The National Register. — London, England, 1822-09-29 00:00:00

• '7 POLICE. BOW STREET. On Thursday night Sir Richard Minns was engaged until a very late hour, in an investigation eif as extraordinary a nature, perhaps, as ever came before a magistrate. A very respectable looking middle-aged man, named Samuel Bedlow Sweetman, was brou,bt to the onion in the moody of Bishop, one of the principal officers, on a charge of stealing a bill of exchange for 3,501.11.,tbe property of Richard Thornhill. Mr. F. Pollock attended for the prosesution, and Mr. Platt appeared on behalf of the accused. When the defendant was placed at the table in front of the bench, be was asked by Sir Richard Birnie if be was aware of the nature of the charge against him, and be said he believed be was. Sir R. Birnie.—What is your name ? Defendant.—Samuel Bellow Sweetman. Sir It. Birnie.--.You are charged in the warrant now before me, and upon which you are brought here, with feloniously stealing, taking, and carrying away a bill of eznhange fur 11,5001. the property of Richard Thornhill. The defeedant bowed. Richard Thornhill, a man of respectable exterior, whose ac cent bespoke him to be of the sister country, was called and examined by Mr. Pollock. He stated himself to be an officer in the army. The bill of exchange in question was his property, he having given a valuable consideration for it. It was drawn by Thomas Claugliton upon Thomas Legh, and accepted by the latter fur 3,5001. dated Nov.s, 1821, and would be due on the Bth of May nest, being 18 months. He received the bill from Messrs. Knight and 2, son, solicitors, for a valuable consider ation. It was not endorsed by them. He took it without an endorsement, giving them an undertaking for it. (The ander taking was produced.) He had no personal interest in the bill except what arose from this undertaking. Last Tuesday, about half-past one o'clock, witness delivered the bill to Capt. Buford, in Bedford-street, Strand. Captain Buford was to present it at Coatts'a 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. Leigh, witness was to receive the sum of 3,0001. immediately. The defendant told witness he bad discounted several bills for both Cloughton and Legh ; that the former was not worth a farthing; but Legh he knew to be a man of 40,0001. a year, and lie would certainly discount the bill if it was his (Legh) acceptance, The defendant represented himself to be a merchant in the city, and said to was iu the habit of discounting bills to a great amount. I lie had, he said, often discounted bills at Coutts's. The de fendant was introduced to witness by Mr. Walker, who said be was a man of property—a monied man—and witness thought him a man of great fortune. He did not know that the defen• dant was clerk to Mr. Walker the attorney. He had heard se since, but did not know the fact. Mr. Walker, who was instructing Mr. Platt for the defence, said the defendant was not his clerk. Captain Edmund Berthed, residing at No. 19, Carlisle-place, Lambeth, sworn--I received the bill in question from Mr. Thornhill 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 band writing of Mr. Legh, in order to the discounting the bill by the defendant. I inquired for Mr. Antrobus, the chief clerk, esti was directed into a back office. where I saw him. I held oat the bill to him, and asked bins if that was the acceptance of Mr. Legh. The defendant was then standing beside me. Mr. Autrobus had a letter in his band which he handed 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." The bill was given to him by Mr. Antrobus, and he immediately squeezed it up in his hand, and proceeded to read the letter which Mr. An ;robes had given him. I asked him for the bill, saying, It is as well in my possession as yours," but he replied when be bad read tie letter, that he would not give the bill op to me or any one else. I said, .. II you don't give it op I shall take you to Bow streeet," and without replying he walked out of the house. I followed him to the door, where Mr. Thornhill was waiting.— Before the presentation of the bill, the defendant said that Mr. Thornhill had offered him very handsomely ; lie was to have 3001. and he certainly would discount the hill. Cross-examined by Mr. Platt.—The defendant said he would go to Bow-street or anywhere else we chose. He said he had received a letter from Mr. Cloogliton to stop the bill, and be therefore should keep it. He was positively to get it discounted that afternoon or the next morning. He said before be went to Coutt's, I don't want the bill at all ; only convince me that it is the acceptance of Mr. Legh. and I will get the money." Mr. Antrobus, clerk to Messrs. Coutts, sworn. The letter was addressed to S. B. Sweetman, and left with me to give to Lim when he came. He would nut take the letter when I first offered it to him, and looked angry, I thought, when I asked if it was fur him. The letter was produced and read— " Tog. B. iweeiman. " Si a bill of exchangef;T:illol. drawn by me should be presented to you, I hereby authorize you to take and detain it, no consideration having been given for it, and notice having been served many months ago upon the bolder to restore it. I" I am, Sir, your obedient servant, T. CLAUGHTON.“ The band-writing was proved to be genuine. Witness coutinued.—We should not have discounted a bill for the defendant. It is not true he ever discounted bills at our house. I saw no other endorsement upon the bill than Mr. Claughtou's, I bad no opportunity. Mr. Charles Knight, solicitor, of Cornhill, examined.—l re ceived thin bill as the solicitor of Sir Peter Pole and Company, backers, from a Mr. Pullen, the agent of Mr. Efurth, proprie tor of a gun manufactory, as • security for 1,0001. to be ad vanced by Messrs. Pole to Mr. Efurth. I gave the bill subse quently to Colonel Thornhill, upon his giving Inc an nude, taking for the 1,0001. which had been advanced upon ii. I know the defendant to be clerk to Mr. Brummell, a solicitor. Mr. Platt now proceeded to cross examine Mr. Thornhill, when a dialogue took place, of which the following is a por tion : _ _ Mr. Platt, you have been in the army ?—I have. What are you now t-1 am like a great many more, unfur iuuately—l ion on ball pay. You were an adjutant at Huth, 1 believe ?-1 was. Pray, did you pass your accounts to Government there ? Mr. Thornhill—What's that to you? How dare you ask me such a question t Mr. Platt.-1 shall let you know presently bow 1 dare ask you. Did you pass your accounts, 1 say? Mr. ThoruhilL—You are a d—d impertinent fellow for ask ing such a question, and 1 shall not answer it, because you have no business to put it. Mr. Platt.—l am perfectly content with your refusing to simmer such a question. Mr. Thornhill.—What do you mean by that, Sir? what do you mean by that t Ask Lord Palmerston if I passed my sesounts. . Mr. Platt.—Yon dare not answer that question. Mr. Thornhill.—Due not, Yon are protected now on your own dunghill, or I would let you know whether I dare ur not. You dare not tell me so oat of this place. Mr. Platt.—ls this language to be amid before a magistrate? Sir R. Bind's desired M►. Thornhill to be more cool. Mr. Thornhill.—Sir, I have great respect for the chair ; bet d— me if ever I saw such a fellow u this. I won't be ques tioned by a militia like him. He a member of the law ! Wby be is paid for concealing the law, and not for expounding it, fur he has no law in him. Mr. Platt coolly remarked, that the abase of some men was an honour. Mr. Thornhill here iodulged in • strain of coarse invective for some time, and told Mr. Platt he was to be found at 48, Ludgate-hill, if Mr. I'. had the courage to meet him, or bad any thing to say to bim. This hint being repeated, Sir R. Birgit told Mr. Thornhill be should certainly exercise his authority in a very decisive man ner, if he did not refrain his .ongoe. Mr. Platt.—Did you not lease Bath because yen could not pass your accounts I—No, I did not. I'll answer you that. Have you ever offered to give up this bill to Mr. Claugbtou upon receiving • sum of money I—No,I never did. . . Did you ever see Mr. Clau,:lwaal—Yes, cud showed him the bill ; but I took c.ire to keep oa the further side of the table from Lim. Whence are the funds derived from which you were to pay the 1,0001. to Mr. Knight, as you gave an undertaking to uo t-1 shan't answer that. Did you offer Mr. Walker atinuey to discount this bill I—l was introduced by bin to the defendant, whom Walker said he knew to be a gentleman of fontanel, and it was agreed upon that 1 should give 5001. 1 knew 31r. Claughton was end ring to hunt op the bill. Don't you know that the bill was stolen ?—No, I know it was not. I saw Claughton, and he said he had been as bad as robbed of the bill, and that • Mr. Farquharson had got hills from him to the amount of 6 or 7,0001., and had sent them into the market without ever giving a farthing for them. He ob served, however, that if I was a bona fide holder 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 he would have nothing to do with Claugh ton, for he was worth nothing—his name stunk in the market. Mr. Platt.—Will you Swear that Mr. Walker said the de fendant was a monied man, and in the habit of discounting bills I—Wlll I swear it! Why, Sir, have I not sworn it al ready ? What do yon mean ? Mr. Platt-1 do not mean to offend you by these questions; why not answer them coolly ? Mr. Thornbill.—Now why did you not say that before, mid all would have been good humoured enough ; bat you are such a ham,* 2, there in no knowing bow to deal with you. Mr. Platt, addressing Sir K. Biroie, said his defence to the charge was a right to the possession of the hill ; and be bad no objection to allow it to be impounded with the worthy ma gistrate, until the question cou:d be settled elsewhere. Sir H. Dirnie.—Did you ever know an instance, Mr, Platt, of a magistrate taking such a step? Mr. Platt.—We will give you indemnity, Sir. Sir It. Diroie said, he must decline the honour of holding the bill. Mr. Tortill was called to prove that the defendant at that mo went was clerk to Mr. Drammen, a solicitor. Mr. - king deposed, that he heard the defendant repre sent himself to ►e • man of property, and that he often dis countedhills. He did not hear Mr. Walker say so. Mr. Pollock said lie bad closed his case. Mr. Platt then proceeded to call witness for the defence. Thomas Clang Mon, Esq. M. P. for Newton, lrucashire. and a magistrate for that county, sworn.—l know this bill for 3,5001. It was drawn by me upon Mr. Leigh. I gave it to Farquharson with others, and have his receipt for them— (Receipt produced.) I never received one farthing for them, and I gave him notice many months ago to return them. I is sued advertisements to stop them. 1 also filed a bill in Chan eery, sod several persons were served with injunctions not •eg,tiate them. By Sir R. Birnie.—l wrote to the defendant to stop the bill in question. 1 know him, and bad bad dealings with him. Mr. Platt.—We are ''ree to confess that this was • plan to get po ion of the bill. Sir R. Birnie.-1 should he sorry tri attempt to expound the law in the presence of two learned gentlemen who bear 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. Sweetman as a felony. As far as lam concerned, Mr. Sweetnian is discharged. The parties then quitted the office, the bill remaining in the possession of Mr. Claugliton's party. THE NATIONAL REGISTER MANSION-HOUSE. On Monday last a case of great intpurtence to the pro prietors of " Short Stages," as they are called, as well as to Hackney-coach proprietors and the public in general, tame on before the Lord Mayor. In consequence of the great increase of the number of stage coaches which con vey passengers from the City to every part ul the suburbs of London, the business of the hackney•coaches has been greatly diminished, as the Hackney-coach proprietors complain, and passengers conveyed within the pavement from one end of London to the other, that would othcrwise be obliged to hire hackney-coaches. The Hackney-coach proprietors held a consultation on the subject, and having taken legal advice, and an opinion Laving been given to them that no coaches, except those licensed by the Commissioners of the Hackney-coaches, were entitled to ply for passengers, they determined upon prosecuting the proprietors of the short stage c.atchi under the Act of the Ist of Gee. 1. cap. sec. :,. s.. Ac. for the regulation of stage coaches. 0 n.. 44 I. MA S•r -praii.4l. Au informatioii was according- net••t r the Lord Mayor against Charles ilsardot., toe inoprieter of one of the Kentish-town stages. rea.;los 1 ...ta having plied for passengers without Navin. n sense from the Commissioners of Hackney-coaches, aerit..•.ii„ to i;tc provisions of the Act. Mr. B attended end conducted tl.e orosectition, as solicitor for the Hackney-coach White, of Great Queen-street, was the ii•orwes. The first willies!' examined in suppor: e. r Prorgit• lion was Thomas Arelipool, hackney ..e,i e stated, that on the tith instant he saw the di tee. numbered according to the new regolatiou ; it Wasstand ing close to Pi inces-street, at about tour o'clock in the atternoon. The driver was plying fur passengers to go to Kentish-town. He plied to the evilness. Witness PAW him drive oil with seven passeneers on the (outside, and two in the 'de of the coach. It was between lour and .11. 31i live in the afternoon. The name of the defendant was upon the coach. Henry Clement,another hackney coachman, &Twitch° the saute effect. This was the case for the prosecution. The defendant, in his defence, said, that he was autho rised to take up 'passengers, not by a become from the Commissioners of Hackney-coaches, but by a license from the C.unsmissioners of Stamps, which license authorised him to take passengers to and from the foot of Highgate hill to the Bank. Fur this privilege he paid annually 1.01. wheel ditty upon each coach, • tax of ‘251, upon each coach, and 10s. for every license, besides Vs. lid. for enets jonreery taken by each coach. He did nut deny having plied for passengers, but said that it was requisite that passengers should be plied fur, as many aged and infirm persons were deaf, Wiwi, or short sighted, who would otherwise not be able to get at the coaches they wanted. Many could not see to read, and many who could see the names of the places on the coaches could not read them. The Lord Mayor's chief clerk read the part of the Act upon which the information was grounded, and said that • it was of such a itsitare,as the defendant, or the stage pro. prietors in general, should have availed themselves of legal assistance to meet it. The defendant said lee had been called npon so seal. denly, having bad but a day's noticeithat lie was not fully prepared with Isis defence, nor ItaiYhe had time to consult his brethren, or to obtain legal assistance. The Lord Mayor postponed the further hearing of the case said next week, and suggested to the defendant, • that, as the Commissioners of Stamps were interested in the question, they would probably give aid to the defence• by sending their legal officer re support it iu their behalf. The case was theretore adjourned. SINGULAR DIRCOTARY OP AN ILLICIT On Sunday morning (22d instant), about two o'clock, an alarming fire took place in the charcoal and manga nese mills, in Key-street, Liverpool, belooging to Mr. J. Evans, which burned with the IlltllOSt fury, and speedily communicated to the extensive warehouses' be longing to the late Mr. Unsworth, which wish the mills, were in in a short time entirely consumed; and we ale sorry to state, that very little of the property contained • in them, consisting of cotton, grain, sugar, tallow and hides, was saved. We untlessiand that the mills and • all the other property were insured. We are happy to learn that no lives were lost, and only one perboat (a fireman) hurt.—A singular discovery was made in the adjoining building. The fire having extended to the upper part of these premises, which was occupied as a dwelling-house, the doors were forced open with a view of securing the property thereto, but it w a found that it had already been removed. In the upper room, how ever, was discovered a :wenty.galloti still, with the ap- • paratus for working it, and about ten gallons of whir. key, a quantity of wash, kc. The whole was itnine. ((lately taken possession of lay Mr. Miller, and conveyed to the police-olfice. Lameuraima DELAY.—On Saturday tact, ante.; Corbett, and Patrick Bourke, who were tried and con victed at the last Cork assizes, for a highway robbery on the person of a gentln in, on the Wellington.roail, leading from this city to the barracks, were executed. • pursuant to their sentence. In a very short nose after the execution, a King's messenger arrived in town with- - a reprieve for the two unfiirtimate men. 'flie troop of cavalry who formed the guard around them to the gal lows, and the bearer of the respite, in a chaise with lour horses met, as the former were returning from the exe cution. so that an :den may be formed of how little more experii-• than was used would have been necessary to gise effect to the clement interposition of government. HIGHWAY Roeseetes —Mr. Hartley, of Stanhope. street, was stopped and knocked down between seven-and eight o'clock on Sunday evening in the New-toad, lead ing frutu the Yoikslure Siungo to New Lord's Cricket Ground, by three villains armed with sticks, and robbed of two sovereigns, some silver, and his watch. 'toe at tack was instantaneous, and Mr. 11. was picked up in a senseless state.—M r. Thompson of Eli.• st :re', anches.. ter-square, was knocked down and mimed 6f a vats ible gold natal in Lisson-street, Paddington, by three fellow* who go off. ItoBBRRY.—S. Snowshill, a little old worunn, who rts her living by drest-making, and lodges at 121, Gray's Intl-lane, went out a little alter twelve o'clock on 'Wednesday afternoou; oar some business, and on her retorts at two o'clock, she f I her r, hail been en tered during her absence, her box owned arid robbed of 24 sovere gns, One guinea, and ihree half-guineas in ludo,. and iwa shell 4ta .r, oar: n. a le.Lacy left her sot is errs ['gine on the ..eat 0 tier 'wittier. &poi. cum la:tinz on two boys, wins to her loonier, gory were taken lota custody, awl • frotinl!•A oar 'rainfall:ly at the PoLcv Hike, .:Irtieti, and remanded. Eu a GLARIES.—.3e ore link on Stio. , ay r ening some broke into the owrltim r .iume of a Iliik•nierCCU and habeniasiter In Ayl.lllll.y.vireei, Clerkenwell, lOW carried off vrivels, silks, die. to tile amount 01 4001. A fellow was seen to must tate from door very deliberately belore dark, by the opposite neighbours,. who had on 30.5. 1116011 Olelt he was doing wroog, or mat the fatuity were • •!..1% m0v...0 After da:k.— •• • SoimaT evening its •.% t • • - Prittariff was . o erco t. .1 . aiM a quantity of Pa-spoons. a %v..% master's nem: and ostler sati ric', were %mien liaruttaaT Roaasitv.--01 Moldy rafternann a zinitesl s - ses?tricz. K.rl thy disci:. of Nit.. Samuel liensinftan 'a r: *dandir i ; in a ba,ket. f^ yin Ire If r . •••..:n 7`t r ar of itare'i feet, and the - • ••• - v' •• 7 7 on CHRIS from - • •,-• • r . o TCie was 9d. Mr ;•• 7 ; Ili , N took the parcel, • -••••• ;-• •••• n• -• ria..?:•vi:, that he had • • 7 - , •.1 ' • •'• .• •of • • : col!, two decanter,. . %h i s A:, six :nivel- o • 7": ork , . an.: an old fashioned nia.mgariv krofv•Zwin. •suitainir.,; doz•zn knives and forks, with other small artkies. lie had alai taken a large plaid travelim; sett, a great coat, and an umbrella. which were pegs in the paniage. An alarm wan given, and pursuit was ceannioncetl, Cut Me thief eluded hr punnets. - -~