The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-10 00:00:00

POLICE.

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III.17ES1()N.1101'SE.
ENTHAOILOINAHT CHANGE OT ASSAULT.—Mr. F.' rns, a
member of the Common Catineil for the weed of Viandlewis It, and
stove grate-manufacturer, residing at No. I. Fishnereet-hill. was
brought berme the lord 3layor, on a charge of having outrageous 4
assaulted an Irish Gentlemen eed beating hint with a horeeethip.
The complainant, Mr. NVerhope, slated, that he resides It (cork,
and that he recently had occasion to come over to 'Amnon for the
purpem of receiving money due to 'tiro. He had oteseion to make
a purchase of ironmongery to furnish a 11Olat, and he coiled to
amenain the prices and make a selection at the chop of .11r,
Evans. lie ukirnately looked out a qttantity to the aineunt 0:
about :12f., and desired that a list of them might he made out.
On Friday ho called tartietforpnse a paying for them, as he
was about to sail on ' , and they had arranged for their
shipment, when he presets 1/ bill fur 7!! in payment, which had
been Leh:need by .Ilr. Hawley. • respectable and well-known
jeweller, residing in the Strand. Mr. Evans said he must send to
get it discounted, and appetites! to make tome difficulty about it,
when he (31r. Vl'esthope) said he would get it diecounted himself
as he was (NV in a direction where he resld get it done without
any in ItNICH. He lolled up the bill for that piirpow,
whet' Mr.' trans exclaimed —" You never intended to pay for
these goods ;—you ate an arrant swindler ;—get out of ay
shop itnmediately." The prosecutor made him a bow, to
intimate that after this language their dealing certainly wan
at no era', when Mr. Evans minter round upon hint, acieed
hint by the shoulder, and kicked him into the street. alr.
%Yesthope stopped fur a moment at the door to obtain retirees, when
31r. Evans, not content with what he had done, seine's carman's
whip, and cut hint sevetelv over the face with it. tic ,hewed the
wounds on his fare, which ware certainly most serious. He said
he was ready to give every tentimoniel a• his respectability, and
(allot upon a gentleman who had accompanied him to the defen-
; slant's shop.
Mr. Evans then went into a history of the transaction which eon-
tinned Mr. Iresthope's stateinere, as far as the time of settlement.
But Mr. Evans represented hint as an exceedingly troubles mie and
hesitating customer. lie said that he had horsewhipped the com-
plainant, under the provocation of a blow.
The Loan Merritt ordered Mr. Evans to find sureties to answer
the assault at the stesines.
The sureties were emceed into, and Mr. Evans was discharged.
Gsrgosa, the man charged on suspicion of being concerned in
the robbery of Earl ''owner's steward, underwent a final examina-
tion, when Mr. Richardson admitted that there was nut sufficient
evidence against him, and he was discharged.
II ATION-G A RI)EN.
Yesterday a exquisite of uperiu appearance, named ll'aliarn
Wood, of King's-roatl„ eheletta, was brought up from Saffron-hill
watch-house, charted with outrageously assaulting three watchmen
on Sunday morning last.
The charge, un twine read from the watch-book, excited much
surprise, as the defendant's stature was extremely diminutive, ,
while that of the watchmen was mune the contrary. He, however,
fully retrieved, by his prowess, that class of animals with which
be is identified.
John Corbett, a watchman, stated, that about one o'clock on
Sunday morning the prisoner was coming into Holborn, out of
Ely-place, intoxicated. and behas Mg in the moat riotous manner.
On advising hint either to return to the house from whence he had
come, or go Inane peaceably, he declined doing either, but kept
passing and repassinst through the gate, conducting himself as
violently, that at length winless endeavoured to take him to the
watch-house. He was, however. knocked down, and so severely
kicked in the hotly by the prisoner, that he is at present under
medical treatment On his calling to his brethren for assistance,
the lit:le Hercules 'cited one of theist by the throat, knocked hem
down, and would certainly have strangled hint but for the timely
assistance of a posse comitatur of constables, who with difficulty
secured him.
The prisoner. who daring this statement amused himself with
twirluig uhout his white hat, and exhibiting himself in a variety
of graceful attitudes, when asked by the Magistrate what lie was,
replied. with a great air of dignity, •' a Gentleinun, Sir."
" No doubt," observed the 3:agistrate, " your conduct proves
that."
This remark brought the " gentleman's" tone down many de-
grees, and accordingly he begged his Worship's permission to
settle the matter with the watchmen.
The Magistrate observed, that such an aggravated case ought
not to go unpunished; but as he expressed so much contrition, lie
would not refuse his request.
The prisoner then withdrew to a friend's house in Cockspur-
street, to procure the proper remuneration for the watchmen, he
having undertaken to pay all the expenses for medical advice for
the watchman Corhett, who is very sersoudy injured.
31A11Y-LA-110NNE OFF ll:E.
James 2lfillwood, a tales:out, ruffianly-looking fellow. rho had
been but a fortnight discharged from prison, was brought up from
(lie watch-house of Se Moms.
It appeared that the prisoner, who has the character of a most
violent man, beat his wile in a most shocking manner, on Saturday
evenieg, and on his landlord, 31r.ltivers, of No. 4, Howland-street,
venturing to remonstrate with him, he attacked that gentleman in
the moat ferocious manner, end vowing that he would be the death
of cry -tan that dared to approach him, he betook himself to his
apartment, one of the sulks. Some buys, whom the disturbance
bad brought to the spin. perceiving him at the window, set up a
*out, upon which the prisoner proceeded to tear down the bricks
from the parapet wall, and eischarge them at random among the
crowd assembled below. One huge brick passed very nigh to .Me.
Rivers'e !send, and an 'thee penetrated the roof of a cooper's shop,
where several men were at work, one of whom narrowly escaped de-
'unction from the fall of the ponderous ',Amite.
The prisimer represented hintrelf as a mach injured personage, of
the mildest temper and most gentle demeanour • but his suite and
landlord. and several of the neighbours concurring in testimony to
bits extremely violent and outrageous conduct, be was ordered to
find hail, in default of which he was locked up.
Thsmws Reatua, a powerful athletic young fellow, by trade a
whitesniith, was brought to the office, in custody of one of the pa-
rish constables of St. !fart'-la-bonne, followedby his father, mo-
ther, and eieter, who all appeared to be in a state of the highest con-
sternation.
The father stated, that the prisoner lived in his house, 54, New-
man-street, and had been entirely supported by hint for the Ised six
meanies, during which he had been out of work. About a fortnight
back he 'succeeded in getting employment, and extorted tram his
father a sum of money fur the purpose of paying his footing, or, as
it is usually termed •• coking." Yesterday, at dinner-time, he
suddenly and unexpectedly presented himself, and in a most
ferocious manner demanded some dinner, and being told there was
none for hint, he proceeded to demolish the chimney ornaments,
and every article of crockery, china, glass, and other similar des-
tructible materials in the apartment, and threatened destruction to
the whole family, for whose safety it was found necessary to call in
the assistance of the constable.
The prisoner being asked what he had to say in defence of such
autrateeenia conduct, veneered, " They provoked me to it."
elamstrate-I'ou will provoke nte to send you to mines.
Prisoner—Well. I don't mind.
He was accordingly moored in custody, in default of bail to
keep the puce.
QUEEN SQUARE.
Lova IN THE Lennea.--Yesterday a young man of rather
fashionable exterior was brought before the Magistrates of this
office, charged with having been found secreted in a gentleman's
house, between the hours 01 twelve and one o'clock in the morning,
tinter suspicious circumstances.
The Complainant, (I. Holmes, Esq. of Margaret-street, West-
minster, stated the particulars of the ease in these terms :--Having
a pretty large family of children, servants, &c. Mr. Holmes thought
necessary to lay down an established rule that the doors should be
closed at a certain hour at night, and having found by experience
the beneficial effect* resulting from a steady adherence to tiffs re.
gulation, lie was determined not to suffer any departure therefrom,
even to gratify his own children. The hall door was locked at
half-past eleven o'clock, and the key deposited in his own bed-
chamber, by a young feniele, Martha Young, the children's maid,
who having been brought up in the family, enjoyed a more eaten.
sire confidence than the other domestics. On Sunday night, about
the usual hour, 31r. and Nis. Holmes retired, and the runless,
I Murtha, brought up the hall-door key, uccnrding to custom, laid
it on the dressing-table, and withdrew. 11'hen Mr. Holmes had
nearly undreesel, it occurred to him that he had left some papers
ofctinsequence on the table in the parlour, which he had been pe-
rusing atter supper, and fearing that the servants might disarrange,
if not destroy them, be hastily deew on his robe4e-ehan.bre and
slippers, and went softly down stairs. Having to pass the butler's
busier, a closet tattle first landing, he was alarmed by the sound of
voices, apparently in eager contention.; his that conjecture natu-
rally was, that mhhers had by some rmans effected an entrance,
and lay concealed in this apartment until the retirement of the
family permitted their ransacking the house without fear of deter.
ton. Uncertain how to act, whether to throw tip site drawing.
room window and call for aseistsnee trout the watchmen, of rush
in and surprise them himself, Mr. H. remained a moment or two
sin the landing in the wont unenviable plight. The tete-a-tete was
continued; but the speakers' tones quickly assumed a softer and
more interesting expression. In place of the hoarse croaking of
nocturnal desperadoes, whispering destruction to the human ape-
cies, he could hear nought on one side but vows of eternal truth
and unalterable affection, breethed wish an ardency and an elo-
quence that would hare done honour to the first pleader in the court
of love—whilst, on the part of the other, those protestations were
Teethed with that show of refusal which makes acceptance more
clear. From the seppresse3 accents of the speakers, Mr. 11. found
i it beeteasible to glean anything that might excite suspicion of a
i criminal first : and but for the itnpudent affront put upon his
! 'Sillily by introducing a stranger to the house at such an hour, he
Icould have shout laughed at the nonsense whit It was uttered by
the Invert linable longe.r to restrain his justly-raised anger,
Mr. Holmes rudely forced the sacred Vane, and presented hint.
self to die " conscious pair," who were no other than Martha
—the confidant, the immaculate Martha--and the prisoner now
1 at the bar, whose Mr. Uolmes never before remembered to
have seen. 'rut former threw herself on her knees, and veiled in
blushes. confused herself a criminal, yet vith quivering lip be-
sought forgiveness; whilst the letter. net less steteible of his mis-
onnetiet, muttered ',nine indistinct apology. Owning a hasty glance
ut the plate which was generally deposited in this place Mr.!
Ho judged,
Holmes judg, trona the order of things, that it had pattered no
abatement; and a ramiberry tart lying unopened on the table, af-
forded the newt venemeing proof that lavers subsist not by the
tint: alitret.t which Invigorates people of mosser appetites. At
tint, Mr. Helm's% proposed sending both to the watch-house, but
Mrs. ifeltme, else ity this time hail risen from her bed, over-waled
that minion ; Coe w....cping Martha was taken charge of by her
misttess, a hil• t the s ennioured cavalier was transferred to the sur-
veillance a the t iebt constable.
Itlcrthe. t"ic 11,1, i.,' of thin romantic adventure, was then pro,
. deeed in cm:ohor::1:un of the above. After a pretty preface of sob-

Bing, intan.ir.g! • • ap rfo;_!iza, she adn.i;:ewl that it was all true.
the young gentleman sal her reettlxart, and she would be bound !
would do nouns, to no gentleman's house. " Indeed, indeed, your I
Niorship (riet inuetl Murtha.), if you only know'd hi:n PP long and :
tit wed! as I sit), you'd say yourselves he • a. a 1111.,; dingier •irmlrso
1 young mar." Phu then stated. that it was no: by the
that I e care.. 'n, but through a window which opened from the romn
in which tic^y lIIETT discovered to the yard at the rear. She locked
the door safe as usual ; hut as " Lar e Issoglis at Locksmiths," he
gallantly sanded the walls, and chunbered over the watili.house roof.
in defiance of sundry spikes, tenter-hooks, broken glow. man.
tripe, spring-guns. /sc. for the sole purpose of enjoying his dear
31arths's society for one little hour. She conclude! by saying, that
though ate Vfai angry with him for so bold an enterprise, yet he
would not go away ; and as he possessed a great spirit, she was
fearful of refusing to stay with him fur a few minute..
Tuis statement gained implicit credence, front the setlessr.ess of
its delivery.
The young tmubadattr was then called on for his defence. a”d,
with the chivalrous gallantry of a true lover, he put in an unrjuali.
lied plea of guilty, urging, in mitigation oedamaites, that being at
the moment entirely under the dominion of love—the sovereign
despot that sways all hearts, from prince to peasant—his better
reason had dtsertcd hint ; but he begged to assure their Worships
and the complainant that he was actuated neither by dishonest nor
yet di,hotiourtble views. Martha was a servant, it was true, but he
loved her not the less on tlint account. His own family, who were
wealthy and respectable, would oppose such a connexion, but, as
he felt himself Moment:lent of them, he mgaided not their ("pa.
sitlon. So true is is. that
The light that lies
In woman's eyes
Ilad proved his heart's undoing."
He was fully sensible of the enormity of his offence, &wording to its
present aspect ; but, though it wore the whim of criminal intent,
yet he I..ernal that it merited not the charactsw. Mr. Ilolmes,
however, had most just ranee for complaint, and he only regretted
the inipowsibllity of his ever being able to make sufficient repa-
ration. _ .

Mr. Holmes said, that he helievvd the young man was more
foolish than crMinal, and having made some inquiries cor.ceruing
his family, he found the statements were quite correct. A. it was
tolerably clear that there was no dishonest, and, he trusted, no im.
proper objevt contemplated, he (Mr. II.) had no will: to press the
ease any further. lie would accept his apology, however, only on
these terms, namely, that he would forthwith pledge himself to
the Magistrates not to intrude again on any member of his (Mr.
8.'.) estal.liahment, under any plea, however seductive the attrac-
tion.

The NI agiatrateacquiesced, the pledge was given, without a solitary
exception even from Jlarthes bright eyes, and the case was dis-
missed, suer exciting much merriment to some, much sadness to
others.