The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-23 00:00:00

DISSENSIONS IN THE NEW GENERAL STAGE
COACH COMPANY.

GUILDHALL, SICPiTii:Li/TT:ki.LJ Main was charged with
assaulting Mr. Alcock, of Foxton, who described himself as the
original projector and concoctor of the New General Stage Coach
Com
Mr.p an.
Alyooek stated that be was on his duty as a servant of the
company, watching the return of their coach to the Axe Inn-yard,
Aldermanbury, last night, and on its arrival learnt from the guard,
that he had been much abused by an Irish gentleman (the prisoner),
and he was determined to have his quarrel out with him. lie
(Alcock) told hint to leave the gentleman to him, and went into
the coach-office to inspect the way-bill, where he found the said
Irish gentleman, and asked him what he did there. The prisoner
replied, " You are not drunk," and upon his saying he was not,
Main struck him a violent blow on the breast. He of course de-
fended himself, and gave him into custody. Main was a sort of
self-elected inspector, a friend of Mr. Flannigan, and some other of
the directors. lie had two witnesses to corroborate what he had
stated.

instead of these witnesses, however, one, in favour of the prisone-,
tame forward and said the affray began from Mr. Alcock 's rudely
calling to the defendant,—"What have you to do with looking
over the bills ?" and, at the same instant, squaring up to, and strik-
ing him, when a tremendous row ensued. As to Mr. Alcock, he
bad no business whatever in their office.

Mr. Alcock.—No business in the °Rice ! Why, I hare as much
right in it as Mr. Holt himself. Lengaged it on behalf of Mr.
Washinton Shirley and myself.
Mr. 'l'. Gilbert said Main struck the first blow.

Another gentleman said the conversation was nearly as follows t
Mr. Alcock asked Main what business he had there? Main replied,
Give me none of your impudence. Alcock said—lf you have any
business, do it, and get out of the way ; and Main replied, None of
your impudence, sir; you are not drunk now, and forthwith hit
him up into a corner. A fight ensued.
Mr. A Ictick.--I was the sole projector of the establishrnent, and
we are paying four guineas a month for the use of that office.
Mr. Alderman Mau WAY said he had heard quite enough to
satisfy him that the General Stage Coach Company was not a well.
organised one. It appeared to him the complainant had had a fair
share in the fight, and he should therefore leave then to their re.
mealy, by going before a Grand Jury.

idlaoy7 (felon meatzt:tfrom
public office this morning, with his affidavit, of which we give a
ter-118iTra. 11E1EaTttilitPtliTe. 2.h2l.e—tuPbeurtmloarn
copy below. He had no hesitation in swearing, lie said, that the
ufptoytellhe
proprietor and editor of the Northing Chronicle, In the attacks the'
had made upon Trim in their newspaper, actually, in his belief,
designed to stir up the Smithfield drovers and others to murder him,
or do hint some grievous bodily harm.
rite Honourable Member, after swearing the affidavit, antmad-
ruled in terms of pointed indignation upon the remark. upon him
contained in the Chronicle of this day. These men, he observed,
promised themselves more fun With him, and that was the only
reason they gave for not wishing him to he killed. All he begged
them both to understand was, that it should not be his fault if they
did not have an opportunity for more fun. He would place them
in the fanny situation of men who hive to listen to the decision
of a Jury upon their conduct. Some people might laugh at him,
but more laughedf with him. He considered that by his Hill he
had obtained the ti flbetions of the metropolis ; and Mears. Clement
anti Black bad better take his *civic*, and mend their mammy,
before they excited the execrations of the whole people against
them.

Mr. Mtxet3ZlLL 118.31.1tca Mr. Martin that he would take the
accessary steps to secure the attendance of Mr. Clement n;
office to.morrow morning.
Mr. Martin then bowed and departed.
The following is a copy of the affidavit, on Which Mr_ggemin
obtained the warrant against Mr. Cletnent:—
Middlesex to Wit.—Richard Martini of 16, Manchester bade.
ings, in the city and liberty of Westminster, Esq. makes sat.
and saith, that William Innen Clement, being a person of an etc,'
and malicious mind and disposition, and unlawfully and rnallciotiele
contriving to vilify and injure and disgrace the deponent, and
provoke him to a breach of the peace, and as this deponent vet
believes, to incite the drovers of cattle and others, the subjects ,4
our Lord the Ring, to commit end outrage upon and murder di:,
deponent, did on the tith day of Septembef Instant, with force et
arms, within the sold city and liberty of Westminsteond nounl
of Middlesex and elsewhere, publish or cause to be published in a
Certain public nqwspaper. called the Morning Chronicle, a ',idea,
scandalous, andlllifiChlCVOUK libel, avid concerning this depatiou,
containing, amongst other things, the scandalous, malicious, ail,
cbievous and libellous matter following, of and concerning tined..
patent (that is to say) " Our hair absolutely stood on end when
we read the following attack in the last number :—" That /net
Jack-ass Martin (moaning this deponent) throws au air of ridicaie
I over the whole matter by his (meaning this deponent) insufferable
idiotism. I hope to see his (meaning this deponent) skull, thick ea
it Is, cracked one of these days ; for that vulgar and angry gab*
with which he weekly infests the Police offices of the metropolis, is
a greater outrage to humanity than any teal blows ever inflicted oft
the snout of a pig or the tat buttocks of a beevo; blows which in one
and the same breath the blustering and blundering blockhead
(meaning this deponent) would fain prosecute, punish, and per,
don."
" Pray, Mr. Richard Martin, did you ever try to drive tkpig, at
to keep a flock of sheep or a drove of cattle together, in the midst
of the riot, tumult, and confusion of Smithhold ? It is no such
easy job, I can tell you, and nothing short of a most inapestham
and provoking puppy must that person be, who stops shore
drover in all his agonies of exasperation, for merely banging the
sides of an over-fed ox about to join the colours of anotner refl.
ntent."

" We dare not quote what follows about murdering e. to the
great damage, scandal, and injury of this deponent, to the era n.
ample of all others, and against the peace of our Lord the ging,
his crown and dignity. (Signed) R. lilaaTrx-
Sworn betbre me, this 22d day of September, 1826,
U. R. 1111N91IULL.

ARBITRARY CONDUCT OF WATCHMEN.
RATTOI-GAIIDEN, SEPT. 22.—Thomas Catqp, a wairhttea
of Clerkenwell, was brought before Mr. Sergeant SELLox, chargtet
with grossly assaulting a-highly-respectable gentleman, residing st
Colebook-terraee, Islington, on Monday ni,oht last.
The complainant, William Fit!ford, Lag. stated, that he was
returning home from a friend's house, at Pentonville, between ten
and eleven o'clock on Monday night. when he saw two persos,
one of whom he was personally acquainted with, in a very helpless
state of intoxication ; tearful lest any mishap should befill than,
be thought it the most prudent way to put them into a coach and
send them home. IS'ililst in the act of assisting the coaciiman to
get the young men up, the watchman same up, and in an autherds.
tire manner told complainant that he would not suffer him nor ar y
other man to interfere with his duty. Complainant then merely
said, that he was actuated only by a motive of humanity in what
he had done, as the young men stood a chance of being rubbed :f
suffered to wander about the streets all night. The prisotar area
went into a violent passion, and said, " D—n you, do you think
that I want to rob them ? but I'll let you see how you dare to make
such a charge upon me, or upon any watchman;" and suiting dui
action to the word, he seized complainant by the collar, and draggedhim away to the watehhouse. When brought before the night
constable, complainant inquired what charge was to be laid against
him ? The prisoner said he would make no charge, but holding
up a large bludgeon, he said, " D—n you, I'll make no charge,
but if you insult me again, I'll beat you while you have • leg to
stand on." This threat was repeated outside the watchboust.
The defendant admitted, the use of the threat, but said he was
provoked by the insulting allusions of Mr. Fulford, who insinuated
that he, us a watchman, wished to pt the drunken men into Lis
own care, for the purpose of plundering him.
Mr. Sergeant SEI.I.ON said, that his tine feelings, however
wounded they might be, did not warrant so gross a violation of tts
peace. If lie felt really aggrieved, lie should bare
, the gentle-
man In charge to the night constable, and allow a Magistrate to de-
cide the matter in the usual way. Not having done so, lie shoul.l
now find bail for the assault.