The Express.
London, England, 1855-04-09 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.-511Narrow, APRIL 7.

DUO= DI. BAWD PLATT APD EPSOM, /MUM
TVS WIDOW O DIMILSWOOD AND OTRINII.-TNI NNW
ATIAX-DOAS PISA AT LONDON DMIDOII.

This wsa an iadi.trasat preferred by Mr. Finning, the
proprietor of Ike Manna premiere known as Fannie :'s-
wharf, London-bridle, against Mr. H elewond. the choir.
man of the Iron Steam. Boat Company; Mr. Burney, the
superintendent of the Citizen Steam-Boat Company; and
two labourers named Fell and Boyle, for having crea ed a
atheism sad obstruction on the river Thames.
The defendants placed upon the record a plea of " Not
guilty."
Mr. B. James, Q.C., Mr. Bramwell, Q C., and Mr. Lush,
were amend for the prosecution ; Mr. M Chambers. Q.O ,
Mr. Ballantine, and Mr. Bvill, were for the defendants.
This persecution arose out of the erection of a pier under
the &starch of London-bridge, on the east ci s, by the de-
fendant* for the use of the passer gen by their boats, and
which the prosecutor alleged not only interfered with him
is his business as • wherfinger, bat that by its encroaching
upon the waterway to the river was aleo an obstruction and
inceinenienee to the public who had occasion to nevigare it.
It will be recollected that there is already one pier so the
upper side .of the nob, but in order to obviate the inconve.
awucs sad danger to the persons who had to cross the
crowded thoroughfare for the purpose of going to the railway
&tattoo, it appears that the directors of the two companies
above men'ioned hod caned the pier in question to be
erected, thus enabling peptise re to come up the 'Repro( the
bridge on the east sine, without crossing the road. A good
deal of eppoeition, it will be remembered, wss manifested by
the wharliegen and others is the vicinity when the pier was
feinted, end the City authorities were applied to for their
simetinen as conservative of the river, to its being allowed to
romath. It appear, however, that no satisfactory condo
Mon was come to, and In the result the pretest prosecution
was levitated, with • view to try the question of the legality
aids pier.
Mr. James opened the ease briefly to the levy, end has:rig
emplaned to them the nature of the inquiry, he said it
appeared to him that the question to be disposed of was
really ins of law, and that, in the end, it would be (or his
lordship to say whether the erection of this pier, under one
of the arches of Loradoa-bridge, close to numerous wharves,
sad where there was such enormous traffic, was aot
• nuisance and obstruction to the public), and, on that
ground, ought to be removed. He said he really did
ant believe that there was any substantial answer to
the indictment, and that his learned friend merely
by making an eloquent speech, and detailing the ad•
vantages which be supposed to be derived by the public
from the erection of the pier in question, would endeavour
to induce the jury to give a verdict for the defendants. He'
seed not, however, he said, remind the jury that the law
would aot sanction say proceeding which tended nostalgic.
the general convenience and rights of the public for the
accommodation of one portion of it ; and therefore if it wee
shown to their satisfaction that this pier really did obstruct
the river highway, it would be their duty to say that the
defendants were guilty.
Several witnesses, principally watermen and lightennen,
were then ezamiued, and their evidence weal to
show that the pier obetractel the landing place
or steps at the bridge, and that it rendered it
very difficult fur ethernet to land their passengers
at them. One of the witnesses stated that while rowing a
gentlemen and a lady and a sick youth who were going ro
the railway, to the stairs, his boat was nearly upset by
netting foul of the qoarter of the dummy of the pier. It
appeared, however, on eroes-ezamination, that the danger
was created by the gentleman having pushed his umbrella
spinet the dummy, and the force of the tide drew him over
upon the seat sea a t ea..red the boat to be nearly repined. It
appeared from the testimony of ell the witnesses that when
it was flood the tide ran very strong at this spot, and in
shore, and in consequence of the pier diminishing the
chenuel or, waterway, it was with considerable difficulty
that a barge could be brought up, as it is technically termed,
at the prosecuthr's wharf.
When the saw had proceeded some length, upon an inti
motion given by the court, the learned counsel on both sides
conferred together, sad alter a goed noel of discussion
among themselves it was announced by his lordship, that all
patties bed weed that the further hearing of the case
should stand over to the 24th of April; an animation at
the same time being given that there was a prouability that
la the meantime some arrangement would be made that
would obviate the necessity of any further proceedings.
O. 1101.7011TOK.—SALII OP COMMISSIONS IN TUN
INDIAN MINT.