The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-11 00:00:00

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.

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Mr. Baron Martin was occupied this morning in hearing
an action for the recovery of compensation from the
Brighton Railway Company for injuries sustained by the
unfortunate collision, which took place some time ago in
the Clayton Tunnel.

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The case was proceeding when we went to press.

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961

SECONDARY'S COURT.
(Before Mr. Secondary Potter and a Special Jury.)

CHILD AND WIFE V. THE LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAIL.
WAY COMPANY-THE CLAYTON TUNNEL ACCIDENT.

This was an action to recover compensation for injuries
received on the Brighton line in the Clayton tunnel acci-
dent, on Sunday, 25th August, 1861. In the case of the
plaintiff the damages were laid at £2,000, and in the case of
the wife at £5OO.

It appeared that the plaintiff had been a draper's assist-
ant, earning about £lOO a-year, and his wife about 18s. a
week. The plaintiff was 33 and his wife 28. The injury
to the plaintiff was to his spine, and Dr. Burrows, Dr.
Moon. and Dr. Walsh described his condition as one from
which he was not likely to recover or be able to earn his
livelihood.
1031 I Verdict for plaintiff. Damages, £2,500.

1031

SHERIFFS' COURT.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Kerr.)
THE MA.BTER BUILDERS AND THE HOUR SYSTEM.

OWEN V. ROBINSON.

This was an action to recover one quarter of a day for
grinding money, plaintiff being a journeyman, and de-
fendant a master builder.

Plaintiff said-1 seek to recover is. sd. for one quarter
of a day. Whenever men are discharged they are always
allowed that sum, which is called grinding money.
His Honour—Yes ; I thought all that had been settled
long ago.
Defendant—Your honour will allow me to explain. In
the year 1862 there was a squabble between the masters
and men, and the result was a strike. In consequence of
the strike, and the difficulties in the way of a settlement,
the hour system was introduced, and that system was
adopted in my shop. Every week we pay three hours
extra, and it is supposed to be an equivalent for the grind-
ing money.

Plaintiff—We work the usual time on Saturday.
Defendant—Oh, no ; and you are paid for the hours as
upon an ordinary working day.
Plaintiff— I am in a position to prove that you paid some
men a claim exactly similar to this. We work six and a-halt
hours on th#Saturday.
His Honour—Now, Mr. Robinson, am I to understand
that you pay grinding-money every week, instead of at the
time of the men's leaving ?
Defendant—Yes.

His Honour—Well, but I cannot understand it. It was
a custom, as I understood, whenever the men left or were
discharged to allow them one quarter of a day's pay for
grinding their tools. Now you say that the effect of the
hour system has been to cause their being paid grinding•
money every week. This seems preposterous.
Defendant—lt may seem so, but it is nevertheless a fact.
His Honour—lf such a custom prevails in your shop it
must be well understood by your workpeople before you can
bind them by it.

Defendant—l am only anxious to have your Honour's
judgment upon the question, as a great number of work-
man, besides masters, will be bound by it.
His Honour—l think it is always better in these oases to
have a wri ten agreement with the men, and then all quar-
rels would be avoided. In this case plaintiff must have a
verdict with costs.
Verdict for plaintiff.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE--This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

SERIOUS DISTURBANCE NEAR BOND-STREET.—ILL-
TREATMENT OF A WORRMAN.—Edward Casey, a labour-
ing man, in the employ of Mr. Jawings, builder, of the
York-road, Lambeth, was charged as follows:

Mr. Samuel Thorburn, foreman to Mr, Jennings, said
that the prisoner had been at work for Mr. Jennings some
time at Brooks-mews, but yesterday did not come to his
work till 1 o'clock. He set the prisoner tti work, and he
went on till 2 o'clock, at which time he (Mr. Thorburn
bad to leave, and on coming back at 4 o'clock he found the
prisoner drunk at a public•house opposite. The prisoner
then demanded ssme money of him or some, drink, and
because ho refused to give it him, he challenged him to
fight, and afterwards tried to get on the scaffold,
but fearing some accident, and as the prisoner was
interrupting the other workmen, he tried to put him
out of the building, and on this two or three Irish labourers
came to the prisoner's assistance and got up a most serious
row, in the course of which a workman who had been seen
to speak to him (witness) was most seriously injured, so
much so that he was confined to his bed. The prisoner was
then given into custody.
Mr. Tyrwhitt said he hoped all the won would ha taken
into custody and brought before him. He should order the
prisoner to find one housekeeper to be bail for him to keep
the peace for six months.
A cabman named Macarthy war; next charged with steal-
ing some timber from the mine place, the building being in
course of erection as workshops for Mr. Harry Emanuel,
the Court jeweller.
The case being proved against the prisoner, Mr. Tyrwhitt
committed him for a month with hard labour.