James Spanswick, a ticket-of-leave man, who had been remanded from a former day to give the police an opportunity of making inquiries about him, was again placed at the bar.
The prisoner was observed on the evening of Monday week loitering about the Albany-road, Camberwell, in company with another man, and the suspicions of the constable who had observed them having been excited he watched them for some time. The prisoner's companion then left him, and when alone the prisoner mounted the steps of an unoccupied house and knocked at the door. At this time the constable approached and asked what he wanted, and he replied, "a Mr. Godfrey, a builder, who lived there, and who had promised him work." The constable was dissatisfied with his statement, and took him to the stationhouse, and there he refused to give his name and address. He was however recognized as a person who had been tried in 1851 for a burglary and robbery, and sentenced to seven years transportation.
The prisoner admitted this, but said he had received a ticket of leave 20 months ago, and he since that time had been getting an honest livelihood. He called some witnesses, but they failed to prove his assertions, and he was committed to the House of Correction for three calendar months.