The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-19 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

BOW-STREET,

Eduard Mortimer, a young man who has been for many
years in the employ of Messrs. Ingram end Cooke, the pro.
prietors of tbo IFlva:vied London Svcs, was charged with
stealing a number of cloth covers, gilt and lettered for
binding, and several copies of the paper, belonging to his
employers.
It was proved that the property in question had been left
by the prisoner at a coffee-shop in Drury-lane, where he
proposed to call for it subsequently. Mr. Ingrain could not
swear to the identity of the property but stated that the
prisoner had access to the room in which the stock was kept.
The prisoner was a warehouse clerk.
The pr:soner said that he received the papers from his
brother, and he knew nothing about the other property.
He did not know his brother's present address.
. .

A dozen copies of last week'i number of the paper were
found at the prisoner's lodgings, in Angebyard.
Mr. Henry remanded him for further examination.
WESTMINS ER.
Jonathan Robert Richardson, No. 17, King's-road, Cam-
den-town, cabdriver, in the service of Mrs. Ella ibeth
Birch, cabowner, was summoned for neglecting to pay her
the sum of 155., due for the hiring of a hackney cab on the
4th of May, as he had agreed for.
The agreement having been put in by a person in tho
emykyment of the complainant, who carried on her busi-
ness in the Horseferry-road, Westminster,

The defendant stated that ho bad wily commenced to
drive a cab on the day in question, when he obtained one
from the complainant, for which he agreed to pay her Ids.
a day. He had not been long out with the vehicle before
he found the horse in such a condition that it could not
work. When in Camden-town, he met a gentleman who
engaged with defendant to take him to Cremorne Gardens,
and who agreed to give 81. for the journey there and back.
Defendant was to take him up in the New-road at 2 o'clock.
He was, however, fearful that the horse would not be able
to du the distance. At the time appointed he met the gentle-
man. On the way to CremorneGardens the horse showed great
symptoms of weakness, sad suffered so much, that the
perspiration dropped off its body.. The wheels of the cab
squeaked so loudly, that he thought they would bo on fire.
He was two hours going to Cremorne Gardena. Many
persons in the streets called out to him, " why do you not
take the horse home ?" He went with the horse to the
yard and complained of the state of the animal and cab.
He was provided with another horse, but he had the same
cab. He wished the complainant to make him some
allowance, but she would not. The interior of the cab
was unfit for any gentlemen.
Mr. Arnold : Why. did yoa not take the cab back when
you found the horse in the state it was ?
Defendant : I had entered into a contract with the gentle-
man to take him to Cremorne Gardens, and 1 was not
aware what might be the consequences if I broke the
contract.

Mr. H. F. Davis said that be was under an engagement
on the day in question to be at Cremorne Gardens. lie
observed that the horse labeurcd with great difficulty.
Mr. Arnold—Did the horse go at a proper pace ?
Witness—No, sir. I have been the same distance on a
former occasion, for which I have paid di., and the journey
was performed in three•quarters of an hour.
In answer to the magi+trate, the witness stated that he
rode on the box, and that the inside of the cab was in a
bad state. Ile had two attendants inside.

Mr. Arnold said that if a proprietor sent out a vehicle
which was not in a fit state ho could not compel the driver
to pay the sum be agreed to do. He had no doubt that in
this case it was not in a proper condition, as it had taken
the defendant two hours to do the distance which had
been done in three.quarters of an hour. He trusted that
before long the law would be altered in reference to hack-
ney carriages. The only means he had of teaching proprie-
tors that they should provide proper vehicles was to pre-
vent drivers from paying them.
The summons was dismissed.
SOUTHWARK._ -

John Burke, a private in the Tower Hamlets militia, was
charged with assaulting Thomas Murphy, a loather-dresser,
and alto a policeman who interfered for his protection.
Murphy stated that on the previous evening he was walk-
ing home quietly from his work, when the defendant came
up, and addressing him said, "Are you the fellow that
called out, There goes a militia-man." lle (complainant)
assured him he had not done anything of the kind, upon
which the defendant, without any further ceremony, struck
him a violent blow over the eye. A policemen who came
to the spot for his protection was also assaulted by the de-
fendant, who resisted very much being taken into custody.
The Magistrate said that of late several militia men had
been brought to this court for offences, and that such cha-
racters 24 were before him he was afraid would reflect any-
thing but credit on the service.
The defendant said that he ought to be at drill with his
regiment instead of being standing at the bar of that court,
and that he was afraid he would be liable to the punishment
of a deserter if he stayed away much longer.
The Magistrate said the daendant had cowardly as-
saulted the parties who had made the complaint, and that
before he was suffered to depart he should pay a penalty of
40s. for the assault on Murphy, or in default of payment be
committed for ono month, and for that on the policeman a
penalty of 205., or 14 days' imprisonment.