The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-21 00:00:00

• I

POLICE.

IItANSION-1110I.Tfire
The suberription fur the Spacish and Italian velbleees Is carried
on with a spirit correspondieg with the urgency of the case. NUM.
bees of greitlemen yesterday waited upon the Loco ItIATOI with
contributions. Indeed the business of the Justice-room was fre-
quently interrupted by the intrusion of the benevolent contributors,
and between ethieg notes end taking money, the labour of the
Chief Clerk has inereast terdold. The Committee, to which we
understand several of the highest camel ice' the country are to be
added, will, it is experted, meet to-marrow, for the purpose of
making mg...illations as a seenrity against imposition, and to tie ed-
nister the relief so abuntleetly poured in every day, in the most
effectuel manner. It is, are tenter, the intention of the ('
mit-
tee to apply to flenerels Mitre tunl Quiroga, for their assistance,
as those two eittinguished persons are qualified to ascertain the
real claims and deserts of the retneeca t their mere presence in the
Committee will operate beneficially as a cheek upon the ingenuity
of schemers, who will no doubt ace temptation in the efforts of
cheeky.
A gentleman waited upon the lord Marne and recommended
the case of the lade of Col. Predo to bit lerrethip amaideratten.
The LOlll.l ItIAYOU. in reply to the application, stated, that
the Committee would investigate the esse as soon as they assent-
bled, and he must refer the applicant to thensess they would pos-
sess the means of investigating all cases with effect, as well as of
relieving the »utterer'.
Ws I,ollam:if- u!nerveil, that there was a stroeg disposition
among tha coneivialiats, and the comfortable retired ehopleepers,
who were in the habit of meeting together to smoke their pipes, to
cantribute to the aid of the unfortunate Spaniards and Retains. lie
had received several sums which were collected over die cheerful
glees, and he calculated largely upon the assistance of all " generous
souls."
A servant girl was summoned before the Lord Mayor, by a lady
who resides in litelmagate-sttest, the having illegally detained a
suit of ovourning.
The Lady meted, that a few weeks ago she engaged the defend-
ant as her servant, anti the family being in mourning, agreed to
allow bee a suit, on condition that if she continued in the service of
the family ,ii mochas, she should have the mourning. The corn-
phinant had occasion to discharge her long before the time, rot on
accourt of any ntieconduct, but for reasons which it was not neces-
sary to 'tete. The suit of mourning was required from her upon
her departure. but she obstinately refused to give it op, alleging
that she was cot properly diecharged, and was therefore entitled to
the clothes.
The LORD 31AY0a ordered that the mourning should be re-
turned to the lady, and reprimanded the defendant for wearing
it, when her right to do so was denied by the person whose
property it was. If the defendant were allowed to take the pro..
petty, servant girls would have nothing to do, in order to supply
themselves wi.h drams, but to seek a change of place in families la
mourning.
The defendant, who was dressed in the Suit of mourning. which
was certainly a very smart one, thou promised to strip it offlorth-
with, and return it to the Indy.
Yesterday a led named J. Ward, was brought up on the follow.
inn singular cherge :
.Mr. Smith, an ironnvoneer. stated that the prisoner had been in
his employ about three months ; that he (Mr. Smith) was in the
habit of buying old tiles from gunsmiths, of which he sold a could-
dcrable quantity.
J. Godfrey, a Ind in the employ of Mr. Borrett, a gun-maker,
then stated. that on Friday he went to Mr. Smith's shop to sell
some old files; that the prisoner put them into the scale to weigh
them, and while Mr. einith was looking another wO7, be took some
other files oat of a bin, and place.l them in the side, saying to wit-
ners—" Iteenlers t" which lie meant that they should divide
the profit. On Mr. S. asking the weight of the film the prietwar
replied—three /rounds, being justawiee the weight of those which
the violate lied brought. After the witnetts hail received the
money, anti left the :bop, the Firmer came after him, aelud
for his share of the money, but witetss Peed he had net get change,
and pronniod to meet him In the evening, but in the mean time he
informed Mr. holds of the circumstapee, and by his desire brought
some more files in the cvering, when the prisonerrepeatal the same
trick. An officer was then sent for, and the misoner given into
custody.
The prisoner, in his defence, said that Godfrey first tempted him
to do it.—lieu aided till Friday.
GUILDIIALL.
Mr. JAM net:lot, whose apprehension and subsequent exami-
nation at this office on Fehley, upon like charge of having rescue.!
one Russell from the custody of' a person earned on te al-
legctl aceurenion of filmy, has already appeared in our Paper, was
again brought up toe examination on Saturday, when it was et-
petted the prosecutor wouLl hare been prepared with his evidence,
to prove the: the person rescued had actually committed the felon,
alleged against him. Previous, however, to going into further era.
deuce, lie. II umphreyt, who attended on behalf of Mr. Ratcliffe,
took objection to the whole prece.cdings against his client, and urged
that theta was no legal ground fur oeteinieg him. To consiltute
the offence of rescue, it must he proved that the party res:ited had
committed a criminel efi'eutce ; tint IL rescuer had knowledge that
he was hl custeely tora criminal offence ; and lastly, that the person
rescued was in lawful custody. Mr. Ityball was no otxer, and
his merely saving that he was taking .t man for felony, teen if Mr.
Ratcliffe braid it, he was nut betted to heieve it. Ue knew neither
of the parties, and how then could he he said to know that the man
had committed a felony ? If the man had been in custody of an
officer, 111 r, itateliff: would, in law, bare been bound to know;
but Mr. llyhall's tti:irg him so he was not bound to notice. Nor
was the man in !sinful custody. It had been laid down by ?Jr.
Baron Wood, that to authorise a private person to arrest a felon.
it was nece,..ary thee he should see the felony comulittori, and
arrest the man at the time. _

air. II titti_liteys' objections, however, were overruled, atd the
ca.c pt ores dial.
The only additional evidence in attendance was Mr. Wigley,
optician. of t:lmetit's Inn. alio sated tha: Selby, a Sh,ritra
officer, paid hill, along with other monies, a bill of excharge for
I:it 75., drawn by Keane upon I ryball, and averted by the latter.
and that the till was now in the hands of his bankers.

Yesterday Air. Rateittre was again brought up before Mr.
Alderman l'rowder, and, to the surprise of every body, Maisel],
the alleged Lion, was in attendance at liberty in the room, Dyball
toter once etlering to give him into custody.
Alr. Keane, the dram., of the bill, now appeared, and ex-
pressly swore that ha gave the bill to Russell, who promised
to discount it, aid give him the proceeds. " lie did nut," said
Mr. Keam, ht.:Jig me the money nor the bill, but he did not rub
moor it. The bill was my property and I indorsed it over to hint."
Being asked if Ifrball knew at th'e time that he (Alf. Scone) bad
given the Lill to Russell, he replied, certainly he did.
tt•.t.t.e /dal cation hue arose between 1/yball and Keane, as to
whet:ter pry value had been received for the bill. anJ sonic mu-
tual &zonations as to the transaction passed, which we forbear to
notiet, us net at ell cone meet with the charge against Mr. Ratcliffe.
The eviderec of Mr. Keane ucgatimaig the fact that any felony
had 1,:••n continittr:!„ Coen: was no longer any charge against 31r.
Rater-lir, and that gentleman was set at liberty.
The nisattria! distinction betwctm an officer and a private person
is this--That en officer city act twin intimiation, a private person
only on his own actual view and kuvaledge of the offence coin-
niiitad. According to the evhlenca in this extraordinary case,
Dybaff did not know that Rua: 01 hail taken the bitt, but
on:; that Germ trill bi:n an: yet tlr. Ratcliffe has been de-
tain:A in custody four days, on a charge of knowingly rescuing a
redact ; when the utinost that was proved as to his knowledge
was, that 1 eyball, who did not know that Russell had coin.
:hued a felony, told him so; and it at last appeared that no
felony had been committed. 3lr. Ratcliffe felt highly indignant
the manner in which be hail been treated, and espressed his
determination to sett redress at law for the false Imprisonment.
110%1•-STIIEKT.
• - • •

Yesterday Toot flc.'e,:cr appeared to answer a charge of purloin-
ing a pointer, the. prinierty of J. Brown.
Complainant said, that on the IS:b Septcanber last be went into
31r. Belcber's house, followed by a farourite pointer. Upon com-
plainant's leas big he for:.tot the animal, and quitted tine buoys with-
out him. Ile did not recollect his dog until long after, and on
making application for it to Mr. Belcher, he was told that the
pointer had left ika Imuse. The complainant then imagined that
31r. B. had taken a fancy to his dog. and consequently directed
his rSilicitcr to write him a letter. demanding the animal back
art,thit or 1!..! amenable to the hoes of his country fur the Ilkley Is
daainlar I:. Tills letter was treated with nubile:rem...
Tan, in his defunct.. tall that be knew nothing of Mr. Frown's
dog ; thet h; crustily had a slog with him at the time be came
to hi,. (7lr. and that the animal retrained in the par.
Icor when is quitted it, hut that Ise quitted the house unknown to
aly one. Tout tleserqscd Mr. B. a. a meet troublesome customer,
at all hours to bis resideiNC, sometimes in the dm. of •
..,,,oitryinao, with a smock frock on ; at others in a rode Jr cistabre,
sithout a sig. and a park of envy la luny buys after him.
!tic Haan, in dismissing use charge, told I:rown that
titre was no charge of felony against :11r. Belcher., and advised
Lin.... a to be careful in 'slaking charges of such a nature.