The National Register. — London, England, 1822-09-30 00:00:00

POLICE. - BOW STREET. On Thursday sight Sir Richard Smile was engaged until ♦ery late hour, in all investigation of as extraordinary a nature, perhaps, as ever came before a magistrate. A very respectable looking middle-aged man, named Samuel Beillow Sweetuian, was broil. lit to the aim: in the custody of Bishop, one of the principal Akers, on a charge of stealing a bill of exchange for 3,5001., the property of Richard Thornhill. Mr F. Pollock attended for the prosimution, cud Mr. Platt appeared on behalf of the accused. tien the defendant was placed at the table in front of the bench, he was asked by Sir Richard Birnie if he was aware of the nature of tile charge 'pima him, mud he said he believed be was. Sir It. Birnie.—What is your name ? Defendant.—Samuel Bedlow Sweetman. Sir It. Birnie.—You are charged in the warrnnt now before me, and upon which you are brought here, with feloniously stealing, tali ig, and carrying away • bill of exchange fur 3,5Ud1. the property of Richard 'Thornhill. The djeudant bowed. Richard Thornhill, a man of respectable exterior, whose ac cent bespoke him to be of the sister country, was called and eimmined by Mr. Pollock. Ile stated I elf to be au officer in the army. The bill of exchange in question was his property, be having given a valuable consideration for it. It was drawn by Thomas Claughton upon Thomas Legh, and accepted by the latter fur 2,5001. dated Nov.s, 1821, and would be due on the Bth of May next, being 18 months. Ile received the bill from Messrs. /night and Eyson, solicitors, for a valuable consider ation. It was no. endorsed by them. He took it without an endorsement, giving them an undertaking for it. (The nnder taking was produced.) lie had no personal interest in the bill except what arose from this undertaking. Last Tuesday, shout half-past one o'clock, witness delivered the bill to Capt. Barford, iu Bedford-street, Strand. Captain Buford was to present it at Coutta's banking-house in the presence of the de fendant to satisfy him that it was a good acceptance ; and if he was satisfied that it was the genuine acceptance of Mr. Leagh, witness wan to receive the sum of 2,0001. immediately. The defendant told witness he had discounted several bills for both Cloughton and Lcgh ; that the former was not worth a farthing; but Legb he knew to be a man of 40,0001. a year, and he would certainly discount the bill if it was his (Legit) acceptance, The defendant represented I elf to be a merchant in the city, and ssid.he was in the habit of discounting bills to a great amount. lie bad, lie said, often discounted bills at Coutts's. 'Time de fendant was introduced to witness by Mr. Walker, who said be was a man of properly—a monied man—and witness thought him a man of great fortune. Ile did not know that the &fen dant was clerk to Mr. Walker the attorney. He had heard so since, bat did nut know the fact. Mr. Walker, who was instructing Mr. Platt for the defence, said the del . ..Out was not his clerk. Captain Edmund Barford, residing at No. 19, Carlisle-place, Lambeth, sworn.-1 received the bill in question from Mr. Thonmill about half-past one o'clock on Tuesday last in the Strand. I was to go with the defendant to Coutts's to prove the baud writing of Mr. Legit, in order to the discounting the bill by the defendant. I inquired for Mr. Antrobus, the chief clerk, and was directed into a back office, where I saw him. I held oat the bill to him, and naked him if that was the acceptance of Mr. Legh. The defendant was thm standing beside me. Mr. Antrobus had a letter in his hand which he banded to the de fendant saying, " I believe this is for you, Sir." The defen dant at this moment, and before Mr. Antrobus could look at the endorsement, said, " I believe there are some endorsements upon that bill, will you allow me to look at it." Th.: bill was given to him Gy Mr. Antrobus, and he immediately squeezed it ap in his hand, and proceeded to rend the letter which Mr. An pubus had given him. I asked hits for the bill, saying, "It is a. well is my pw , session un tours,' but he replied when Le had rem. t .e leach, twat he would not give the bill up to me or any one else. I said, " 11 you don't give it up I shall take you to Bow streeet," and without replying he walked out of the holm. I follow.Al him to the door, waere Mr. Thornhill was waiting.— Before the presentation of the bill, the d,fendsnt said that Mr. Thornhill had offered him very handsomely ; he was to have 501. and be certainly would discount the hill. Cross-examined by Mr. Platt.—The defendant said lie would go to f:ow-street or anywhere else we chose. He said he had received a letter from Mr. Cloughton le stop the hill, and he therefore should keep it. lie wan positively to get it discounted that afteruoou or the next morning. Ile said before lie west to " I don't want the hill at all ; only convince me that it is the acceptance of Mt. Legh, and I will get the money." Mr. Antrobus, clerk to sLasrs. Coutta, sworn. The letter was addressed to S. B. Sweetnian, sod Itrt with me to give to Lim when he came. He would nut take the letter when I licit offered it to him , mid looked an,ry, I thought, when I asked if it was for him. The letter was produced and read— " Toll. B. 3Vrect.tiall. "St n,—lf a bill of e;.cbangel . Or3,3ool. drawn by me should be presented to you, I hereby aathoriae you to take and detain it, nu consideration hut ing been Kit en fur it, and notice bating been served litany months ago upon the bidder to restore it. am, sir, your obedient servant, T. CLAIGII ION." The hand-writing was proved to be genuine. Witness isoutinued.—We should nut have discounted a bill for the defendant. It is riot true he ever chscounted bills at out house. I saw no other endorsement upon the bill than Mr. Claughton's, I Lad no oppot trinity. Mr. Charles Knight, solicitor, of Corahill, examined.-1 re ceived this bill as the solicitor of Sir Peter Pole and Company, bankers, from a Mr. Pullen, the agent of Mr. Efurth, proprie tor of a gun manufactory, as a security for 1,0001. to b, ad vanced by Messrs. Pole to Mr. Efurtli. I gave the bill subse quently to ColoaulThornbil, upoo his giving me an under taking for the i,ooai. which bad been advanced upon it. I know , tits defendant to be clerk to Mr. Bruuouell, a solicitor. Mr. Platt now proceeded to cross examine Mr. Thornhill, when a dialogue took place, of which the fullo..ing is a por tion : Mr. Platt, you have been in the army ? I bate. What nre you now ?-1 am like a great usany more, unfor tunately—l fun on half pay. You were on adjutant at Huth, I believe ?—I was. Pray, did you pass your accounts to Governinmt there ? Mr. 'Thornhill—What's that to you t How dare you ask me such a qnestion Mr. Plutt.—l shall let you know presently how I dare ask you. Did you pass your accounts, l say Mr. Thornhill.- —You are d--d impertinent fellow for ask ing such a question, and I shall not auawer it, because you Lave no business to put it. Mr. Platt.-1 ant ptrfectly content with your refusing to aaswet and] a question. Mr. Thornhill.—What do you mean by that, Sir ? what do you wean by that? Ask Lord Palmer:Atm if I passed my oloosatt. ~. _. . 111 five in the afternoon. The name of the defendant wall upon the coach. Henry Clement, another hackney coachman, deputed . ** the pante effect. This was the case for the preseention. The defendant, in his defence, said, that he was antliu. Heed to take up passengers, not by a license from the Commissioners of Hackney.coaches, but by • license front the Commissioners of Stamps, which license authorised hiai to take passengers to and front Wm rout of Highgate. , bill to the Bank. Fur this privilege he paid asmatelly 101. *eel duty upon each Coach, • tax of 031. apes tacit coach, and 10m, fur every license, besides Is. Od. for melt journey taken by each coach. He did not deny bowing plied for passengers, but said that it was requisite that paNiiengera should he plied fur, as many aged and infirm persons were deaf, blind, or short sighted, who woshil utherwioi nut he aide to get et the coaches they wasted. Many 4inild not see to read, and many who could we the names of the places on the coaches could not read Mous. The Lord Mayor's chief clerk read the part of the Ace' upon w Meth the 111i011111111011 was grounded, and said that it WAS of steel. a nature, as the defendant, or the stage pros phew& in general, should have availed thenseelves of • legal a1...1,11411CP to meet it. ilei'eti.l4nt raid hr 11441 been called npoa so sad drily, brit am a dry's notice, that Its was nut fully prepared Mith lite defence, nor had he tune to commit In, brethren, or to obtain 11141 asaistrinea. Tue Lord Mayor postponed the further hearing of the case I heat week, and suggested to the detendarst, that, a• time Colllllllii.lullt46 of shunt's wet. - interested sir the ipirtdion, they sunlit probably pre aid to the defeats Isj .ending their legal officer to support it in their belittle: • The case was therelore adjoartiett. SINGULAR INScoVERY Or AN ILLICIT Out S lay (((((( mug (22J instant), airout two o'clock, • to Ala 6 lire took place in the charcoal and mange. in-se nulls, in Key -street, Liverpool, belonging to Mr. J. Evans, wine.' burned wills the inmost tory, and speenity communicated to tile extensive warehouses be. Magni, to hie late Mr. Unsworth, which wilt the milli, were in a Shur, time entirely consumed; and we ate sorry to state, that very little of me property .contained • in meat, consisting of cotton, grain, sugar, tallow and hide!, was saved. We understand that the mills Ind all the oilier property were insured.- We are happy to tears that no lives were lost, and only one person (a • fire nail) hurt.--A singular thscovery was made in the ,- adjoining building. The fire having extended to the upper part of these premises, which was occupied as a dwedidg-house, the doors were forced open won a view of securing the property therein, but it was found thae it had already hero removed. In the upper room, how. • ever, was dist:livered a twenty gallon still, with the ap. - 1/JfillUS for working it, and about ten gallons of whir. key, a quantity of wash, Acc. The whole wag isnure.•: (timely taken po.session of by Mr. Miller; and conveyed to the police-Mike. LAMENTABLE DELAY.—On Saturday last. Jilin% - Corbett, aunt Patrick Bourke, who were tried and con victed at the last Cork assizes, tor a high way robbery on the person of a groilernos, on the Wellington road, leading Irmo this city to the barracks, were executed. pursuant to their sentence. In a very short time after the execution, a King's messenger arrived in town-with • a reprieve for the two unfortunate torn. 'f ha troop of • cavalry who ft ed the gnarl around them to the - gal. lows, and the bearer of the respite, in a chaise with tom— horses met, as tile former were returning from the cae. cotton, so that an de3 may be formed of how little snore expeoi inn than was used would have beets uecessaey to gate effect 10 die clement iota rposition of goversuitent. Htouwar RoBERRtes —Mr. Hartley, of Staohope. • street, was stopped and knocked down between seven and • eight tictock oil Sunday evening its. the New-rood, lead. inn front the Yolkshire Stingo to New Loteriericket Gummi, by three villains armed with sticks, and robbed of two sovereigns, some silver, and his watch. 'neat. tack was instantsuierms, and Mr. H. was picked tip in a senseless siate.—Nlr.Tnootpson of East -street, Marches. ter-square, was knocked down and robbed of a vaittable gold watch in Limn -street, Paddington, by three fellows who gm off. Roaszar.—S. Snowshill, a little old women, who g •to her lititig by dress-making, amp lodges at lttl, Gray'. Itin•lane, went out a little after twelve &chick tau ‘Vednestlay afternoon, on some business, and on her return at two iii'clock, site Milted her room had - been era.- tered during-her atbetice, her boz opened and robbed of 24 soverequis, one guinea, and three half-guineas in gull, and two shillings in silver, part of a teeny left her six weeks b-•fine nit the death of her mother. Sitspi. . clout tailing on two boy, sons to her brother, they went Liken into enstody, and t *limited on Thursday at the - Pulice.odiee, liattuni.garden, and remanded. BURGLARILS.—Before al ilk on Sunday evening tome thlev.s broke into Ilie id' a silk-mercer and hate•tdasiser ti Aylvalnely-street, Clerkenwell, and s carried oil velvets, silks, ike. to tile amount 11l 40011. A fellow was seen to open rte front dour yen/ deishecaselc bdore dark, by the opposite neighbours, w "Whod no sm. • picion that he was doing wrong, or that the family went out. Tne poverty was no doubt removed after dark.... Another hurelary was committed on Sunda/ inettisisf in Warcuu-row, Chelsea. The ho n o r of Mrs. rent:GANA entered in the Abs.:nee of the family, and a quantity of tea-spoons, a watch, maker's Name Hall, and other all. ages, were golen • ImprueNT Roaaenv.—On Ntonaay afternoton a fellow. olgenteel appearance, knocked at the door of Mr. Santini lawnot, Windsor Plate, Keiniingnm, and hooding in a haat% from one end of which protruded a pair of hare's feet, and do neck , of some fowls. lie said the pretended parcel canto flan Gloucester. and the only charge he had to make was 9d. for po. ierage. The little gal (who answered hilli) took the parcel. and earned it up stairs. It is needless to observe, that he had paid fur he had removed a new blue cant. S, decanters. and India shawl. six silver handled finks. and an,aid fashioned• nia'ing.inv knife-box, containing a doyen knives and Wks, with nand small arti.les. tie hail also taken a lar4e plaid travelltn4 coat, a great coat. and an umbrella, which wore on. p.'gs in the passage. An alarm was k ,iven, and lawsuit was caapolosad. the WIC( ilucled his pursuers. MANsION.HOU.SE. Ott Monday list a ca.e ut great importance to the pro p• Seto', of " Short Stages," as they Mr called, as well as to Ilacks,ey-coach plops ietots and the public in genet al, came on helm e the Lord Mayor. In consequence of the gi eat increase of the her of stage toadies a Niel' con vt•y passengers from the City to early pats 01 the suulll bs of London, the business of the Isackney,Co4eilall has been greatly dis tilished, as the Hackney -coach proprhrton complain, and passengers conveyed oilskin the pavement fruin one end of London to the other, that would otherwise be obliged to hire hackney-coaches. The Hackney-coach proprietors held a con%ultatioss on the subject, and having liken legal advice, and an opiiiino having been given to them tlut nu coaches. except those housed by the 1 issiuners of the Ha. Istieyscoaclies, were entitled to ply tor passengers, they determined upon ptiosecillicg the prupi 'whirs of the sinntslagecoachrs, under tier Act of she Ist of Geo. I. cap. 57, sec. 3, ass Act for the regulailun el . stage coaches, a Melt remains Imre ps. sled. Au itettomalsod etas accordingly eshibited before the Los d 7.layor agoitist Clunks the pi oprictor of ant' at the Kentish-toast stages, eildIg111)( 11114 WWI h,tvlll„ pie. wiiiitnit harm: a license 1•lulm the Ctisteinissionet • at H..ckiiey•coaches, al:corning to the uctioutis of the Art. It ■tten•ted and conducted the prosecution, ■s so';t fur I"r hie Hackney-coach pioi r.rt or.. Witham t•. ut Gra al Q.i.ru•.ti tort , aas Me 1:1101 Myr. The first whiles, CXlllllllled in sieotuit of the informa tics' was TI is At clyuol, b.u•kaey coaelsisasis. and Ids Stetted, that 011 Ihr Utb unslalit hr 1.410' the Olivet of 4 CO.(11, 111111111 r 114.11 accuesheg to Ilse lIVN re L :oll.111011 Wsl.l. Aldlid. close to Peisices-street, at ai,uul lout u'tlo• k in lilt AM" 1111011. IhrdllrrlN4s 1111)i114 fol 1).1%Nt s.gcr. to cu tub 11t•IIIIsil-ION is. Ile plied to the wi'ness. tV Ultras tissit 111111 drive old • with seven passengers ou the outside, rod two its life inside of the cuttelt. It MY bytween Nut and ... _ ..! 4 1 '?"'•- 7 1 "!! THE NATIONAL REGISTER Mr. Platt.—You dare sot answer that question. Mr. Thoruhill.—Dare Dot, Sir ' You are protected Dow ost your own dunghill, or I would let you know whether I dare or not. You due not tell me so out of thin place. Mr. Platt.—ls thin languix4e to be used before a magistrate? Sir It. Sirnie desired Mr. Thornhill to be inure cool Mr. Thornhill.—Sir, 1 have grekt respect for the chair ; but d— toe if ever I saw such • fellow as this. 1 won't he ques tioned by a radian like him. He a member of the law l Why he is paid for concealing the law, and Dot for expounding it, fur be has Do law in him. Mr. Platt coolly remarked, that the abuse of some meo wu an honour. Mr. Thornhill here indulged in a strain of coarse invective for some time, sod told Mr. Platt he was to be found at 48. Ludgate-hill, if Mr. P. had the cour••ge to meet him, or bad soy thing to say to him. This hint being repeated, Sir R. Birnie told Mr. Thornhill he should certainly exercise his authority in a very decisive man ner, if he did not refrain his tongue. Mr. Platt.—Did you not leave Bath because you could not pass your accounts t—No, l did not. 111 answer you that. Have you ever offered-to give up this kill to Mr. Claughton upon receiving • sum of money t —No, 1 never did. Did you ever see Mr. Clau.liton t—Yes, and showed biro the bill ; but 1 took care to keep on the further side of the table front him. Whence are the funds derived from which you were to pay the 1,0001. to Mr. Knight, sa you gave su undertaking to du (-1 shan't answer that. Did you otter Mr. Walker money to discount this bill ?—I was introduced by him to the defendant, whom %Volker said he knew to be a gentleman of fortune, and it was agreed upon that 1 should give 5001. I knew Mr. Claugbtuu was endeavouring to hunt up the hill. Don't you know that the hill was stolen I know it was not. I saw Claughton, and he said be had been as bad as robbed of the hill, and that a Mr. Farquharson Lad got bills from him to the amount of 0 or 7,0d01., and had sent them into the market without ever giving a farthing for them. Ile ob served, however, that if I was a bona Mr bolder of the bill, I must be paid. To some further questions Mr. Thornhill said, that Mr. W. certainly stated that the defendant was a monied man in the city, and in the habit of discounting bills to a large amount.— The defendant said be would have nothing to do with Claugh ton, for be was worth nothing—his name stunk in the market. Mr. Platt.—Will you swear that Mr. %Valker said the de fendant was a monied man, and in the habit of discounting bills !—WIII I swear it! Why, Sir, have I not sworn it al -1 ready ? What do you near ? Mr. Platt-1 do not wean to offend you by these questions ; why not answer them coolly Mr. Thornhill.—Now why did you not say that before, and all would have been good humoured enough ; but you are such a hoyalwag, there is no knowing bow to deal with you. Mr. Platt, aildressiu,,' , Sir B. Dirnie, said his defence to the charge was a right to the possession of the bill ; and he had no objeetion to allow it to be impounded with the worthy ma n gistrate, until the question cou!d be settled elsewhere. Sir R. Birnie.—Did yon ever know an instance, Mr. Platt, of a magistrate taiying such a step i Mr. Platt.—We will give you indemnity, Sir. Sir R. Birnie said, he must decline the honour of bolding j the bill. Mr. Turtill was called to prove that the defendant at that too- I went was clerk to Mr. Bromine 11, a solicitor. Mr. - King deposed, that he heard the defendant repre sent himself to be a loan of property, and that he often ' connted hills. He did nct lieu Mr. IVrilker say so. 111 r. Pollock said he had closed his case. Mr. Platt then proeended to call witness for the defence. Thomas Clauglitisii, Esq. M. P. for Newton, Lancashire. and a magistrate for tint county, sworn.-1 loom this bill fur 3,5001. It was drawn by me upon Mr. Leigh. I gave it to Farquharson with others, and have his receipt for them.— (Lceipt produced.) I never received one farthing for them, and I gate him notice ninny months ago to return them. I is sued advertisements to stop them. I also tiled a bill in Chan eery, and several persons were served with injunctions not to neg lisle them. By Sir R.Birnie.—l wrote to the defendant to stop the bill in rpiesii on. 1 knew him, and had had d alino with him. Mr. Platt.—We are !"ree to confess twat thus was • plau to get possession of lite bill. Sir It. Hirnie.—l should Ise sorry to attempt to expound the law iu the presence of two learned gentlemen who hear me. A felony is the stealing and taking away the goods, money, or property of another, and I certainly cannot view this charge against Mr. Sweettnan as a felony. As far as I sun concerned, Mr. Sweeinian is discharged. The parties then quitted the olflce, the bill remaining in the possession of Mr. Claughton's party.