The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-25 00:00:00

)LUtLBOROUOH-STRENT.

John Woolfender, Thomas Seekroyd, and WilliansGracie,
three operative tailors, were charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt,
with intimidating Ann Newland, a Milani's, for the pur-
pose of preventing her from following her lawful occu-
pation.
Mr. Sayer, from the offioe of Mr. Edward Lewis, appeared
for the defendants.

Ann Newland, wife of a Juliet living at No. 10, Silver-
street, said about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon she was
coming out of fir. Poole's tailoring establishment, in
Sarile-row, when the defendants came up to her, and
ordered her to open a bundle which she carried. They
opened the bundle and looked at some clothes which she
bad received for the purpose of making alterations. They
wanted to see to the bottom of the bundle, but she refused
to let them look.

The court, which was filled with journeymen tailors,
here beoarne a scene of momentary confusion.
Mr. Tyrwhitt maid be would not permit any bullying by
a parcel of journeyman tailors, nor by any one else. If
they did not behave with decency, he would order the
court to be cleared.

Complainant continued—She had worked for Mr. Poole
for 11 years. Mr. Poole came out of the house, and seeing
how she was beset, gave the prisoners into custody.
By Mr. Sayer—No one assaulted her. They did not say
that if she persisted in working for Mr. Poole, they would
do something to her or her husband. She showed them
what she thought proper on the bundle, and nothing else.
Mr. Henry George Poole, tailor, of Saville-row, said he
had employed the complainant and her husband for about
II years. In consequence, of there being a "strike" among
the journeymen, pickets" were placed about to see that
no one worked for him. While talking to a gentleman, he
saw the complainant struggling with the three prisoners.
The prisoners were searching her bundle to ascertain if she
was taking work away, intending, of course, to stop it if
they objected to the kind of work. The men on strike
would not allow anyone to work for him. Seeing the
complainant crying, he went forward and desired the pri.
arners to go away, and on a policeman making his appear-
ance he gave them into custody.
Mr. Cutler, tailor, No. 8, Hanover-street, was in Mr.
Poole's office, and saw the prisoners surround the com-
plainant and seise her bundle. The prisoners placed the
bundle on the window-sill and opened it.
Mr. Tyrwhitt inquired if the prisoners belonged to the
picket.
Witness said they did, and, in reply to Mr. Sayer, said
two of the prisoners took hold of the bundle, but he could
not swear which two.

Mr. Bayer, on behalf of the prisoners, was ready to admit
that the prisoners had no rightto search the complainant's
bundle, but he denied that any intimidation had been
used. The prisoners had no doubt been guilty of • com-
mon assault in law, but it was an assault of • trivial
description only. The object of the prisoners in looking
into the bundle was merely to see what was in it, and oar-
tainly that act could not be construed into an attempt at
intimidation.

Mr. Tyrwhitt said the tailors' proceedings had not
reached that point yet ; when it had, they would learn
how it would be dealt with at that court. That a set of
men who could earn ample wages, and who set themselves
up as high-class and intelligent workmen, should meddle
with an old woman's bundle, was a poor and paltry thing,
and no doubt the public would think so. It would perhaps
be enough in the present case if he ordered the prisoners
to find bail, each in 5/., to keep the peace for six months.
Loud applause having followed this decision,
Mr. Tyrwhitt remarked that he could see by the manner
in whieh his decision had been received by the assembled
tailors the extent to which the affair was likely to run,
but he gave them full notice that the justice of the
country would meet any violence they might be guilty of.
Bail was tendered and accepted.
Richard Martin, a well-dressed man of no fixed resi-
dence or occupation, was brought before Mr. Tyrwhitt, at
the Marlborough-street police-court, for further examina-
tion, charged with stealing three gold embroidered shawls,
value 1201., the property of Meagre. Lewis and Allenby,
silk mercers, No. 159, Regent-street, under circumstances
already reported in our columns.
Other cases of a similar kind were now gone into, and
the prisoner was remanded.
The number of tradesmen who had been victimised by
the priauner appeared to be almost without limit, and the
amount of property fraudulently obtained beyond belief.
From Mr. Curling, tobacconist, Regent-street, goods to
the amount of 1311. were obtained ; from Mr. Shipley,
harness maker, 1201. ; while lodging at the British Hotel
600/. worth of diamonds were obtained from Mr. Benson ;
and 401. worth of cigars. The prisoner has gone by many
other aliases than those already given.
Messrs. Lewis and Allenby have been most energetic in
bringing this remarkable offender to justice. In addition
to 30,000 circulars sent throughout the kingdom, they
offered 1001. for the prisoner's apprehension. As these
cases have of late become exceedingly numerous, several
of the leading houses have combined to prosecute wherever
swindling has occurred.

Therefore he (the learned counsel) had to state
publicly that the oomplainant had not the slightest stigma
attached to her character, and all previous imputa-
tions were unhesitatingly withdrawn.
Mr. Woo'rya said that as far as the discharged
artilleryman's evidence went on the last occasion be looked
upon it in an unfavourable light, and had he attended
that day he intended to have interrogated him at some
laigth. As for the young woman, she gave her testimony
with great clearness detailing a history of her life for some
beea, swearing positively she never saw the artilleryman
fore, and was never in the service of Captain French, as
he averred.

Thiir.iinrth was quite prepared to contradict the state-
ment of the artMeryman,bet after what had fallen from the
learned counsel it would be idle to do thin. In alluding to
the evidence of Mr. Richards, the dealer in essential oils,
be could show that he was not entitled to credit. Re
should like to know whether the artilleryman was in
court. (Laughter.)
Mr. Mackensie said he was not, and he did not think,
under the circumstances, he waslikely townie voluntarily.
Mr. Smyth understood then that his evidence and that
of Mr. Richards was withdrawn from the case

Mr. Metcalfe replied in the affirmative.
Mr. Richards was here called forward and examined. He
maintained that the evidence he had given on the pre•
vious occasion was quite correct.
Mr. Metcalfe here said he had two other independent
witnesses to call on defendant's behalf to support his inno-
cence. He called .

^ate Ann
Been, who said—l am a married woman, and
my husband worb at Sanderson's in Cannon-street. On
Saturday evening. the 13th inst., about six o'clock, I was
at the London-bridge terminus, waiting to go to the Spa-
road. My husband's brother was with me, and as soon as
the train an question come up he opened the door in which
were the complainant, the defendant, an elderly female,
and a porter. The defendant was sitting near the door as
the complainant was getting out, and he did nothing in.
decently to her. He had • book in his right hand, and art.
gearedto be pushing her crinoline away with his other
hand
_ _

Mr. Mekaife—Did you see him commit any act of in-
decency
Witness—No, sir. There was Boeing of the kind. I
was standing with my face towards them, waiting to get
into the carnage, and there were also seven{ persona behind
me. If any indecency had taken place I must have seen it.
Mr. George Frederick Blackstone said—l am a clerk in
the Customs-office in her Majesty's Dockyard, at Wool-
_

wioh. I was In the next com;artinent, fails; from the
engine, and noticed the defendant sitting near the door.
I saw the young woman getting out at the same time I
got out.
Mr. Metcalfe—Did you see anything improper being com.
mitted towards her by the defendant
Witness—No, sir. There was nothing of the sort. I
should hare remained, only I was in a hurry to catch J.
North Bent train.

Mr. Metcslfe—l believe you wrote to Mr. Mackenzie!
Witness—Yes, air ; as I was satisfied there was no in.
committed by the defendant.
de;denetcalfe here said that was all the evidence he had
to offer. He trusted that would be sufficient for his wor-
ship to dismiss the charge against the defendant.
Mr. Smith said he was instructed by the friends of the
complainant to protest her and her character, which had
been much maligned on two other occasions. Her evi-
dence was supported by her mother and a railway porter,
who saw all that occurred, and if those three persons
spoke the truth the case was made out against the defen-
dant. He did not wish to impute perjury against any
of the witnesses except the artilleryman, who bad
thought it wise to keep away ; but he considered that his
worship ought to send the case to another tribunal, so that
a jury might say on which side the truth lay. If his
worship did not do that a reflection would be cast on the
young woman's character which might injure her reputa-
tion for the remainder of her life.

Mr. Woolrych said that he had all the evidence, and
had carefully investigated the whole of the circumstances,
and could come to no other decision than to dismiss the
charge. Had he thought that there was any reflection
upon the young woman's reputation, or that her cha-
racter would roooiyo any injury from this examination' he
should have sated otherwise, but such had not been the
case. There had been a total absence of prevarication all
the way through, and that she had spoken the truth he
was satisfied of • but still be deemed it his duty to inves-
tigate the whole of the circumstances thoroughly. The
learned gentleman (Mr. Mackenzie) on the first occasion
acted very mildly towards the young woman, imputing no
improper motive towards her i but then on the next exa-
mination the discharged artilleryman came forward and
startlinggave most
That there had een and strang
some pe, evidence tins, 1
in :g;
ease he very much suspected, but not with the defendant's
knowl There had been nothing to show that
the died arta! eqman had not decidedly committed
perjurhe trusted a severe punishment would over-
take him. All the chairs against this respectable young
woman had been now withdrawn excepting the statement
of Richards, who still adhered to his opt that she was
the same young woman who accosted him a month ago.
Now be (the magistrate) bad no doubt he was mistaken,
and as his evidence was so unsatisfactory he should dis-
miss it from the case altogether. His worship then
carefully went through all the other evidence pro and con.,
and was satisfied that if he sent the defendant to the
sessions for trial no ry would convict. The statements of
the young woman, her mother, and the railway porter
were contradictory in many points. One said the defendant
opened the carriage door, another said the young
woman did it, and the other said it was opened by
some one outside. Now that had been confirmed by
Mr. Garrett, who sat sidewaya in the next compartment,
and saw all that occurred, and by Mrs. Bean, a witness
examined that day. Putting the whole of the evidence
together, was there any reasonable probability of a convic-
tion? He thought not, therefore he dismissed the charge
against the defendant. In doing so, he said that he had
no doubt that the oomplaimuit had been • inp,,table young
woman all her life, and that her character had not been
in the slightest degree affected by this examination.
The defendant having bowed to his worship left the
court with his friends.

At the request of. Mr. Smith, a warrant was granted
against the ex-artilleryman for perjury.