The Sun.
London, England, 1825-09-06 00:00:00

MISCONDUCT OF.A COACHMAN.

, Bow- STittET.— Yesterday William Wentworth, the driver
of the hackney-coach No. 237, was summoned to answer to the
complaint of a gentleman, named Hamilton, for wilful misbe-
haviour, in being drunk and abusive.—lt appeared by the state-
ment of Mr. Hamilton, which was corroborated by another
,entleman, that having gone to Charing-cross, to meet some
ladies who came by a stage-coach from the country, he
called a hackney coach to convey them. and their luggage to
their town residence. The defendant's coach being the first on
the stand it was drawn off to the pavement by the Waterman,
and'the ladies and the luggage were safely deposited inside be-
fore the defendant, who was drinking in a public-house, made
his appearance. The moment Mr. Hamilton 'saw him, he ob-
served that he was very drunk, and he told him that he .was
unfit to have the management of his horses, and that he should
put the ladies into another coach. The defendant immediately
began to abuse him, swore that he was perfectly sober, and
well able to manage any'pair of horses in the ,kingdom, and
upon Mr. Hamilton's, attempting to prevent him driving off, he
said he would give him " a damned good hiding." He en-
deavoured to get his horses into a gallop, and in doing so drove
from side to side, so that-the coach was in imminent danger of
being overturned. The ladies, one of whom was extremely aged,
screamed violently and begged him to stop, and he continued to
whip his horses until Mr. Hamilton and the gentleman who
Came forward to give evidence, at the risk of their lives, seized
the reins and checked their further
_progress. A great crowd
collected, and irwas with much difficulty the ladies could be
got out and conducted to a coffee-house, and the luggage pre-
served. The elder lady was much hurt by being shaken about
in the coach. In addition to this the defendant demanded and
took a shilling for the hire of his coach.
The coachman, in his defence, declared-that he was perfectly
sober on the night in question, and that, though he might
have been a little nettled at being told that he was drunk when
he knew he was quite the contrary, no man could be mote
civiller than he was, for he never gived the gemman a miss
word.
Sir R. BIRNIE said lie had abundant proof to the contrary,
and convicted the defendant in the penalty of 20s. and costs.—
Mr. Hamilton gave the moiety of the penalty to Sir Richard
Birnie's poor-box. -

HoRsE-STEAtiNo.—The crime of horse-steal-
ing is still carried on to an amazing extent, and scarcely a day
passes that information does not reach Bow-street Office, of one
oL more horses
.having been stolen. OR Sunday night five
valuable horses were stolen f'rom a field near Edgeware, belong-
ing to a Mr. Thompson, of Kilburn, who we believe had the
cale,of them.- They were valued at about 700 guineas. One
of them was stated to be the property of Chief Justice BEST.
ROBBERY OF_THE SOUTHAMPTON BANK.—On
Thursday John Johnson and J. hardy were examined at
Brighton, charged on suspicion of having stolen the South-
ampton Bank parcel of Messrs. Trim, Kellow, and Pritchard,
(containing nearly 2,0001.) on Wednesday last. The 'prisoner
Johnson passed one of the 5/. notes to Mr. J. Walker, linen-
draper, of St. James's-street, in payment for two Silk hand-
kerchiefs, and Hardy another 5/. note to Mr. Buckwell, in
payment of a -gold watch key. By the promptude and judg-
ment, of Mr. Walker the prisoners were apprehended. A
third 'person, who has since disappeared, was previously seen
with them, when they offered a similar note to a tradesman in
the new road there. The prisoners were separately searched,
and on the person of Johnson were found one five pound note
of the Southampton bank, four sovereigns, and some,silver ;
on Hardy, forty-four five pound note of the same bank, nine
11. notes of the different Brighton banks ,(obtained in change'
in the. morning), thirteen sovereigns and a half, six half
crowns; and a bank post bill for 50/., which, it appeared, he
had obtained from the Ohl Brighton Bank, in exchange for
tin five pound notes of the Southampton Bank, which notes
were also produced. Johnson, when questioned,' gave a
very equivocating account how he became. p?ssesSed of the
notes in question : but Hardy refused answering any intern.
gatories till he had consulted with his friends. After a long
nesses,- the prisoners were committed to Lewes House of Cor-
ri 14e
cvtei sotni g,afotiropre.oef
or,naonndi‘tihoe ndaexamination of .several wit-
for communicating with Trim, Kellvoewek, taongdiveroipiptcohrartudnLty
(Portsntonth Paper.)