The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-21 00:00:00

POLICE.

111 .%N.S' MN-HOUSE.
' Yesterday, in purturnee of summonses issued by the Lord
Mayor; on the application of the Solicitor to the United Tea
Agency Company, Mr. H. A. Illingsworth. formerly Manager of
the concern, ./11r. L. G. Gordon, Traveller to the Company, and
Mr. J. Hutchinson. a lime.merchant, residing in Lime-street, ap-
peared before his Lordship to answer whatever charge might be
borough, against them by Mr. Buttevant, the Secretary, and Halley,
the messenger of the said Company. The Justice Room was
&waded during the investigation by gentle:nett who seemed very
Melly to enjoy the scene, which was perhaps one of the most curious
everopened at the blansion.houe.
' Mr. toraost.ow appeared as Counsel for the prosecution, and
Mr. Warsaw as County! for the defendants.
' The Loirn MAYun stated to the defendants, that application
itaikiseen made to him on Wednesday, for warrants against them
;nr a felony, said to hose been committed in Crutchedfriers. He
had;nor, he said, considered theeliarge (for which see our Mansion
tfeayt report of Wedne.tley) one of a feionioas nature, .judging
from the statement made to him. and therefore he had granted sum-
monses. in order to have the matter explained.
Mr. LANGSLO A' said be looked upon the case as decidedly felo-
nious.
Mr. Batterant was then examined. He stated that on Friday
evening he lost between M. and W., a bill for 12!!. and a fraction;
and cash, of which he was in trust, to the amount of SM. besides a
that and several hooka. out of the house, No. SS, Crutchcdfriars,
trbeWthey bad been deposited.
Mt. WATSON asked whether the bill was the witness's property ?
Bottevent said it had been specially indorsed to him by a
Mr: -- and admitted that it had been given in -mient

pay:
fete Rome teas, which het not yet been delivered. if the bill were
list, be did not thick belvould bare been made responsible, except
it Lopzened through his indiscretiOn.
Mr. Warsow then cpiestioneil the witness as to the claim the
Ildired Kingdom Tea Agency Company might have upon the pro.
perif described as having been stolen/
' Lanconcrto objected to the Mention of any parties except
44m0-clients. lie insisted that their propoty had bon stolen,
adA tie was determined not to Permit 'arty estrsneous &atter to be
oseetta4 upon.
'rho Loon Mayon said, he conceived-Mr. Nl'atson was p•r-
foe* right an deciding whether the pio:terty belonged to Mr.
Ruttevant or to the Company of which that gentletnsn' was Sc.
("AMY! •
After considerable argument Upon this point by-the COunsci for
tie prosecution, the Lord Mayor directed the witressto proceed.
Mt. Reiterant then /sled that he certainly conbidered the bill the
•
peoparty of thc,Compeny, .
lin answer to terergAneettens from Mr. Watson, the witness
std teat Mr. Illtogsworth 'had been manager, .and was a *hate.
bidder in the Conran but reit! trt of the other defendants was, to
ktkohnowledge, a hold+ 6f-shares in the company. lie did Dot
14151, whetlter shares violet he transferred.
Allt.ApottsaLear cam, upon the defendants to answer the quev-
okapi. likiniteireik plidoring the books whieh they had stolen.
awtt sAiick would Lore the meet satisfactory intelligence ott the sub.
:tett
The Loup Mayos,—Tbb is rather an odd way of proceeding.

You accuse them of having stolen property, and you call upon them
to peon your case by producing the property. (A laugh.) It ap-
pears to me that 111 r. Illingsworth is a partner in the Company.
and that the other two defendants have acted as his agents, if they
have acted at all.
WiersoN then produced the scrip of the Company, and,
handing it to the witness, said. " Is any thing more necessary to
constitute a shareholder than the possession of that ?"
M:itnesa--Thst is a question of law, which I cannot answer.
Illr. karrost.ow submitted that the question was one merely of
law. _

Mr. WATSOW—The whole matter is so totally distinct from all
law, that we must take the law of the parties themselves upon it.
(A laugh.) My object is to clear away the mist from this humbug
Company, as it has been cleared away from many others.
Mr. Haines—The question is, whether the conduct of the de-
fendants, if it be proved that they have taken away the property, is
not a trespass.
The Loan MAYOR—It appears to me that the conduct of the
defepdants, at'any rate, has been violently outrageous, and I shall
hear the whole of the evidence. .

Mr. Buttevant, in continuation, stated that upon the box which
held the tin-box, in which the property was contained, was written
United Kingdom Tea Agency Company."
Mr. IV...Tame—Aye, and in the box was contained the whole of
the property of the Company. (laughter.)
'Witness stated that Mr. Illingssorth was his brother-in-law.
and haul been diticontieued as Manager by the Directors, who g.te
instructions to the Solicitor to thews bins to send in Ins mignation,
with which Mr. Illingsworth had not complied.
The LoaD 'Mae nit —Pray who are the original inventors of the
United Kingdom Tea Agency Company ?-11'itness. Mr. Wings-
worth and myself. ( Laughter.)
Mr. WATSON—And you have no salary ?—Witness. If the con.
cern succeeds i am to hare a salary.
Mr. WATSON—And if it does not succeed, are you reeponsible
foe its inane ?—Witness. That:a another legal question. (A laugh.)
Mr. WATSOx.—Did you not know that Mr. Illingaworth went
to Mr. Peter Moore, and told him that the Company was is a state
of bankruptcy ?-Ilitneris answered in the negative.
Mr. WATSON then proceeded to make inquiries into the particu-
lars of the Company's affairs, Tor the purpose. he said, of inform-
ing the public properly upon the subject, but this course was ob.
jested to by the Lord Mayan.
Thomas Halley was then examined as to the property stolen
from hint. lie stated, that on. the night above.mendoned he bad
lost two watch ribends. some keys, a corkscrew, and a pocket-bouk,
and that a closet within the Board-roam, where thoye things were
kept, bed been broken open. The fire-irons had also been stolen.
(A laugh.) The p6cket-book, he believed, lie had gut upon the
credit of the Company.
' Mr. WATSON—Are you a Director?—Witness stated that he
was neither a Director nor a shareholder ; neither Iliad lie received
scrip, nor was he a partner. (A Laugh.)
Sir. hawrisvow desired the witness no: to answer any illegal
question.
The Loan MAYOR said the question,' that had been asked by
Mr. Watson were calculated to enable a better judgment to be
(mined upon the merits of the case; the public had been so
despicably gulled by companies, that it became necessary to be
par icular in ingairing Into the merits of a case of this kind.
Mr. Host.Ta—Oh, my Lord, this is a very Innocent company.
' (A laugh.)
Mr. Warsow—Aye, if they prove that their tea, however small
the quantity they may have, is genuine. (Laughter.)
Mrs. Duck. housekeeper in the concern, deposed, that on the
Friday evening the three defendants, all oewhom she had known,
trent to No. 3.), Crntebedfriays, the messenger was not at home at
the time, and she did not know that Alr.:lllinrwarth,who was con.
stonily in the habit of calling, had been removed from the manage.
ment. The gentlemen went up stairs, anti having borrowed a
corkscrew from her, opened some bottles of ale, and enjoyed them-
refer' ; the messenger had taken the key of the board-room closet
with him, or she would have given it to Alr. Illingsworth, who was
in the habit of using it. Shortly afterwards a smith entered, and
said he had been dewed toscall and break open a lock, and she
told Sir. Illingsworth, who ordered him up. stairs; a lady moon
afterwards made her appearance, and kept witness in talk below
stairs until all the party, except Mr. Illingsworth, went out ; she
saw nobody take any thing from the premises, nor did she see any
thing remarkable until next morning, when she found the closet
broken open.
This was the case for the prosecution.
At this moment an officer entered the Justice-room, bearing
two placards, which he said bad attracted great crowds in the Street :
one of the placards was headed—" Stop Thief !—Chairmen, Peter
Moore. E.q. M.P.”—Thls exhibition etched roars Of laughter.
The Lord Jlayor ordered that every thing of the kind should be
:wired by the officers.
Alt. `Versos:, for the defendant, said that it would be ridicu-
les* to suppose for a moment that a charge of felony hail been sus-
tained by the evidence, although his Learned Friend, who consi-
dered himself the greatest lawyer in the kingdom, thought it was
nothing less than a substantial case, and persisted, notwithstanding
the Lord Mayor's refusal, to grant a warrant against the accused.
His clients were partners in. the United Kingdom Tea Agency
Company, which was in existence, It WAS well for the public, no
more than four or five months. The fact was it had been deter.
fluted that 11000 shares should be subscribed, and there were tow
now no more than 7350 actually on hand. (Laughter.) Mr. ll-
lingeworth finding that the transaction was a mete humbug--
The LonD Maron—Recollect that he was one of the originators.
(A laugh.)
VT. laugh.)
said he had been led into the ()minces by his
brother-in-law. 3lr. Iluttevant. Finding that the eyes of the public
were beginning to open, he went to the Directors, told them the
thing was bad, and advised them to divide the money- they still
had. Ti.., Min to sent in nus reeignation, a
COROe to which he would have no oection if they had contented
to ryhia deposits, but they refused. Indeed ell the property of
the Conipapy tunotinted to no more than thirty or forty pounds.
Sir. Hutchinson also held shares, and Mr. Gindon. who wu
traveller to the Company, co-operated with Mr. Iftingsworth. Mr.
Gordon had induced several persons in the country to take shares
upon his faith, and was neturally anxious to show them that he
would do all in his power to get for them the remains of their pro-
perty, almost the whole of which had gone to the Directors, and the
Gentlemen' learned in the law. (A laugh.)
Here the Counsel and Solicitor declared they had not received a
farthing.
Mr. WATSON was very sorry;for it. He continued—Mr, filings-
worth, finding there was no inclination to return the deposits upon
the part of the Directors, one of whom used to receive four guineas
for every day's attendance at the Board, went and got possession
of the book and cash, and other things, which he believed to be-
long to the Company, in order to render the public all the service
lie could. It was the only wish of the defendants that the public
should be disabused. The Company was, they declared, In a state
of insolvency, and they were ready to give into the hands of the
Lord Mayor, as the property of the shareholders, all they bad
taken away, for the purpose of protecting the public as touch as
possible. Alr. Watson then read a hand-bill. offering a reward of
fifty pounds for the prosecution to conviction of the defendant", for
what was called a robbery ; and also a letter front 51r. Norcot,
threatening, if the books, kc. that had been stolen were not re.
turned, a placard to that effect should be forthwith published.
The LORD MATOI said there was a remedy for libel else-
where._ _

Mr. WATSON concluded by stating that this dreadful charge
of felon y had, like the bubble Company, burst.
The Loan 31aYou asked whether any one of the Directors was
present.
No one answered.

Mr. Illingswonh said he had, together with the other defend-
ants, who were also shareholders, seized upon the property, fur
the benefit of the creditors ; for if the printer s and other bills were
demanded the Company must prove insolvent. Ile bad placed
the property in Rafe custody, sealed up; and if the (*.tun could
have held more, he would have taken away the furniture. (A
laugh.) Ile hoped that the Lord Mayor would take upon himself
the disposal of the property, and set that Mr. Thompson should
have his bill at once.
Mr. Gordon said that he had sold 45 shares for the Company, in
consequence of the representations of 3I r. Butterant and Mr. Peter
Moore. who was at the head of the humbug ; and he gloried in
aiding in the seizure of the property.
Mr. Hutchinson said he had purchased five shares, and was
Anxious to get back his money.

,lr. LANGSLOW persevered in declaring that a cue of felony
had been made out.

The Softener for the Company maid, that every person who held
scrip and was Oissatiatied with it should have *2O shillings in the
pound for it on Alunday.
The LORD MAYOR raid, that as for the charge of felony, the
animus flu awii was not at all perceptible in the conduct of the de.
fondant,. Ile was, however, decidedly of opinion, that the trans-
action was exceedingly irregular and lawless. and, to a certain ex.
tent, disgraceful ; and he hoped he should never again hear crutch,
a thing in the City of London. It would have •been much better if
the defendant,' had put up with the loss they had sustained, than
disgraced themselves by the course they laud pursued.
The charge or felony was dismissed, and it was arranged that
Mr. Buttevant should have the money which he claims as his own,
and that Mr. Thompson should have his hilt returned to him
forthwith, or full video for it.

MARYLEBONE.
T)IE METROPOLITAN ALDERNEY DAIRY COMPANY.-
011 ll'ednelsy evening, soon after six o'clock, some gentleineu
entered Milt office in a very hurried and agitated manner, and re-
quested an inimediate interview with Aft. ..Griffith, the resident
Alagistrate; the consequence of that intertiew was, that an officer
of the establishment. named Hooker, accompanied one eel the
genueuaan. Mr. Alexander Goldstniii, to the Aletropolitun Alder.
ney Dairy establishment in the Edgewate-road, where Mr.
Thomas Parker, the manager of the society, .to his evklent sur-
prise, was given into the officer's custody upin a charte of ein-
benletnent, and at seven o'clock attended before Mr. Griffith.
The office being thronged with above INlperstms, farmers. milk-
men, and others, who appeared much interested in the proceed-
ings, Sir John Peering, flan. the bank's, who is a Director of
this Company, and 51r. Alexander Goldunid, were in attendance
with some gentlemen, said to be of the profession of the law.
Mi. Goldsmid., addressing himself to Mr. Griffith, said the
Company above named was first inetituteil In January 1925, and
Mr. Parker assvoted msnager by the Dire...unit:it a salary of :WO!:
Ira-annum. payable weekly, but having been found incompetent.
he was, by a vote of the Commiure of Direetore4 diachurgral t rind
' open this living commutiiinte4 to him, he wart stir with riN. of the
Company's money; and some of their hooks, sod deposited the

money at his own hankers. and for this act of felony the present
proceeding had been instituted.
Upon this charge an immensity of comeermtion arose. anti the
matter, by consent of all parties, was ordered to stand over until
one o'clock yesterday, when Mr. Parker, lICCOMpIHAIEd by Mr.
Broderick and Mr. %Vella, c'aute into the office, aad took their
seat on the bench. ,Mr.Ualdsmitl. and several other of the Direc-
tors of the Company were alto present, Mr. James Florence, their
Secretary. appearing for them.
Some conversation arose, Mr. GRIFFITH suggesting that the
matter sae titter fordirrivate inquiry than public investigation, in
which opinion Mr. Broderick joined, and recommended its skip.
for. : but it WS% declined by the Directors of the Company, Mr.
Florence being directed to proceed with the criminal charge against
Mr. Parker.

" Stop," said Mr. BRODERICK, " before you proceed with
the criminal charge. as yeu pll it, let us ACC what right you have
to advance any charge at all., Your WOlShip, it appears this is a
kind of Company of gentletuilit self-appointed, who vote Chairmen
and Directors, and do this t deg,.and the other thing,• and finally
Mr. Parker, himself a shareholder, and consequently one of the
Company, is,maile, by this Board of Directors, a Manager. and
then-fore bits full powers given him to direct their affairs, and being
one of themselves, having an equal interest, it was a strange thing
that they should come here to complain against him, having to
legal right so to do."
Mr. (Awry'. it said he only regarded the KW in obe way,
namely, roaster and servant. It was sworn he was their servant ;
anditlitt only regular way would be. to proceed with the evidence
upon which the charge rested, and then put in the defence after.
Mr. lloonyit act: said that would he the regular course but he
only wanted to know what rigbt this Company had to proceed
at all.

Mr. GRlrrirti said he knew nothing about any Company ; he
only regarded the case as a charge by a master aguimt s servant.
Mr. 13 ROOF RI cit said he wished only to proceed regularly • but
he made the remarks, perceiving train the splendidly hound books
before him, that this Conwegy called itself " The Aletropolitan
Alderny Dairy Compsno 40 had Sir John Perring tor its Chair.
man and somebody t .;Directors : and as he believed this
Company was am chartered by Art at Parliament, he
wanted to know what line of proczedit.g could be taken under its
MISC.

;kr. Florence said the Company was established by a deed of
settlement.

Al r. tinrrrlTU observed it would be a point for after.conslder.
talon bow and what this Company was ; but he certainly would
not deviate front the usual course, and would hear the evidence
first.

The deposition given on Thursday evening by Mr, Christopher
Kemp, resident is John-etreet, Edgware-road, a clerk to the Com.
pany, was then rms.% Ile deposed that Ur. Parker was in the
Company's employ as Manager, to which situation he was elected
by the vote of the Directors. The witness believes he was voted
out of that office by the Committee of Directors the tame Com-
mittee that voted him in. The Wi&flea% is sure he was put nut by a
majority, which could either replace or discharge any servant of the
Company. Soon after obtaining notice of his discharge, Mr.
Parker came to the witness's room, and took from a drawer, to
which they both had access, having keys, the sum of 69/. saying he
wanted money for change. The vntness afterwards understood that.
Mr. Parker had placed that sum to his own account at a banker's,
certainly not at the Company's bankers. Mr. Parker also took the
ledger and other books; but. upon being applied to by witness he
promised to give up any or either of the books he required, and did
so. to prevent odes tructing the business.
It gas contended during the long desultory conversation on
Thursday evening by Sir John Peering, that the accused had no
more rii-itt to take away the books than his (Sir John's) coachman
bad his coach, anti did it solely to obstruct the business of the
Company.
In his cross-examination by Mr. ArELLS, the witness Kemp
said he only heard of the decision which put Mr. Parker out of his
situatihn he believed Mr. Porker had :10(./. a-year, at least he re-
ceived weekly (di IZte. fat. ; bat site witness did not consider that
be had drawn his entire salary. The whole of the Directors who
voted for him were not prevent when he was dismissed. .The
meeting ornmnenced at eight o'clock on Thureday morning. and
terminated m eleven o'c)oek. Mr. Parker had upon a former oc-
casion been suspended; that was about seven or eight slays
since ; before. that ho took cash, but afterwards the witness did it.

,
A man named Nicholls merely deposed to taking the money re.
ceired daily to Sir John Perring's banking-house.
Mr. James Florence, the Secretary to the Society, hare came for-
ward, and said it would be seen upon a reference to the minute
hunks priduced, that several persons had formed themselves into a
Committee of Directors, and tiro trustees had also been apppinted
to watch over the interests and property of the subscribers to the
Company,- sad Itom consulting the same minutes, it • would be
proved that Mr. Parker had been appointed by certain Members
of this Company, who had also been present when he was dis-
charged.
Mr. G ittrTITU—Do you know, of your own knowledge, the
fact of his own nonointirteut ?
Mr. Florence—kes, I do.
Mr.ISRynERICK—Then prove it regularly.
Mr. Fkireinso was about reading from the minute book, but
Mr. lb:noun:it objected, contending. that, as he tatne to
speak of his awn knowledge. it was his duty so to do.
The Magistrate said he might recite to the books to assist his
memory.
31r. Florence rend an extract from she resolutions of a meet-
ing held arliatson's Coffee-hoot*, of the Directors of the Metro-
politan Alderney Dairy Coinpogg." at which it wait resolved that
Mr. Thomas Parker should be appotnted Manager of the Company.
At this meeting were present Si, John ?erring. Chairmsn. Alex-
a_nder AI. A. Ooldstnid, Henry Down, 'teptten L.
Bober, F.alward Down, henry Perry, Edward
Brookes, Robert hone, John Miller, and 4.•'1% Goodenough,
Ewe. The same resolution. contained some 'general particulars,
'inclusive of Mr. Parker's report of the expenses, disbursements,-Sic.
to that time incurred. Another resolution of the same. Committee
*of Directors ordered Mr. Poker a. salary of three hundred pounds
per annum, beside a house, fur his services, and directed that he
should enter into sureties to the amount a two thousand pounds for
his'faithful service. and as a security for the monies he was likely
•to hold Whinging to the Company, a•resolution of a Suh-f'ormoittee.
chow) from the general one, showed that the orders of it hied been
complied with. Mr: Florence having gone through the several mi-
nutes of the Committee. said they clearly established the fact.of his
being only a servant of the Company, over whom the Committee
had a perfect control, and-- . . . . .

Here My. Ilitontnicx interrupted him, observing, he had no
right to make any remarks : he was simply a witness.
Mr. Florence-1 have a right to explain the nature of the Com-
pany's standing,jwithalr.Parker in order to establish the case against
him.

Bitonr R /Cl—i deny you
.have any suck right; you must
only give evidence, and not, remark or make a speech upon it.
'Daps° are two assumptions without your reach at present. You
are simply sworn to give evidence.
111 r. etrrien said the witness might give a history of the pro-
ceeding, hut it wee unnecessary.
Mr. if lorenee.—.l certainly will reply to the speech of Mr. aro-
dcrick Igoe the evidence.
Mr. DRODEILICK—No, you must 110 t. without call moment,
and I dour intend to do so, as your case will be demolished without
their aid. _ _

Mr. Florence then passed over the proceedings of the Committee
until Wednesday last, *hen he read the resolution, ordering the
dismissal of .Ir. Parker, but desiring hint (Mr. F.), as Secretary,
to communicate that resolution to Mr. Parker, in order to recom-
mend him to resign.. as they did not wish to proceed to the harsh
Alternative of discharging him. Mr. Florence said he did accord.
ingly communicate to Mr. Parker this resolution, but he declined
giving any answer, and the Committee afterwards passed the reso-
lution.

Mr. GRIFFITH—Were any of the persons who voted him in
present ?
Mr. Florence—Yes. Sir.
Mr. GHIFEIT their names.
Mr. Florence—There were Sir John Peering, Chairman ; Alexan.
der Gohlsmitl ; Moses A. (loldstuid; Henry Down Israel.
it) the room of Mr. Loodenotigh, who has retired ; Philip Ferry
Ldward Down; S. L. !Surber; William Brookes; It. Hone; and
John Ilikter, Env.
Mr. Boonuni CK —How many dist were present at his nomina.
don and election voted for his discharge ?
Mr. Florence—There were fire tor his discharge, and one against
it,l3lr. Brookes; Alr. Hilder would not vote. Five constitutes a
quorum.
•Al r. BRODERIC IC —Are not the resolutions of one Meeting con.
firmed at. dustiest Omuta Aleeting of the Lhrectors ?
Mr. Florence—Yes, certainly they are.
Mr. 1/ HO DEM legt;--.WithOdt saying one word more, that is quite
enough. Has that (lepers' Meeting been held?
Mr. Florence—No, it has not.

r. Bit outm lc &LW liy, your Worship, this man has not been
discharged legally.
Atib l;urirtl•tt—Clearly not, there is an end to the business at
once.

Mr. Dnontnick--They have proved his appointment, but I
deny they had any legal right to dismiss him.
.Ir. GRIFTIT it said it just turned out as he expected. I took
the case as it ought to have been taken, 1 conceive—only consider-
ing it one between master and servant ; but three relative distine-
have not been made out in such a way that I could proceed
le
ally.
-Mr. Florence contended that his having entered into security as
a servant was sufficient to establish the ease, and his having taken
away the money was quite sufficient to establish a felony.
Air. 11ao1►ttarc>;—Not at all. Mr. Parker is no servant, nor
WWI he ever Ole of this Company's.
Mr. Cretwrint observed w Mr. Florence, that taking•the case
in his own way, there was no pretence for the charge, as he had as
yet rot been dtbelianged.
11e. Florence—lic has nceived the money from Kemp under a
false pretence.
Mr. t:;itirricit—Tliat is not proved ; there is no evidence to
prove a felony, and I have nothing to do with a civil injury.
Alvallaonkurga saitithe fact was. that the Directors had had
a dispute amongst themselves, and one party thought proper, with.
out considerirg eltenher they could du so, to discharge Mr. Parker,
who tea Mehl, respuctatile matt, and not-capable of such an act.
lie had been ordered by sure of the Directors to detain the money
and hooks as a check upon another party, and he has the whole
' concurrence of the Board for so doing ; and if you want n remedy.
you must go to the Court of Chancery, where eventually you will
all be.
Mr. Florence said he would follow the business up in an-
otlicr4ay.
Mr. Icate?Eucl,....Aye, and so will Mr. Parka; is it not a

cruel tiling that •reopectablenstin's character is to be se attacked.
and his actions construed into evil ? Mr. Parker and the Direatora
stand pledged for the debt of the Company in such a way, from it
not being chartered, that he, by advice of Borne of the Directors,
did as any honest Ulan would do. take possession of some money to
pay those claims, Ind for so doing is he to he seised and given
into custody upon a charge of felony, without either reason, truth,
or justice, entirely upon the mere ipse dizit of a Mr. Goldsniid,
who will have to answer for this act elsewhere ? Those persona ate
self-elected, self-chosen. and self-appointed, and have no legal
right to discharge any body, particularly Alr. Parker, who is as
mach a panne: as any one of them ; as, in fact, they were all
partners. . •
The parties then quitted the °Mee.