The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-04 00:00:00

THAMES.

THE LAW OF LANDLORD AND TENANT.—A VERY HARD
CASE.—A young woman named Mary Aun Johnson, of 1,
Catherine-street, Poplar, whose sobs almost chocked her
utterance, came before Mr. Paget and complained that her
goods had been seized for rent owing by another person.
Mr. Paget—l cannot help you, my good woman. If your
landlord owes any rent, and has not sufficient goods to
satisfy a distraint for rent, the superior landlord can dis-
train on other people's goods in the same house.

The applicant said her case was a very hard one, indeed.
She took apartments in the house No. 1, Catherine-street,
a fortnight ago, and was not aware any rent was owing.
The former tenant, Catherine Foster, the wife of an en-
gineer in the Brazilian Navy, who was in the receipt of
£lO per month from her husband, removed from the house
the night before she and her husband took possession, and
was then £7 in arrear. To satisfy this debt goods, which
cost her husband £32 eighteen months ago, had been seized
by a broker named Self, of High-street, Poplar, en behalf
of Mr. Scratchley, a gentleman of property staying at
White's Hotel, in Bond-street, Piccadilly. Mrs. Foster, by
whom the rent was owing, was well able to pay the money,
and was dwelling at No. 6, Penny-fields, Poplar.
Mr. Paget—lt may be a very hard case upon you, but
it is not a matter in which I have any jurisdiction. The
broker has a right to seize any goods he finds in the house.
The Applicant—My husband worked hard to provide a
home, and it will be broken up.
Mr. Paget—l cannot help you.
The poor woman left the witness box crying loudly, and
pitied by every one present.
THE AMENITIES OF RATCLIFF- HIGHWAY. A Greek
sailor, who gave the name of James Robson, was brought
before Mr. Paget, charged with violently assaulting Ben-
jamin Hadley, an American seaman, who came into court
with a surgical bandage round his head.
The complainant said he was walking along Ratcliff-
highway last night, in the company of a shipmate named
W. Finn, when the prisoner came up to him and called him
a son of a —, at the same time knocking him down, and
saying, " Take that." While ho was on the ground ho was
most brutally kicked about the head and body. He was
badly wounded, and lost a good deal of blood.
A foreign woman, who saw the outrage on the American,
stated that when she interfered, the prisoner seized her by
the neck and attempted to choke her.
Benjamin Archer, police-constable, No. 101 H, said the
prosecutor was bleeding from the eye very much. The
prisoner said he was pushed by the complainant, and he
did knock him down and kick him.
Mr. Joseph Smith, solicitor, said the prisoner, for whom
ho appeared, and the complainant had a quarrel about
their respective countries, and fought.
Catherine White, a prostitute, said the complainant hit
the prisoner, who returned the blow.
Archer said White was not present at the affray, and
had sworn falsely.
•

The complainant said he was about to go to sea in the
Flying Fish.

Mr. Joseph Smith—The prisoner has shipped to go to
sea to-morrow.

Mr. raget—l wish he had gone to sea yesterday. He
certainly will not go to-morrow. :Ile is sentenced to one
month's imprisonment and hard 1136ur.

THEATRES AND MUSIC HALLS.—There are 25
theatres in London, and these establishments are
capable of accommodating 41,100 persons. The audiences
which the 41 principal music halls in London, exclusive
of the small tavern conceit rooms and the Crystal Palace,
can accommodate, amount to nearly double the number,
being estimated at 70,300; but if we include the Crystal
Palace, which belongs to the jurisdiction of London, is
fed by London, and has been licensed by the Lord Cham-
berlain, the number swells to 179,300, considerably more
than four times the number accommodated by‘the theatres.
A few closer particulars will exhibit still more forcibly how
much more important a part these halls and places of
popular amusement have it in their power to play in
the moral and intellectual education of the middle and
lower classes—by whom this sort of education is
most needed—than the theatres. The Alhambra,
could accommodate the audiences of Drury Lane add Covent
Garden added together, or those of the Haymarket, the
Adelphi, St. James's, and the Strand. Tho Metropolitan
Music Hall, in the Edgware-road, is equal in capacity to the
Olympic, and the St. James's, or to Sadler's Wells and the
Strand. The Agricultural Hall could swallow up her
Majesty's Theatre, Drury Lane, Covent Garden, the Hay-
market, the Princess's, St. James's, Adelphi, Lyceum, Mary-
lebone, Olympic, the New Royalty, and the Victoria ; and
perhaps it is superfluous to add that the Crystal Palace has
space enough to receive and entertain nearly three times
the number of persons the whole of the theatres of London
are capable of accommodating. The question suggested by
these figures is obvious. Shall this large and increasing
section of tho population be excluded from the enjoyment
of intellectual pleasures, wherever they can be got, in order
to preserve a monopoly of stage-plays in the hands of the
London managers ?—The Shilling Magazine.
DEATH OF AN ECCENTRIC NONOGENARIAN—An
eccentric individual, named Joseph Constable, died
at Chelsworth, a few days ago, at the great age of 94 years.
The deceased lived quite alone for upwards of 40 years, and
Performed all his domestic work, including washing and
sewing. His dress was as singular as his ways. For many
years ho attended the Dissenting chapel at Bildestone,
frequently appearing in a suit of scarlet, including rod
stockings.

CITY OF LONDON COLLEGE, LEADENHALL -STREET.
—The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor Will preside at the lec-
ture to be delivered iu the hall of this College this evening,
on " Socrates," by the Dean of Westminster.