The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-24 00:00:00

eurnstances cf the ease, something like extortion, was seceded to,l
And the complainant satisfied the coachman ; but not so the guard,
who demanded remuneration for having loaded his luggage at Bit-
' hiinghain. The complainant had great difficulty in understanding
that the claim of the guard was a fair one, notwithstanding the
earnestness and veherneneta with which it was enforced, and the
occasional embellishment of abuse, in the true guard style. But,
in order to escape from the clamour which was liaised, and in
i which Jehu joined with all the fraternal sympathy so peculiar to
the slang tribe, he.also gave the guard two shillings ; but baying
done them, he resolved upon bringing the matter before the public,
and accordingly appeared at 130 w-street.
Mr. M fumy at. said it was an Instance of gross misconduct in
the parties complained of, and that the gentleman had done a pub_
lie service by this exposure. On his procuring the names of the
coachman and guard, he would issue a warrant, and render the
complainant every assistance in his power.

SHAM ATTORNEYS.
,a I
QUIEN-S4I:IARI, Seri. 23—A case oatne on at this office
bore Mr. WHITE, the Magistrate, which exposed a system that
is carried on by a set of fellows who haunt the Old Bailey during I
the Sessions, and by imposing themselves on the friends of the un.
fortunate iudividuals who are to be tried, as reputable Solicitors,
undertake to prepare the defence, provide Counsel, &c. and foe
which they always contrive to draw a stun of money in advance.
When once they obtain this, their °Nett, nothing more is seen of
them, and the wretched prisoner is left to his fate, which the fol-
lowing case will exemplify :
James Evans, a ladder-make, at Knightsbridge, appeared to a
summons,to showicause why he refused to deliver up the sum of one ,
guinea, which had been given to him to provide Counsel fur a man
named Woodcock,-who had been tried for a felony this present Old
Bailey Sessions.
It appeared from the statement of several witnesses, that in con-
sequence
Of a man named Woodoeck. u carpenter, tiering been
committed some time back ror foe stealing some lead from
the Fox Welk-house, (at Knigkeakidese.which is undergoing a
repair, they had in consequence of bls.former good behaviour en-
tered into a subscription at their house of call to provide hiot With
the assistance of Counsel. The defendant, when the subscription
was proposed, was in the room, and said that he would, upon his
receiving a fee of a guinea, undertake to procure Counsel for the
prisoner. Those persons who had entered into the subscription con-
sented to give him the required sum, and the money was accord.',
ingly delivered to him. Nothing more was heard of him till the
day before the Sessions, when the defendant applied for a further
advance of money, saying that Indus he had a further supply he
could not se° on with the business. T person to whom ,I„te sp-
piled said be would mention it tothessone who had subscribed
the guinea, and requested to know how much mere he would want
he said 30s. The application was made tnoan to the friends of
the prisoner, who could not muster so much ; the consequence was,
that its never employed Counsel, and the man was tried last Friday
and found guilty. lie had since been applied to, to refund the
money, but be had refused.
Evans, In answer to the charge, admitted receiving the guinea
for the purpose of providing Counsel for the man, and had handed
the money over for that purpose to his own solicitor (pointing to a
shabby looking man near hint).
Mr. Krung, addreseing the individual alluded to by the de-
fendant—Pray, Sir, are you a solicitor i and what may be your name ?
The person said his name was Preston; that he certainly was not
p certificated attorney, but he was with Mr. Giles, of Clement's
Inn, who is, and that's all the same, Sir.
Mr. WRITX—No, it is not all the same; you are ro solicitor,
Mr. Giles may be. and I am sure no respectable solicitor would act
in such a disgraceful manner.
The individual said that be was not aware that a man must be a
certificated attorney before he can transact the business at Sessions.
Mr- WITITE said, he did not wish to argue the case with him ;
all meld say was, there were a vast number of fellows about called
sham-attorneys, that were defrauding the public, and people could
not be too much on theft gourd.
The individual said that Mr. Giles was at present out of town, ,
and lie acted in his stead; he had drawn up the brief ready to put
into the Counsel's hands, and it the friends of the prisoner were
not provided with the fee, it was not his fault. The guinea he re-
ceived from Evans barely paid for the proceedings that had been
already done.
Mr. WHITE said, he was positive that had Mr. Giles taken the
guinea lie would hare done justice to his client, or have returned
the money. However, as far as regarded the defendant, be seemed
to have acted as he considered proper, and lie was willing to be-
lieve he had done so ignorance, therefore he should dismiss the
case, but hot* the publication of the case in the papers would put
the public on dusk guard.