The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-31 00:00:00

WESTMINS7'ER SESSIONS.

These Seesions commented yesterday, before Francis Conet, Esq.
and a full bench of Magistrates.
DEPUTY CLERK OF THE PEACE.—The Che'rman on taking
his seat, after speaking in the highest terms of the assiduous man.
ner in which Mr. Allen; the Deputy Clerk of the Peace for the City
and Liberties of Westminster, had performed the duties of his
office during the many years he had held it, proceeded to state that
the Court had determined on appointing him Deputy Clerk of the
Peace for the County of Middlesex, in the more of Mr. Stirling,
who retires, and that Mr. filthy was appointed to succeed Mr.
Allen to the office rendered vacant by Ole advancement.
In the case of an appeal between the parish of Chesham, and
that of St. Martin, Westminster,
The Cwatantanr. after looking at the order of removal, which
on the face of it orofessed to be signed by two Magistrates in the
commission of the peace for the city and liberty of %Westminster.
said that he found it was signed `• Thomas Halls," and " Peter
Mallets." lie should wish to know who Mr, Peter Milieu was;
he found no such name in the lint of Magistrates.
The Solicitor for St. Martin's said lie believed he was in the
COILIMISMOR.
CHAlRMAN—Certainly not for Westminster, for we have the re-
cord in Court, and there is no such name upon it. This gentlemen
bhould know that he is in an awkward predicament, and is liable
to a penalty of bOOl.
Mr. A LLEN, who was retained for St. Martin's, said he under-
stood that Mr. Msllett was in the Commission for the county of
Middlesex, and had probably signed the paper without being aware
of its precise nature.
Mr. ALLEN said' it was a very unlucky mitttake, and unfortu-
nately there were three or tour other gentlemen in a similar condi-
tion. He hoped gentlemen would talk the subject over among
themselves. In a case in which he was some time back coneerned.
his client was put to an expense of Mi. entire!) through a similar

STEALING PUBLICANS' POTS.
Mary Cruise stood indicted for stealing a pewter quart pot, the
property of Mr. Taylor, he landlord of the Three Dotes, in Der.
wick.street. The prisoner was apprehended with the property in
her possession, which there was reason to believe shehad taken from
off the railing on the outside of the house of some one of Alt.
Taylor's customers; but there was no direct evidence to prove that
point.
The CHAIRMAN strongly reprobated the manner in which pro.
pertv of this kind was continually exposed to tempt the needy, and
advised the acquittal of the prisoner.
The Jury acquitted her.
CHAIRMAN (to the prisoner)—Don't let the mercy of the Jury
have an ill effect on you. Don't repeat these practices.
The Cot' IT ordered the prosecutor his expenses.
In the enure of the day the (}rand Jury returned into Court
several true bills for grand larceny, against Mary Harding, one of
the dressers of Drury-lane Theatre, for embezzling a variety of
trinkets, the property of diflitrent actors and actresses belonging to
that theatre.

POLICE.

GUILDHALL.

.....
11. am Martin, the porter at Pocknell's shell-fish shop, in
Fleet-street, was brought up for r ination, on suspicion of
having stolen a silver snuff box, whttrgentlman hal left acci-
dentally in the refreshment rooms.
The prisoner had been remanded, in order that the waiter might
be examined as to whether he had mentioned to him that a snuff-
box had been applied for ; and yesterday Edward Brice, a lad, the
waiter alluded to, appeared, and was questioned upon the above
point. He stated that two gentlemen supped in the roams on the
night of the 21st instant, but they did not apply about the box
until next morning, and then they seemed to be so much in doubt
whether they had left it there or elsewhere, that he answered that
it had not been found, without asking any person about the pre-
mists a qgeation. The prisoner certainly was not aware that any
claimant For the box had appeared. In consequence of the police
report in the Newspapers, a friend of the gentleman who lost the
box had called, and promised that the owner would be in attend-
ance at the office this morning.
No claimant however appeared, and the pawnbroker was directed
to retain the box for the present.
31r. Alderman GABRATT discharged the prisoner, with an im-
pressive admonition, observing that it would be a lasting blemish
in his character as an honest man, for honesty obviously dictated
that every one should use his best endeavours to trace the owner of
any article he ahouhl find.
Thomas Worlidge, a compositor on the Morning Mr:rater
newspaper, was charged with an assault, which bad nearly proved
a very serious one, upon a fellow-workman, in consequence of a
dispute that arose in the course of business.
George Steele, the complainant, stated, that in consequence of
some trifling mistake high words were exchanged between himself ,
and the defendant, but the quarrel had not continued five minutes,
when Worlidge ran across the room to the part where be was at
work, and struck him three or four blows. lie then commenced
tearing the skin off his face, from just under the eye downwards,'
with his nails, and upon witness seizing hie hands, he actually bit
a piece out a his tore finger. 1V iiness then forced him into
the middle of the room, and, after some few blows had been
given on each sides Worlidge fell. On getting on his feet
again, the latter seized a formidable weapon, made of brass
(though technically called a foot-sfiek, from having in former
times been made of wood) and rushed towards him in a most
I furious manner. The other persons in the room, however, in-
terfered, and prevented him from doing the serious mischief he
appeared to contemplate.
Two compositors corroborated this statement.
The defendant said it was his duty to collect and arrange the ad-
vertisements as they appeared in the newspaper, and having disco-
vered that the complainant had taken possession of an advertise-
ment, for the purpose of immediately separating the letters, and
replacing each character in its respective compartment of the case,
although it was ordered to appear in the following day's; paper, he
complained of this piece of carelessness. In reply, Steele,who from
his education is capable of uttering the most biting expressions, so
taunted him that he could not forbeas trying to pull his nose, and
that was the way he came to scratch his face. With• respect to the
foot-stick, he took that in self defence, when he found Steele, who
was scarcely halt his age, was too strong for him.
31r. Alderman OARRATT arid it was a most fortunate circum-
stance that some persons had interfered, or otherwise the defendant
would most probably have had to answer to a very serious charge.
If every one gave way to their gusts of passion in the manner
Worlidge had done, the state of society would become frightful.
No wards, however irritating. justified a breach of the peace, and
the way in which the defendant gave vent to his fury was unmanly.
Aa, however, be and the complainant lisd long been and alight long
be companions, he would recommend a reconciliation.
Steele replied that his hostile feelings had quite subsided, and
he should be satisfied with an apology. published in their own
newspaper, or a subscription of H. Is. to the Licensed Victuallers'
School.

Warbilge tlinught the first condition tno degrading (in which
opinion the Alderman concurred), and pleaded inability, from
otUy inisiortunes, to comply with the second, and he was ultimately
ordered to find bail.

BOW-STREET.

On Wednesday evening Mr. Arnold, the proprietor of the Eng-
lish Opera House and a Magistrate for Middlesex, preferred the
following charge against a man, named Metcalfe, a street-keeper
for the Piazzas, and constable of Covent-garden Theatre :
Mr. Arnold stated, that as he was walking through the Piazzas
that evening, he beard the sound of a heavy blow, and, turning
round, saw a girl of about eleven years of age, and a cripple, pro*.
trate on the ground, and the defendant standing over her with a
thick stick raised in his hand. The girl was screaming as if with
pain, and the witness thought the act so brutal and so unwarrant-
able in an officer, that he went up to Metcalfe and remonstrated,
observing, that whatever might have teen the conduct of the girl he
could have no right to treat her as he had done. Metcalfe, in a
tough tote, replied that the girl was a young strumpet, and a pest
to the neighbourhood, and he should do his duty as he liked, with-
out being dictated to by any body. The witness told him that, if
the girl had committed any offence, if she was the character he de-
scribed, it was his duty to take her before the Magistrates—nothing
could justify the exercise of such brutality to such an object. Met-
calt• became very insolent, and said " Who are you, I should
like to know ?', Witness told him lie was a Magistrate, and de-
sired that he would accompany him to How-street, and ac-
count fur his conduct. On the way a crowd gathered about them,
and the defendant endeavoured by Ms language to excite a strong
feeling amongst the people against him (Mr. Arnold.) The girl,
who seemed terribly afraid of the defendant, slipped away as they
were coming to the office.
. _

In detence, Bittenlle said that the girl spoken of was one of a
Fang of young prostitutes, whose conduct and language were such
that the inhabitants of the neighbourhood were most shockingly
annoyed. Ile denied striking the girl.
Mr. A aw oL in declared that the defendant admitted having struck
the girl.
Sir It. Brix IF: and Mr. Illistswin.r. both said that if the girl
was what the defendant described, it was ins duty to have brought
her before them.

Metcalfe said that if he were to bring every girl who behaved ill
all day long before their Worships, he should have nothing else to
do, and the Magistrates would be pestered to death.
After some convocation Sir R. BIIINIE said he was of opinion
that Metcalfe had been guilty of a violation of his duty of a gross
des.-ription, and the 3lag.strattc, he thought, would not be doing
their duty if they were not to mark the cr.se in such a manner as to
hold tout a warning to other officers. If they acted otherwise they
might fairly be accused of delegating poser to men who had been
found to be capable of abusing it. Ile Iva% of opinion that the de.
fendant ought to be suspended from his office.
M t. 311 s au LILL was of the same opinion, and he was suspended
accordingly.
MA RY LEDO N
Yesterday Hourrd, a constable of Marylebone Irish,, was
brought to this office, charged by William Gratin, of Portman.