The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-16 00:00:00

LONDON ADJOURNED SESSIONS.

APPLICATION REFUSED FOR THE TRANS-

FER OF A LICENSE.

A great deal of curiosity was excited by the expectation
of the case of Mr. Sharpe, who it was known intended to
apply for the transfer of the license of the Woolpack Ta-
vern, in the Minories, from Mr. Silverton to him. It will
be recollected that the Woolpack was the only public
house that was opened in the City in defiance of the New
Act, on Sunday morning, the 25th of August; and the
Lord Mayor not only fined the defendant, but said that he
would oppose the transfer on the Bench. Mr. Chambers,
the counsel, and Mr. Hobler, jun., the solicitor, appeared
in support of the application.
Mr. Sharpe, a short time back, purchased of Mr. Sil -
verton, the proprietor of the Woolpack Tavern, the lease
of that house for the sum of 1,2001., and the stock and
fixtures for about 500/. ; and, in the early part of August,
took the actual possession of the premises, although, as the
license was not transferred, Mr. Silverton had continued
there day by day for the purpose of carrying on the busi-
ness, a deception necessarily practised to avoid the penal-
ties of selling without a license.
Alderman FAREBROTIIER asked why the petition for the
transfer was not signed by the Alderman and the other
authorities of the Ward
Mr. Chambers said, that after what had taken place before
the Lord Mayor, it was considered proper not to apply to
the authorities.

The LORD MAYOR said, that the wilful violation of the
law in this case more seriously affected the Ward
authorities than him, and that the inconvenience he sus-
tained was inconsiderable compared with those to which
these authorities were subjected by the conduct of the ap-
plicant, for the confusion and disturbance caused by that
conduct were indescribable.

--------
Alderman FAREBROTIIHR suggested the propriety o
waiting for the presence of Alderman Johnsos, the Alder,
man of Portsokcn Ward, in which the house was situated.

_
Mr. Chambers proceeded to argue in favour of the ap-
plication, and endeavoured to extenuate the conduct of
his client, who, he declared, erred from ignorance and
confusion, arising from mixing up the Act of George the
Second with the New Police Act. Mr. Sharpe had closed
his door at the usual hour on Sunday morning in obe-
dience to the Act, which he considered to be still in force.
The LORD MAYOR said he did not know how Mr. Sharpe
would get over the notice which was given to him on the
Saturday night, notwithstanding which he opened his
door, and gave encouragement to a most disgusting scene
of riot and confusion, in the midst of which the officer in
the performance of his duty was hissed and hooted.
Mr. Chambers admitted that his Lordship's observa-
tions had great force ; but he hoped that the offence, whe-
ther arising from the applicant's mistaken opinion of the
provisions of the Act, or from the false construction of his
friends and advisers, would not be visited with such severity
as the refusal of the transfer, particularly as so large a sum
had been given for the lease.
The LORD MAYOR said that an exceedingly injurious
s.ls'em existed of transferring licenses without submitting to
the Magistrates whether the persons to whom the transfers
were sought to be made were proper persons to be selected as
publicans. It was time that such a practice should be put an
end to. It was erroneous to suppose, in the event of the
refusal of the transfer, that Mr. Sharpe would be a loser,
as he must have purchased the house on condition that it
should be transferred.
Mr. Chambers put in a petition, signed by 141 of the
inhabitants of the immediate neighbourhood.
The LORD MAYOR said he should not wonder if the pe-
tition had been signed by 500, as, no doubt, all who were
served on the Sunday morning would be happy to express
their obligations to so courteous a person.
Mr. Chambers said that the class of persons who signed