The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-06 00:00:00

lIITTON-GARDES.

INFORMER/ DlFEATZD.—Yesterday Mr. Christopher Hitt,
a coal-merchant, appeared upon a summons, issued on the infor-
mation of NVilliam Pearce, to answer a complaint under the Coal
Act, for not having a bushel measure of the legal dtu.ensions at-
tached to his waggon on the delivery of coals.
Mr. Butler (clerk to Mr. Harmer) attended u Solicitor on be-
half of the defendant.

John Oaley stated, that on the Roth ult he observed coals about
to he delivered at a house in the New-road, occupied by Mr.. Baker,
and on inspecting the waggon, he saw on the front of it the defend.
ant's name marked u owner. The bushel measure was shown to
him by the driver, Abraham Elliott, and on examining it, he found
that it was delicient in all its dimensions; the Act of Parliament
required that it should be eight inches and a quarter in depth,
whereas, this measure varied in its depth from seven to seven
inches and a-halt, and also fell short in diameter, u required by the
Act.

On the measure being produced, it was evidently bilged in dif-
ferent places.
Mr. louder, on the part of the defendant, called the driver,
Elliott, who derrami, that the measure was not in the awe in which
the last wimesa found it on the waggon, which testimony was cot.
roborated by Mr. Hill, his employer.
Mr. Butler begged leave, fur the protection of the trade in general,
to state that those informers have a particular method of stamping
on those bushel me:sures, and in consequence of the pliancy tat the
material (sheet copper) the alteration in breadth ar..l depth was
niggly effected • in proof of this assertion, he woad merely per-
form the exueAtrent himself for the Magistrate's satisfaction.
[Here Mr. Ruder stepped upon the measure, and by a slight
pressure of his toot, demonstrated in the clearest meaner bow the
alteration had been accomplished.]
Mr. LAING, after minutely examining the measure, derided
that the informer had failed in proving the case, and accordingly
dismi-sed the complaint.
Mr. Butler then addressed the Magistrate, and begged leave to
explain some very extraordinary and very infamous circumstances
connected with the case. The informing party had waited on Mr.
ill, and presented • paper purporting to be a Magistrate's sum.
mons, which doubtless had been obtained in en improper manner,
as no Justice's name was affixed thereto, which one of them held
towards bun, and said, " You see what we have got for you ;" of
course intended as a threat ; and concluded by demanding the mo-
dest doacene of 1001. and they would agree to bush up the com-
plaint. Mr. Hill, however, conscious of not having offended in any
respect against the provisions of the Act of Parliament, was not to
be easily intimated by the threats of fellows of tbia description, end
so tar from conciliating, he set them at defiance, and made a com-
plaint to the Magistrates of Guildhall against the person who pro.
posed the betty!. Mr. Butler then concluded by informing all the
parties that his client was determined to indict every one connected
with this nefarious transaction, at the next Sessions.

1 be Slagistriu es on h• at ing;his part of the story, fully concurred
in tit prmutety of Illr. Hill's determination to puuiali such an atro-
cious attempt at conspiracy.

MARY-Let.fiONNE.
111•CZNIT•COAC/I Farce.—Yesterday Mr. G. Parkrt. of
Thavies Inn, Holborn, appeared to • summons obtained by the
nw mi. of the chariot Na 266, for not paying his tare for the follow-
ing distance :
Coulee stated that he was hired from the stand at Hatton.
gari;.in, and that lie took up the gentleman at his apartments,
Thavies Inn, and set him down io Bulstrode.street, when tit de.
mended 3e. for iris fare, but the gentletnan refused giving him more
than 2s. 61., and he therefore summoned him for the difference.
Parker siat:d, that he bed been iu the habit of taking a