The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-21 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

CLERKENWELL.----Mr. Proctor, an inhabitant
householder, applied to the sitting magistrate, Mr.
Corrie, for his advice and assistance under the following
circumstances. On returning home one day last week,
he found to his great surprise a man in possession for
Queen's taxes. Being in no arrears of any kind for any
taxes whatever, he produced to the sheriffs' officer his
tax receipts down to the last quarter of 1853. It then
appeared that the warrant of distraint had been put in
for taxes levied in 1852, and for these it so happened
that the receipt of the collector had been mislaid, al-

though the receipt of the previous and subsequent year
sufficiently established the presumption that the taxes of
the intermediate one, 1852, had also been duly paid.
On application to the sheriff and under sheriff, they
expressed their regret that Mr. Proctor should be sub-
jected to a second demand of such a nature, but their
orders from the board at Somerset-house were impera-
tive. Mr. Scott, the collector of the Queen's taxes for
this district in 1852, bad proved a defaulter to Govern.
ment, and they were enforcing these demands on all tax
payers coming under the same liability or not being
exempted by the date and effect of the receipts in their
possession.
Mr. Corrie expressed his regret that it was not in his
power to afford applicant any relief. He did think it
high time that such a state of the law on this subject
should he altered. It was a scandal that they who had
duly paid their taxes once should be called on to pay
them over again by reason of the default of third parties,
although these latter were elected by the parish or dis-
trict. Had Mr. Proctor communicated with the present
district collector ?
Mr. Proctor stated he had been referred backwards
and forwards from one party to another, but without any
redress, although they had taken a note of his case at
Somerset-house. He could not find that any instruc-
tions for his relief had been issued. What much added
to his annoyance was, that for the it. 15s. alleged to be
due from him, they had put a man into another house
belonging to him as well as that in which lie resided, and
distrained on furniture which belonged to tenants or
lodgers—not to himself.

Corrie said in cases of this sort they could unques-
tionably- go upon any property found on the premises.
He recommended applicant to renew his representations
to the proper authorities. It was much to be deplored
that such should be the state of the law, but he had no
Power to afford Mr. Proctor a remedy.

MA.I?,LBOROUGH-STREBT.—fiempy Forrester, No.
1, Gloucester-terrace, Brompton ; John Frampton, No.
30, Esher-street ; Frederick Barnett, alias Francis
Blown, 6, Caroline-street, Bedford-square ; Henry Bar-
nett, alias Henry "frown, 41, Mortimer-street ; George
Chapman, door keeper ; rVilliara "Jersey, and John
Clad:, door keepers, were brought before Mr. Bingham,
charged with having been found in a common gaming-
house, the Princes Club (late the Feathers), No. 162,
Piccadilly. The two Barnetts are the reputed proprie-
tors of the place.
Mr. Sleigh was
_ _

attendance for the defendants.
_ _

• - - wi-Taff-u-dtvlsion, having
produced the Police Commissioners'authority to enter the
house, said about 1 o'clock on Sunday morning he went to
No. 162, Piccadilly, known as Hoby's, the bootmaker's.
The hall door was open, and witness, accompanied by In-
spector Lester and several police constables, went in. The
next door had Mass windows to it, through which wit-
ness was enabled to beckon to one of the defendants to
open it. This person, before opening the dour, went to
another door, and appeared to ring a bell, after which
he opened the door, and witness went towards a third
door, which was forced by the police. This door was
secured with iron bars and plates, and was very strong.
A fourth door was about to be forced, when it was
opened by one of the door keepers. This door was lined
with sheet iron, and had very strong fastenings, and was
supplied with a traversing lever. Witness and consta-
bles went up stairs into a first floor room, apparently
fitted up as a billiard-room, ail the windows of which
were supplied with strong shutters and bars. The de-
fendants, .Forrester and Frampton, were arrested in this
room. In a room on the second floor, fitted with a door
four inches thick, the two Barnetts, who gave the name
of Brown, were taken into custody. On searching them
several securities and a considerable sum of money were
found. There was a water closet on the second flour.
The defendants were searched and the premises were
searched, but no gambling implements were found.
Mr. Bingham—The defendants are discharged.

HAMMERSMITH.—Two German musicians, named
John Beart, aged 19 years, and Mich,act Price, aged 18,
who carried their instruments in their arms, were
charged with having assaulted Mr. Spiniola Gambar-
della, an artist, residing at No. 22, Sussex-place, Ken-
sington New Town.
The complainant, whose nose was strapped with adhe-
sive plaster, deposed that for the last year a great num-
ber of the German brass bands had visited the street in
I which he lived, and bad annoyed him very much in his
profession byplaying upon their instruments, and latterly
the number had so increased that it was quite impossible
for him to paint, as their music was so very loud. He
had frequently ordered them away, but they invariably
refused to do so. On Tuesday last the prisoners, who
formed part of a band of six Germans, came very near
his house, and created a great noise with their trumpets
and large instruments. He asked them quietly to go
away, but they refused ; and he sent for a constable but
he declined to interfere. He spoke to the prisoner
Beart to leave the place, but instead of doing so he turned
himself round as if in an attitude to fight him. He
went to the station and the band afterwards left, and
they kept away from the street all the week. That
morning they came again and commenced playing near
his house. He went to them and desired them to leave
off playing, and said they could not stop there. They
again refused to go, and he then took hold of Beart's
shoulder and slightly pushed him, and told him he could
not remain there. The prisoner then struck him with
his instrument, and he then struck him with his fist in
self-defence. The whole of the band (six) then com-
menced throwing stones at him, and one of them, thrown
by the other prisoner (Price), struck him upon the oridgo
of the nose and cut it. A. constable then came up, and
he gave the prisoners into custody. The witness then
added that a gentleman at No. 19 had been in the habit
of encouraging the prisoners and other bands for the pur-
-1
pose of annoying him, and gave them shillings to remain.
In answer to questions from the bench, Mr. Garn-
bardella said he could not do anything in his house for
the noise. He could not paint, and when he desired
them to go away he told them as a reason he could
not proceed in his lawful pursuits in consequence of
their noise.
Thomas Darby, a page in the service of the corn-
plainant, was then called, but he did not witness the
assault, as it was alleged to have been committed while
he was gone for a constable. He, however, said that his
master's nose was not cut before be was sent for a police-
man. The prisoner and his companions were making a
great noise with their instruments when his master or-
dered them away.
The prisoner Beart (in broken English) said the com-
plainant first struck him with his stick or cane he had
in his hand. He denied that any stones were thrown.
His companion was a German, and could speak only
very little English.
A. gentleman named Thomas Deverall, of No. 19,
Sussex-place, volunteered as a witness in the prisoners'
behalf. He said he had the men playing before his
house for the amusement of his three children, and not
for the annoyance. His house was three doors from Mr.
Gambardella's, who he had never spoken to until that
morning, and if that gentleman had written to him
stating that the music was an annoyance to him, he
would have taken care not to have encouraged it,
but he never received any notic:_, to that effect. The
complainant came out, ordered the men away, which
they refused to do, and he then struck Beart with
his cane, and also ill-used two others of the band, who
were mere boys. Beart retaliated, and he (witness) be-
lieved the cut on the complainant's nose was caused by
the prisoner's fists. No stones were thrown.
Maria, Banks, servant of the last witness, corroborated
his statements, which were denied by the plaintiff, who
said that these two witnesses had committed perjury.
Mr. Paynter said it was quite clear, that the com-
plainant had taken the law into his own hands, which
he ought not to have done, as he had the remedy, and
could have summoned the prisoners and recovered a
penalty. The clause in the act mentioned "on account
of illness or for other reasonable cause." now, the
complainant had not stated that there was any illness in
his house, but that it interfered with himas an artist.
He had some doubts whether his being an artist came
within the term of " other reaSbriable cause, as it
seemed to imply something more than the ordinary
occupation of persons. If it were so,
it would amount
to an actual prohibition of street music,
which was not
the law. He should discharge the prisoners, and if the
complainant liked he could indict Price at the sessions,
but after what had been stated by the witnesses for the
defence, he was of opinion the jury would throw out the
bill. The worthy magistrate then added that if Mr.
Deverall had music before his house it would be desir-
able to have as little of it as possible, but he (Mr. Payn-
ter) could not say that he was bound to discontinue it.
The prisoners were then discharged.

AUSTRALIAN ROYAL MAIL STEAM CCOMPANY.-_A
meeting of this company took place yesterday at which
a short report on the state of affairs was presented. It
appears that the Government have taken up the Victoria
at 50s. per ton per month, providing the coal only. It
is expected that the Sydney will be similarly employed,
and also the other vessels on their arrival. The terms
Russell
lr
has the
resumedllfelbo Melbourne having expired, Mr.
of
Scottthe
it is stated, are possessionof that vessel.
Negotiations,
charter of a portion or all of the company's steamers.
The directors recommend this course of proceeding, the
voyages to Australia not having proved remunerative,
there being, even in the case of the Sydney, a consider.
able loss. To provide for present engagements, and
until some definite system of action shall have been
settled, the board have been authorised to raise on loan
50,000/.

is stated that bills, known to be for-
geries to the amount of about 4,0001., purporting to be
drawn
by Antonio del Valle, Sub-Governor of the Bank
of San Fernando, Madrid, upon the agents of the bank
at Havannal, and to the order of Don Jorge Hasfilto,
have within the last few (lays been attempted to be ne-
gotiated in London.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT AND Loss OF LIFE AT WEST-
MINSTER.—Yesterday morning the workmen engaged in
enlarging Messrs. Kay's manufactory observed a party
wall give tokens of insecurity, and before they had time
to effect their escape a stack of chimneys fell with a tre-
mendous crash, burying the men beneath. William Wes-
ton was crushed to death. A body of men were set to
work, and after almost superhuman exertions, found
James Comb, who was conveyed to Westminster Hos-
pital, without any hope of recovery. Shortly after,
another man, named Edmonds, was conveyed home by
police-constables 47 B and 157 B. The workmen con-
tinued till a late hour busily engaged in removing the
debris, to s•-e whether any other unortunate mea were
beneath, as some were still missing.

IfAmEuaG.—From Hamburg the quotation of the rate
of exchange shows no alteration, but the tendency was
unsatisfactory, bills being in demand. The rate of dis-
Count, which had been for some time as low as 2 per
cent., has been raised to 21. The English squadron is
reported by these letters to have reached the Sound on
the 15th inst.