The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-08-24 00:00:00

POLICE.

THE CITY WATCH-WORD " KEEP MOVING."
GUILDHALL, AVG. 21—A well-dressed courtesan, named
Catherine Itartiblaun. and a gentleman of very respectable appear-
ance, who, upon this occasion, we suspect, adopted the surname of
• his fair companion, for, though he claimed no relationship to her,
he gave his name Inn. .llambleton, were brought up before the
sitting Magistrate, Mr. Alderman As K I Ns, on the common-place
charge of being disarderly, which, in the watchhouss vocabulary,
appears to mean disobeying the orders of the watchmen.
James Cocham' the complainant, a watchman of Castle Baynard
ward, we should have little doubt had reed the observations in the
public prints, as to the conduct of the watchman in Mr. Gamble's•
case. for lie abnped his story so as to make it appear that he had
avoided all the errors attributed to that individual. His brat, he
said, lay on the north-west side of St. Paul's Church-yard, and
that on goiog his rounds at a quarter before two that morning, he
raw the two persons standing conversing together against the pre-
mises of Mr. Harris, the bookseller, at the corner of Ludgate.atreet.
He said nothing to thew at that time, but finding them still stand-
ing there on his mutts, told them they must '• keep moving.'
The gentleman, with some warmth, immediately asked him, had
he the impudence to tell him that he must keep moving) lie re-
plied, why no, he would not exactly insist upon that ; he might
remain—but for the latly, she must positively " keep moving,"
for it was contrary to his orders, and he dare not suffer them to
stand gossiping there at that late hour. Such politeness and ci.
vility, it might have been thought, must have produced a ready
compliance ; hut no--according to the watchman's statement, lie
had scarcely finished his speech, when• Miss Hambleton spat in his
face, and her companion seized him violently by the collar, telling
him at the same tune, that if he had not been an old mae, he would
have threshed him soundly, and, indeed, upon his attempting to
take him to the watch.bouse, the gentleman did actually strike him.
He however sprung his rattle, and assistance coming up, both the
prisoners were taken to the watchhouse.
The account given of the transaction by the roi-dirant Mr. Ham-
bleton differed from that of kis accuser, in almost every material
point. On his way from the theatre, he said, he met the female by
his aide. They walked on together, and as they were passing the
• corner of St. Paul's Church-yard, the watchman was guilty of an
act of indecency towards the female. which he could not help re-
monstrating against. He was immediately ordered peremptorily to
go on, with a threat, if he did not, lie would take him to the watch.
house, and he (Mr. H.) !Intl no sooner said that lie would not be
driven on in such a manner, than the watchman sprung his rattle,
which brought others to his assistance, and the threat was carried
into execution by the female and himself being taken to the watch.
house, and while there, two persons, who had gained admittance
with the crowd, were about to state the circumstances to the con.
stable of the night, having, as they said, seen the whole from the
beginning. He, however, refused to listen to them, and ordered
them to be turned out of the watch-house. As for Cocham, the
watchman,' lie was so drunk at the time, that he could hardly
articulate.

Mr. Alderman ATKINS—WeII, Mr. Constable of the Night,
was the watchman drunk or sober ?

Hooper, the constable—Not so intoxicated, Sir. as not to know
chat he was about. He might have had a pint of beer or two.
The Alderman—Was he drunk or sober?

Hooper—He was not drunk.
The Alderman—You said at first, he was not 'sober, and you
now say, he was not drunk. Which do you mean nie to belicv e?
Hooper—That he was sober.
The Alderman—Then, I do not believe it.
Another watchman here stepped ,forward, and began—as sun
as the rattle sprung—
The Alderman—Not a word more about the rattle, Sir. I want
only to have your answer to a qestion. You were present. Now,
before you are sworn, I wish to know was the watchman drunk
or sober ?
Vl'atchmar. —Sober.

The Alderman—will you swear he was sober ?
Watchman—No; I will not swear that.
The Alderman—Do you think I am sober this morning.
The Watchman replied. yes, and being asked if he would under-
take to swear that, replied, he could.
This seemed to put an end to the complaint, and the Alderman
appearing to be about to address the prisoners, a very attentive
silence pervaded the room, in the expectation, as it seemed, of
hearing Mr. Alderman Atkins's opinion as to the authority o'
watchmen, to malto every body in the streets at night " keep
moving." In this, however, we were disappointed, the Alderman
contenting himself with observing, that the gentleman seemed to
have been somewhat too anxious towards the female, rather more
zealous than prudent ; and if he had seen no reason to blame the
conduct of the watchman, and it had been proved that he had been
struck in the execution of his office, he should certainly have di.
reeled the defendant to be prosecuted at the expense of the city, for
he alto was hewer dressed than the generality of persons should
also be better informed ; but as the case stood he should discharge
both the priamera, and direct a representation of the conduct of the
watchman to be laid before the Deputy of the Ward.

BOW-STR LET, AUGUST M.—An old Grenadier of the Third
Guards, by the name of William Marinscrgr7, was brought up,
at the instance of his wife, for cruelly beating her on the pre-
ceding night.
The man has been frequently brought to the Office fu: the same
offence. He was, as usual upon those occasions, under the in-
fluence of liquor. lie broke in upon the narrative of grievances
detailed by his wife with the most vociferous exclamations In his
defence. It was in vain the Magistrates and constables in the
office attempted to induce something like moderation of manner
and tone. Ile stamped on the floor, slapped the Magistrates'
table with his hand, and conducted his defence with the sone son
of energy and activity as though he had the enemy in view. lie
particularly appealed to air Richard antis. Idiom Is, head
to lay down lila pen, to attend to him. He reminded Sir Richard
of some good advice he had. given him, when some years ago he
had been brought before hint. In answer to the specific charge,
he declared that he was driven to desperation by the ill language
of his wife, who charged him with belug what no man would bear
to be called without losing his temper and his reason. Under these
circumstances be certainly had forgotten himself. lie appealed to
the Magistrates as gentlemen, whether it was possible for hint to
act otherwise than be had done when so aggravated. In conclusion
he declared, that he had fought 21 years for his country, and served
under the Duke of Il'elltngton at Waterloo; he had at all times
given his sire half his pay, and yet she was the ruin of him by
sending him to prison.
Mr. Mr Kaifu th severely reprimanded the woman for the lan-
guage she had used, and cautioned her against ever resorting to
such expedients to irritate her husband beyond endurance again.
The man he ordered to find bail.
illarinscroft—How can I find bail, Sir Richard Rirnie ? Won't
you protect me ? I can't afford to go to prison and lose my work.
The officers were about to lead him out of the office, when the
prisoner, who is a tall and powerful man, prepared to make re-
sistance. Ile was handled by three officers, who evidently found
their task no very easy or safe one. Ile placed his back to the,
wall, and, loudly exclaiming against the hardness of his ten.
tetice. was proceeding to desperate lengths with his assailants,
I who, however, would no doubt soon have subdued hint a coup de
Wort ,when

Su Is. Binwir came down from his seat, approached the com-
batants, and, with difficulty and much personal risk, succeeded
in separating them. " Come," said he, " Marinscroft, you arc
an old soldier, and know how to obey the orders of authority—fol-
low me."

The Chief Magistrate then led the way, wholly unattended, out
of the office, submissively followed by the refractory Grenadier,
who, nevertheless, expressed aloud his suspicions that Sir Richard
was going to lock him up. Sir Richard having placed him quietly
on a seat in the passage, to wait the arrival of his bail, returned to
the bends.

Eligebeth Ilfurphy, a Hibernian char-woman, appeared to answer
a warrant of assault, obtained by her mistrals, Mrs. Blargaret

rggl.ton,occupsing the tenement of No, 2, Shorter's-court. where,l
la ktated by herself, 'she keeps a warehouse. Elizabeth Murphy'
was hired for the purpose of doing sundry work, such as cleaning
and scouring in the said warehouse. and although she was her
mistress's servant fur the day, she basely turned upon her and se-
verely beat her, and that too with the very implements (to wit, the
carpet broom and dust shovel) with which site had been hired to
cleanse the floor,
Mrs. Eggleton deposed, that her head was beaten all to pieces
by the dust-shovel.
In answer to this charge of assault the maid Murphy exhibited
her bare arms, which bore testimony of certain ill usage in the way
of scratching, &c. &c. She affirmed that her mistress abused her
with most shocking language on the day in question ; she began
by assaulting her; she first emptied a pail of cold water over her
head, and then, to cure the shivering fit, brought on by this bar-
barous usage, and to prevent her taking cold, she proceeded, with
all due despatch, to pour scolding water from the kettle upon her
person. Under all these circumstances, she certainly did the best
she could to defend herself ; but, in spite of her best exertions, her
mistress contrived to wrest the lire-shovel from her grasp, and laid
it about her.in the most fearful manner. Mrs. Murphy here pro-
ceeded to give their Worships such ocular demonstration of the
style in which this destructive weapon was brandished, as induced
them, out of regard for the security of their own heads, and those
of the inmates of the office in general, to order the fire-arms to be
taken away from her. As she found sonic difficulty, however, in
makiag out her narrative with any thing like satisfaction to herself,
deprived of the aid of gesticulation, the immediately seized upon
the stick of the carpet-broom, and proceeded to exhibit all the at-
tidudes of attack and defence. She was further divested of this
implement of her oratory, and then went on with her tale as well
as she was able. Her bo met and apron, torn in different parts,
were resorted to to move the feelings of their Worships in favour
of the defendant.

After considerable altercation between the parties,
Mr. Al isrsit (ILI. condemned both prosecutor and defendant to
find bail to answer for the mutual assault.

Sir R. Bine' E gave strict orders on Monday, after the examine-
tion of the fellows who were taken up at the Barley Blow, in the
Strand, that the most rigid inquiry s,iould be made into the re-
sponsibility and general character of any persons who might offer
themselves as bail on their behalf.
On Monday evening Mr. Price, an attorney, gave in the names
of two persons who were willing to become bail for Grange, the
landlord, and Stevens, the messenger, was ordered to make inquiry.
Upon his report yesterday morning the Chief Magistrate rejected
one, but approved of the other, a, baker, of the name of Thomp-
son, and Mr. Price came i t the afternoon to tender another name,
but was told by Mr. Woods, the Cletk, that Sir R. Bimie had sub-
sequently received such information as to Thompson, that there
was no chance whatever of his being accepted.
Mr. Pelcr. said he thought that very strange, as he had been
given to understand that Sir R. Birnie distinctly approved of
Thompson.
Mr. Woods—Then, Sir, I can tell you, odd as it may appear.
he will not, under any circumstances, be accepted, and I have the
authority of the Chief Magistrate for saying so.
With this answer the Attorney departed to seek out for for other
sureties.