The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-10-05 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

Major Berger, alias Dc Cleard, was yesterday brought up for
final essirioation.

Mr. l'uEau erEl72l (the evidence already taken having been read
over) said he had no further testimony to produce, and submitted
that there war sufficient to warrant a committal. .

Mr. 11 struREYS, for the prisoner, submitted that, unless the
Magistrate deemed the evidence of Johnson, the accomplice, suffi-
ciently supported by other testimony as to render it worthy of cre-
dit., there was not enough to send the case to a Jury—there being
no proof, besides his testimony, of the checks ever having been in
the 'possession of the prisoner.
The MAGISTZATE was of-opinion that Johnson's evidence was
borne out by the fact, proved by the servant at the Shades, that
they were in company, if not actually acting in concert.
Mr. 'Luis, who had not been present at the previous ex-
amination, asked the prisoner regarding his reason for changing his
name.

t3ir R. Iliftwix said, that that had been explained by him. lie
had, in fact, been in trouble, and thought at the time it was better
to change his name.
Berger.--.YEII, that was the fact. There are several kinds of
aliases—one where a person wishes to defraud, and the other where
he wishes to par every creditor, and by changing his name he may
save expense. I never committed a fraud in the whole course of
my life.
Mr. finvvs said, upon the name, he felt himself bound to
commit the prisoner.
A few words here passed between Mr. Halls end Mr. Hum-
phreys, regarding the committal, when Berger exclaimed—•' I may
be calumniated. imprisoned, erchained, hacked to pieces, but I am
not guilty, and cannot be made to feel that I am."
Mr. lIALLS.—VOU will, Sir, be tried by an impartial jury of
your country, and no man is considered as gull y until a jury have
returned a verdict against him to that effect.
The prisoner was then fully committed, and the parties bound
over.

A Faker named Hudson, carrying on business it Church.court,
near St: Martin's Church-yard, Strand, appeared to answer to the
information of John Burgess, also a baker, keeping a shop in
Queen street, Seven Dials, for having in his possession a quantity
of alum. contrary to the Act of Parliament.
Burgess stated that a friend of his had been in the habit of
having his bread from the defendant's shop, and he had shown
some or it to hies (witness). lie tasted and examined it, and sus-
pected it was adulterated. He therefore determined to watch the
defendant's shop, and having done so. he several times saw Mr.
lludaou fetch a paper bag, which would hold about thia. filled with
alum, from a neighbouring shop. He had also seen a boy fetch
similar papers of the same ingredient.
Oddy, a patrol, in consequence of the information of the last wit.
nem, went to the house of the defendant with a search warrant, and
in a drawer in the shop he found a paper bag, containing about en
ounce of ground alum. That was all he could find.
The informer, Burgess, sail that the paper bag produced by the
officer was of the same kind as those be had seen taken into the de-
fendant's shop tilled with alum.
Sir R. llttoum (to Burgess)—What are you ?
Burges.—l am a baker.
Sir R. Bt n NIE-0, you area baker, too, are you ? And did you
never use alum ?

Burgess smiled, and said " Sir—why—" and here he
Pa!!`e(!: . - -

Sir R. MRStr —Come my honest friend, answer me fairly, have
you never put alum into bread ?
Burgess—\—n—nn, Sir. I never (lid.
Si: R. Rini E—Well, as you like. I dare say you are a very
honest man.

Hudson, in his defence, accused Burgess of perjury, but ae.
knowledged that he did now and thou keep a small quantity of
alum in the house.
Sir R. Ilia tim—For what purpose ?
Iludson—Why, Sir, to have it in the way.
Sir It. R lE—ln the way for what ?
Hudson did not reply.
Sir R. Ilt swig, in giving his decision, said, that in his opinion
there was a rear deal more fuss made about the bakers putting
alum (he spoke not of other adulterations) into bread than the
matter de.erved. He believed that the quantity of alum put into
bread was so small as to he undeserving of notice. The Act of
Parliament, however, regarded not the quantity that might or
might not be used, but lot batle its use, or even the possession of it
by bakers altogether. If the case had rested merely upon the
trifling quantity found in the defendant's possession he should
have dismissed It, but after what the informer had sworn he felt
himself bound to convict. He should, however, put the lewest
penalty of 461.
Tile defendant paid 401. and costs.

lIATTON GARDEN.
BOUNTIES TO FtwEllEN.—Mr. J. Johnson, of Newcastle-
street, Strand, cutler, appeued to a summons for refusing to pay
cerntin rewards in firemen, as allowed by law.
John Ell:s, of the %Vest of England Insurance Company, stated
he attended with the engine of St. Clement Danes parish, on Sa-
turtisv evening, in consequence of a report of fire having broke
out In the defendant's premise'. When he arrived there were large
Hakes of fire ascending from the factory chimney, and every ap-
pearance of danger to the surrounding houses. He demanded ad.
mission, in ender to ascertain the nature of the premises, so as to
enable him to extinguish the fire with the better effect, but he was
met at the door by Mr. Johnson hinmelf, who said that his inter.
ference was not required, as they had put on the damper, and the
fire was got and r; however, atter thu two or three men were seen
on the roof throwing down water, anti the sparks continued to
ascend for a con.iderable time.

Another fireman, belonging to the Westminster Ireurence Office,
who brought up the St. lUary-le-Strand engine, corroborated the
testimony of the former witnere, and stated that the whole neigh.
bouritood was in the greatest state of alarm and confusion, from the
threatening eppearanceof the tire.
Mr. Johnson contended that there had; been no appearance of
fire from first to last, so as to call for the aid of an engine ; the
sparks, if there had been any, were nothing beyond what might be
supposed to have been throws up from any factory chimney. But,
adinieting that they were so excessive as the witnesses had Tepee-
armed, lee submitted that the Act of Parliament which provided
these bounties to firemen, did not comprehend factories or (story
chimiliyi, but only related to dwelling-houses ; the question, ho
said. had already been argued, in the case of Pile. Peachy, of Re-
gent-street, who resisted the demand upon this principle, and the
Judge before whom it was tried held the defence to be good and
it was decided in the defendant's favour.
hlr. Sergeant ticsa.on could not concur in this opinion in a
general point if view though, perhaps, it might stand good in
particular instances. The safety of a whole neighbourhood was
sot to be endangered, because the proprietor of a factory thought
proper to say that there was no occasion for the assistance of the
firemen, when it was evident even from the fact of watt r being
poured down the cuitnucy, that there was al least some risk to be
apprehended.
Mr. Johnson thought, that when sufficient care was taken in the
erection of factory chimneys, there was no danger to be appre.
betided. In the przsetit inetiance, his had been built under the
ditection.of a competent surveyor, and he felt perfectly singled as
to its invalidly, even with a much greater tire that was used on this
occasion.. If the firemen were to be tolerated in making such de.
mends, this would be plenty of opportunity atiorded then, every
night, merely by going on the bridges, from whence they could
easily ace smoke and sparks enough, tram the chimneys of a hun-
dred factoriee, to cab for their interference.
Sergeant Sau.ox conceived that Mr. Johnson's position did not

I bear any similitude to the present case, where a whole neighbour •
hood had been thrown into confusion and dimlay. There could be
no doubt that the appearances were something more than ordinary,
as the complaint had never before been made. On the whole, he
should say. that the firemen were justly entitled to the reward ; anti
the proprietors of large manufactories, where stearn.engines were
used, could not observe too much caution in the management of
them but inure particularly, in case of alarm of fire, if they
valued their own security and that of the public in general, they
should never object to the entrance of the firemen, who, from their
known experience, were decidedly the most competent judges as to
the probable danger that might exist, because it too often tap_
period that a thing which, at first, seemed of little consequence,
became afterwards a very serious calamity.
Johnson, reluctantly coinciding in this opinion. suggested
that half the sum claimed should at all events be considered as a
full compensation to the firemen, who had, in fact, done nothing.
Sergeant Stxxog said that they were by no means exorbitant in
their demand, as it did not go to the full amount edioteed by Act
of Parliameat. .

The defendant was ordered to pay the full SUM claimed, 555.,
which hes apportioned to the firemen in the order in which they
arrived. _ _

" NEVER PLAT WITII EDGED Tooss."—Efixabeth Mahon,
a lady who lives by selling oysters, at the corner of Liquorpond-
street, was brought before Mr. Sergeant Sseeow, by Watson. the
watchman of Saffron-hill, charged with having assaulted Mr. John
Knight, with forte and arms, to wit, an oyster knife, about seven
o'clock on Monday evening.
Mr. Knight deposed, that he resides in Newton-street, Holborn;
that he is a sawyer " by trade," and that over night, having a great
inclination for a few oysters, he borrowed a sixpence of a friend,
and adjourned to the stall of Mrs. Mahon, where be purchased
three-penny worth of natives, tendering in payment the aforesaid
sixpence. She, however, hail no change to give him, so relying on
her honour, he requested her to procure it. and bring it after him
to the Old King Head, whither he retired to take a glass of
" something short" after his oysters; he waited a long .time for the
appearance of Mrs. Mahon with the ''browns," bat waited in vain,
till his patience being exhausted he returned, and again demanded
his change. Mrs; Mahon, however, denied by all the saints,
having reeelvei never a sixpence," at the same time accompany-
ing the oath v. ith which she entbreed the said denial by two stabs
with her knife in the right arm of her creditor.
Mr. Knight's statement was confirmed by a fellow-workman,
who at ibis moment vociferated most lustily, " Please your Wor-
ship, he bled like a pig when he returned to the tap."
Mrs. Mahon, on being asked what she had to say to so serious a
charge, stated, that she was a little in liquor to be sure on this
occasion, but " plate your Wurtchip," added she, " I did not take
never a sixpence at all at all, the whole of the blessed y'esterday."
The complainant, she declared, had not even yet paid her for the
oysters ; but on her asking for payment, gave her a •• wary violent
blow."

Ilirs. Mahon, not being able to bring forward any witness to
corroborate her account. was committed i❑ defanit of bail.

A brace of forlorn damsels were then introduced, the eyes of each
exhibiting the " customary suit of solemn black" with which the
numerous Amazons who attend this office are so constantly be-
decked. The watch:nan of Eagle-street, who acted as master of
the ceremonies, presented them as having distinguished themselves
over night, in'a pugilistic contest on his beat, to the great delecta-
tion of many of the passers-by, anti the manifest discomfiture of
others. In vain had he ordered them to " move on," and to keep
the peace. Miss Julia Cotton, the Penthes,ka of he fray, coati-
rued her attacks, which were returned with interest by Thakstris
Kelly, when finding that " they would not hire off no how," he
took them to the watchhouse, and " plan your Wurtchip," added
he, taking a rite above the ordinary flight of a lantern bearer,
" they are both of them a continual bore." This clincher was not
without its due effect, u finding they had nothing to urge in their
defence, and that this was far front being their that exhibition of
the kind, his Worship committed the pair for 14 days to the House
of Correction.