The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-19 00:00:00

OBSCENE PAINTINGS.

HATTON.GARDE esterday Michael Herman Stroud, a
German Jew, of rather showy exterior, was brought before A. S.
LAING, charged with offering for sale, to a respectable female, the
wife of a tobacconist, snuff-boxes, bearing obscene paintiligKA,
Kimbton, the cons'able who had the prisoner in custody, In-
formed the Magistrate that the complainant, being a pod deal
shocked, and probably from a natural feeling of female delicacy,
had declined conning torward, unless her evidence should be deemed
absolutely necessary.
Mr. LAING said it was a very proper feeling, no doubt; but at
the same time her attendance could not be dispensed with.
The prisoner was then taken back to the lock-up-room, and a
person was despatched for the complainant, who soon after entered
the office.
She stated that her name was Smith, and that her husband kept
a tobacco and snuff shop in Great Sutton-street, Ocrkenwell. A
short time ago the prisoner called, and asked her to purchase some
si.uff-boxes, which he was enabled to sell at a very reduced price.
Not being a enmpetent judge of the value of such articles, she de-
clined, and told him to call on Saturday, when he would find Mr.
Smith at home, who might, in all probability, take some of the
boxes. The prisoner did not call at the time appointed, but he
came on 3londay morning. There was no one In the shop at the
time but complainant, and though much preyed to buy, she still
refused, for the reason already mentioned. The prisoner, finding
her alone. assumed a very great freedOm of maccer, and produced
a pasteboard ease, containing lames of a character not lit to be
looked at, which he impudently persisted in exposing to her view,
and finally insired that as he was desired to call she should buy
some. Mrs Smi it ordered him to leave the shop immediately, and
was at most compelled to call in a coastable to take him away.
Mr. LAINO asked the prisoner whether he was a licensed
hawker ?

The latter said he had no occasion for a license. as he was only
acting for another. He was employed by Mr. Louis Lisard, of
Leadenhall-street, and merely received a commission upon the sales
which lie anted.
Mr. LAIII/A..." But how do you data, air. to Insult a respectable
female, by exposing such indelicate paintings as those on your
anuff•boxes ?"

Prisoner—" I declare it to my Cot that I did not know dere vas
a box of de kin' amongsh dem. Me, your Vorship, I vould be
shamed."

Mr. LAING said lie was sorry that there did not happen to be
a Hawkers' Inspector present, or he would have a chance of being
fined 101. for carrying about articles for sale without a license.
The prisoner was then discharged. with a suitable admonition not
to be found committing a similar offence in future.
IMPORTANT DECISION.
Mr. R. Smith, a solicitor, residing at No. 6, Calthorpe-street.
Brunswick-square. appeared to a summons for the payment of four
quarters' rate, 31. 13s. lid., levied on him by the Commissioners for
Paving, Lighting, and Cleansing the Calthoipe Estate District.
Mr. Harings, the Collector, stated that the defendant resisted the
payment. though every other inhabitant of the street hail submitted
to it. Mr. Smith would, no doubt, admit that he had alrectly paid
this same rate himself.
Mr. Smith was willing to admit that lie had, but then he had paid
it in his own wrong. The fact was, that he was summoned tor a
paving-rate, at a time that there was no carriage-way in the street.
Ifiesebjeotlui was grounded on the words of the Act of Parliament.
He had himself been a Commissioner, but that was no reason why
he should submit to a public imposition. The Act specified that
this rate should be demandable when the carriage-way was paved to
the middle, which was not the case up to the perindithat he resisted
the rate; indeed no carriage could come into the street.
Mr. Lama, on referrOg to the Meal Act, deemed the objection
valid, end the summons was dismissed.
THE WAY TO MAKE A PENNY.
MelltLlPOnotrow•aTneEv.—A man nr.med Rivitard Barry,
well known at the Office as bail for various of Ida countrymen who
are obliged to give sureties for their appearance at the Sessions, was
yesterday detected in giving bail for his brother-In-law, upon re-
ceiving the sum of two sovereiLns from him, which he had de-
posited in the hands of Ounn, the rubliesn, till the bail was taken.
The eiredenstance coming to the khowledge; of 31r.Itoi, he re-
fused Barry's bail, and said he shoat tidver become security for
any body again at that ace.

ARBITRARY INTERFERENCE OF 10ATCHMEN.
Maavt.egonr.—Yesterday Robert Dobbins, an old reteran,
having a pension of 9d. a thy, for services in the Oft and Coldstream
Guerda, wailsought to the bat, charged in the watch-book by
Peering, a sergennt of the watch, with having no place of abode.
Penang not being in attendance to uphold his charge, Mr. RAW.
I.IEBO ,/ asked the old Rohner how he came into the watchhouse?
Prisoner—Why, Sir, as I stood gaping about last night. the man
that is not here tapped me on the shoulder, and said, " Where do
'you live ?" I said. I don't know. He said, I will find a place for
' you: and, so he made me go to the watchhouse.
Mr. AA W I.IN SON, to the constable who brought him from the
watchhouse-1 do not understand the practice of sergeants of the
watch giving a charge, and then not coming here to assign a rowan
for it. Was this person drunk, or do you know any thing about it
Constable—lle was not drunk, but he was in the street, and Ser-
geant Perring Rays lie was looking shout him.
Me. R ale 1.1 nsow—That may he; and if this system is plumed,
a man may be locked up all night for looking at the moon. The wor-
thy Magistrate endeavoured in vain to find out the poor man's resi.
dawn, and risked him, among other questions, where he slept last?
to which he replied with great readiness, " in the watchhouse."
Mr. Ilawinsaon—That I know ; and if I let you go, where
will you sleep to-night ?
Dobbins—l can't tell you ; I shall sleep wherever I can get
a bed.
His other answers led Mr. Rawlinson to doubt the correctness of
his mind ' • and as there was a constable present who had been his
old comrade in the Guards, and who spoke highly of his former
conduct, Mr. Rii/bison dismissed him, and desired the constables
to inquire into his eircumstaneeS.
AN INTRICATE CASE.
Lowg, a toll-rolle,:!or at l'ine Apple-gate, in the Kil-
burn road, was summoned by Mr. Norwood, a cow.keeper, for an
illegal demand of toll.
The local Act provides that a cart, &e. passing through the gate
with a load, aced paying the toll, is entitled to return, when empty,
toll-free; but it does not notice the reversed order of going empty
and returning loaded, which Is the case with Mr. Norwood in fetch-
ing his milk, - and therefore the gatekeepers exact toll of him both
lays. Therqueation has been three times before the Magistrates of
thin office. who-con-nide in the opinion that the Act did not intend
a ciifference. An arrangement was made yesterday, which is likely
to bring the rasa before the Magiatrates at the Quarter Sessions, for
their decision.
PRIVATELY STEALING.
THAMES OFFlCE.—William Kcal, rather a respectable-look-
ing young man, was put to the bar, charged with feloniously steal-
ing one gold ring, one pair of ear-rings, and one half-sovereign,
the property of Mary Burrnwes.
Ann Burrowea statnd that she lodges in the Crown and Kee
public-house, East Smithfield, in a room on the first floor, and the
prisoner lodged in a room on the second floor. On Sunday even.
ing, about trine o'clock, she went up stairs and found the prisoner
in her room ; she asked him what he wanted there? He said that
he made a mistake. Her sister occupies the same room with her.
On her mentioning the circumstance, her sister came up stairs and
searched the
Mary Burrowes Is the sister of the last witness, and she keeps
house for the landlord or the Crown and Rose. On her sister tell-
ing her that die prisoner had been in her room, she examined her
trio k, and from a small box which she kept in it she missed one
gold ring, one pair of ear-rings, and one half-sovereign. The ring
and ear-rings now produced are her property.
William Clark, one of the patrol, stated that be had been called
in to take the prisoner into custody. He found the prisoner in bed,
and t'onnd the ear-rings in the prisoner's pockets, and the gold ring
on the mantel-piece in his room. Ile took the prisoner to the
watch-house, and on his way thither, in consequepne of witness
telling prisoner it would be much better to confess all, prisoner then
said if they would make no noise about it he would make up the
half-sovereign.
Mr. 13E013E81P told Clark, the witness, that he ought not to
have held out any inducement to the prisoner to make any disclo-
sures. If prisoners should say ally thing, he was bound to hear it,
and communicate It.
The prisoner made no defence, and woefully committed. •
OUTRAGEOUS ASSAULT.
Usriott-flett.—Yeatenlay, John Jones, the proprietor and
driver of a Greenwich stage-coach, was brought before the sitting.
Magistrate, M. SWAbET, Esq. charged with having assaulted
gentleman named Terrett.
The complainant stated, that on the previous evening lie got int
the defendant's coach at Greenwich, for the purpose of coming to
town. The defendant alighted several times on the road, and drank
at various public-houses. Before the coach got half the distance,
he became completely intoxicated, and therefore incapable of the
management of the horse, and when witness descended off the roof
with the intention of proceeding no further, he was followed by the
defendant who, in an insolent tone, demanded the full fare. Wit-
new refused paying him it farthing, upon whfeh he was struck
several times by the defendant, who also accompanined the assault
rby language of the most gross description.
'rite defendant did not contradict the assertion of his having been
drunk on the occasion, but contended that he had a right to de-
mand the lull tare; the gentleman not choosing to ride the whole
distance.
Anther eenilemein„ who was a passenger on the defendant's'
coach at the time in question, corroborated the above evidence, "ad
fully proved that the driver was in a shameful state of intoxication,
and that it was dangerous to ride on his coach.
The Magistrate observed that fie bad frequent opportunities of
witnessing the gross behaviour, particularly of the Greenwich stage
osaehmen, and lie should now enable Mr. Terrett to prosecute the
• defendant at the Sessions, asanr example to deter ethers of the same
fraternity from pursuing similar niiscondoct towards the public.
The complainant expressed his determination to prosecute, and
Ilse defendant was locked up in default of bail.

A JACK IN OFFICE.

A man tamed Ward. the driver of one of those vehicles, called
Go-cars, that ply at the Elephant and Castle, was charged with
assaulting a constable named Brewer, by lashing him over the head
and arms with a whip. The defendant Ward had also taken out a
',arrant against Brewer, for presenting a loaded pistol at his head,
and threetening to blow out his brains.
The constable stated that on Sunday afternoon, in the Brixton-
road, he observed the defendant plying for hire in a situation that
by law lie was not authorized. On looking to the cart he could
perceive no ntnnber, and therefore went to the horse's head for the
purpose of stopping the progress of the cart, and taking it to.
the Green-yard, if necessary. He had, however, scarcely time
to do so when the driver, Ward, cut at hint with his whip
cater the head and arms; when witness seeing that he was de.
tetnrined on making 165 escape. drewrout his pistol, and declared
that lie would shoot him if lie did'not desist from cutting at him.
The defendant paid no attention to the threats, but still conducted'
himself with much violence, and ultimately got awaliky the ex-
pedient of giving him (Brewer) into the custody of a larch-house-
keeper, on a charge of threatening to blow out his brains.
The above evidence having been gone through, the parties ex-
changed situations, and die defendant in the former ease now be-
came the complainant. The driver of the go-cart, having produced
his authority as a licensed driver, stated, that on the occasion in gate-
lion, instead of hit haw and cart standing still, as represented,' he
was driving along thi road, and had actually two female passengers
in the vehicle, when Brewer seized the head of the horse.; at the
same moment drawing a pistol out of his pocket, end presented it at
him, threatening to blow his brains out if lie did not stop. Wit-
ness conceiving that he had no right to do so, desired him to let go.
Brewer, however, refused, and witness then struck him with the
whip on the arm. The complainant added that lie was threatened
to be shot before he lifted the whip against the defendant. Brewer,
he declared, was intoxicated at the time.
Two witnesses were then called by the complainant, who swore
that Brewer presented the pistol, and threatened to shoot the driver
of the " go-cart" before the whip was brought into operation.
There were a great many persona attracted to the spot, who cried
out " Shame!" on witnessing Brewer's conduct to the cram-

plainant.
The Magistrate observed, that under ell the circumstances he
should hold the driver of the " go-cart," in his own recognizance,
to appear at the Sessions.
A Solicitor, Who 'attended on the part of Ward, submitted that
Brewer. in like manner, should be held to bail, as it was In est.
dente that he had presented the pistol at and threatened to shoot
Ward, before he received a blow of the whip.
The Magistrate, however,. rentoed, observmg, that when the ease
was heard at the Sessions, Ward would have as opportunity of
bringing forward till the evident* he had in his behalf.
Soon after the case was disposed of, two very respectable looking
men entered the office, and assured the Magistrate that Brewer's
conduct on the occasion Was most shameful ; that he was in a state
of intoxication; and that he was totally unqualified to hold the
situation of constable.
The Alagistrate remarked that they would he enabled to attend
0 the Seamus, where they might state these circumstances to the
Bench.

On Friday evening a one-horse chaise was stopped on the
road to SVavertree by a single font pad, who stopped the
horse, and then went round to open the door of the car-
riage, and proceeded to pull out some of the young ladies;
but the horse being uneasy sot olFat full speed, and left the
robber only in possession of some part of the ladies' dresses,
having been torn in the conflict.—Liverpool CcuTesperident.
An Inqueat was held befate THOS. CaaTea Esq., at
the White Bear, Long Walk, Bermondsey, on the body of Wil-
liam Nash, a respectable tradesman, who died suddenly. Mary
Leney stated she was a ehar.woman, and had known the deceased
Bl
far many years, when he carried on the business of a glue-boiler
Sr. theue-Anchor road, Bermondsey,
which place he had quitted
I tonne time ago to reside at Stockport. Deceased had come to town
nag at the Pagoda
three days ago, when site mst him in the street, and he requested
her to meet him in the eve
public-house, Ber-
mondsey, which the did, and found him drinking with some friends,
and appeared ve
much in liquor. lie accernpanhid her home to
No. 5, Long Wait, when he said he would stop all night, and un.
dressed himself and went to bed. Shortly sifter she heard a rattling
in his throat, which she thought was occasioned by the liquor he
had drank, but being alarmed she brought a surgeon. Derieseed
told her he had that day purchased glue to the tunsunt of lily=
Mr. Idoland, surgeon, stated, that be found the demised in bed
be opened a rein, but without the least symptoms of resuscitation ;
lin his opinion his death was ocessiotted by apoplexy. Witness
searched his pockets, and forind bookies some_pilser. which,
with some papers, he sealed up Wore witnesses. His friend' bad
been written to, but he was arrnid they bad got the wrong ieldreil.
Verdict-." Accidcital Death."