he laid himself on the table and seemed to fall asleep. Lodge went to the table near Nye, and said "He is laying on it," and addressing prisoner, who had gone to the door, and had observed "You are a long time about it," and said he wanted a sharper knife, at the same time shutting up the one he had. Receiving no reply Lodge took his own out again, and went again to Nye, and in two or three minutes he heard a sound as of money. He left the room almost immediately, and directly after saw Lodge and the prisoner come out of the house together.

Police-constable Martin had known prisoner for nine years; he has been with his wife and family for the last four months in Gravesend. From information he had received he went to Woolwich, and found prisoner had been to a beer-house there, and lodged four sovereigns in the hands of the landlord; after searching several hours witness found him in the tan-room of the "Coach and Horses," High-street, and told him he was wanted on suspicion of being concerned with others in robbing Nye of nineteen sovereigns. He denied having anything to do with it, and said ho knew what he was wanted for, but he was not going to give evidence for the prosecution. He denied having left any money at any place in Woolwich.

Prisoner made a statement similar to that of the witness for the prosecution, admitting that he was offered money by Lodge to say nothing, but he denied having taken any. He was then fully committed to take his trial.

Southeastern Gazette, 15 March 1853.

THIRD COURT. A third court was opened on Thursday morning, over which Mr. Sergeant Channell presided.

Robbery from the Person at Gravesend.

James Lodge, 27, and John Lawler, 33, were indicted for stealing nineteen sovereigns, the money of Charles Nye, at Gravesend.

It appeared that on the 2nd February, the prosecutor, who is a general dealer living at Burham, went to London, in the morning, and returned by steam boat in the afternoon, to Gravesend. Having been up the previous night and drank freely, he was in a state of intoxication. He went into a room at the "Bricklayers’ Arms," Gravesend, in which there were several other persons, whom he treated with beer. Amongst the company where the two prisoners. Lodge went out and brought in a pot of beer, which he placed on the table, observing that he had the honour of being his waiter. Prosecutor drank some of the beer, and shortly after fell down and fell asleep. When he went into the house he had a bag in his pocket containing nineteen sovereigns. On awaking he found his pocket cut out and his money gone. It was proved by several witnesses, that the prisoner Lodge cut out the prosecutor’s pocket with his knife whilst asleep on the ground, and afterwards offered some money to several persons in the room. Information having been given to the police, the prisoner Lodge was apprehended the same evening, when he became very violent and offered resistance. He was seen to put something in his pocket, from whence six sovereigns were afterwards taken. The prisoner Lawler, who was proved to have four of the sovereigns in his possession, which he had given to a person at Gravesend to keep for him, was not apprehended till the 5th of February.

The defence was, that the money was taken out of a "lark," Lodge having the intention of returning it. A previous conviction of felony was proved against Lawler, who was sentenced to seven years’ transportation; Lodge, nine months’ hard labour.