The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-08-10 00:00:00

POLICE.

, MA/1810:i HOUSE, AUGUST 9. Watson, the young fellow
who was some days ago brought before the LORD MAYO a, charged
with having stolen a great number of Leghorn bonnets, the pro-
perty of his toaster, underwent a final examination this day. It
will be recollected that the prisoner confessed that he stole the
bonnets, anti sold them to a Jew named Emanuel, who encouraged
him to rob his master. It was intended to turn his confession. if
any corroborating fact could be got hold of, against the receiver;
and it was expected tie,t a person so penitent as the prisoner ap-
peared to be, would have readily done all in his power, by way of
reparation, to accomplish the ends of ju.tice.
Mr. Haan ka attended on the part of the prosecution, and in-
formed the LORD MAYOR that the prosecutor intended to have
made every abet to prevent the prisoner from being brought to
disgrace at the Old Bailey, but the conduct of the young man since
his first examination had determined his master to prosecute him.
The prisoner now had taken it into his head to forget every thing
relative to the robbery, and had caused one of the bonnets which he
had stolen to he burnt since his confinement in prison.
Mr. Ile mralt E a, Mr the prisoner, contended, that the confes-
sion of the prisoner, without some corroborating evidence against
him, could be;of no avail. Nobody had seen the bonnets upon his
person. It had been merely saia that a man had felt in the
prisoner's pockets something which was isupposed to be a bonnet.
The case, he thought, would not stand a moment before a Jury.
111 r. HAI IIL R, on the other had, thought there was ample evi-
deuce against the prisoner.
The Logo MAYOR said he had made up his mind to send the
case to a Jury, and committed the prisoner fur trial.

EXCISE CONVICTIONS.
HATTOY-GARDEN, AUG. 9--This day Mr. John Nind, pa.
per-stainer, of Stoke Newington, appeared before Sir. Sergeant'
SELLON and ALAN S. LAING, Esq. to answer the complaint of,
Mr. Thomas Dean, Surveyor of Excise, for having in his posses-
sion a certain quantity of stained papers on which the (Lay had not
been paid.
The information laid before the Magistrates exhibited three spe-
cific counts, under the 36th Geo. 111. c. 17, sections 5, 11, and 13.
The 'list relates to what is termed " mixing," that is to say, in-
troducing amongst lawful stock that whicli is contraband or unlaw.
ful, with intent to evade the payment of the duty ; the second
provides what is called a frame mark, to show the quantity print.
ed ; and the third applies to the gross amount, and bears the
mark of " duty charged." The penalty annexed to transgression
under the fifth section, for mixing, is 501. and forfeiture of the
illicit property, and 201. for each of the others.
Mr. Dean stated, that an one of the Surveyors of his Majesty's I
Excise, he had inspected the defendant's stock on the 24th of July,
and round therein thirty-four pieces of printed paper, not having
the frame mark, exposed fur sale in his shop amongst other papers,
which had been regularly marked and charged. This, he con.
tended, brought the defendant completely within the provisions of !
the Act, under the head of mixing; none of those pieces had the'
frame mark upon them, and though the whole were seizable, yet
he consented to overlook all but one, which had evidently been
cut for sale.

The defendant stated in reply, that although it might be con.
trary to the stipulations of the Act of Parliament to stain paper
before it was frame-marked, yet he had invariably been in the
habit of doing so, with the surveying officer's permission, and
that both marks were usually stamped at the same time, and with
regard to the piece that had been cut, he declared that it was only
a small slip which was taken off as a pattern for a person who
wanted to purchase.
Mr. Dean did not deny that paper-stainers were sometimes suf-
fered to print before the frame-mark was put on ; but then it was
an infringement of the law to do so, and left the revenue open to
very extensive frauds.
Mr. Sergeant SELL:ow observed, that since that practice was
admitted to exist, he could not with any propriety convict for mix-
ing, because the defendant might say, that the pieces were not
offered, or exposed for sale, though they happened to be in his
shop or warehouse, but were placed there until they had been
marked by the officer. However, with respect to the cut piece
which was now produced in support of the charge, he deemed the
defendant guilty to a certain degree, though at the same time he
should recommend the seizing officer to proceed under the mildest
provision that the law allowed.
Mr. Dean expressed his readiness to abide 1.7 the Magistrate's
suggestion, and the defendant was fined in the mitigated penalty of
being one-fourth of the full sum allowed by law for one piece.
Had the officer procetled for the whole number seizable, the fine
would have been 61101. beside costs.
BILLETTING OF SOLDIERg.
Mr. John Pittman, billet-master for the Central Division, came
before Mr. Sergeant SE L LOW to prefer a complaint against a per-
son named Millars, who keeps stables in Gray's Inn-lane, for re-
fusing to comply with the terms of an order made on him, by virtue
of an Act of Parliament, for the maintenance, &c. of two soldiers of
the 3d regiment of Foot-guards.
Mr. Pittman stated that he had received instructions to find
temporary quarters for a certain number of men, and the publicans
in the neighbourh-od of Gray's Inn-lane, being already crowded,
he had billetted the remainder of them on livery stable-keepers,
and others, as the law allewed in such cases. Mr. Millers, how.
ever, refused to provide for them, and he (complainant) therefore
came before his Worship to put the law in force for such non-
compliance.
Mr. Sergeant Sr Lutz( asked 111 r. Pittman if he knew Millar' to
be a livery stable-keeper.
Mr. Pittman said that he had stables in Sun-yard, and that he
dealt in horses.

Mr. Sergeant SELLON said, that a man might be a dealer in
horses, and yet not a livery-stable-keeper. At a❑ events, betore
any peremptory order could be made, that fact should be ascer.
mined; but in the mean time the soldiers should be otherwise pro-
vided for.

CAUTION TO WITNESSES IN FELONIES.
A very fashionably dressed young man, named Stirling, who is
said to be most respectably connected in the neighbourhood of
Kentish Town, was placed at the bar for re-examination, on 3
charge of fraudulently making away with a horse, which he had
obtained on hire in June last, from Mr. Martin, the riding-
master, of Bidborough-strut, Burton-crescent.
The facts of the case were fully proved in every stage, except
that Mr. Martin's son, who had given the horse into the prisoner's
charge, did rot attend at the last examination, and the prisoner was
therefore remanded.

The case came on originally before Mr. Loxes, and by his order
the person who bought the horse at IVinelsor came up to town to.
day, together with his servants, whose testimony ■as also held
essential to render the evidence complete.
The prisoner being :put to the bar, Mr. LAING desired young
Martin to be produced in evidence, but his father said that he. could
not find him.

Mr. LAlmo—This is realty intolerable: Oil the last examina-
tion you undertook that your son should be in attendance to.day ;
and now, after this man and his servants have had the trouble of
coming up from Windsor, you dare to tell me that your son is not
to be found ; but I see very clearly the collusion that is attempted.
Because the prisoner happens to be somewhat more respectable in
life than the generality of persons who commit offences of this de.
scription, it is intended to screen him from justice. But be armored
that it shall not succeed. I have a public duty to perform, and no
consideration of rank or station shall induce me to violate it.
Officer, swear that man.
Martin was then sworn in the usual way.
Mr. LAI wo--NOW, sir, by virtue of the oath you have taken, do
you not know where your son is ?
Martin—l do not.

Mr. LAING—When did you see him last ?
Martin—Not since this morning.
Mr. LAING—NOW, sir, I ask you again what money has been
offered or given to yeu to drop this prosecution ?
Martin—None, on my oath.-
Mr. Laiwo.—llas any been offered or given to your son, or any
other person, for that purpose ?
Alartin—Not that I know of.
Itlr. LANG—WeII, sir, my opinion iv not at all changed, and I
shall bind you over, to appear here on Thursday next, in the sum
of 801.; and I shall issue a warrant for the apprehension of your
son.

The priconer was remanded.
MARY-LA.BONNE OTTICE, AUGUST 9.—This day Charles
Wheeler, the Inspector of the Society for the Prevention of ( 'ruelty
to Animals, entered this office, and made the following curious ap-
plication to Mr. UUIFIITH, the Magistrate :
Whetlar said he had but that moment returned from seeing a
horse in a most deplorable, and indeed pitiable state of exhaustion,
from the following cause. A person of the name of James Wa.
tenon, a Paddington coachman, was the owner of the borne, which,
from long servitude and probably natural causes, had become lame,
bow-legged, broken.Jtnee'd, and blind, and that person matched
this unturtunate animal to perform against time. &c. thirty miles
in three hours. The wager-money was fifty guineas, and that
sum was betted against the animal by a person named Wm. York,
and the general odds were very heavy, it being considered phy-
sically impossible for the animal to perform the distance within the
given time. The trial was, however, that morning made on the
Uxbridge staid, and by the exercise of perhaps unequalled severity,
the poor animal was urged forward, and won the match, but it is
supposed cannot live a day, as all the herse's remaining energies
appear, by the desperate speed with which it was urged forward, to'
have been broken, and it stood tottering in the stable in, as lie be-1
fore stated, a most lamentable state ; and as this, he considered,
was an act of wanton cruelty, he requested summonses against all
the parties concerned.
Mr. GRIFFITH, somewhat surprised—Why, Mr. Wheeler, I
am apprehensive you are asking for what I have not the power to
runt Although you and I, and all, may perhaps deprecate those
lets of excessive cruelty called " matches against time," I rather
think I have no jurisdiction whereby I may prevent them.
Wheeler was of opinion that Mr. Martin's Act, in some of the
leading terms of the clauses, fully embraced every species or ape.
I rifle act by which cruelty was caused to any animal coming under
the regulated denomination.
Mr. GRIFFITH said lie certainly could not consider (although
I he admitted fully its excessive cruelty) that this, the alleged act of
cruelty, came within the meaning of the Act of Parliament.
Wheeler humbly submitted that he had a very high authority,
almost the highest in the land, upon which he founded the spoil-
cation, and that high and learned authority had decided that I
" matches against time` were within the meaning of, and pu-
nishable by, the Act of Parliament for the preventioa of cruelty to
cattle.

Mr. GRIFFITH asked the name of the authority so strongly al.
luded to.
Wheeler—Why, your Worship, my Lord Eldon. the Chancellor,
has given that opinion; and I must humbly suggest that his Lord.
ship's opinion is a correct view or the law on the subject.
Mr. GRIFFITH said, perhaps upon some views of a case of
this description it might be considered punishable by is Act of
Parliament ; but he was at a loss to know bow every Mae of the

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kind could come tinder magisterial jurfsdktion ; foe instance,
man riding, upon an emergency, for a midwife, might, by the same
rule (if allowed), be punished for riding against time. In eaee,
riding against time for wagers some thetinction undoubtedly theft
was, but it was one of those cases in which he had no hesitation la
believing that a Justice of the Peace could take no cognizance of.
Wheeler very feelingly urged the cruelty, to say the least of jr,
of causing such a conditioned animal to perform what some very
fine blood horses with infinite difficulty, and almost proliablazuin
to their constitutions, could do, and dwe,t much 013 the Lord Chart.
calm's humane and learned opinion.
Mr. GRIFFITH expressed his regret that such a eircumstaitce
should have occurred, but declined acceding to the demoted.
Wheeler then observed there was another subject to which he
wished to call his Worship's attention, namely, bull-baiting. th,
bad followed on Monday two balls and a fellow, named rteuteta
Sl seem, through various parts of Essex, to the extent of 28 milts,
and, although he had closely pursued, one of the bells gave hien
the slip, and he believed was afterwards baited. As he had some 0::
the names of the pieties lie wished for summonses against them.
Mr. GRIFFITII immediately granted the summonses.
WORSHIP-STREF.T. AUGUST 9.—This Office was crowded
by journeymen carpenters, who came for the purpose of hearing the
decision of the Magistrates upon two summonses which had been
taken out by two journeymen against a 111 r. Case, a master car.
penter, who resides in Brick-lane, Spitalfields, and who refused to
pay his journeymen the late advance of 6d. per day. Mr. Toe.
Faun and Mr. BRODERIP were the presiding Magistrates.
The first case called on was that of a journeyman of the name of
' Adams, who stated that lie had worked for Mr. Case 4.{ days, which,
by the late advance of fid. per day, consented to by the masters
generally, amounted toll. 3s. 45d.
Mr. TwvzonD—Did you enter into any contract with your em,
plover previous to your going into his employ, as to wages
Adams—No, your Worship, but the acknowledged price al.
lowed by other master.—Here the complainant enumerated the
names of a number of respectable masters who have paid the ae„
vance for the last two months, and said that he knew that Mr.
Case had paid one man 6s. per day.
Mr. CASE admitted that he did pay Gs. per day to ere
man, who was a superior workman. He added, that the present
proceeding was a combination between three or four of his men.
Mr. Tw rron to, addressing Adams, said, if he could prove that
the trade allowed ss. 6d. per day, he (Mr. T.) might be of some
I service to him.

Adams repeated that the masters to whom he before alluded had
been paying that rate for two months past, and Mr. Case, he raid,
had admitted that he never had a better workman than complainant
in his employ.
Mr. TWYFORD thought the advance In wages had not been SO
long established as to be generally known. For his own part, Le
always understood ss. per day to be the settled wages for a careen.
ter; and in the absence of a specific agreement, or proof of an
advance having taken place, he could not depart from the founer
established regulations.
Mr. Case produced the former book of prices, adjusted and Aare.
thaned by the surveyors, where they (the roasters) could only charge
ss. Lid. per day for a journeyman when employed by any gentleman
or trader, and in that case the master's profit was only Bd. and that
there was no agreement between him and the journeyman as to
wages. Ile (Mr Case) would be the last man to reduce the labour
of any man ; but he felt it an equal hardship to be compelled to pay
a man more than he earned. lie had had the work examined that
morning, and the con.plainant was at liberty to have it measured.
John Simkins stated that he that morning examined the work at
the request of Mr. Case. Part of the work, he said, was well done,
but part of it might be better.
Alr. TwYFORD—Was Adams present at the time P—No.
Adams—Your Worship, Mr. Case put me to the repair of old
floors, and desired me not to be very particular; but 1 can pros.
he admitted he bad no fault to find with any work.
A man named Paxton then stated, that on Tuesday last Mr.
Case told him that a better workman than Adams he never had in
his els ploy.
Mr. Tw YFORD said he could render the complainant no service
unless he chose to have the work measured, and in that ease ti
would suspend his judgment for a week.
Adams said it would cost more than the amount of his wagem to
base the work pleasured.
Adaira then left the witness box, and a man named Gem:
Redkin, the other complainant, presented himself, in support es
•ummons for two days' labour, at ss. fid. per day. He said that he
had masters now in the office who had paid him the advanced nee:
but as this case was similar to the other, and no agreement had
been entered into, Mr. TWYFORD felt obliged to dispose of it in
the same manner. lie would not, however, prevent the journeyman
from producing his late employer.
Mr. Smith, a master, said he believed ss. ed. per day to be the
regulated price, and that he had paid that rate to the complainant,
as well as to others, since the advance
Mr. Case stated the names of several masters who still refused to
give the advance, and lie was then willing to pay the 51. per day.
The complainant agreed to take the ss. per day, which Mr. Case
immediately paid him.
Adams, the complainant on the first summons. then aimed to
rceiva paymen t after the same rats, and the parties then left the
utl ce.