The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-17 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

Yesterday George Westbrook, a man of resp ctable ap-
pelrance, described as a merchant and bill-broker, was
brought before Mr. JEREMY, charged with stealing a writ-
ing-desk, containing sundry articles, the property of a lily
named Ross, residing in the Kent-road. The case excited
much interest.

The complainant was living at the house of her son, who
is a surgeon, and having had occasion to leave on Friday
last, she left the house in charge of a little boy. On her
return, however, she was informed that the prisoner and a
man, who was his groom, had entered the house in her
absence, and, upon looking round, she missed the desk now
produced. She added that she was not acquainted with
the prisoner, and had no recollection of having seen him
until he was placed at the bar. Her son, she believed, bad
some slight acquaintance with the accused.
A boy, twelve years of age, stated that on the day that
he was left to mind the house, the prisoner and a man
dressed as a groom called there, and asked to see Mr.
Codd ; that he (witness) told them that he was not
at home ; upon which they walked into the house, and
went into the back parlour and surgery, and began to look
about. He (the boy) told them that he had directions to
admit no one into the house ; upon which the man dressed
is groom's clothes called the prisoner, saying, " Mr. West-
brook, there is no person up stairs." The prisoner imme-
diately
went °P, and the groom came down, and detained
witness below while the former remained up stairs. The
witness added that soon afterwards the prisoner and groom
left the house together.
Robert Brodie, a policeman of the L division, took the
prisoner into custody, and on examining him found the
paper now produced, and which the complainant identified
as having been in the desk at the time it was taken from
the house.
A pawnbroker stated that the prisoner pledged the desk
at his employer's shop on the evening of the day it was al-
leged to have been stolen.
The Magistrate asked the prisoner what he had to say
in answer to the charge ? The prisoner replied that the
boy had told a falsehood in saying that he was detained
down stairs by the groom while he (prisoner) was in the
rooms above. The facts were, he (the prisoner) and his
groom called at the house, as he knew the complainant's

PRICE scli

son, and that being desirous of seeing him, to take his ad-
, vice on a medical case, they waited for him in the expec-
tation of his arrival, but not coming they waited as long as
they thought proper, and afterwards went away without
seeing him. He added that there was no truth in the ac-
cusation of his having robbed the house of the writing-desk.
Mr. SWABEY—Both the pawnbroker's clerk and the
little boy have distinctly sworn to your identity, one as
having seen you in his master's house from whence the
desk was abstracted ; and the other witness as to your
being the person who afterwards pledged-de article at his
employer's shop.
The prisoner still asserted his innocence.
_ _

The Magistrate stated that there was another fact de-
tailed in the course of the evidence, which made the case
still stronger against the accused, namely, that of the po-
liceman finding in his possession a paper which the com-
plainant had now sworn was in her writing-desk when it
was stolen. The Magistrate added that he had no other
alternative than to send the case before a Jury.—Committed,

rArtisirop ST. MARY, ISLINGTON.

On Thursday evening, pursuant to previous announce-
ment, a meeting of the rate-payers of the above parish was
held in St. Mary's Church, to elect a Vestry-Clerk in the
room of the late unfortunate Mr. Oldershaw. Mr.
BARDGETT, Senior Churchwarden, in the Chair.

Mr. CHARLES WOODWARD proposed Mr. Robert 01-
dershaw as a fit and proper person to succeed his father in
the office of Vestry-Clerk. He deeply deplored the em-
barrassed circumstances which had led to the melancholy
end of the unfortunate deceased : but from the clear and
convincing evidence which presented itselftip Isis mind that
the present candidate had not, in the slightest degree, been
privy to any of the business transactions of his Either, he
could not for a moment think that the late disastrous cir-
cumstances entailed upon him any disqualification for office.
Mr. Robert Oldershaw had had no connection for several
years whatever with his father in business, nor was it at all
possible for him to have been cognizant. of his father's de-
falcations ; for his father had actually employed other legal
gentlemen to transact his business. All he could say was,
that he was a country attorney, but he could not give his
name.--(Confusion, and cries of " (..Th, oh," amidst which
Mr. Woodwar sat down.)
Mr. RAMSDEN seconded the nomination.

He admitted

that the late Mr. Oldershaw, at the time he committed
suicide, was a defaulter to the parish of St. Mary to the
amount of 650/., but he could never be induced to believe
hat the sins of the father should be visited upon the head
of the son.
Mr. GOODYEAR nominated Mr. Robert Cork, who was
as yet an untried man, but he stood forward openly and
fairly to fight their battle, and he saw no reason why his
pretensions to office should not be received.

Mr. HALL seconded the nomination.
Mr. HODGSKIN doubted wl'ether that meeting would act
with becoming discretion were they, after what they had
heard, to proceedthat evening to the election of a vestry-clerk.
They had heard from one of the Churchwardens that there
was an actual deficiency in the parish funds of 6501. For
a successor to come into office under such circumstances
would be exceedingly unpleasant. Besides, should the
parish of St. Mary, instead of continuing under the Local
Act, be brought under the operation of the new Poor-law
Bill, a thing by no means unlikely, it was exceedingly de-
sirable that they should know what the precis! duties of
the 'Vestry-Clerk would be. He moved that the election
be adjourned sine die, in order first to institute an inquiry
.nto all the circumstances of the case.

The CHAIRMAN refused to put this motion on the ground
of its alleged illegality, and proceeded with the nomination,
in spite of the loudly declared disapprobation of the vestry.
- Mr. GREEN proposed Mr. May. No one could deplore
more than he did the late unfortunate occurrences, but at
the same time he must be permitted to say, that in his opi-
nion Mr. Robert Oldershaw himself, as also his friends, had
shown themselves destitute of that delicacy of feeling which
ought to have characterised them. The remains of the un-
fora:mate deceased *ere scarcely cold in the-grave _when
the son was pushed forward to succeed him. He saw no
claim which Mr. Robert Oldershaw had upon the rate-
payers beyond that of any other parishioner, and under ex-
isting circumstances he had been badly advised.
Mr. EDE seconded Mr. May's nomination.
Tlic CHAIRMAN on a show of hands declared Mr. Older-
show elected.

A poll was demanded on behalf of the Messrs. Cork
and May. So much confusion prevailed towards the close
of the proceedings, that no person appeared to be aware
of either what was done or what ought to be done.
The excitement which prevails in Islington is equal to
that of a borough election. Crowds of persons surrounded
the Church-gates. Placards were to be seen in all direc-
tions ; and paid agents employed in shouting for Oldershaw
or for Cork. Carriages were to be seen bringing up voters
from a distance ; and the deepest anxiety was evinced by
each party for the success of their respective candidates.
At six o'clock last evening 1,309 voters had been polled ;
but as the votes were taken by ballot, the result is not yet
known. The poll closes this evening.
We add an extract from a letter which has been ad-

dressed to a Morning Paper on this subject:—
" The late Mr. Oldershaw's defalcations (on private ac-
counts are about 27,000/., and on parish accounts about
5001. already discovered) have naturally excited much dis-
tressing attention ; and I address you in form of corres-
pondence, in order to elicit inquiry on an important
question of vestry right, arising out of the proceedings,
affecting this and all other parishes.
After Mr. Woodward, the nominator of the late vestry
clerk's son, had commenced a speech full of promises of
explanations, declarations of reputation, &c., but most
scrupulously (no doubt conscientiously) withholding
amounts, names, &c., though the latter were loudly and
generally called for ; and after other speeches and nomina-
tions, leaving the required explanations blank, an amend-
ment was proposed to postpone the election, with a view of
appointing a Committee to inquire and report publicly (as
three friends of the party had done privately) ; but this
amendment was overruled by the churchwarden, Mr. Bard-
gett, a gentleman of the highest character and talent, on
the ground that it ought to have been submitted before the
nominations, which latter he proceeded to put to a show of
hands, only allowing the amendment to be put afterwards,
which occasioned so much uproar and confusion, as not to
be understood by the bulk of the meeting. Now, Sir, it
is not only the practice of Parliament, but, I think, the
custom of all public meetings to adopt the usage of the
former, and put amendments first, allowing them to be
moved and seconded at any time ; and I wish to know,
from some intelligent reader, whether the above proceed-
ing of the respected Chairman is authorized by established
usage or local Act ?

" In point of order and common sense, it seems absurd to
insist upon amendment being proposed before the
it business of the meeting is found to justify t k as in
the present case, where further inquiry and needful adjourn-
ment appeared to be the more necessary, from the proceed-
ings (particularly the opener's part therein) being so dero-
gatory and unsatisfactory—alike deficient in common
fairness, and dogmatical in partizanship.
" I am, Sir, your humble correspondent,
Highbury, Nov. 16, 1838. OLIVER LYNDALL."
This case, which involves a great mass of parochial
scandal and parochial injustice, will lead to further inves-
tigation. The reader must be informed that the son
of the late defaulter is put forward to supply his
father's place by tne Tory and saintly party of the
parish, which also constitutes a predominant and
monopolizingjunta ; that they began their intrigues to
procure the return of the son on the very Sabbath that
the father committed suicide, and before he was well cut
down ; that they held quasi public, but really private,
meetings of their own friends, and the friends of the son,
to whitewash over the nefarious conduct of the father as
much as possible ; and that then one of their own party was
placed in, the chair, on the night of the Vestry, who pro-
ceeded to the nomination in an unwarranted manner, and
refused to receive an amendment which was perfectly legal
and perfectly in order. Widows and orphans are the
.;Lief sufferers by the defalcations of the late vestry-clerk,
which, together with the improper and even scandalous
proceedings we have adverted to, have created an extraor-
dinary degree of excitement, and even indignation in
the parish, so that ladies of retired habits, who would
on ordinary occasions have shrunk' from taking any
part in public proceedings, have hastened to the
vestry to record their vote against Mr. R. Older-
shaw. It is expected, however, that the election will ter-
minate in his favour, because two candidates unwisely de-
vide the popular party, and the saintly Tory junta, by
which he is supported, have an immense deal of power in
the parish. A protest, however, has been entered against
the proceedings of the Chairman and Vestry, and the ques-
tion of the legality of the election will probably be decided
in a court of law.

u
There is now living at Hampstead a gentleman
named Solomans, of the Jewish persuasion, many years
versmith at Watford, who has attained the great 01,,e of 110

years.

COURSING.
NEWMARKET NEW INN MEETING.
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.
The Allington Hill Stakes for Bitch Puppies.—Mr. King's br.
Reel beat Mr. Finch's blk. Girl, Mr. Inskip's r. Isabel beat Mr.
Dobede's r. Duvernay, Mr. Saberton's r. Shylass beat Mr. Fyson's
br. and w. Frances, Mr. Vipan's r. Vivid beat Mr. Finch's r. and
w. Guitar, Mr. Vipan's blk. Viola beat Mr. Harlock's blk. Helen,
Mr. Moody's blk. Remnant beat Mr. Inskip's blk. Industry, Cap-
tain Daintree's blk. and w. Kettle beat Mr. Gillett's blk. an w.
Grace Darling.
Ties.—Remnant beat Kettle, Isabel beat Reel, Viola beat Sliy-
ass. Vivid ran a bye.
The Cup.-31r. Saberton's r. d. Swap (late Valiant) beat Mr.
Bryant's blk. and p. Epicure, Mr. Dobede's blk. d. Damon beat
Captain Daintree's br. d. Knock-up, Captain Daintree's br. and
w. b. p. Kitty Fisher beat Mr. Dobede's blk. and w. b. Daphne,
Mr. Inskip's blk. b. Ina beat Mr. Thorp's br. d. Norval, Mr. Ed •
wards's hr. d. Abraham Newland beat 111 r. K ing's 'bk. and w. b.
Rosanne' Mr. Fyson's r. d. p. Fordham beat Mr. 3loody's b. d. p.
Rodney, Mr. Dann's bl. d. Blucher beat Mr. Vipan's br. d. Vulcan,
Mr. Finch's f. and w. b. Glee beat Mr. Gillett's bl. d. Giovanni.
Ties.—Swap beat Abraham Newland, Damon beat Blucher,
Glee beat Fordham, Kitty Fisher beat Ina.
Por. i.Stakes.—Mr. Inskip's r. b. Io beat Mr. Finch's r. b. Ga-
votte, Mr. Edwards's br. d. Adam Brock beat Mr. King's r. d.
Royalist, -Mr. Bryant's blk. d. Election beat Mr. Harlock's r.
Harkaway, Mr. Vipan's f. b. Victoria beat Mr. Gillett's blk. b.
Graceful, Mr. Dunn's blk. d. Beau beat Captain Daintree's r. b.
Kate, Mr. Saberton's blk. d. Snowball beat Mr. Dobede's blk. b.
Daisy, Mr. Dobede's blk. b. Demeaux beat Mr. Moody's br. d. b.
Rioter, Mr. Vipan's blk. and w. b. Vanish beat Mr. Fyson's blk.
and w. b. Fly (late Derce).
Ties.—Adam Brock beat 10, Election beat Beau, Vanish beat
Demeaux, Snowball beat Victoria.

Chippenham Stakes fur Dog Puppies.—Mr. Saberton's bl. Selim
beat Mr. King's r. Rasper, Mr. Dobede's r. Dotheboys beat Cap..
fain Daintree's w. Keel, Mr. Gillett's bl. Greenacre beat Mr.
Bryant's blk. Euphrates, Mr. Inskip's br. Incledon beat Mr. Sa-
berton's br. Sam, Mr.-Finch's blk. and w. Grandee beat Mr. In-
skip's blk. Itanhoff, Mr. Fyson's r. and w. Fashion beat Mr.
Dunn's blk. Bacchus, Mr. Fyson's blk. Falstaff beat Mr. Harlock's
blk. Hero.

Ties.—Grandee beat lncledon, Dotheboys beat Fashion, Selim
beat Greenacre. Falstaff ran a bye.
Matches.—Mr. Bryant's blk. d. Elephant (late Tonnerre) beat
Mr. Dobede's r. b. Doubtful, Mr. Dobede's w. b. Diana against
Mr. Harlock's blk. b. p. Helen, no course : Mr. Fyson's r. d.
Frolick against Mr. Harlock's r. d. Harkaway, undecided.