The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-22 00:00:00

Q UEEN:S Q UARE.

George, alias Joseph Moore, a servant in the employ of
Robert Adam Christopher, Esq., M. P., and magistrate of the
county of Lincoln, was charged with obtaining the situation
of under-butler in the above gentleman's establishment by
means of a false character.

Mr. Christopher vvas examined, and stated, I reside at 97,
Eaton-square. About the latter end of March last the de-
fendant came to me and applied for the then vacant situation
of under-butler, I requested references, when the defendant
referred me to a Mr. Gordon, of Enfield Lodge, Stratford ; he
also added that he had previously lived in the family of Lord
Aberdeen. Before I engaged the defendant I directed a
letter to John Gordon, Esq., Enfield Lodge, Stratford, and in
the course of two days received the following letter in reply,
per post :
" Mr. Gordon presents his compliments to Mr. Christopher,
and begs to say that Joseph Moore has lived in my family for
two years and a half as under-butler. I have always found him
to he perfectly honest, sober, steady, cleanly, and industrious,
and he quitted my service on his own accord.
(Signed) " JOHN GORDON.

" Enfield Lodge."
Upon this recommendation I took the defendant into my
service. Soon after I engaged him I had occasion to go into
the country, and, on my return to town, was informed by my
steward that the defendant had been conducting himself in a
very loose manner, such as frequently getting tipsy and staying
out all night. Upon receiving this account of the behaviour
of the defendant I suspected that I had been imposed upon,
and directed the police to ascertain if the recommendation was
genuine or false, and, upon being informed of the latter, I ob-
tained a warrant against the defendant.
David Johnson, one of the Bow-street horse-patrol, stated
that he had done duty at Stratford, West Ham, and its sur-
rounding neighbourhood for the last ten years, and during
bat time never knew such a place as Enfield Lodge, or such
a person as "John Gordon." He had made the strictest in-
quiry, and was positive there was no such person there resident.
Mr. WurrE (to the defendant)—We understand that you
admit that you are guilty of the off:mce imputed to you.
What have you to say in extenuation of your conduct I—De-
fendant—l was persuaded to it. I had been out of a situation
for a long time. and a man whom I met promiscuoirdy- in
Whitechapel told me if I beard of a situation he would pro-
cure me a character for a consideration. I heard of this one,
a.,d informed the man of it, and he sent the above-mentioned
recommendation.

Mr. Is/111TE asked the defendant how the writer had con-
trived to possess himself of Mr. Christopher's letter ?—Defen-
daat—He went to the Stratford post-office, and represented
himself as Mr. Gordon ; the defendant added that he had a
wire and child living in Adam-s'rePt West, Portman-square,
and that he did not obtain the situation for any other than an
hen,st motive.

"—Mr. Christopher here said that as the defendant had not
been guilty of any gross conduct, he hoped the Magistrate
would give him no more punishment than would be a suffi-
cient warning to him._

Mr. WHITE consoilted with big colleague (Mr. Gregorie),
self to a penalty of 201., or three months' imprisonment in the
house of Correction ; but, in cun'idcration of his not baying
been guilty of any gross neglect of duty, he should remit the
puniFrnent to one half. The defendant would, therefore, pay
a fire of Id, or be imprisoned six weeks.
The defendant, being unable to pay the fine, was then
Iceked up.

The 14agistrates expr.ssed their thanks to Mr. Christopher
for the trouble he had taken in exposing this but too prevalent
tptem of giving false characters.
DOINGS OF THE PLUSH B7.EECIIES FRATERNITY.—John
Bickford, coachman, in the service of Lady Seymour, was
charged on a summons with obstructing the police while in
the execution of their duty at the Op era House.
Sergeant Wray, of the A division, stated that on the night
of Tuesday, the 12th instant, he was employed in regulating
the carriages at her Majesty's Theatre. His attention was
caled to the conduct of defendant, who had broken the rank,
and in endeavouring to cut his way in had locked his carriage
within that of Horsley Palmer, Esq. The effect of the con-
ci:ssion was such as to drive the horses of the latter carriage
on to the pavement under the piazza, the pillars of which alone
presented the carriage from upsetting. In consequence of
this conduct the further egress of the company from the
theatre was interrupted for upwards of a quarter of an hour,
and the carriage-way rendered impassable. In consequence
of the shameful conduct of gentlemen's ceachmen generally,
their refusal to obey the orders of the police, and, from their
behaviour, continually placing the lives of passers by in dan-
ger, the Commissioners of Police directed witness to obtain
the present summons.
Mr. GREGORIS asked if the defendant had been previously
cautioned not to break the ranks.
Sergeant Wray replied that he had been cautioned full a
quarter of an hour previous to the accident happening, but
seemed at the time to pay no attention.
Mr. GaErioatE supposed the defendant did not deny the
charge.
Defendant—Certainly I do. I consider I did no wrong.
Mr. GREGOICIE—Very well, then, we will proceed with the
ca=e. and call the witnesses. I had intended, had you admitted
you were in error, to have imposed a low fine,
Thomas Durkin, 11l A, was then called, and deposed to
seeing the carriage of Horsley Palmer, Esq., draw up, and
prepare to take up its company, when the defendant drove
against it in the most violent manner. He was also witness to
hearing the defendant forewarned by last witness.
Charles Davis, coachman to Mr. Horsley Palmer, also bore
testimony to the violent conduct of the defendant.

Mr. eREGOEIE again asked the defendant if he denied
the charge.
The defendant stated that a few minutes before the accident
happened he had directed the footman to sec if the road was
sufficiently clear for him to drive up to the house, and upon
being informed that it was so, he accordingly drove on. He
denied having received any caution from the police, or even
seeing one of them. He believed the police could not say that
he was insolent to them.

Mr. GREGORIE said he understood that he had not been se;
and that was a redeeming point certainly. For the future he
would advice the defendant to pay implicit obedience to the
orders of the police ; and to prove to him that such conduct as
he had been guilty of could not be allowed, he should order
him to pay a mitigated penalty of 20s. and costs.
The defendant immediately paid the fine and was liberated.

FLOOD.—A great deal of rain fell last week, and
on Monday, the 11th, lightning and thunder flashed and roared con-
tinuously in the higher parts of Nithsdale, and lower of Annandale. In
this town the growl of thunder was merely heard, while the elemental
warfare raged prodigiously at a few miles distance. In Annandale
every burn and mountain stream rose to an almost unprece-
dented height, and we conversed with a gentleman, who resides
near Lockerby, who never saw Corrie, or any other water, so
high in so brief a space, during the last twenty-four years. A
friend who has been in Annandale during the last few days informs
us that torrents of rain were poured forth without intermission during
the whole day, bringing to the recollection of all the striking expres-
sion in Holy Writ, " the windows of heaven were opened." A great
deal of damage has been done—several stone bridges have been broken
down and carried away, and amongst other minor evils, may be enume.
rated those of roads completely spoiled by the water pouring from the
hills, rutting the sides, carrying away the metal surface, or depositing
heaps of sand, soil, and stones on what was formerly as smooth as
a bowling-green ; breaches were made in the dykes wherever they
opposed the course of the torrent-ploughed fields were so roughly
dealt with as in many places to efface all marks of the furrow, and allo-
gether, it will require many days and the labour of numerous hands to
repair the mischief which has been done. A bridge was broken down
on the road between Ecclefechan and Langholm, and such was the resist-
less force of a burn, which, in general, might be crossed by an inhabi-
tant of Lilliput, that a large part of the adjoining meadow has
been scooped out and carried away, leaving the road to terminate
somewhat abruptly at the very edge of what is now a bank several feet
high. Various breakwaters had been built to protect the bridge in
question; these were carried away, one by one, and when the last had
• been swept °tithe torrent seemed to rush on with redoubled fury—in a
moment the tottering arch gave way, and the water rising in spray to a
is power over the works of man.—

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Ju.vis
Their Lordships assembled at the usual hour.
POSTAGE.

The Duke of RICHMOND presented two petitions in
favour of Rowland Hill's plan for cheapening postage, one
from Chichester, the other from Woodchurch.
ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSION. _ _

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY presented a petition for
the appropriation of Church funds for strictly ecclesiastical
purposes, apart from the controul of the Ecclesiastical Com-
missioners.

great height, seemed to rejoice in its power over the works of man._
Dumfries Courier.
EX_O4F.4.4JER 'COURT..-EMMOTT V. THE HON
76 C. NQaT.e3r•t-- •• not being concluded, when we went to press
/Ay. terday, the i . ed with a verdict for the defendant.
I 7On sat' .ay„
(
..gying with his , ~ ,
Parents en Chapter.street, Vauxhall.road, while bathing
....„.rning, between seven and eight
-A, O'clock, a youth riareiod f,mas Andrews, about thirteen years of age,
4,rit he Thames off-5014 , got out of his depth, was carried away by
031, W*0:214 drownedAa.,
• --, -,s. I .!. ‘ kt,'/,; -
,i(/....