The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-20 00:00:00

POLICE.

WATCHMEN.
Bow-eraser, SEPT. 110.—Two young men, brothers, of de-
cent appearance, the one a compositor, the other a smith, were
brought before Sir Richard Birnie, charged in the usual vague
and indefinite phraseology of the watchhouse gentry with being
" disorderly."
The charge was made by two watchmen, who stared that the de-
fendants were in the street drunk and disorderly late on Samtilse
night, and that theyabued them (the watchmen) s hen they told
then? to go abort their business. _ _ _

The young men denied that they were drunk, disorderly, or,
alntslve, and said that the true state of the matter was this:—
They happened to have the misfortune to get among a gang of
thieves in Drury-lane about twelve o'clock on Saturday night as
they were going home, and one of them was robbed of his hat by
a fellow in the garb of a sweep. Ile called to the watchman on
the opposite side of the way to take the thief in charge, but he re-
fused to come because he said it was out of his parish. The thief
gdi away, the defendants remonstrated with the watchman (one of
shepresent complainants), and he with the other dragged them to
the watchhousc, end there charged them as disorderly, observing
one to another when they had done so, " We have booked the
b---y b—s however.",
Sir R. BlaylE, when he had heard the defence, censured the
conduct of the watchmen, and added, " I don't know how it is,
but you watchmen are extremely active in raking up trumpery
charges of disorder, as. you call it, and make yourselves very busy
in laying hold of two or three drunken people in the street, or
dragging poor unhappy wretches' of women, who have misery
enough without your interfernce, to the watchhou.e; but you never
by any chance bring a thief or a burglar before me. Some people
went to imagine that yow are appointed by me, or that you act mt.
der my authority or upon my instructions, but that is not the case.
Watchmen are appointed by the parish, and I suppose act. or at
least profess to do so, upon the orders given by the parochial au-
elm ides."
The Chief Magistrate then ordered the beadle of the night to be
sent for, in order to ascertain, if it was true, that the watchman
had used the language described, observing, that if they had, the
matter should not rest where it was with respect to them. The
messenger could not find the beadle, and the young men were at
once discharged, Sir R. Birnie telling them, that he should not for-
get the conduct of the watchmen.
BILL DISCOUNTING.
HATTON-GARDEN, SETT. 19.—This day a VET] elderly mot,
of short stature, and in perfect clerical costume, was brought up,
charged by Mrs. Anne Minn, a fur-dyer, in Rack-lane, bt.
buke'r, with illegally keeping possession of a bill of exchanga.
Mrs. Elfinn deposed, that she had been in the habit of getting
bills discounted by the defendant, she being a widow, and
of course, was not conversant with the ordinary facilities which
trade afforded in such instances ; she paid at the rate of tan per
cent. discount, with a" bonus" of six shillings a month, accord- I
ing to the length of date of the bills. In the course of last week
she gave the defendant a bill for 51f., drawn by her, and accepted
(at lour months date) by Mr. Richards, of Warwick-court, 110 -
born, to get it discounted. .Some days elapsed without any thing
being done, and on Saturday last, as she was shdrt of money to pay
twenty pounds, she insisted oo the dPfend.ant either giving her the,
cash for the bill or returning it. lie refuted acquiescing in either
request, and accordingly she gave hint into custody yesterday.
During the complainant's statement, as also before the defendant
was introduced from the outer office, he appeared anxious to take
many technical objectior.a to the proceedings, and Resd, the officer,
was compelled to show him the lock-up-house, to instruct him to
the law of the land.

is defence appeared in the following dialogue

Mr. Litt Ira' (.thepreKiding Maglatrate)—Wliat are you,-Sir ?
Defentlant—Oh ! a gentleman.

Magi.tiate—But anirou not in some fine of bnsiness?
Detendant—Oh, yes 1 the protector of the faineants and widows.
Alagistrste—What were you before you undertook this occupa-
tion ?

I)efendant—l really don't know that I abould answer this qua-
tion ; but—but—l'll confess I was • respectable privxte teacher;
there's no controverting that fact.
Alagiatratc—llut why do you detain this hill of exchange ?
Dcte dant—liecame, as I said before, I have been for rears the
pro.ector of the fatherless and widows," and accordingly I have
interested myself for the complsintint. Finding her affairs not
nourishing as arenas I could wish, I struck a balance of accounts,
aft discounting many bills of ill. Ins. in my favour. lien accept-
ance (or this balance becomes due month, and 1 feel myself Ru-
th-wised in detaining the acceptance as part of payment,

. .
Mr. LATWO observed to the complainant the Imprudence of pet.l
sons, under sunk etrFewspastees as she emplaced in, beingl esisged
In bill tratimetlons. The case did Pot come within his jurisdictlea.
but s solicitor would direct leer lo the atone eheehoold puree&
The " discounter" thee bailie witadrew, sad the cootplalaaat
pteeeeded to have lit Hanaeastivise.

WOISIIIINSTATT, Merv. 114.41 puns mad Arta,

driver of a Newiiigten stage coach, appeared to answer to a charge
of fistious (laving.
The Magistrate thought the case fully proved, and fined the do-
; feridant W. and the nester fts:
THAUES OFFICE, SEPT. 19.—Thornat Bier, whose CAP: was
reported in our paper of yesterday, was brought up for final
examination. No additional coMplainants having appeared against
him,
Mr. Burma IP, the sitting Magistrate, committed him for trial oo
the capital offence of stealing the bill• from Mr. Mars servant.
Robert Wk.'s, of Nottingham-place, Whitechapel, was
charged with hawking tea without a license. The fact having been
proved, •
The MAGISTRATE asked the defendant if he had any license
for exposing and offering le sale the property now produced.
Prisoner—No, your Worship, I have not.
MAGISTII AT E—The We is very clear that you have rendered
yourself amenable to the law, therefore I convict you of a misde-
meanour, and adjudge you to ray a penalty of ten pounds, and in
default you will be committed to prison.
The prisoner paid the conviction, and quitted the Office perfectly
I satisfied in not having forfeited his liberty.