The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-11-05 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

Sir It. Drawte, on looking at the duplicate, observed, that it
had not been in pledge& year.
The complainant said, that as he was on the point of going into
the country he wished to have the carpet first.
Sir R. lltaxtz mid, the pawobniker had no right to make such
a demand, and ordered that ha should give up the property when
required.
A Mr. Walker. a gentlenian advanced in years, was summoned
to appear before Sir litcµatti uyon • charge of unlaw-
fully detaining a gold watch, the property of John Martin.
11r. Martin not coming to the office v Tway at the time appointed,
Mr. Walker !lid the summons is:fore the Magistrate. and stated,
that a few days since he passed the evening at a friend's house in
St. Martin's-lane, and in that place, just after be had quitted his
friend's home, his foot struck against something, which, on stoop-
ing to pick up, he found was the gold watch in question. He im-
mediately made inquiry if any person had heat such a thing, and an
owner was soon found in the person of Mr. Martin, who could not
identify it any further than LT sayiag he had lust one, the marks
on which he could not distinctly Want.. Sue.. a mode of distin-
guishing one's property rather surprised Mr. %Volker, and he re-
fused to give up the watch.
Mr. ‘Vallter having finished his statement by the time Mr. Mar.
tin had arrived, that permi Stattil his real claiihs to the wstilt,
which lie said was a family one.
Sir Ificttaitro asked this pe son if he knew ar.y of the marks or
numbers on the roe of flie watch ? - .

........
Mr. Martir. sat,: he could nut exactly remember any of them, not
hay ing taken at :y particular notice of them ; but he believed that
there would apt car a large 4 in the inside.
Sir Ric It A tI it open, ti the watch, and there certainly did appear a
large 4 in the riptide. on which the Magistrate observed, that he
thought Mr. Martin was tie real owner of the watch.
The watch was accordingly delivered up to the comploittant, Str
Richard observing. at the same time, that Mr. Walker was entitle('
to some rectmipense fur the very gentlemanly manner itt which he
had made inquiry for a real owner.

HATTON-GARDEN.
Coes( T stern COI X.—ln consequence of the enormous clean-
titles ut spurious coin that have latterly obtained circulation
throughout the metropolis, the Directors of his Majesty's Mint
noised a very stria watch to be kept on suspected individuals, and
a system, of alarming magnitude, has bees disclosed in consequence,
of %inch the following case affords a tolerable specimen. •
Ssmuels, a Jew, residing in Petticoat-lane. was brought
up in custody of bee and Isimbrick- two of the 015ccrs ut !Isom-
garden, charged on the it:forma:Jon of John Allitch, with vending
and uttering counterfeit coin.
The officers stated, that from the determined character of the fra-
ternity, they were compelled to meet to stratagem, in order to
effect their purpose. 'l%e prisoner was known to carry on this ttat-
tie to a great extent, and Allitch was amt, r being a person un-
known, to barter with him for the purchase of certain goat...hies of
bad money, for it is thus that the coiner passes it away, and the
result was what had been articipated.
Allitch stated, that utter some preliminary eoneersmion
with the prisoner, which threw him et his guard, be hinted a wish
to 'peculate a little in the trade. meaning the bad coin, and a bar-
gain was quickly concluded, when lie paid siz pod shillings fur
six had half-crowns, at a public-house in Petticostdane. Those he
marked with the letter A, and handed them over to Linthriek.
This was on the 26th of October. On the following day witness
went again, and purchased six more in a simians manner, which he
marked with the letter li. On the lit of November witness went
again, being closely followed by the officers ahove.named, Calton,
a constable, and.Oregory, one of the (11 officers, as there was
every reason to suspect a dreadful opposition if the circumstance
became known to the fraternity, who would assemble in immense
force, and probably put them to death. He (witness) was on this
occasion supplied by the officers with two good half-crowns and a
sixpence, all marked with the letter W in the laurel wreath that
encircles the hone. Prisoner at first refused taking time Ss. &L, but
at length consented, and said, " Now I'll treat you." Witness
accompanied him to the Grapes public-house, and that being the
signal of the conclusion of the purchase, the officers took him into
custody.
(In searching his person, the good wins marked with the W
were found ; and six bad half-crowns sold to Allitch, were marked
with the letter C, all of which were produced.
Mr. Pows&L, Solicitor to the Mint, submitted this was the
ease.

Mr. Lotto mid, that it necessary some officer of the Mint
should prove the coin produced to be counterfeit, the cue bring
one of more than ordinary importance.
Mr. Posext.t. replied that be could not do so, as he would be ob-
liged to appear in the quality of prosecutor ; but he would proeme
a person tl•nt would.
Mr. Field, one of the Mint Officers. wax accordingly sent for,
and declared every piece of coin, sr already described, to be coun-
terfeit, and of no value. - . . . . .

One of the cases, having occurred within the eiry, the prisoner,
in his defence, merely too: an objection to the Magistrate's ju-
risdiction.

Mr. LAING, however, informed him, that if he could make no
better derelict, that would call him little, as he should commit
him on that part of the charge that did come within his jurisdic-
tion, and the Solicitor for the Mint might then bring him before
the City Authorities on dna which belonged to them.
The witresses were then bound over, and the prisoner was fully
committed.

The cbcomstewee has excited a most extraordinary panic
amongst thr .fews.in Afiltitechapel, Gomm) of whom were hanging
about the face, and eliiived largely to suppress the prosecution.
QUEENI.SQT 'A RE.
Henry SaellPs, a miserable-looking man, describing Limarlf •
journeyman printer and glazier, residing in Little bovc-lane,
Wood.strect. Chrapaide was brought before Emb
the sitting Magistrate, being accused of having attempted to des.
troy himself.

eherry, a watchman, stated that his heat is near H'estminstcr.
bridge ; about one tdellsek hat Wedneaday morning, the man came
to his bell, and requested he would lend him • knife ; he asked Me
what purpose ; ha replied, that a young woman had cruelly M-
used him, and remarked in a faint voice, " It meet be 50"...
" It must be so"—" A blue coffin, with white nails," and then
proceeded towards the bridge. Witress, however, from the words
uttered, watched him for Dome time, when he observed the man
mount the balustrade, and instantly ran towards him. by which
time he was on the top of the fopingutacie, in readiness to throw
himself into the river, when witness caught hold of his swat skin,
and prevented him from inevitable destioction. Two gentlemen
passing by, expostulated with the poor on his rash act, and
advised him to go home. He said he had none; in consequence
of which, the witness considered it his duty to ukc him to the
watehhousc, when it scented be was in a most dejected state, such
as he now presented himself. The watchman banded to the Magis.
trate two letters, which he had given hint ; the contents however
did not transpire, and they were returned.
Mr. Wuret having asked him to account for the folly of at.
tempting to destroy himself, and what caused bins to be out at that
late hour. _ . .

lie replied thus:—" I had been to Vauxhall, and new the
Young woma3 ; but Wore I left her, she threatened to give me in
charge to the watchman • she has brought me to poverty and ruin,
and now she wants to make a eeptive otmc."

Mr. W Is:Tr—Let me advise volt to think no owe of her.

Answer (isintly)—"l ti.ink I Mill ; the is rut sunny my at.
ten MM."
Il e then retired from the office.

M /1 ALM/RON] 11-STII F.F.T.

Yesterday Mr. ionic& Ilaykg, who stated himaclf to be a pur-
veyor of fruit to the Nubility, was brought before Sir IL Fait-
tt•t: T, charged with having maliciously bet tire to the lum.e of W.
I)undee, ):wt. in Arg)•11-placc, Regent-street, early on Monday
morning last.

Mr. Dundee deposed, that the prisoner was a tenant of his, and
octupie.l the shop and parlour and the kitchens underneath, and I
which he had held under a former landlord. Witness occupied the
whole of the upper part of the house, and his drawing.room was
immediately over the shop. About two o'clock on Monday morn-
ing witness was awaked by a suffocating smell. and heard the watch-
man and other persons in the street calling .• tire, tire!" He in-
stantly moused his family, and tied thin the house of a neighbour
for safety. The flames were then hunting forth from the shop.
:maimed the firemen in breaking open the door, and disco-
vered that the tire commenced at the head of the stairs leading
to the kitchen. riernpied by the prisoner. The tire burnt with
great fury, and lirSiTl/7141 the whole bottom part of the house; and
the flames had at one time burst through the ceiling into the draw-
ing-rinon, and also 1111111111. windows of the bed-room.
arceeeded in getting the tire under; and, to their at:rink; in about
three etitsrtors of an hour after. it broke cii.t again, in the kitchen.
This second tire was soon subdued ; and in a cupboard was found a
quantity of bundles of wood, sonic old orange.chrus, and other in-
flammable materials. This cirrunittance, and knowing that the
prisoner hail lately Insured tie a large amonnt, had excited a suspi.
chin that the house had been wilfully set on lire, and the prisoner
Sr.. apprehended on a warrant.
The prisoner totally denied the accusation, and said that he had
eirected an insurance for :MU which he considered his property to
be worth. viz. business, 2091., stock in trade, fixtures, and weartng
' apparel. 30/., and he ind by him tfdl. in cash, the whole of which
were destroyed.
The prisoner was remanded fur further examination till Monday
next.