The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-06-23 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

1 HARDSHIPS OP THE4;IW:-:iilltSlillty. Mr. John Ilfi!brood,
a master bricklayer at Hammersmith, app .red voluntarily before
the Magistrate (T. (HALLS, Esq.), at the request of the parish
officers of Hammersmith, to answer to their mmplaint for leaving
his wife and three children chargeable upon the parish funds.
The statement of the wife upon oath was, that her husband
turned her out of doors about six years ago ; that he allowed her
something towards her maintenance for the first year, but had not
given her a farthing since ; and that she was now, together with
three ehildred " born in wedlock," chargeable to, and maintained
by the parish of Hamtrertirnith.
The husband, in answer to the charge. said he verily believed
there never was a case of greater hardship than this. After living
together in the marriage state for a great many years, and having
seven children, she chose, of her own accord, to leave him.
She took the youngest child with her, and he weed to
allow her twelve shillings a-week, and to find her in bread,
and flour, so long as b:/t conducted herself properly. For some
time before she left his bed, she had conducted herself in a very
strange manner, having addicted herself to drinking and late hours ;
and, upon more than one occasion, sold or pawned the beds pro-
eldest for the children. When she had been subsisting upon his
allowance for about twelve months, she came to him and stated
that she should be able to do much better for herself by going to
service, which she would do, if he would take the child home, and
give her a sum of money to fit herself out respectably. This he
agreed to do, upon her signing a deed of separation. The deed was
accordingly drawn up and signed, and a Mr. Clarke appointed
trustee, the sum agreed upon to he paid by the defendant being put
into his hands for the use of the wife. Mr. Clarke and she soon
afterwards came to very amicable terms, for they lived together, and
the " three children born in wedlock," spoken of by Alm. Mill.
wood, were the consequence of their intimacy. Mr. Clarke had at
length become tired of Mrs. Millwood, and had turned her upon
the parish, and he (defendant) was now called upon to support his
profligate wife, and her three childno begotten by another man.
This he was determined never to do. He believed there were some
persons about Ilimmersmith, who were so much his well-wishere,
as to be willing at any time to furnish him with a rope ; and sooner
than pay for the maintenance of this woman and her bastards, he
would avail himself of their kindness, and make use of it.
Mr. liaLt.s said, that the deed of separation was not worth a
farthing, and however hard the case might he, the husband was
bound to support his wife and the three children, they having been
" born in wedlock." His having paid a sum of money to induce
her to agree to a separation, did not exonerate him from the
liability to indemnify the parish. Whether or not he had his own
remedy against the trustee was another question. Under the cir-
cumstances. however, he (Mr. Halls) should not, as he might do
under the Vagrant Art, commit the defendant in execution as a
rogue and vagabond, for deserting his wife and family, but take
his own recognizance to appear at the Sessions, there to abide by
any order that might be made.
The defendant gave his own recognizance and was discharged.

Mr. (*harks 11rn,y Williams, a fashionably-attired young man,
who when asked what profession he was of said, `• I really tardly
know how to describe myself, but I suppose I am a gentleman,"
was brought up from St. Martin's watchhouse, chark w ith com-
mitting violent assaults upon James Blake, a waiter, and Francois
Piguet, a porter at Jaunay'a Betel, io Leicester-square.
The statement of the complainants was, that about a quarter past
one yesterday morning, the defendant and another gentleman,
both equally full of wine, or something else as potent, came
knocking loudly at the door, and demanding to see a Mr. Some-
body, a friend of their's and his friend, who they said had dined
there that afternoon. Blake, the waiter, told them he knew not
who might have dined there in the afternoon, but certain be was,
that there was no one at that time stiring in the house but him-
self ar.d the porter, and therefore the gentlemen could have no
pretext for staying longer. Mr. 'Williams, however, meted le
stir, swearing lustily that his friend was there, and he must see
him. Ile was forcing his way to the interior of the house when
Blake interfered to prevent him, and he was knocked down for
his pains.
Piguet, a well-conditioned Frenchman, whose portly frontage;
denoted that he was used to excellent feeding, hearing the noise,
came up stairs, with —" Messieurs, Messietint, vat de devil you
kick all dis row up, and knock de man down for, eh ?" " Vou be
you old French fool," cried Mr. Williams; "1 most see
my friend, and will see him." Piguet remonstrated, Mr. Williams
swore, and finally poor Francois was also made to stretch his comety '
person upon the passage-floor. The watchmen were then called,
and Mr. Williams was given in charge.
In defence Mr. Williams said he had some friends whom b• j
knew had been dining at Jaunty's, and he went there for no other
purpose than to see them.
lie was held to bail for both assaults.
BURGLARY IN ST. JAMES.S.STRY.Y.T.—YffterdIIy George
Nix, a well-known character, was put to the bar, on suspicion of
being concerned with a daring gang of burglars in robbing, to a
considerable extent, the premises of Mr. llohy, boot-maker, of
St. James's-street. The prisoner was stopped by the police some
distance from the spot, and from the information received they had
strong reason to believe he had been concerned in the robbery. It,'
however, fortunately for him, happened that he had not any of the
property in his possession at the time.
There being no farther evidence against him on the {present oc-
casino, the Magistrate thought it would be going too fa to send
hint for trial, and ordered him to be discharged.
The officers are still actively employed in endeavouring to trace
the robbers, and from information they have received there is a
great chance that their exertions will be attended with success.
MARL-LA-BO?' NE OFFICE.

A STRANGE ADVENTGRE.—Yeiterdiy a man, learned 71t
plains Wilkins, of rather eccentric, hut woeful and dissipated ex.
eerier, was brought up and charged before 31r. OfterriTii with
baring (no person knew how) taken possession of a bed and room
in the Black Horse Inn, Rathhone-place.
The evidence in support of this charge Wan in detail as follows:
—On nionday night, about the her of twelve, a young lad, ser-
vant to the proprietor of the inn, went up stairs to bed, and, on
arriving at his room done, was alanucil by a strange noise proceed.
tog from another chamber. He littened a while, and then eau.