The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-02 00:00:00

POLICR.

CRIBI. CON. AND ELOPEMENT.
Blwwwww-HousE —Yesterday, a gentleman named fleapits?,
who is a respectable member of the Stork Exchange, crime attended
by Mr. Davis. the Solicitor, of the firm of }tendon and Davis, and
a number of friends, to prefer a charge of assault against a little
man, named Taylor,who is a tailor, residing in Bear-street, Leices-
ter Fields.
Blr. Healthy stated that he resides at St. John's Wood Grove,
Regent's Park, and deposed t!,at on Sunday morning the prisoner
came to his house, and wislrcd to see him, He went down, when
the prisoner refused to come in, said he had something particular to
say to him, and wished him to come out. Witness put on his hat,
and went out, when the prisoner began stating a long case about his
wife. lie said, continued Mr. Healthy, that I'd gut his wife; lie
said this thing and that thing about her, and that I knew where

she was.
The Lonn MATow-n-bid you know his wife, Mr fleaphy ?
Mr. Heaphy—Yee, my Lord. I was met again by him yester-
el* shollisan steßiesehary-pinee, wino he said he wan a man in a
*m way, and was wining to take a sum of money, when
he would sign any paper * release that I liked. I made no propo-
shim' to him, and he tame to the Stock Fschange, where he used
very abustee bong sage: • lie seized me by the collar, created a dis-
turbance, and said he was determined to follow me up. A crowd
was essernbles/, and I was obliged to give him into custody.
The LORD Alavon—Pray. Mr. Heaphy, how long have you
peen acquainted with his wife?
Mr. Ileaphy-4 really can't exactly answer.
The Loan MAYost—Do you know where she now is ?
Mr. Heaphy—l can't say, my Lord, really. I know no more
about her than a stranger.
The Loan MAYOR proceeded to put some other questions;
when Mr. Heaphy, who bad answered with great reluctance those
peevionely put to him, objected to answer any more. He came
there, he said, to prefer a charge of assault, and he wished the case
to be confined to the fact of the assault.
The Lonit MAYOR—But the assault, as stated by you against
the prisoner, is a very trifling one, supposing that you have given
pest provocation. 1 wish to see how that fact is.
Air. Heaphy—lf he conceives himself injured by me in any other
way, he may seek his remedy in a Court of Law ; but I am not to
be assaulted.
The prisoner, who listened with great impatience to the state-
ment of the case against him, here said, " 1 tell you how it !a, my
Lord, if you will listen to me ; I have no fear. It is six weeks last
Monday since my wife asked me to let her go home to her mo-
ther's. I told her she might, if she liked ' • but said she must be
back soon, as I wanted to go to Vauxhall. She went accordingly,
but she did not come home till past ten o'clock at night. Good
God ! (says 1) where the d-1 have you been till this time of night?
She said she had been at her mother's, and that there MSS some
friends there, and that they had persuaded her to stay with them.
The next morning there comes a gentleman to the that I knows,
who says to me, ' Your wife's a bad woman ; I saw her walking
with a gentleman, and knowing her to be your wife I followed her,
and saw her go with him to the White House in Soho-square; and
I thought it but right to tell you of it: I then (continued the pri-
soner) called the servant, to ask whether there had been anybody
about the house. ' Tell me the truth, Sally,' said I ; ' have you
wen anybody about the house behaving improper to your mistress?'
She began to cry, and said there was a gemleman in a white hat,
who had called and talked to my wife. He said to her he was
sorry she was married, and wanted to go up stairs with her, but she
would not let him. He was with her in the private passage when
the door was open, and my wife said to the girl, ' Shut the door,
madam e and he said to her, " Sally, why do you not do as your
mistress bids you ?' Ile then went away. I got a young man to
watch her when she next went out, and she met hint, and went with
him to a house, No. 3, Oxendon-street ; they afterwards went to-
gether to a house is Lichfield., rect. I did not see them, but the
young man raw them ; and I can bring the servants from the three
places, who will prove that he went with her there. lie was away
about a fortnight, when she met hint in the New-road. He was on
horseback, and shrink hands with her." He then described that he
surprised his wife just as she left him, on another occasion, gad
had not seen anything of her since.
The LORD MAYOR..-YOll do not wish to see her again, do you'
The Prisoneiv•.ffieet lay Lord, I do not mind saying it, that I
should like to see her again very much. (Loud laughter.) I have
tried all I can to see her. Ile says ite does not know where she is,
but I have good infirrmation that he saw her last night.
The LORD Miros—How long have you been watching your
wife's conduct?
The Prisoner—More than five weeks.
The LOUD Maxon—What is your occupation ?—I am a
tailor.
The Loan MAYOR—Is he a customer of your's ?—Not in that
line. (Roars of laughter, in which the tailor joined.)
The servant girl, in the employment of the prisoner, deposed,
that she had seen Heaphy come Into the house. He wished to go 1
up stairs, but her mistress would not let him. She had seen him
come last Saturday week, in the afternoon ; she bad seen him come
and beckon her mistress out.
The tailor added, that he had been married seven peers. and
had had one child, which was dead ; he declared he was all happy '
and right until this man came across the door. The neighbours
had observed him shaking hands with her.
Mr. DAVIS, as solicitor to Mr. timidly, treated the whole as a
conspiracy to extort money, and stated that the defendant had
proposed to take a sum of money as compensation, which proposal
had been rejected.
The tailor said he wished to be rid of the woman; be received'
500/. with his wife, when he married her, and he stated that she
was to have 5001. more as soon ns her mother died. Under these
circumstances he intimated that he thought himself justified in
seeking compensation. lie told Mr. Ileaphy there must be a di-
vorce, which he ought to pay for, as he had been the cause of it.
lie, said the tailor, wished me to bring an action, but it is of no
use your bringing an action, Isecause I am going to sell, all my
property, and leave the country ; so you will lose your action.
I went to my attorney, who advised me to make it up if I could.
The LoaD klaxon—From the time you first maic the disco-
very, did you give your wife no cause to suspect you knew of her
conduct?
The Defendant—No, no ; I took care not to do that ; I wanted
to catch them. (Laughter.)
Mr. Davis, the solicitor, said that the defendant had been
ail told that it was understood he red 2001. for his wife, but he
insisted upon having 500 L, declared he would follow Mr.
Heaphy about until he was eat ;he then crested so great a
disturbance that it became absolutely necessary to have him taken
in custody. He had since he was in custody made a proposal,
through the medium of the officer, to take his wife back for 2001.

The LORD MAYO* (Riche officer who had the prisoner to cue-
todv)—Did you, Sir, make such a proposal ?
The Officer—lt was at his request.
The LORD MAYOR—I desire, then, that yod never do such a
thing again ; It was extremely improper. It is the duty of the
officers to keep their prisoners in safe custody, and not to act as
agents in such matters. His Lorelahita then said that the prisoner
had acted in a gross and indelicate ?harmer: and if he had acted
under the impulse of ordinary feelings, and given his wires pa-
-1 rumour a sound drubbing (though, from his disparity of size, Mr.
, Ileaphy would not perhaps be under any apprehension in that
I respect), he would have been excused in the eyes of most men,
though nut in the eye of the law. It was singular he had so long
looked on.
The Defendant—l was going to fall upon him, but I was advised
I not. and to bring an action against him.
The LORD MAYOR addressing Mr. Ileaphy, said, that the
defendant's want of delicacy did not exonerate him ; he was most
culpable, and had undoubtedly given the defendant great provoea-
lion, by invading his domestic pow... (In these grounds, his
Lordship said, he should not call upon the defendant to find bail,
but should liberate him, on his promise not to repeat the disturb-
ance at the Stock Exchange, or be guilty of any breach any where
I else. Mr. Ileaphy had laid himself open to a civil action. His
Lordship presumed that Mr. Healthy was not, as had been stated,
about to leave the country.
Mr. Heaphy said, certainly not; he was known to all the gentle-
men there, and his respectability would not be questioned.
The Loan MAYOR said, he had heard mention of Mr. Ilea-
phy's name, and had no doubt lie was respectable : but this action
was not respectable—to be found in erimiaal correspondence with a
married woman was not respectable in any man.
Mr. Heaphy—l could not tell that she was married. Really, my
Lord, there is no telling what women are married ; and I had nu
more reason to know that she was married than 1 have with re-
spect to any female now present.
The LORD MAYOR—It N impossible, according to the testi
mony. of the set vans girl, but that you should know she was
mama
The defendant—lle is moiled himself, my Lord ; he has not
long married a young woman with a large fortune. You ahoulti
have seen how pale he turned when I first mentioned the thing to
Wm, for fear his first wife should hear of it.
*The LORD MAYOR (to Mr. Heaphy, in great surprise)—What,
Sir, are you really married ?
Mr. Ileaphy—l am, my Lord.
The Lotto MAYOR—Oh, shameful! shameful
Mr. Davis—My Lord, there can be little doubt that the whole
is a conspiracy between the husband and wife to extort money.
This virtuous woman, my Lord, laid bold of him as he was re-
turning home in a state of intoxication.
The LORD MAYOR made no further remark, but discharged the
prisoner front custody, on his promise not to interfere with Mr.
Heaphy again in the same manner. As he was leaving the bar, he
exclaimed, looking at Mr. Heaphy, " 11l have a turn with you in
another way." The Lord Mayor recalled him ; when he explained
that he meant to seek his remedy by a civil action.
The case was then dismissed.
EMBEZZLEMENT.
Ilarvow-GARor.w.—A young man, named Charles IVilliarns,
was charged by his employer, Mr. Rowland Riley, with embezzling
various sums of money.
Mr. Riley, a fishmonger, said that the prisoner had been in his
employ for some months past. During the recent warm weather
he had occasion to use a considerable quantity of ice, which was
procured at different places by the prisoner, he always receiving
money to pay for the quantities so purchased. On Saturday last he
was much surprised at receiving a bill from a confectioner, amount-
ing to 111., for tee furnished at different dates from May ast. His
suspicions being thus awakened, he made further inquiries, and
ascertained that nearly all the money given by him to the prisoner
had been appropriated to his own use. On speaking to the prisoner
on the subject, the charge was at first denied. The production of
the bill, however, drew from him a confession that he had expended
the money, but that lie intended to repay it without its being known
to him (Mr. Riley), although he had no visible means of so doing.
Several witnesses were in attendance to prove having credited the
pri-oner on Mr. Riley's account, but as it was considered necessary
to have a little more time for inquiry, the prisoner was remanded
till to-morrow (this tiny).
Mr. Riley here expressing some reluctance at pressing the case to
a prosecution, was informed, that if he entertitined any such feel-
ings he had better make up his mind on the subject against the
next examination.

Tr IF. CUMMINSES.
MAIILBOROrOIt-STREET.—Yesterday four of the clan of the
Cummins's, all most vehemently denying any tic of consanguinity
to exist between them, came before Mr. CONANT, to be beard on
their several comp Lints. The personage of grfatcsl weight in the
scale of society was the renowned Mrs Cummins, of George-street.
Mrs. Cummins, all the early part of her life. tenanted hill the
houses in " Dyot-street, Illoomsbury-square," the doors of which
were tiever shut at any hour against the way-faring traveller. She it
now enjoying her client cunt digt4mlc, at No. 14, Upper Pratt-
street, Camden-town, and would be very quiet and harmless, if
people would let her have her own way.
A few days ago Mrs. Cummins applied at this office for a peace
warrant, which was granted on her reprenntation and the payment
of 25. The custody of the warrant was in.rusted to George Avis,
the officer, who made a demand of 3a. for i— execution. This the
ex Lady Abbess refused to pay, insisting that she could serve it
herself, and, as she had paid for it, she hedge right to its possession.
" Why, Mrs. Cummins," said Avis, " whenever 1 had a bed at
your house I always paid for it. You had your fee, and I'll have
mine." " I don't know what you paid," said Mother Cummins,
" 191 go in to the Magistrate, and see about it." She was
ushered into the private room to Sir G. Farrant, who very soon
convinced her of her mistake. The money was paid, and yesterday
Mrs. Cummins made her complaint.
She had summoned the defendant, James Cummins, a watch-
man of St. Giles's, to the Court of Conscience, in Kingsgate-street,
Holborn, for a sum of If. tit. 6d., which he was to have paid at is.
per week. This he had neglected to do, and she wentlast Wednes-
day. to prosecute the business, when the defendant and his wife
instigated the mob against her. They followed her to an adjoining
public-house, and there attacked her afresh, telling her that she was
the greatest rogue in London ; that they would have their revenge
of her, for an unfeeling old b—."
Mr. CONANT—I believe you are called Mother Cummins? It
is the first time 1 have had the honour of your acquaintance. How
do you make it out that your life is in danger ? How many were
in the mob
Mrs. C.—The Officer of the Court said there were 312 sum-
monses. There were 100 persons in the mob.
Lawrence Cummins, the postillion to Mother Cummins's chaise-
cart, 'stated that he was in the cart at the time the defendant abused
his mistress; he was not near enough to hear what was said ex.
actly. Did not bear them say they would do his mistress any
mischief. Cannot say how many were in the mob ; five or six—

more—a dozen.
James Cummins, one of Pharoah's lean kine, and as much like
the complainant as "she to Hercules," said he occupied a room in
her house, which at first he had to himself ; then Airs. Cummins
put in a quilting-frame, and aferwards a woman and child, and
agreed that he should pay 2s. per week instead of 3s. The odd
shilling he had stopped, and offered her a bill for the balance,
which she refused to take, and summoned him, which he was pay-
ing at 4s. per month.
Mr. CoxwxT told Mrs. Cummins, both herself and witness had
failed to make out their case, and asked her how many houses she
had now.
Mrs. Cummins—Your Worship, I have lived in years in Cam-
den Town. I have only eleven houses in George-street, which are
let to tenants at will.
Mr. Cot:ANT—Have yon always been so withholding to your
Irish tenants ?
Mrs. Cummins—Ah, your Worship, they have been a very un-
generous set. I have lost a good deal by them.
Air. CONAYT—WeII, I shall let the warrant stand over, and if
they annoy you any more, I shall bind them over.
A LITTLE JEALOUSY.
Henry Jones, a tailor, was brought up from the watch-house,
for violently beating and bruising his wife.
The landlord, and a ►odger in the same house, deposed to the
' repeated beatings of the wife by the prisoner; that on Monday even-
ing he came home, tore her clothes of, and cut her head. The
woman was sitting quiet at home, when he came in and knocked
her about. She screamed " murder," when he burst the door open
and sent him to the watch-house.

The prisoner had their youngest child in long clothes at the bar,
dandling it to quietude, while the wife carried an elder one in her
arms. She could not resist going up to the bar to hint, to admi-
nister consolation, and came forward every reluctant witness.
She said he went out good-tempered in the morning, and returned
at night before she got home from bee sisters. He went out again •
during which time she came home, and because he supposed she
had gone out improperly, struck her on the head. He was very
well at times, only a little hasty; but when he came to himself,
which he would do after a little, he was a good husband. e
had beat her once before, and had been three weeks out of emplo
Mr. Cowawr ordered him to be locked up for bail.
Though this gave great satisfaction to the landlord and lodger,
it was too much for the nerves of the wife, who begged the sentence
to be reversed.
Mr. CONANT said he should be sent to gaol then as a punish-
ment, and, to-morrow, if his wife came and begged him MI, he
should be liberated.