The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-09 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES

SIR,—As your leading article of to-day reflects on
the magistrates at Birkenhead for allowing the
examination of Mr. Clegg to be taken in private, I
feel it due to those gentlemen to say that it was in
compliance with my solicitation, as counsel for the
prisoner, that in this instance they departed from
their usual course. I requested them to do so, be-
cause, from the nature of the case, I knew that I
must rely on the inconsistencies of the witnesses
for the prosecution. Had the examination been
adjourned, as I expected it would be, the publica-
tion of the evidence in the interim might have en-
abled some of the witnesses collusively to reconcile
their statements. My objections were considered
reasonable by the magistrates, and they acqui-
esced.

In your general principle I entirely concur, but
I know from experience that it does not admit of
universal application, and this appeared to me a
very proper exception to a very proper rule.
I am, Sir, yours very obediently,
GEORGE STEPHEN.

THE POLICE, THE PUBLIC, AND THE
PUBLICANS.
TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.

Sin,—As you gave the most lengthy report of the
case which occurred in the Police Court yesterday,
in which I complained of the conduct of certain
police officers, I deem it my duty to communicate
to you the result of the "Reference" recommended
by Mr. Wybergh, to our Chief Constable, in sen-
tences brief and pertinent.
At three o'clock this afternoon I was sent for,
and appeared before a small Committee, of whom
Captain Greig appeared one—l may say, in dicta-
tion, a leading one. I was requested to state my
complaint, which I did in terms corresponding
with my letter of yesterday. Three officers ap-
peared in defence ; the first gave his explanation :
He had received information that the house (the
" Mansion House") was in the habit of doing a
large Sunday morning trade. Both the South and
North men got the same information, and met, to
visit the same house in the same street, at the same
hour (Query—singular coincidence's ?) ; that he
knocked at the door, but receiving no answer, they
entered by the area, which was down two steps.
The next officer asserted that he accompanied the
foregoing witness through the area, over which was
an iron grating; there was no window.*
As there were no steps, and as there was a plate
glass window, I at once denied this evidence,
and requested the Committee to visit my establish-
ment, which was within two minutes' walk;
.they
declined. But, suggested Captain Greig, has this
window not been used as an entrance? My reply
was I did not allow it to be used as one. I would
discharge any servant going in or out that way. It
was constructed as grids were, having no back
yard to get coals in, and to get ashes out; but I
could not say that my servants might not have
gone in or out that way. I could not prove that
which I did not know ; I could not give evidence
on a negative. With regard to knocking at the door,
the kitchen windows were open, and two or three
servants visible from the street, and if the knock was
not heard from our being up stairs, a communication
could have been made to them. But when I asked
if I could prove that no one knocked, would it
alter the case ? The reply was, it would only
impugn the word of a first-class officer, and of course
not alter the features of the case. As it, however,
might have been used as an entrance, and as one
of the Committee said, the officers occasionally had
to go over walls to gain convictions, it was agree-
ably decided that my area, with plate glass win-
dows and iron bars, was an entrance for officers (in
ruffian dresses), to gain admission to an English-
man's home on the Sabbath.

So far, the case is settled with the Police Com-
mittee, but as they have no legal power, what might
I have expected ? It is hushed up, by making my
window into a door—decided so by gentlemen who
never saw it 1

Are the public to suffer such a system to prevail?
To preserve the law in all its dignity is my de-
sire, but to fancy a " Brigand-like Band," who
may assume the name of officers, to enter my estab-
lishinent where there are lone females, by a win-
dow, will be by me for ever resisted with all the
power that God and nature has given me.

Yours, Sir,
R. M. WALKER
Mansion House Hotel, Drury Lane,
'luesaay hvening..
•- _ . .

With regard to the large(?) Sunday trade, I have
only been three weeks a licensed victualler. And
during two years keeping a restaurant, I never
opened on the Sabbath.
The area alluded to is 41 inches wide, extending
from the main wall to the street, direct 13 inches,
and the weight of the grating, which is dia-
gonal, is not less, I should say, than one hundred
weight.
* This officer afterwards admitted there might be a win-
dow, and the other, that there were probably no steps,
but said that it was very easy to get in.