The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-12 00:00:00

CLERIEEN WELL.

GOTERNNENT PROSECUTION OP MOVER&
Charles Howard, Frederick Jame. Lewis, Robert Holwell,
Prederid: Spencer, Thomas Hall, Alfred Crittenden, John
Pittman, John Hall, CharlesMaxans,Alexander Reynolds,
James Priam, Edmond Madder, and Alfred Slawfhter,
drovers in the now Metropolitan Cattle Market, were sum-
moned before Mr. Barker for unlawfully acting contrary to
the rules and regulations made according to law, for the
driving of cattle within the metropolis—to wit by driving
csttle and sheep between the hours of 12 at noon and 7 in
the afternoon.

Mr. T. Beard, solicitor, of Buinghall-street, appeared for
some of the defendants, and the court was crowded by
persons anxious to hear the proceedings, and who are
interested in the sale of live and dead stock in the
metropolis.
Mr. Beard, before the cases were gone into, asked his
worship to adjourn the hearing of them for a few days, as
he was about to draw up and lay before Sir Richard Mayne
a memorial asking for an extension of the hours during
which the cattle could be driven through the streets. lie
was aware that when the persecution—he would not call it
fair pre...cation—against these men commenced, a deputa-
tion waited upon the commissioner, and a alight concession
was made to the drovers and their employers, but it was
Dot sudicient. Why, may on Monday last there were over
COW head of beasts to the market, and as it was dark the
sales did not commence until late, how was it possible to
pt them all out before 12 o'clock in the day ? 11. (Mr.
Bard) might be told that those that could not be removed
could be put into the Lin ; but that increased the expenses,
aid was one of the causes why meat was so dear ►t the
prtant time.

Mr. Barka said he did not see bow he could interfere to
prevent the cases going ou without he bad the sanction of
the commissiwor of police.
Mr. Beanl said that the graziers, cattle salesmen, and
slaughterers that he represented felt that the drovers were
very loudly dealt with at this and some other courts. He
might state that the magistnites were divided in opinion as
whether these men thould be convicted or not. The worthy
magistrates at the Thames police-court bad refused to
twee any more summonses against these poor men, and said
that they worked hard enough for their little money
without being continually mulct of it in floes by them.
The case of the licensed drovers in this matter was really very
bard. They had to earn their livelihootl iu about two or
three days of the week. In many instances their pay was
very scanty. Many of them were incessantly employed on
the Sundays, and through the whole of the night, as well as
having to attend the market at Copenhageodields till the
close of the market on Monday at 2 o'clock. Now, cattle
may be driven through the streets and out of the market
until 12 o'clock in the day, but after that time, when he
(Mr. Beard) contended that the streets were really clearer of
traffic, they may not Ise driven until after 7 in the
teeming. Very often at 12 o'clock there remained
at least two thousand heed of cattle, lambs,
sheep, &c.' in the n.arket, which, in the course of
things, would be quietly drawing away in tens or tweuties,
really to the discomfort of no one that he (Mr. Beanl) could
see, in comparison to the confusion caused by the packing
this large number of cattle in the lain until the specified
time when all the drovers got to work. The conneri mace was
that the greatest confusion prevailed, the peer animals of the
different droves got mired together, the men, even by the
use of lamps could not see the marks upon them, soil a
source of the greatest cruelty was thus practised upon
both the men mud the rattle. But what made the emitter
worse me his (Mr. Beard's) eyes was that the thoroughfares
became crowded with cattle, and the scene of a continued
noise and tumult which could otherwise have been easily
avoided. He (Mr. Bend) might add, that by this arbitrary
rule the poor drovers, who were for the meat part already
tired, were compelled to suspend their labours foe seven
hours, when they might have finished their work and gone
home. As it was, they could not leave the market untilit closed
at 2 o'clock, and then, on these cold and cheerless days,
they could Dot loiter about the lairs, and they had only one
place to go to. viz., the pahlic-house. He (Mr. Beard) con-
tended that the new rule only tended to debase the drover
instead of raising hint He was ready to admit the necessity
of some stringent rule to prohibit the driving of
cattle in certain places during the day, taking, for instance,
Ch Ni aide, the fewbridges, and other crowded thoroughfares,
but the masters themselves would not allow that, as the
cattle would get bruised by the constant knocking against
the wheels, and the collision with the carts and drys. Al
many of these poor men had widowed mothers and helpless
sisters depending on them fur support, be (Mr. Beard)
hoped the magistrate would not lo Lard on them and fine
them !wittily fm offences like those they were now sum-
mand for, merely to suit the caprice of those in power, to
the ruin of the drovers and also the inconvenience of a large
and respectable lode of the trade.
inspector Judge, N division, said he would lay the matter
again before the commissioner.
Mr. Barker said be had begun with fining 51., but ae that
did not do L., had increased it to 30s. In each Pie in which
the offence was proved be inflicted a fine of 30s. and costs,
and said if they were again brought before him he should
io'rease the fine. In default of payment the defendants
would Lave to go to prison for 14 days.