The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-26 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

Fonfano Barrottetti, an organ plaer, was charged with
annoying Mr. Elkins, solicitor, 59, Newman-street.
Mr. Elkins said the defendant began to play an organ
close to his house, about 10 o'clock that morning. As he
found it impossible to continue his professional duties while
the din was kept up, he went out and requested the defen-
dant to move away. The defendant took no notice of his
request, but kept on playing for a quarter of an hour, until
in fact complainant could find a police constable. Some
foreigners lived in the same street, and they encouraged the
defendant by throwing out halfpence. Mr. Elkins inti-
mated that he used to be constantly subject to this kind of
street organ annoyance, and by taking the proper steps
pointed out by the law, he had succeeded in enjoying an
interval of three months' peace, hut the nuisance had
commenced again, and he was determined to atop it.
Mr. Bingham remarked that some people were fond of
the noise from barrel organs—he was not one of that sort,
although very fond of music. It the defendant's country-
men liked organ grinding so well that they could not do
without it, they must have the organ player in their
dining-rooms or cellars, where he might grind if he pleased
until his arm dropped off, but they must not have the
nuisance in the public street, so as to disturb people who
liked to live in peace. He should fine the defendant 205.,
or ten days' imprisonment, as there was no doubt he was
there purposely to annoy complainant.
Martin Cangeo2ll was charged with beating his wife and
assaulting the police with a pair of tongs.
Police-constable Hawes said he found a crowd about 12
o'clock on Saturday before the door of 4, Grafton-street.
Reheard dreadful screams inside, and the door was sud-
denly opened by a female, who was bleeding and scream-
inf. The woman told him that her husband had been W-
ooing her and threatening to murder her. He went into
the house and knocked at the door where the pri-
soner :was, intending to take the prisoner into cus-
tody. The prisoner called out that he would
fetch down to the ground the first person who entered the
room. With the assistance of another constable witness
broke open the door, and found the prisoner in the room
armed with a pair oetongs. Witness went forward to take
the prisoner in.° custody. The prisoner aimed a violent
blow at him with the tongs, but witness evaded it, and the
blow fell on the thoulden of his brother constable. Wit-
ness seised the prisoner, and a struggle ensued which ended
in the prisoner being overpowered and lodged in the sta-
tion-house. The wife was net in attendance to prefer the
charge.
The landlord of the hens. said these scenes of violence
with the prisoner were very common.
The prisoner, in reply to the charge, said he was a Dub-
lin man. Hs was jesting with his wife, whea the jest got
to earnest, and he gave her a clout or two.
Mr: Bingham, after commenting on the brutality of the
prisoner, sent him to prison for 21 days.
Thomas Asher, driver of the cab No. 1,782, attended
before Mr. Bingham, to answer the complaint of Mr.
Johnson da Silva, Of Percy Cross House, Fulham, for de-
manding more than his legal fare.
Mr. da Silva stated that that morning he engaged the
defendant's cab on the London aide of the Hospital for Con-
gumption, Brampton, to drive him to No. 128, New Bond-
• street, where he got out and pave defendant a shilling.
' The defendant refused the shilling and said the distance
was more than two miles. Complainant, who doubted it
was over two miles, then directed the cabman to drive him
I to this court.

Mr. Bingham told Mr. da Silva be might base the ground
measured if he thought St. He had carefully looked over
the map, and considered the distance to exceed the two
miles by some furlongs. He therefore thought complainant
be would in the wrong.
Mr. da Silva said he should like to have the distance mea-
sured for his own satisfaction, and paid the usual deposit of
ss. for that purpose.
The cabman said he had not ss. with him, but would
bring it in a few hours.
Mr. Bingham—Very well; that will L. The ground
shall be measured as soon as possible.