The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-13 00:00:00

IMPORTANT CAB LAW DECISION.

Mr. Alexander Crump, of No. 33 Albion-grove West,
Islington, was summoned before Mr. Barker by Edwin
Meeks, hackney carriage driver, to show cause why he
should not pay the sum of M. 6d. Partly due to him for the
hire of his hackney carriage.
The case was one of impolite°, to the public in reference
to engaging cabmen by the hour. On the let of this month
the defendant engaged the complainant, who was then
plying for hire, to drive him down the Green-lanes at
Holloway by the hour. At that time nothing was said
by either party as to bow long the eagegemeat was to last.
When the complainant had arrived at Wood-green he told
the defendant that he could not take him any further or
even return with him by time, but if he was engaged as
all he must be paid by distance. When asked to explain
his meaning he said that he had complied with
the provisions of the act of parliament which
states that "the driver shall, unless he have a
reasonable excuse, drive for any time not exceed-
ing one hour from the time he was hired," and
he further stated that as he bad driven for that hour he
would then only take the defendant by distance. The
defendant being an invalid and there being no other
means of conveyance, went back to town with the com-
plainant, and went to a police-station, but as the i
could not settle the matter, be on public grounds=
himself to be stunmoned, so that the matter might be judi-
cially decided. . .

The complainant said that being engaged by the hour be
was not mattered to go more than four miles in the hour.
Hones could not be Fot to walk at that regulation paw,
and therefore the hirer was the gainer, the distance tra-
velled over being more than four miles. He bad com-
fleted the hour for which he was engaged to go, and there-
ore charged by distance. It was a great hardship on cab-
man to be compelled to drive by time out of the radios,
and there was no telling where they might be discharged.
Mr. Harker said he was against the defendant, and
called his attention to the words " for no longer term than
an hour." The driver bad driven the defendant for one
hour, and then declined to be engaged any lomer in that
way: and be thought that he was quite Justified in what
be did. He should, therefore, decide that the cabman
was right in his interpretation of the slams. He ordered the
defendant to the 4s. tki, for which he was summoned,
21. the cost of the summons, and 3e. expenses.

m_+
B. T. W. A
IM .--"---..; W. I 1 to
Nairn 26.211 11.12. W. 7 &W. b - 1
Lboribma -29.54 r 4 &S.W. 4 & bo - 4
Wel 29.Bar W. 6 S.W. rb 0 -
ArdroiW 29.2 r, 0 Ilit:I.. 9 1 LW. re 0.21 6
arareasolio .1 11.&W. co -
Volontra IRA; ,o 2
LS.W. 9 S. 0. 7-
Cape CI 9 ILW. Illf 0. 7
Itocbr's ft .77r LW. 7 &W. fro 0. 6
filt 111 B. ' $ N.W. to 0. 1
Erol=l ID.Our 8.8. W. 4 LLW. oo 0.17 -
heroine - .077; &W. I W. aro 0. 4
Ind -.. 16r LW. 4 W. to 0. 6
iteil99... 9411 B.W. 4 B.W. CO - 4
Plymouth 30.11r B.BW. 7 W.B.W. co 11. 4
Worsoatb 30.10 r W.S.W. V W of 01 6
Porlorsoalb :70.17r po NAM. a s I W.N.W. r O. 3
Load= .llr 01 W.& W. 6• W S.W. too O. -
Yarmouth .07e 7 &W. 11 5 W.B.W. o- 4
loorboroggl/ 2S.War 1 S.W. 4 6 B.W. co -- 4_
Sblolos 10.77r W. 6 4 W. or - 2
Brafools , .29 44 S. S - ....
earls $O.l B. $ - -.
Btrarboorg 1 - W.N.W. $.. ... Ib - -
Lyons so a6l N. 3 - - b- -
Ehart'sCoa 28 900 W. 3 $ N.W. ob - 6