The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-07 00:00:00

TILE LATE POLICE OUTRAGE IN OXFORD

STILRE i.

On Saturday afternoon a deputation of the inhabi-
tants of Oxford-street, consisting of Messrs. Cottons (of the
firm of Cottam and Hellen), Clement George, Michell, and
Nicholay, waited upon Sir Richard Mayne, the Chief Com-
missioner of Metropolitan Police, at his °lnce, in Whitehall-
place, with respect to the recent outrage and indignity Mr
Nichelay's son had iuffered, in conseXpleoce of bdng taken
into custody by the police, dragged through a large public
thoroughfare of the metropolis at noon day, and treated
like a common felon or criminal fur having humanely in-
terfered to prevent the brutality of a Mendicity Society's
officer, in beating the head of a poor boy against the stones
of the pavement opposite to his house.
The deputation were received by Sir Richard Mayne, and
after a statement of the circumstances, and the fact of so
Large a thoroughfare as Oxford-strect being left for more
than half an hour, notwithstanding the high rentals of the
inhabitants to the police rate, without the protection of any
constable of the force,
Sir R. Mayne said he mild not interfere as to the con-
duct of the police, as there was a legal remedy if a wrong
had been inflicted. Similar complaints were often made,
which it wu not in his province to investigate, but the
magistrate who heard the case ought to have had it brought
before him. Every complaint in writing to him should
meet with attention.

Mr. Nichelay, in explanation, said he did state the
grievance he laboured under, and the annoyaues he and
his son had suffered, to Mr. Bingham, the magistrate, who
informed him that it wwi not his provinee to investigate it,
and referred Lim to the Polite Commissioner.

It was elicited that the Menthe:sty Society's officers have
no authority to act from the Police Commissioners.
The deputation then retired.
Since the occurrence and the publication of the proceed-
ings before the magistrate, Mr. Nicholay has received the
following extraordinary and intemperate letter from Cap-
tain Wood, R.N., the assistant manager of the Mendicity
Society :
" 3, Red Lion-equare, London, Jan. 25, 1853.
" Sir,—l have just read in a newspaper of the 20th inst.,
a statement of yours in reference to the conduct of a con-
stable employed under my orders, in reply to which, I beg
to inform you that the officer's conduct meets with my en-
tire approbation in every particular, except that I regret be
did not break your son's head with his staff, for obstructing
him in the execution of his duty. With regard to your
statement (if it is correctly reported) I am bound to add
that it is a tissue of falsehoods from beginning to end, in-
tended, I have no doubt, to puff up and advertise your arie•
tocratic establishment, and bring yourself before the public
in your assumed exal•ed poeition.—l am, sir, your obedient
servant, " J. F. L. Wool).
" Mr. Nieholay, 82, Oxford-street."
Upon receipt of this singular communication, Mr. Ni-
eholay complained to the managers of that society, and in
isonsequence a rionamitttee meeting has been held, and the
following resolution which the members came to on the
subject as to the conduct of Captain Wood, assistant mana-
ger, has been forwarded to Mr. Nicholay :
" Mendicity Society, Feb. 2, 1853.
"Meeting of general committee, Tuesday, Fob. 1, 1853
(H. 0. Allen, F,sq., in the chair), and others.
" The assistant-manager having laid before the committee
a complaint from Mr. Nicholay, referring to a letter ad-
dressed to him by the assistant-manager, dated January 25,
the committee reed the letter, and resolved—' That while
they highly appreciate the zeal and discretion hitherto in
variably shown by Captain Wood in the discharge of his
duty as aseistant.manager, they very much regret that in
this instance his anxiety to protect a servant of the society,
whom be thought unjustly treated, has led hint into the
use of improper and unbecoming expressions in writing the
letter complained of, which they cannot attempt to justify,
and for which they have thought it necessary to admonish
him.' "