The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-20 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

CHARGE OF OVERCROWDING A STEAMBOAT.
MANSION-HOUSE.—Mr. Jesse Lukes, master of
the Meteor, Gravesend steam-boat (Star Company), ap-
peared before Alderman Wire upon two informations,
laid by the City Solicitor, under the direction of the
Board of Trade.
Mr. Stuchbury, of the City Solic'tor's office, appeared
for the prosecution. Mr. Dobson, secretary to the Star
Company, attended for the defence.
The first information charged the defendant with
having, on the 7th of August, unlawfully received and
had on board the said vessel a greater number of pas-
sengers than the number specified in the river certificate,
if sued in pursuance of the Steam Navigation Act, 1851,
the certificate having limited the number to 683, whereas
the number on board amounted to 706, being an excess
of passengers of 18. The information stated that the
sum forfeited amounted to 201., and that a further sum
of ss. for every passenger over and above the 688 was
likewise forfeited by the violation.
The second information charged the defendant with
having on the 19th of August received passengers on
board the same vessel without having a certificate appli-
cable to the " excursion" she was making, called an
Excursion River Certificate, or a true copy thereof in
distinct legible characters on board, and put up in some
conspicuous part of the vessel, the penalty for such an
offence being to an amount not exceeding 201.
To the second charge the defendant pleaded guilty by
the advice of Mr. Dobson, who stated what appeared
not at all to be doubted, that he could satisfactorily
show that the transgression of the law with respect to
the Excursion River Certificate was an error uninten-
tionally made, and subjecting the defendant to a mere
nominal penalty. Mr. Dobson admitted the proper
service of the summons, and that the certificated num-
ber was 688.

Mr. Stuchbury called his witness at once, as the na-
ture of charges of the kind was sufficiently known to the
magistrate.
William Newnham, inspector under the Steam Navi-
gation Act, 1851, said—On the 7th of August I went on
board the Meteor at the Terrace Pier, Gravesend.
Several passengers were taken on board there, and also
at Rosherville Pier. I proceeded in the vessel to North
Woolwich, where 108 passengers got out, and 5 returned.
They landed from the after gangway. We (my brother
inspector Kilby and myself) went on to Blackwall,
where I counted 327 persons landing from the fore-
gangway. I afterwards compared with Kilby, and the
result was I found that the number who had been on
board was 706, an excess of 18 over and above the legi-
timate number. We do not count children in arms or
very little children.
Mr. Dobson who stated that he questioned the cor-
rectness of the writing of the inspectors, cross-examined
the witness, who said in answer to several questions,
"I stood on the paddle-box at North Woolwich, and
only counted those who passed out and gave tickets.
At Blackwall I stood at the side of the gangway in the
vessel. The collector was on the barge 3or 4 feet from
me. I could see every person who went out. If
children gave up tickets I counted them. I did not
count the musicians or ourselves.
Mr. Stuchbury— Did you find any difficulty whatever
in counting ?
Witness—None at all.
Arthur T. Kilby, inspector under the Steam Naviga-
tion Act, 1851, said I went on board the Meteor to
Newnham. I counted 40 persons who came on board
at Rosherville. At Dlackwall I saw persons leave the
vessel, and I counted them from the after gangway. I
counted 276. I counted the children who gave up
tickets ; no other children.
Cross-examined—I have been in the habit of watching
steam-vessels. At the Terrace-pier we observed great
care upon the part of the captain. The majority of the
boats do exercise great caution.
Mr. Dobson—Have you not said that the Star Com-
pany are remarkable for the care they take to prevent
overcrowding ?
William Newnham—l have made the observation.

Mr. Dobson said he could prove that the two in-
spectors were mistaken and that the vessel had not on
board even the 688 which she was authorised to carry.
The books of the company, which could not do wrong,
would show by the counterfoils that no more than 685
had been on board. Alderman Wire said that books
could not, in such a case, be evidence.
Mr. Dobson then called

William Bright, collector of the Meteor, who said—l
took money on the 7th of August from 685 persons. I
made up my books immediately after the boat had
landed her passengers at Blackwall. I am quite sure
there were no season ticket passengers, and I do not
think there were any free passengers. There were great
numbers of children on board.

Mr. Dobson submitted that the charge was by no
means made out. The Star Company, it was well
known, had used the greatest exertion to prevent the.
violation of the act, and did not hesitate to put on an
additional boat, as was the case on the day alluded to,
which was the most busy of all the season, when there
appeared to be occasion. He represented the insur-
mountable difficulty of preventing the rush of the public,
who, in defiance of all expostulation, jumped over the
sides of the boats, and he contended that after all, if, as
he would by no means admit, there had been a small
excess, the extraordinary care shown upon all occasions
by the Star Company, justified the expectation, that no
penalty would be inflicted.
Alderman Wire said he certainly gave the Star Com-
pany great credit for the disposition they had shown to
carry out requirements of the act which had been pro-
ductive of so much good, and the provisions of which
were so judiciously and vigorously acted upon by the
two inspectors. He felt it to be his duty, however, to
mark his sense of the necessity of a conviction in the
case on which the defendant had pleaded not guilty, but
under all the circumstances he believed it would answer
the ends of justice to fine the defendant 20s. for carrying
a greater number than the law allowed, and ss. a head for
10 ten passengers exceeding the legitimate number, with
respect to the charge of having gone on the excursion
without an excursion certificate the defendant must pay
20s. more for that infringement of the law.
The fines and costs were immediately paid.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—George Collycr, cab-
driver, was summoned by a gentleman named Carlton,
residing in Curzon-street, for having unlawfully neglected
to deliver a printed ticket with th number of the cab
upon it at the time of hiring.
Mr. Carlton said after he paid the defendant his fare
he told him he had omitted to give Era a ticket.
The defendant said that was not his business, but after-
wards he did give him a printed ticket. The question
to be determined was, whether the defendant was not
bound by the recent act to deliver a printed ticket to
his fare as soon as the hiring took place ?
Mr. Hardwick was aware that some difference of opi-
nion existed as to the legal meaning of this portion of
the act, but be had no doubt about the matter. He was
of opinion that the ticket was to be delivered at the time
the hiring was made, and not during the journey or after
the journey. He should therefore impose a fine of 10s.
and costs.

Mr. Edwin James, barrister, Pall-mall, was summoned
by a cab driver, named Ingleton, for refusing to pay
his legal fare.
The cab driver said he had been four times to the
court to prefer the charge, but Mr. James bad taken no
notice whatever of the summonses which had been issued
from this court,

Mr. Hardwick inquired whether Mr. James was pre-
sent now ?

A young man, who said he was valet to Mr. James,
came forward, and stated that his master was too busy
with his circuit, the House of Commons and the House
of Lords duties to find time to attend to the complaint.
Mr. Hardwick remarked that the time of the cabman
was quite as valuable to him as Mr. James's time. He
really thought Mr. James should have shown more con-
sideration than to have put off attending to this case for
so long a time.
The valet said he would undertake, on behalf of his
master, to satify the cabman.
The cabman said, besides his fare of 45., he had lost,
a least, five hours each day he attended the court.
Mr. Hardwick awarded 10s. compensation for loss of
time and expenses, and 4s. fare.
The money was paid.

MARYLEBON —__
brother of a prize-fighter,iwas
_..E..__m • c had m,Nutty, aged 15, the
charged with the follow-
ing robbery in an omnibus and it will be seen, from
the subjoined evidence, that ladies while riding in
public vehicles should carefuly avoid being seated next
to a person carrying a cloak.
Elie. Rawlings, residing at 19, lligh-street, Newing-
ton Butts, deposed that on the pliievious afternoon she
the
et-street to go to
en
got into a Chelsea omnibus in
Islington. The prisoner waz at t
vehicle on an opposite seat. After upper end of the a
crossed over and sat next to her, and
when he
Was
about
short time he
to alight she was spoken to by the conductor,
found that her purse, containing two half-
e, when she
t
five shillings, had been abstracted from her and
pock
The purse and its contents were then lying at her feet
t
Bile was not aware until then that she had robbed.ee
John Gould, the conductor, stated that the prisoner.
must have forced his way into the omnibus unrecognised
by him at a period when two ladies entered it in Oxford-
street. He placed himself at the farthest end of one of
the seats near Mortimer-street. Witness was hailed by
the prosec ,
utrix and she got in, taking her seat at the
other side, at some distance from the prisoner. He (wit-
ness) knew the accused to be a regular pickpocket,
and spoke over the roof toI he
mean to look driver, sayiaftng
er "I've
and
got
a young rat in the trap— him,
shall be sure to catch him." He (prisoner) had with him
a cloak, which he laid upon his knees, and putting one
of his hands under the garment, operated upon the
pocket of a lady who was by his side. ,Shortly after-
wards he saw the prisoner cross over and seat himself by
the prosecutrix, and observed him engaged in working
away with Inc hand at her dress. At Quickset-row,
New-road, a baker got on to,the roof of the omnibus,
and while witness was handing up his basket to him,
prisoner said, "1 t e me out." Witness opened the door,
when • pmsoner held out coppers for the payment of his
fare ; and he •
hand. (witness) then saw a purse in the other
saw him
lieprevented him from making his egress, and
drop the
• puree close to the prosecutrix, who
immediately id
then -rave him identified
ed it as being her property. Witness
258 S." into the custody
of police-constable
The prisoner, when searched at the station,had
watch
session.with a goldguard in.
In answer to the charge, his pos-
i nnocence ; he knew
nothing about th asserted his
tion.e purse in ques-
Mr. Broughton remanded him t.
Alld he directed Inspector Chambers to make\\'ll",daY next,
tO whether there was any former c -o • 'uquiry
onviction • as
r Rot. s against him