The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-27 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE.

ROl3ll FRY AND ATTLIaPT AT it C 1.716 . —Yesterday Patrick
Riley waV charged with robbing Mr. Mart. builder, of No.
16, Doroat-square, and Martin Maguire and John Afacuire,
with attempting to rescue him, and aloe with violently &moulting
the wa.chmen.

Benjamin Smith stated that he beard, at 1 o'clock on Sunday
morning, the cry of stop thief, and pursued the prisoner Riley
down Little York-mews, where lie was stopped by a gentleman
named Day, who succeeded in throwing lain down, and witness
coming up, a number of Irishmen rushed out from a part of the
Mews and assailed him. The prisoner Martin Ma wire
wrenched the stick out of his hand and struck kim a violent blow
on the head, and with such force as to cut through an oil-skin
cover, his hat, and leave a desperate wound on the head ; he con-
tinued his blows until witness was covered with blood, and but
for the timely assistance of Sergeant Boyd and another watchman,
was certain he would.hare been murdered. Witness here showed
the wounds he received, which bore out his statement to the full;
at last some person comiug up, the prisoners were secured, after
making a desperate resistance.
Sergeant Boyd stated that lie took Riley Into custody with wood
in his possession, who told him be had it given him. by Mr. Marr,
of Doeset.square, but on inquiring of Mr. Mare if he thought the
property hie, lie replied he believed so, as he hut lost a quantity
of the same kind of stuff, but denied any knowledge of the Prisoner.
On their way to the watchhouse the prisoner Riley threw down the
wood and ran down York-mews, ant on his pursuing him he was
assailed by several men, who rushed out train a mews. Martin
PA ignite shouted out " beat their eyes out." Witness was then
knocked down, but recovered himself; he received several blows
front ail directions, until the timely aid of the inhabitants rescued
him. Ile was covered with blood, on his arriving at the, watch.
house, from the wounds he received.

A Mr. Day coroborated the testimony of both the witnesses,
and stated that a more brutal assault he never heard of.
Mr. Mars. deposed that he never gave the prisoner Riley any
wood ; he had worked tor him for some time, but at present he was
not In hie employ.
The prisoners asserted, with many protestations, their Innocence,
when—

Mr. RAW/ANSON said that it was evident, by the confession of
Riley, that he robbed Mr. Mart, aad it was also proved that the
two lilaguires had attempted a rescue ; he should therefore remand
Riley until iVednesday, next. and should require good bail for
Martin and John Maguire, themselves in 50/. and two securities in
201. each, and he should request the Parish to prosecute for the
assault on the watchmen.

MARL BOROUG H-STRE ET.
Yesterday, amongst the charges which are so usual at this sewn
of the year, four tint-rate Corinthians were brought train St.
George's watchbouse. They were not only arrived in the utmost
splendour of dress, but were Inviter adorned with a gorgeous dis-
play of rings and jewellery. On being desired to stead against

the bar, these heroic patricians,—for they were indeed scions of no-
bility, as sell as commanders of the pretorian bands,—ranged
themselves with the greatest indifference, pulled out their handker-
chiefs, and holding them at their chins, gave notice, with a loud
laugh, that they were ready to meet any charge that might be made
agsmst them.
Damon, • watchman. deposed that on Saturday night, between
eleven and twelve o'clock, whilst he was in Old Bond-street, en-
deavouring to persuade two girls of the town, who were much in
liquor and melting a riot, to go home, the defendants came up,
and said to one el the females, " here is a shilling for you, if you
will go along quietly," Om as she, instead of so doing, began mak-
ing a greater noise, witness was forced to use his physical strength
instead of his rhetorical powers to move her away. This mode of
proceeding, however, appeared not to Wee with the gallant and
chivalric notions of the defendants, who began to assault hint by
pushing him about, and at length knocked him down with his own
stick. Finding himself thus attacked, he seized hold of one of the
gentlemen, whom he pointed out, but who, although a Peer, was
now contented with the humble nadie of Smith. After repeatedly
calling out for assistance, he finally obtained it, and escorted the
whole party to the watchhouve. lie could not, however, swear
which was the person who aeivally assaulted him.
This evidence was corroborated by another watchman.
‘l'ltilvt the two guartilima of nubile order were giving their tes-
timony, the four defendants were laughing aloud. One of them,
who .gave the name of Pinchard, kept distorting the muscles of his
face, as though he was practising to grin through a collar.
Their derri,ce was, that they were pmreeding down Bond-street,
/then they beheld the watchman handling the females In a very
improper manner, which came(' them to remonstrate with him;
but, on their honour, they pre,csted that they never touched him.
A gentleinsti then came forward, and stated that he was present
during the whole of the time, and that neither of the defendants
touched the watchman t as for pushing hint down, it was quite
false; the tact was, the watchman had been drinking too freely.
Mr. ROE, the sitting Magistrate—Do you intend to say that
neither of the persona charged pushed or struck the watchman ?
To this question the volunteer witness would not give a direct or
proper answer. Mr. Rite therefore-pat him upon his oath, and
having severally pointed out each defendant, asked whether that
gentleman had not assaulted the watchman. To each interrogatory
the witness answered " certainly not." " Well," exclaimed Mr.
Roe, you have exonorated your friends—therefore they are dis-
charged ; bur before they leave the office. I shall desire them to
give their names and addressee, that the %Watch Committee may
call nu them if necessary, to substantiate the charge of drunken-
against the watchman. This was quite unexpected, and the
patricians having fur a few minutes consulted together, gave their
names as follows:—Mr. Piockard, Mr. Smith, Jr. Bray, and 3;r.
Elwin—and to such humble name.' they added suitable places of
abode. Unluckily for Lord alias Mr. Smith. it was roam-
bat:i that only a feie, weeks since he was charged with a similar
often e at St. Oiles's watch-house, on which occasion he gate his
name as Bergois, • atutent of medicine. No notice, however, was
taken of the circumstance.
ILTNION.HALL.
- -

.....
The day after Christmas-day is always one of great bustle and
confusion at this office, in consequence of the numerous charges
for drunken and disorderly conduct, lodged at the d ifrerent watch-
houses in this extensive district, over which the Maglatrates have
a jurisdiction.
Yesterday Mr. CHAMBERS was for a considerable time occupied
in hearing charges of this nature, most of which he decided by
Inflicting a penalty of ds. to the King upon the drunken defendants.
Subsequent to the night charges a man named Jflffird If
was placed at the bar, having been apprehended on Christmts-day
with a placard affixed to his breast, upon which was written, in
large characters, the following sympathetic appeal to the feelings
of the passengers :
" Three hundred miles have I travelled within a fortnight in
search of employ, but was unable to get any. Walking such a
distance, anti being in want of victuals nearly the whole of the
time, has reduced me to such a weakly state, that I am now unable
to work. I have a wife and two small children depending on my
exertions. We are nearly reduced to a state of starvation. This
induces me to appeal to those who can feel for real distress. Any
person thinking there is the least deception may satisfy themselves
by taking the trouble, and I will either accompany them home or
give them my direction."
Gale, the held], of St. Saviour's parish, stated, that the prisoner
was one of the moat -rank imposters about town. He had for a
considerable time receivad assistance from the pariah until his
tricks ofdeception were discovered, when he absconded altogether
from that side of the water, leaving his wife chargeable to the
parish. Subsequently his haunts were discoverell to be in the
neighbourhood of the squares, at the west end of the town, where
he excited commiseration by the same methods he now practised.
He was apprehended and committed to gaol as a vagrant on two
different occasions, but t:te punishment of the tread-wheel, it ap-
peared, had not conquered his propensity for the life of a mendicant.
The beadle added, that on this last occasion the prisoner once
mote ventured into his old quarters with•the above placard, when
he was espied by some of those who knew his character. Upon
discovery, Watson endeavoured to get rid of the paper enumerating
hie misfortunes, but he was disappointed, and at was produced as
evidence against him.

The ptnioner stud that he was an afflicted man, and therefore
could not work like others. lie was necessitated to beg alms,
otherwise he would starve like a dog, for the little assistance he had
front the parish would not keep body and soul together.
The beadle, in contradiction to thil assertion, stated that Watson
was as sturdy a vagrant as any rhat infested the streets the me-
tropolis; and as a proof of his capability for industrious pursuits,
if his mind sere inclined that way, instanced u tact that occurred a
short time since. They (the parish authorities) were on the look.
out for the prisoner, in consequence of his deserting Isis wife. lie
MRS traced• to a house in St: tales's, out of which he jumped
through the first floor window, closely followed by a constable,
who was not half nimble enough for Watson, who esceped by sts-
ptrior strength and agility. " Sure'y," added the beadle, " such
a character as this deserves punishment."
It was visible enough that the prisoner was a great imposter, and
that he was not labouring under the slightest bodily infirmity.
The Magistrate, therefore, observed that tie should again commit
him for three months to hard labour at Brixton, for begging ; and
added, that at the expiration of the sentence, should he again
resort to his old tricks, upon his apprehension, he (dlr. Chambers)
would return his conviction to the Sessions, at which the *parish
officers would he enabled to prosecute, and the Court had it in
their power of coinnsitting the prisoner as an incorrigible vagrant
for a term not exceeding twelve months.
The beadle said Mat she officers-of his parish were desirous of
punishing such an imposter for the sake of example. Watson was
then committed.