The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-09 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

CLERKENWELL.—On Thursday last three men,
belonging to the Royal South Lincoln Militia, applied
for the means of paying the fare of themselves and
fainiliesio their homes at Grantham. They stated that
they had been turned out of barracks at Portsmouth,
-because they would not be re-attested under the new
atrangement of the act of 1852, and desired to seek their
homes as best they could, and that they and their fami-
lies were quite destitute. Mr. Tyrwhitt, on that occa.
sion, relieved them and paid their fares from the poor-
box. The case having been reported in, the papers on
Saturday, soon after Mr. Corrie took his. seat, Colonel
Sibthorp, M.P., entered the court, and being aceorruno-
dated with a seat on the bench addressed his worship,
and said—Sir, to my utter surprise I was pointed out a
paragraph in the morning papers of yesterday (Friday),
reflecting on the regiment <I .have the honour to cony
,nand ; and so astonished was I at. the statements readle
in it, that lat ,once proceeded, although it was Good
Friday, to the War-office, to ascertain what proceedings
I could be, taken to remedy the evident Misunderetandini.
tberwaseertained that a cotnmunicatilm had been sent
down to Portsmouth respecting the matter, and I 0,
self forwarded a letter by post, on the same subject, to
the colonel commandant, I must say that that para-
graph must have Leen published by the papers, for the
purpose of vilifying me. I knew they seize on every
•occasiem,for so doing ; but I will always resist the pre-
ceedangs of a licentious, press, no matter whether in the
House of Commons or in this court. I. feel the indignity
more, because in the affair-no blame could be attached to
Colonel Pane. As:to the, general statement of the facts,
it is totally incorrect, for when I. d* address the regi-
ment on the point of •volunteering for their re-attesta-
tioe,,.wy obseryations,were received ,vvith:three cheers,
and I subsequently visited the Linen in their rooms at
dinner time, where r took the opportunity of ordering-
thenr a pint of ale each.: hair& always ,treated my:
men with kindness. and-consideration, and will con-
tinue to do-so.. I offered to provide' them with extra
,qoaaforts.aut.of,my own pocket, for, thank Gad, I have
the means at my.d401,4a1, and .already I have expended
between 3,000/; and 4,9001. on the' regiment. I. hair()
been grOssly_vilifie3, b,ut I fear no inquiry, and as an old
soldier I have come here to see that nothing discredit-
able shall be attached to. the Royal regiment I have the
honour 'to 06,41mi/incl.. I'lleOe Mr. Tyrwhitt, a gentfe-
:nan for whom I have the highest respect, and you, sir),
evil' speak, so that the puhlie may know, that whatever
t Ipety, be said, against me, there is one thing certain thilt
.kvoi)'_l shall get plenty of recruits'.

Lb4r. Cowie; after rearlitig the report alluded to by the
gall Ant colonel, see the paragraph complained:of
;is not% of the editoriAl character, Gut merely the reportof an jex-parie sfatemslA made in this court by some of
the soldiers of tile regime& ci;rhultinded by Colonel Sib-
thorp. Suppose the facts stated 'byttie mcri had been
true, I am, !sore that that gallapt,,offi9er would be the
first to admit it a difigracetuy proceeding. I have, how-
ever, reei ved' a letter: Which: will'clear up the Affair. It
is as follows'

" Cambridge Barracks, Portsmouth,
• . Friday, 'April 6.
" Sir,-.--.I observed in the
police re,ports,of this day-that
an application has been made, to you for relief by some of
thomen belonging to the regiment under my command,
'and that yol' ex tended the same tb them, for which I beg
to tends:' yon i
my thanks. ,Their statement is substantkally
correct -namely, that their pappages to their homes-had pot
been given them, the major general commanding at this
place being of opinion' that these men were merely going on
leave 'of absence, and consequently, not entitled to their
passages home from the public. They were at the same
time recommended to -wait, 'till an answer was received
from the War-office or this ipiportant point ; but they
were in stipla'a burry to get-to' theit' homes, and they at
once departed. • Thisapthofiby has ..been since received
(yocitcorday ~ morning), . anti all' such - men and thieir
'families 'villa' remained ' till then -have been furnished
With passages to their several places of abode, the lait—
namely, the,families—at the .expense of the regiu4nt,
Government, not finding thii• I regret that such a pro-
ceeding shouldhave been, necessary ;. but it is absurd
to suppose that the ;passages of near 400 men and teir
families could be provided without a regular authority In
conclusion; I beg too add.thati- if -from the-poor-box or any
Otlier'seitme, you have d. been gna.enough to forward ;any,
'
of the4e' men home; on an account -being sent
,to u , it
1311%11° be repaid: I may add that I, have also sent orde s to.
Grantham, .our county headTquarters, to see every an
paid his Passag
0 ' ra fre}hence who naay call upon one o my
I ' ' h
offieersthere and ,request its I liaye t e honour, &c., •
itENitY E. FAith Lieut.-Colonet
' ''-' —",domiti#dingl Royal South Lincoln Militi
.‘.‘ P.S.•The.iatte'r part of Handlers statement is sin
tc;tally..,mtm, neither Ciilonel.Sibtlierp nor myself
having an idea of flab. Crlinda,'Piuch less profferin
services of the regimenf-thine,l4whiCh Int- least ha
wish,to go." ,
,Frain his 16fter it appears- that 'the ,men have been
treated With gfeat kindness, arid; had they waited, would
have been' sent to their homes: . Cbionel'Sibtherp 40m-
plains ofthe report in the -papers; butrl do 'not -Wilk
they are at all to blade for 'the publication of ari tx-
,
parte statement.' I am sure the gallant colonel wilt ad-
mit 'that the representations of the press require great
and judicious disdernment in a police court ;-for he '(the
colonel)` must know that the magistrates, as judges,
without learned aid, have a more arduous labour in de-
ciding cases, and ex-parte statements made to them,
thin the'higher judges. The publication of such itate-
ments in the- newspapers has frequently been atte ded
with great and good results, though, no doubt, at tiines,
the parties complained of suffer under unjust iinputa-
tations until they have been heard. However, every,
sensible person, before forming an 'opinion, will say;
" Wait and hear what' the other side have to say." both
sides have now been hear•l, and I doubt not a fair report
of what has passed here will appear in the papers.—Col.
ijibthorp agreed, with his worship. He-was satisfied
with having given the qtpla,riation lie had'made ; he then
thanked 11-Ir. Currie far his attention and withdrew.—
During the gallant colonel's, short speech the audience
in the. Court had frequently to' be 'checked lfrqm
giving open expn ssion to their admiration of his conduct
towards his soldiers. Four more soldiers, including two
lance corporals of the SaMe' regiment, whose fares one
were also paid, were told'by the ma'gi'strate the mis nder-
standingthei had been labouring under.
~,,I ~:,

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