The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-13 00:00:00

PICKPOCKETS.

Bow-svitvvv.—The Pim/roof Covent.gaetien have of late been
much infested with pickpockets, particularly about the time the
theatres close, and numerous petty robberies have been committed,
the perpetrators of which have for the most part eluded pursuit by
retreating into the market, among the convenient meanderings of
which they are soon lost. One of these gents, of the name of
Michael Breyer', was yeeeerday morning brought up on a charge of
stealing a silk handkerchief from the person of Mr. Wilson. The
prosecutor stated, that about twelve o'clock last night he was pass-
ing under the Piazzas, In his way to the Tavistock Hotel, where he
hint present lodging, when a gentleman cane up to him with the
prisoner in his costody, and tol.l him that he bed seen the prisoner
take a handkerchief out of his pocket ; witness immediately put his
hand to his pocket, and found his handkerchief was missing.
Mr. Li...a, of Duke-street, Manchester-square, stated, that he saw
the prisoner and another lad following close behind the prosecutor,
and, from their suspicious appearance, was induced to watch them,
and saw the prisoner pass his bandiinto the prosecutor's pocket, and
take Out a handkerchief, which he passed to his companion, who
ran off and evened through the market. Witness collared the pri.
softer, and after apprising the prosecutor of his loss, lodged hint in
the Pe stellhouse.
Mr. HALLS sentenced the prisoner, as a reputed thief, to
one month's imprisonment in the House of Correction, and hand
labour.
Flirts Thomas, a sturdy fellow bclongi tg to one of the coal ,
wharfs under the Adelphi, was brought up on the following charge
of assault:—The complainant, a waterrnan' stated, that late on
Monday evening, as he was passing with his sister along the
Strand, the prisoner and two others, &H of whoin were drunk, push.
ed up against him, and nearly knocked hint down. He remonatra-
led, and was answered with a blow, which, however, he admitted he'
returned with interest, and a battle royal ensued, which was termi-
nated by the interference of his sister, whose pacific intentions, how-
ever, were rewarded by having her bonnet torn to pieces. At this
juncture the watchman came up. and the prisoner was marched to
the watchhouse. The prisoner had nothing to say in his defence,
but as the complainant was only anxious to have compensation for
the damaged bonnet, the parties were permitted to retire. Sir R.
Bewserg at the time telling him that he had better reduce his habit-
ual allowance of nine pots of beer per diem to seven, or they would
before long be hearing of his exploits again.
DESPERATE AFFRAY AT PADDINGTON.
MAR Y.T.A-BON WE OFFICE —I eiterday WM. Field, John
Preach. and Alexander Dobie, were brought before Wes. Bos-
uns, Est. charged with being concerned in a dreadful riot in the
Junction-held, Paddington.
Francis lliadbury, watchhouse-keeper of Paddington, deposed,
I that on ,Monday last, between six and seven o'clock in the evening,'
Peter Holt, one of the day patrol, came to him and requested that
he would procure some assistance to stop a light that was taking
place in the Junction fields. He (Holt) told hint that he had, with
I the assistance of a man named Weeded, broke the ring mice, but
being overpowered. were obliged to retreat, after being unmercifully
heat. Witness immediately repaired with four assistants to the
field, where at least three or four thousand were assembled, and a
regular ring formed, which he instantly broke into, and seized the
' prisoner noble, who had his coat off, and a watch in his hand, as if
lie were acting as time keeper, and was taking him to the watch.
house, when he and the rest of his party were assailed with a vol-
ley of missiles and cow dung, and every desperate attempt atfiescue
was resorted to. The prisoner Dobie made not the least resistance,
nor did lie attend to the advice of the mob, though called on to
lay down. The fury of the mob increased as they reared the
canal, to which they had to pass through a brick-field; and no
sooner could they provide themselves with the broken pieces of
brick than they commenced a tremendous attack on witness : one
of the pieces of brick struck the prisoner Dobie, which felled
hint to the ground. Witness lifted him up, and received several
blows on the bark and arms ; and Holt, on attempting to keep the I
mob back, received two tremendous blows on the head, which laid'
hint senseless, and he remains at present with little hopes or
recovery. The prisoners Field and French he observed very Retire
in exciting the mob forward, and the shouts of " 3lurder them,"
resounded from ail quarters. The prisoner French mode a desperate
toilsome; and struck the witness several times before he could be
secured.
31r. HPSIPIIRIES, who attended fur Dobie, asked if witness
was certain that Dobie was really acting as time keeper.
Witness replied he could not positively swear that ; he saw him
with a watch in his hand. Witness further stated that on his en-
tering the ring a bottle was thrown, which he believes must have
come from one of the seconds.
Mr. Pitman, Vestry Clerk of Paddington, asked Dobie if be
knew the names of the parties actually engaged ?
The prisoner said yea—one of the combatants was named the
" Fighting Cobler," and one of the seconds was Ned Stockman.
The prisoner Dobie, owing to his sufferings, was 'Mowed to go,
on the promise to attend on Friday next, and French and Field
were ordered to be detained until the fate of link should be known.
The Overseers of Paddington, accompanied by several of the
Vestry, attended, and produced a lint of names they had been ena-
bled to collect, against whom warrants were immediately granted,
the parish being determined to punish every person who had taken
a part in this most disgraceful outrage.
DETENTION OF WORK.
Tows; fial.t..—Cher les Flynn, a healthy looking young man,
was summoned by Mr. George Dawson, of the house of Dawson
and Co. ladies shine-makers, High-street, Borough, under the 13th
George 11. chap. 11. sec. 11. fur neglecting to finish work Intrusted
to him.
Mr. Dawson stated, that the defendant had been some time em.
*yeti by hint to make up work at his own house, and received, as
as far hack as April 25, ma.erials for fire pairs of Mies' shoes.
which to that hour he had never returned, though he had been
repeatedly sent to and desired to deliver them done or undone.
The present, Mr. Dawson added, was not an isolated mre, scarcely
a day passing without their being subjected to similar ill-treatment
from one or other of the persons they so employed, who aggravated
•
and not ti-

„
retired into hi. own anartment, where hi, wife Wan at the their misconduct by insolence., , urifrequently pawing the
time ; Phurtly after, lie took a knite, such an butchers liquidly kill material% 'delivered to then at the very time they were in full
pigs with, and returning into Austin's room, plunged the weapon employ for other person.. For the sake of the trade generally, he
into the poor creature's aide, go a% to reach her heart ; she gave a considered himself called upon to take the present course, and fix
loud %cream, which brought in Dewey'. wife, who found the poor upon the defendant as a fit object for example, inasmuch as he
woman nu the floor, bleeding profusely, and expirin-y', with the was a young man in perfect health and without ineumbrance
knife sticking in her aide. The murderer then kitied the deceased, 'whitener, and was known to have been working for another house,
went to his wife's father and mother, and told them what he had although he, the complainant, paid the highest wages allowed in
done; he was anon after taken into custody, and on Saturday an the trade; Flynn confessed he belonged to a Society in the City,
inquest was held at the Neptune Tavern, and a verdict of ” Wilful the Committee of which forbade his finishing what he had under-I
31urdir'' returned against him. At fix o'clock on Monday morn-1 taken for the complainants, though a siagle day would have suf. I
ing he was taken, on the Coroner', warrant, to the town gaol, pre- Aced for the purpose.
paratory to undergoing his *IQ at theAlsiass—Lbtrobt Memo". Joseph Fishlockt fa the complaiwasaCiasarrica, was sworn and

said, that he had been repeatedly at thePefendant's house by order
of Mr. Dawson. but could never obtain possession of the materials
in any shape whatever. Thelast time lie went, he'saw the defend-
tot busily at work ; and was told by him he was employed by
another house, and belonged to a Society that would not permit
his finishing the complainant's work.
The defendant pleaded illness, and that he was never at home
when the messages were sent, with the exception of the last time.
Alderman .1..1. SMITH said his appearance belied his assertion
of illness. and that It rested with Mr. Dawson to enforce the pro-
visions of the Act or otherwise.
Mr. Dstwson, continuing in the conviction of the necessity for
pressing the case, the defendant was sentenced to the mitigated
pnnishment of 'one week's hard labour at Brixton Gaol, the ektent
belt g one month.
CAUTION TO PORK EATERS.
Uwww-listr..—Yesterday Hall. the chief officer of this esta-
blishment. informed the sitting Magistrate that a mad dog found
his way on Monday afternoon into the back premises of • pork
butcher at Wandsworth, where he attacked and bit six pigs and a
quantity of ducks. Their owner, too, in attempting to protect the
pigs, was bitten by the rabbid animal in the arm and legs. Having
had his wounds cauterised, and the dog having been shot by a man
in the employ of Mr. Cade. carpenter, whose yard adjoins that of
the pork-butcher, the latter found leisure to calculate the profit and
loss consequences of his good fortune, when he determined upon
making the utmost of his porkers at the expense of the Christian
community. The six pigs were therefore killed on Monday night,
and sent to a salesman in Leadenliall-market„ and are by this
time, in all probability, in the larders of his Majesty's liege
subjects.
Mr. CHAMBERS-1 don't suppose those who eat this pork will
gn mad in consequence.
Ilall—Perhaps not, Sir; but I won't eat pork for a month to!
come, at all events.

AI r. Cu/outs:as—l have no jurisdiction in the city—perhaps you
had !niter apply to the Lord Illayor, at the Mansiamhouse.
Hall did not feel called upon to proceed further in the matter.
He had mentioned the circumstance, because Gale, the beadle of
St. SIIVIOIIeP, had been sent to him by one of the overseers to in.
form him of the fact.

AI r. CtrAmnrns commended Hall for making the communica-
tion, and the affair wan allowed to drop.

-- ---
DEATH BY FIGHTING.

CURIOUS DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AMONG
JURORS.
Yesterday, at two o'clock, an inquest was held before THOMAS
ST I It LING, Esq. Coroner, and a most respectable J urv, at the Red
Lior.. Finchley, to inquire into the death of John Platt, who was
killed in a pitched battle by a man named Thos. Lennard Jordan.
11r. John Edward Stacey deposed, he is a surgeon, and attended
the deceased, who he had heard had been fighting a pitched bat-
tle; he examined him, and found his abdomen much injured and
inflamed internally, that caused his death. The inflammation, in
witness's opinion. was occasioned by violent blows on the body.
11r. John Thorn, of East End. gardener. deposed. that on
' Saturday evening ;hat, he was in the Five Bells public-house,
Finchley ; the deceased and Lennard Jordan were playing at bowls.
he latter won the game, and the deceased refused to pay, and
became very abusive ; Jordan sat down next his wire ; the deceased
came towards him, and used very violent language, and challenged
hint to fight. Jordan refused very positively, and the deceased
still making use of the foulest expressions, struck him twice, and
repeated the challenge, offering to fight for money. Jordan still
persevered in his refusal, until the deceased called his wife a w—..
and struck her. Jordan started up on this, and said, " you may
abuse, insult, and strike tne, but you shall not abuse or strike my
wife, so I will fight thee." The landlord would not allow them to
fight there, and they agreed to fight elsewhere. and accordingly met,
attended by their seconds and friends in a field in the neighbour-
hood. The deceased was a much taller, heavier, and stronger man
than Jordan, and was a much better tighter. They knight for a
considerabletime. and the deceased gave in at length, and com-
plained of Ilia body. He died some time after. The deceased was
sober.

Mr. Hall, foreman of the jury, asked the sitness if, under all the
circumstances, any person, who had the least claim to manhood,
after being repeatedly struck, could have resisted the provocation
offered by the deceased ?
The jurors answered, they considered not.
Mr. Field, another Juror, said. that was not what they were to
consider, they were bound by their oath to put down such " effer-
vescencea" of feeling, and in every case of the kind to send the
parties Inc trial.
Sir,here is a man sitting quietly down, is he to be
struck, and to sit calmly and hear his wife called the vilest names
than can be applied to woman ?
Mr. Field contended that did not signify a jot, and put it to the
jury whether the public were to be subjected to the exhibitions of
prize fights almost daily; that disgusting and disgraceful practice
was again gaining ground, and it behoved the jury to send the MP
fur trial, to show that no prosecution could justify such illegal acts.
The CORONER said, however reprehensible and illegal pitched
battles weve yet he really considered in this case, no other verdict
than that oeJustiFable Homicide ought to be returned ; it could not
be exrected that people should be so very puritanical, as to sit down
quietly and suffer their heads to be knocked about, and their sires
abused in the vilest language. If a man was driven by such
ruffianly conduct to the necessity of fighting, and his aggressor
died, it was very hard, under such circumstances, that be should
be punished, and the law, fully aware of such cases, had made a
proper distinctity%

r Mr. Field still argued they were bound to make an example of
the man. Upon this, a very long and warm conversation arose;
,and atter a great deal of clamour, all the Jurors held themselves
oppnaed In that gentleman's position ; but agreed generally in the
necessity there was for indicting the others for a riot.
The seconds were then railed in and received a severe reprimand.
and the Jury having viewed the body, returned a vertliet—" That
the diveased died of inflammation of the bowels, caused by the blows
received in a light, from Thomas Leonard Jordan, while standing
in his own defence.