Thefts From City Companies

THEFTS FROM CITY COMPANIES.
THE PROPERTY RESTORED.

At Bow-street yesterday, eleven summonses were heard against the Commissioner of Police, requiring him to show cause why he did not deliver up certain property in his possession. The Commissioner was represented by Detective-Sergeant Stockley, who had with him the articles, consisting of silver knives, forks, and spoons (many very old and valuable), napkins, nutcrackers, tray-covers, etc., etc., claimed as the property of the Corporation of the City of London, the Merchant Taylors' Company, the Goldsmiths' Company, the Trinity Corporation, and the Clothworkers', Ironmongers' and Salters' Companies.
Detective-Sergeant Bowden stated that these goods were seized at the residence of Charles Frederick Hoad, a Bank of England porter, recently sentenced to eighteen months' hard labour for theft. The convict Hoad had officiated as waiter at City company dinners and public functions, and in this way had managed to abstract the property in question.
Mr. Vaughan made the required order for the return of the property.

Source: Daily Mail, Wednesday January 6, 1897, Page 3