The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-12 00:00:00

BAD FISH AT BILLINGSGATE AGAIN.

In a case which occurred here tc-day, a long dispute
arose about bad fiih, and his honour remarked that he had
been trying for a long time past to get the name of the men
who sent up the bad fish. The salesmen would not give up
those names, and the public cccaeionally suffered through
the easy consciences of some of the retailers. It was sworn
that the fish was bad, and whenever this was proved the
Court would give the plaintiffs verdicts. In the present
instance, there was conclusive evidence as to the fish being
bad, and the plaintiff would have a verdict for the full
amount with costs.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE,--This day.

BOW-STREET.

William Evans was again placed before Mr Vaughan,
charged with obtaining a coat and trousers from Mr Mer-
rifield, tailor, Strand, by false representations. _ _

It will be recollected that the prisoner led Mr Merrifield
to believe that he hold a Government appointment in the
Transport Department of the Admiralty, and in order to
give additional strength to his representations he touk Mr
➢ierrifield's shopman to Somerset House, where he went
into an office which ho represented as hist and there he
signed an I 0 IT for the amount in his brother's name, he
being the person holding the appointment, and not the
prisoner. Upon Mr Merrifield applying for payment the
brother denied all knowledge of the I 0 U, and the prisoner
was given into custody. There were various other charges
against the prisoner on the first occasion of his being brought
up, but they were all withdrawn, and the prisoner was
remanded for the attendance of his brother. On the second
occasion that the prisoner was placed at the bar an applica-
tion was made to Mr Vaughan to discharge the prisoner,
as Mr Merrifield did not wish to press the charge ; but in
consequence of the brother not being in attendance ?1r
Vaughan refused to accede to such a proposition, and again
remanded the prisoner. This morning ho was again placed
at the bar, when

Mr Wontner (who appeared for the prisoner) reminded
the magistrate of the application of Mr MerrifiAd to with-
draw the charge against the prisoner.
Mr Vaughan—ls the brother here ?
Police-constable F 100—No, your worship.
Mr Vaughan—Why is he not here ?
Police-constable—l do not know, your worship. I have
been to his lodgings.

Mr Vaughan—ls Mr Merrifield in court ? [Mr Merrifield
having entered the witness box, tho magistrate continued]
—You have expressed a wish that the present proceedings
should not go on. Upon what grounds do you make the
application ?
Mr Merrifield—The young man has been three weeks
in prison, your worship, and 1 think ho has been suffi-
ciently punished.
Mr Vaughan—Have you been paid, or havo you received
any promise of payment ?
Mr Merrifield—No, sir. . .

Mr Vaughan—Then there has been no sort of compro-
mise in the matter. Is there any parson in court who can
speak to the prisoner's previous character ?
Mr George Evans said—l am the prisoner's uncle, and
have known him from childhood, and J have had ample
Gpportunity of observing the actions of the prisoner. Up
to the present charge his character has been irreproachable,
and when that became known it created the utmost astonish-
ment amongst them.
Mr Vaughan—To what do you attribute his present
position
Mr Evans —To bad associates and bad comr any. If his
brother had come forward I believe there would appear to
be extenuating circumstances--
Mr Wontner— Don't go into that now.
••

_
Mr Vaughan—lt was stated on the last examination that
f the prisoner was discharged his friends would undertake
hat he should bo sent abroad.

Mr Evans—That promise will bo performed. The rela

tives of the prisoner have made a subscription in his
behalf, and their great desire was that the prisoner should
be sent abroad in order that he might get rid of his bad
companions.
Mr Vaughan— Prisoner, I have very grave doubts with
respect to your case, but after careful consideration I
nave came to the conclusion that, consistently with my
duty, I may discharge you instead of committing you
for trial. I place much weight on the recommendation
of the prosecutor, but your case not being a felony, al-
though very close upon it, the magistrate has a larger
discretion ; and considering that you have already been
three weeks in prison, and that your friends will send
you away from this country, I shall order you to be
discharged. I do hope that for the future you will en-
deavour, by your good conduct, to atone in some degree
for the disgrace you have brought upon your family.
You are now discharged. _ _

Prisoner—Bcf )re I leave the court I wish to say that I
never intended to defraud Mr Merrifield.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
AN AFFRAY WITH THE POLICE.--•1SIr Henry Lucon,
said to be an officer in the army, and giving the address
Tavistock Hotel, Covent-garden; Mr William Aubert
Steinmitz, of Upper Clayton, gentleman; and Wm. Henry
Neville Woodhouse, of No. 4, Lansdowne-terrace, Notting-
hill, gentleman, were charged before Mr Tyrwhitt with
behaving in a disorderly manner, and causing a crowd to

assemble in the Haymarket.
Police-constable Samuel Yeo, 310 H, Jaid—About 1
o'clock this morning I was in the Haymarket, when I saw
a crowd of about 140 persons outside a cafe, and the three
defendants, arm in arm, pushing and knocking against
every body they came near, and at the same time shouting
out. On persuading the defendants to be quiet and to
behave themselves, Lucon said he was a major and a justice
of the peace, and knew the law better than all the police ;
Steinmitz also said he was an officer, and did not care for
anybody; and Woodhouse said ho was a gentlemen, and
would do as he liked. By this time nearly 300 persons had
collected. The defendants then moved to the top of tho
Haymarket, and were then joined by about a dozen soldiers

—Horse Guards and Life Guards. They then went into
Tichborne-street, and Steinmitz called out " Now,
soldiers, do what you can and I'll protect you." I then took
Steinmil a into custody, and the other defendants were taken
by other constables, Steinmitz again called out —" Now,
soldiers, to the rescue 1" and the soldiers got hold of me.
I got a blow on the head and several kicks, but I think that
was from the soldiers. We then got them into Regent street,
and it took three or four of us to get Steinmitz in.
Mr Tyrwhitt—How many soldiers were there?
Constable—About 10 or 12.
Steinmitz—l did not say "soldiers to the rescue." I was
pushed about in the Haymarket more than I pushed about.
I did when I was attacked try to rescue myself.
Lucon—Why did 316 A push me on as I was lighting
my cigar outside of quin's oyster shop.
Thos. Pratt, 311 A—l saw a great crowd outside the

cafe, and heard 516 A persuading the defendants to go away
The defendants pushed against eeveral persons. I told
them, after they said they were gentlemen, th©y ought to

set an example. The defendants then got to the top of the
Haymarket, and there was a large collection of cabmen,

prostitutes, and roughs. On 316 A taking the defendants
into custody I followed to keep the crowd back; when we
got into Quadrant I saw several of the Blues and Lifo
Guards, and Steiumitz called out, "Now, soldiers, rescue,
and I'll see you righted." Some of the soldiers then caught
hold of 316 A, and on telling the soldiers not to interfere
they struck me. I took one of the soldiers to the station,
but do not know whether he is going to bo brought up.
Sergeant Godfrey, 18 C, said—There were about 300
persons collected, and on going over to quell the disturb-
ance, it became much worse. My hat was knocked off, and
I had a bluw on my head. Two soldiers were taken into
custody. I did not hear the soldiers called upon by the de-
fendants, as I was not near enough. I don't know whether
the soldiers are going to be brought up.
It was here stated to the magistrate that the soldiers
would have to go before the military authorities.