The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-13 00:00:00

HATTON-GARDEN.

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VAGII AN C Y.—The various outlets of the metropolis were never
more infested than at present by that idle ancldiesolute class which
the law haa, with great propriety, designated incorrigible vagrants.
Although the Police Magistrates are invested with very extensive
powers, under the Act of the sth Geo. IV., commonly called the
New Vagrant Act, which expressly provides for the punishment of
such offenders in a summary way ; yet, generally speaking, the
Magistrates have preferred sending them to the Sessions, front a
fear that their decisions might be construed into an arbitrary and
oppressive exercise of the discretionary power entrusted to them.
Gut those who sometimes rail against the police audit:sides Cae
form but a very imperfect notion of the desperate characters which
come under their cognisance: fellows who, having neither& certain
habitation, nor any visible means of snbsistenee, must necessarily
axis[ by plunder alone.
Four telows of this description were brought before W. L.
Room's, Esq., yesterday, having been apprehended the previous
night, concealed in the area of one of the unfinished houses near
Islington, by s party of the (low-street patrol. They gave their
names as Muhl Chig. Wm. Moon, James Jassy and John
Wood, all of which are believed to be fictitious. Whets discovered
they made a desperate resistance to the officers, but were ultimately
secured. On the person of Chimm was found a lady's shawl, and
on that of Ching two silk handkerchiefs, which they said were
found by them during the day, but which, there is no question,
formed a part of their plunder.
31r. RoCf:as thought it would be advisable to remand them fat
a week, as an owner might come forward in the interim.
Jerry and Wood were recognized as old offenders, end although
nothing was found upon than, the Magistrate felt himself justified
in committing them to the House of Correction, there to be kept
to hard labour for the space of three calendar months.
The following is an extract from Cie Act 5 Geo. IV. c. 83. s. 4.,
under which this conviction was made.—” And be it further
enacted, that every person being found in any or upon any dwel.
ling-house, warehouse, co.ch-house, stable, or out-house, or in any
enclosed yard, garden, or area, for any unlawful purpose, every
suspected person or reputed thief, frequenting any river, canal, or
navigable stream, dock, or basin, or any quay, wharf, or ware.
house, near or adjoining thereto, or any street, highway, or avenue
leading thereto, or any place of public resort, with intent to commit
a felony, shall be deemed a rogue and vagabond within the true in-
tent and meaning of this Act. And it shall be lawful for any Jus-
tice of the Peace to commit such offender (being thereof convicted
before hint, by the confession of such offender, or by the evidence
on oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses) to the (louse
of Correction, there to be kept to hard labour for any time nut ex-
ceeding three calendar months."
Under the present alarming state of the metropolis and its envi-
rons, it is highly desirable that this salutary enactment should be
more generally administered, in order to put a stop to the numeroes
robberies nightly committed, because it too frequently happens that
the well-known thief is discharged for want of a sufficient proof of
guilt to send him to the Sessions for trial.
IrtAIIILIT ILB Aso HISAO! I.ITI hits Tilcheaor ap-
peared to answer the complaint of Mr. Hale, high-corstable of the
Finsbury divisional police, fur refusing to serve the office of bead-
borough for the parish of St. James. Clerkenwell.
Mr. H rl stated that the defendant, amongst others, had been
chosen to till the office of herulborough, in Ms parish, by the Corn
Lett, which sat at White Conduit-house, and the name of Aln
Tachenot was returned to him by the chairman of the Chart Le.et.