The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-06 00:00:00

Mr. Puget remanded the prisoner until Saturday next..

AN EXTRAORDINARY CAB FARE.—George Piper, a master
butcher, whose wife, a respectable woman, carries on a busi-
ness which he has neglected in Cable-street, Whitechapel,
was brought up on a warrant charged with refusing to pay
40s. to a cab-driver named George Jaques.
The prisoner hired the complainant's cab at the end of
January last, and drove him to various parts in Stepney
and other places, for ten hours, finally setting him down
at the Rising Sun public-house, Oxford-street, Stepney.
Here the prisoner gave the cabman the slip, by escaping
over the back wall. The complainant sought for the pri-
soner, in vain, and went home. He came to the conclusion
he had been " bilked "of his fare. On the following day
the prisoner again hailed Jaques in the street, made
an excuse for leaving him on the previous night
and said that he had just been to his master's

yard in search of him. He again hired the complainant,
who drove his fare over the same ground, finishing the
job, as before, at the Rising Sun. The prisoner again
made his escape, and the cab-driveranever saw him again
until he was in custody. A summons was originally applied
for and served on the prisoner, to which ho did not appear,
and a warrant was then applied for, on which Piper was
arrested by Howland, an officer of the court. The com-
plainant drove the prisoner in his cab 10 hours the first day
and 11 hours on the second day, in all 21 hours, but ho had
only charged 20 hours.
The prisoner said he was unable to pay the cab-driver,
and he was committed to the House of Correction for 21
days.

The Theatres and the Music Halls.

LAMBETH POLICE COURT.

The following appeared in our late Edition of Saturday
evening :
The adjourned summons taken out by Mr. Roberts, at
the instance of the managers of the metropolitan theatres
against Mr. Charles Morton, managing director of the
Oxford and Canterbury Hall Company (Limited), for the
performance of a stage play contrary to the act, was re-
sumed this afternoon.

It will be recollected the magistrate last Friday week
postponed giving his decision in the case as to whether or
not the extraordinary successful shadow illusion, entitled
" Hodge Podge," at the Canterbury Hall, was a stage
play, in order that Mr. C. Morton might make a special
application to the Lord Chamberlain for a license.

Mr. Besley, attended as heretofore for the metropolitan
managers ; and Mr. Plentice, instructed by Mr. Mercer, of
the firm of Mercer and Mercer, 9, Mincing-lane, solicitors
for the company, appeared for the defence.
Mr. Norton, seeing the whole of the parties in court,
said—l understand from Mr. Besley that the Lord Cham-
berlain has refused to grant Mr. Morton that which he
required.

Mr. Prentice—That, sir, is not quite to the case. I
attend here to-day to ask that you will postpone-your deci-
sion for a few days. A petition has been presented to
the Lord Chamberlain, and no answer has yet been
returned. Mr. Morton is here, sir, and he will, if you de-
sire it, tell yoU what .has been done. It is not correct to
Say that the license has been refused.
Mr. Besley—The answer, I believe, that has been given
by the Lord Chamberlain is, that when the theatre in the
Canterbury Hall is properly constructed, he will grant the
required license.
Mr. Norton—ls Mr. Morton here ?

Mr. Prentice—He is, sir, and quite prepared to tell you
everything that has been done. I have to ask, sir,
whether you are aware that in your absence,
an application has been made to your colleague,
Mr. Elliot, for another summons against Mr. Morton for
infringing the 15th section of the act whereby he has in-
curred a penalty of £5O each night "Hodge Podge" is shown
at the Canterbury Hall. I think it exceedingly unfair that
behind your back, sir, such an application should be made,
and I cannot think that the lessees of Her Majesty's and
and other theatres can be parties to such an application.
Mr. Norton (having read the notes of the application re-
ferred to) said—lt appears to me the great difficulty in the
matter is who is to move. It appears as if in these matters
the Lord Chamberlain was altogether superseded; and the
question that occurs to me is whether or not we are not
now trenching too much upon his pOwers.

Mr. Besley—l hardly think that such can be the case.
Mr. Prentice—The parties represented by my learned
friend appear as if they were desirous of being public pro-
secutors. (Laughter.)

Mr. Roberts—lt is laid down in the 15th section of the
Act of Parliament that every stage play should be previous
to its representation submitted to the Lord Chamberlain, and
that in the event of such not being done the parties repre-
senting a a piece should be fined for each representation.
Mr. Prentice—That is a matter not at present before the
Court, as the summons is not actually granted.
Mr. Roberts—The magistrate said he would grant the
summons, but that he would consult you, sir, before ho
named a day for the hearing.

Mr. Norton—The summons has not actually been
granted. I have seen Mr. Elliott, and he informed me
that he directed that in the event of any new point arising
in this case you could apply to him on Thursday. The
real matter before the court is an application for the post-
ponement of my decision.
Mr. Robert's—lt is an attempt to delay your judgment.
Your remarks, sir, on the last occasion, have been well
advertised, and instead of gracefully bowing to your
decision and withdrawing the objectionable performance,
its popularity has been greatly increased. If " Hodge

Mr. Roberts—Every night the piece is represented, Mr.
Morton incurs four penalties. The actors can be taken into
custody by the police, so can the audience.
Mr. Norton—The police, I'm afraid, would be transfixed
by the beauty of "Hodge Podge"—(laughter)—so you
would not have to expect much from them. (Laughter.) I
strongly advise that nothing should be done in the other mat-
ter until this is disposed of. You can apply to Mr. Elliott
of course, but if the objectionable but beautiful piece
" Hodge Podge" is withdrawn, you ought to be satisfied
for the present.
Mr. Morton then entered into a bond for £lOO for the
expenses of the hearing of the matter before one of the
judges, and the parties retired.