The Express.
London, England, 1852-05-28 00:00:00

THE NEW ACT ABOUT LODGING-HOUSES.

- - -
John enamel, the freeholder of a house in Holborn,
and of six houses adjoining in Plumtree-court, was sum-
moned at the iustencs of the Commissioners of Sewers for
the City of London, under the City Sewers Act of 1851, for
having received lodgers into three of his houses in
tree-court before registering them u lodging-houses, and
after having had notice that the health olgoer of the City
had certified that the haws in question were unfit for the
reception of lodgers.
The summonses had been adjourned from a previous day
to allow defendant to register the houses in question, ac-
cording to promise, but which he had neglected to do.
Mr. Bused' said his defence was, that the houses did not
come within the moaning of the statute to be subject to re-

gistration.
Alderman Cubitt inquired what houses were mentioned in
the act and requiring registration ?
Mr. Layton, solicitor for the prosecution, said that at line
23, page 5, section 10, it stated, "And th_ expression ' Com-
mon lodging-house' shall, for the purposes of this act, mean
any house not being a licensed victualling house, let, or any
part of which is let, at a daily or weekly rent not exceeding
the rate of 30. 6d. per week, or in which persons are har
boured or lodged for hire fur a single night, or fur less than
• week at one time."
Alderman Cubitt asked if a poor man took • house and
let a room for half a crown per week, would that bring the
house under the term of • common lodging house ?
Mr. Layton said it oertainly would if the medical officer
certified it was unfit for the reception of lodgers.
Alderman Cubitt thought the lino being drawn at 3s. 6d.
gave the commissioners a very wide rage, one, indeed, that
would include half London.
Mr. Layton said be was aware that the act conferred very
extensive powers upon the comtnissionen ; but they could
do nothing without the certification of the medical officer
that tho houses were unfit fur occupation.
Alderman Cubitt said that according to the act before
him, the defendant could not receive lodgers into his houses
unless ho registered them.
Mr. Layton asked for en adjournment to get witnesses to
prove that the houses were let out in lodgings, as he had
to pay them foe their time and they were not in attendance.
Mr. Russell said his client was anxious to do all that was
right; but he objected to acknowledge, at once, that his
houses were "common lodging-houses," as it depreciated
the value of his property and lessened his own respectability
by making him • " common lodging-hems keeper."
Alderman Cubitt advised the deft adant to comply with
the provisions of the act ; for, if he let any portion of the
houses at a weekly rental of less than 3s. Gal., it would un-
doubttilly place bun in its power. He knew many houses,
the owners of which had complied with every requirement,
and yet were subject to the unpleasantness of having their
, houses overhauled by the medical officer of health to tho
Commissioners of Sewers.
Mr. Dow said it was all done fur the purpom of preserving
the public health.
Alderman Cubitt said he was aware that a little evil must
be borne by a few, for the general good ; but he still
thought it very hard that so very many reapretable occu-
piers should be subject to the intrusion of a public otfi,er.
Mr. Layton agreed with the alderman, and remarked that
the power complained of was always exercised with the ut-
most discretion.
The

I were ordered to stand over for a week.
WORSHIP-STREET.
John Young, a well•dremed man, was charged, before Mr
Hammill, with having violently assaulted a young woman
named Jane Ward, in the service of a family rending in
the Old-street-road.
The complainant, a modest looking young person, who
exhibited marks of severe recent ill-treatment, Stated that
the defendant had occupied apartments for sometime past
in her master's house, and that on the preceding evening,
while she was engaged in one of the lower rooms, a young
man, who had called to visit him, suddenly entered and
handed her a small book, which he said the defendant had
desired him to offer for her perusal. Sho expressed her
obligations for his attention but finding, UOOO examining
the volume, that it was a produotion of the most immoral
and infamous description, she felt so greatly incensed at his
subjecting her to such an-insult, that she instinctively tore
it up and threw it into the fire. Defendant shortly after-
wards made his appearance, and having requested her to re-
turn the work, she upbraided him with his disgraceful con-
duct in placing such a book in her bands, and on telling
hint that she had destroyed it, he commenced assailing her
with opprobrious and threatening epithets, which he fol-
lowed up by a violent personal attack and struck her
repeated blows in the face, from the effects of which she
hall been in extreme pain ever since. She was at length
reusned from further ill-treatment by her master, who im-
mediately sent for a policeman and gam the prisoner into
mailedyi
The master of the girl fully corroborated the latter per-
den 4b evidence, and stated that he was present at the
Mal the publication in question was sent down to his ser-
um! by the defendant ; bat not being at all aware of the
alieminable nature of its contents, he did not feel himself
GAM apes to interfere, as he otherwise should have done,
toe peeleat her from such an outrage.
L mower to the charge, the defendant declared that it
was his friend and not himself who had forwarded the of-
deleive production to the complainant, hut admitted bar-
ing subsequently assaulted her, as ho felt exceedingly ex-
asperated
rimuP,:iltZiVit that
considered htlacdreddlroyediciftindant had
been guilty of a most disgraceful and cowardly outrage, and
he should order him to pay the full penalty of 5/., or to be
committed, in default, fur two months to the House of
Correction.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
Police-constable Stolid, C 156, who stood charged with
taking money from foreign West-end prostitutes, yesterday
appeared to :earn the magistrate's decision on the evidence
in rapport of the charge.
Mr. Bingham said it appeared to him, after careful consi-
deration, that the evidence in support of the charge was Sot
sufficiently trustworthy to justify a conviction. In tho pre.
•ent case the accused said, she gave refreshments and two'
half-crowns to the constable in a public-house in
the immediate neighbourhood of the court, and that the
refreshments were supplied by a female attendant. Neither
that attendant nor any other person had been called from
that public-house, although close at hand, to prove so much
even as the presence of the policeman on the occasion in
question, or on any occasion. The absence of such corro-
boratiou, which, if the policeman bad been there, it would
not have been difficult to procure, threw so much doubt
upon the statement of the accuser and her sister prostitute,
that no jury could with safety find the accused guilty, nor
anharistrate venture to convict.
defendant was then discharged.

1108PITAL TOR CONSUMPTION, &c., RROMPTON.—
Yesterday, the annual general meeting of this institution
was held in the Board Room of the Hospital, at Bromptou,
for the purpose of receiving the report of the committee, and
electing the officers for the year ensuing. The Rev. Sir U.
Poulin, Bart., presided. The honorary secretary, P. Rose,
Esq., tend the report of the committee, which was described
as the 11th annual report. It stated that the put year h.d
been moat remarkable for the increased prosperity of the
charity. During the past year 474 patients had been ad-
mitted to the hospital, of whom 318 had been discharged,
68 had died, and 90 now remained. The number of out-
patients had been 3,197, being an increase of 136
' over the preceding year. In IMO the expenditure
had exceeded the income by 7001., when the gross
receipts amounted to 4,7631. Bs. ad. Last year
they had increased to 8,9821. 17s. There was
a very marked and general increase, not only in the
annual subscriptions, but also in the produce of the
charity sermons arising from the institution having
hes-ante duly appreciated. The reduction in the expendi-
ture had been 608?. Use. id. ; in the medical officers' depart-
ment no less than SOO/. By thin means and the increased pub-
scriptions a debt of' 1,100/. due to the building fund had
been discharged, and a reduction made in other liabilities
from 2,579/. Is. to 1,2241. 17s. lid. For the Sanatorium
about to be established at Bournemouth, and which was to
be in connexion with the hospital without involving its
fund, an eligible site of three acres of land had been se-
lected, and to which purpose it was recommended that
the removal of the defunct Madeira fund, 230/. 6s.
should be appropriated. A legacy of 2,0001. had been
received from the executors of the late E. Briggs, Esq.
They were recommended to be life governors, and it was
further suggested that, in respect to the Iter. Deacon
Morrell, a ward be established, to bo called the Morrell
Ward; and also that the proposal of the sisters of the late
W. Jacab, Esq., Q.C., to erect a memorial, giving a sub-
scription of 2001., be accepted. There were nearly sufficient
funds to pay for the increase of the new wing, but great
additional support was required for the internal work, so
as to nevi.° inmates. Ou the motion of Sir Peter Pole,
Bart., seconded by G. J. Wieglield, Esq., the report was
unanimously adopted. The Don. Arthur Duncombe, J.
Barker, Esq., Dr. Harrington Tuke, and other gertlemen,
addressed the meeting in advocacy of the remaining retain-
noun, which were agreed to, concluding with a cordial vote
of thanks to the Rev. Baronet in the chair, when the pro-
milieus terminated.
HAND-LOOM WZAVINO.—An extraordinary feat
at band-loom weaving was performed hare last week by a
young woman named Ann Malcolm, who wrought two 30
porter yard widen, with 12 spindles and 8 hasps of • eft
Aspen each of them—in all 2.1} spindles, and the length of
'the two 240 Mill alb. The money price in wages for the two
',was It. M. 4i1., lasing Ils. 23. for each of them. This is a
feat, perhapn, never pertOrmed by either man or woman in
this place, and will no doubt stand in a favourable position
alongside of the feats of that powerful agent steam, the
whole being accomplished to six days. Dundee Ad-
vortior.