The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-30 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

RIVAL REGISTRY-OFFICE KEEPERS.—David Gregory, in
the employ of Mr. Thomson, the keeper of a servants
registry-office, 248, Oxford-street, and John Robinson,
in the employ of Mr. Thompson, the keeper of a similar
office at 264, Oxford-street, were charged with causing an
obstruction in Oxford-street—Gregory by carrying an ad-
vertising board and delivering bills, and Robinson by de-
livering bills.

Police-constable Weller, A division, said that while in
Oxford-street he saw the two defendants in front of 264,
Gregory with a board, on which was painted " Caution :
Be not deceived. Thomson's Domestic Bazaar is still at
248, Oxford-street," and distributing bills with the follow-
ing upon them—" Caution : Be not deceived. Thomson's
Domestic Bazaar is still at 248, Oxford-street, and has no
connection with any person assuming and trading upon
the credibility of his name," &c. Robinson was distribut-
ing bills, with the following upon them—" Caution : Be not
deceived in the right address of Mr. Thompson's servants'
bazaar. It is still at 264, Oxford-street. Caution—Mr.
Thompson has no connection with any other person of
similar name or business." As the defendants were causing
an obstruction he took them into custody.
The magistrate, after looking at the handbills handed in,
said that it appeared that both persons were of the same
name.

Mr. Thomson said his worship would see that he spel
his name without a "p."

The magistrate observed that ho did not see why both
persons should not carry on business so long as they did
not infringe the law.

Mr. Thomson addressed the magistrate at some length,
and spoke of Mr. Thompson in far from complimentary
terms. He said he was the first in the street. Servants
left his office if he could not suit them, no fee being taken;
but it was not so with Mr. Thompson; Mr. Thompson
also copied his bills.

Mr. Thompson said his wife had carried on the business
at 264 for years, the business having previously been
carried on in the house of Mills. So far from what Mr.
Thompson had stated being true, several of the persons
went to both offices, and he had suited many a dozen per-
sons that morning ' with situations and servants. Mr.
homson was in the habit of sending four or five persons
with bills in front of his house, and also himself coming
down to his office, which was twenty doors from his own,
and telling people to go to his office, and otherwise an-
noying and insulting him

The Magistrate said it was a very foolish thing, and
against the law, to carry such a board in Oxford-street.
The whole affair was like a ecene in a pantomime, where
rival tradesmen each placed in his window "No connec-
tion with next door." Mr. Thomson could not prevent
another person of the same name carrying on business in
the same street as himself.

Mr. Thompson said a tenant of his residing next door to
him could not carry on his business owing to the annoy-
ance caused by Mr. Thomson's men.

The defendants were fined ss. each, the fines being paid
by their employers.

WESTMINSTER.

MAGISTERIAL DUTY.—Yesterday afternoon, at half-past
four, four boys, ages varying from 9 to 14, named James
Burns, William Blazon, George Martin, and James Willis,
were charged with t tealing coals from a barge in the river
Thames. Instead of at once being brought into court they
were detained all night, and at 11 o'clock were brought
before the magistrates, but the constable in charge of the
case having stated that the prosecutor was not in attend-
ance (although they had had nearly 20 hours to find their
witnesses), and, contrary to general rule, there being no
one to prosecute, the boys were ordered back to await the
prosecutor. In a few minutes afterwards the prosecutor
and the parents of the boys—hard-working people—made
their appearance, but Mr. Arnold, on being informed of the
fact by Mr. Hunt, the chief usher, declined to take any-
thing till 12 o'clock ; and to that hour the boys, innocent
or guilty, were kept, as well as their parents losing per-
chance their daily bread.