Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

AN INCORRIGIBLE VILLAIN.

On the third day of July, Thomas Glyde, a young man, was brought up to the police office, charged with having stolen shoes from the store of Mr. Jacob Scofield—the property was found on him, and he was committed for the felony. Through some error, either the witness not appearing before the grand jury or the mistaken humanity of the grand jury themselves, no bill of indictment was found, and Glyde was discharged. On the 21st of the same month he was again brought up before the magistrate, charged by H. Barrere with having stolen glasses from his garden in Chatham-street. Part of the stolen goods were found in his possession, and he confessed the felony. The police now thought they had him safe: but in this they were mistaken. To their astonishment, an order was sent on Tuesday, 10th instant, to bring Glyde from prison into court, in order to his being discharged by proclamation, as the grand jury, then sitting, had found no bill against him. On enquiry as to the cause, one of the magistrates was informed that Mr. Barrere did not appear before the grand jury; therefore, they threw out the bill, having no witness before them to sustain the prosecution, (by the bye the deposition of the magistrate of Glyde's confession of the felony before him, was sufficient, in law, to find a bill on; and on such testimony the same grand jury found several bills). Glyde was accordingly discharged by proclamation—the committing magistrate at the time gave his opinion, that before the expiration of twenty-four hours, he would commit another felony. Thus fortune or chance appeared determined to snatch Glyde from the arm of the law, and that his punishment should not extend beyond the commitment of the police magistrates; however, public justice has once more another chance with Glyde, and his destiny. On the 12th August, instant, two days after his discharge, he was again bro't up, charged with having stolen a gold watch, gold seals, keys, &c. from the store of Mr. Clement Davidson, No. 40 Fulton-street. In this case, part of the property was also found in his possession; and he is now, the third time within a few weeks, committed to prison. This last charge amounts to grand larceny; consequently, if convicted, punishment in the state prison. It now remains to be seen, what shall be the issue of the third struggle between justice and Glyde's fortune, and if a mistaken commisseration and sickly humanity shall again turn him loose to rob honest men.

[New-York Columbian.]