The Sun.
London, England, 1836-01-11 00:00:00

BOW- STREET.

The Commissioners of Stamps having determined to
proceed by every means which the law allows for the sup-
pression of unstamped papers, which, by their supineness
heretofore they have permitted to be circulated to an
enormous extent, are now vigorously taking those steps
which, had they been adopted in the first instance, would
long since have repressed the evil. The course now adopted
is to seize the papers in bulk, as they are carried from the
place of printing to the respective places of publication, by
wholesale or retail. Under the direction to this effect, is-
sued by the authority of the Home Office to the Magis-
trates at the different Police Offices in the metropolis, Bal-
lard and Goddard yesterday brought forward a case in which
no less than thirty quires, of twenty-seven sheets each, of
these papers were seized.
The party charged was an old man named William
Thomas Payne, and Ballard stated that he saw the pri-
soner in Fleet-street on that morning, at twenty minutes
before nine o'clock, carrying a large bundle of papers on
his shoulder. He followed him into Pickett-street, Strand,
where he stopped him, and asked what he had got ? He
replied that he did not know, for that a man had given the
bundle to him to carry. The witness next inquired to
whom he was conveying the parcel, but he refused to give
auy explanation, further than that he was taking them to a
street just by. He was in consequence taken into custody,
and the parcel was found to contain thirty quires of two
unstamped newspapers.
Mr. MINsHuLL asked the prisoner if he would now ex-
plain how the papers had come into his possession ? The
prisoner replied that he had received them in Crane-court,
Fleet-street, and was conveying them to Mr. Johnson's, in
Holywell-street. He declared he did not know what the
bundle contained. It was made up for him in Crane-court,
and he was merely employed to convey it to Mr. Johnson.
Goddard deposed to the truth of Ballard's statement.

A person named Smith then requested, on behalf of the
prisoner, that the further hearing of the case might be post-
poned until the solicitor of the Stamp Office should arrive.
Mr. Tilsley shortly after attended from the Stamp Office,
and Mr. Wooler then appeared for the prisoner.
The evidence having been read over,
Mr. Wooler then submitted to Mr. Minsbull that no
offence had been committed. Although the Act provided
that all persons " carrying about, uttering, or offering for
sale" the unstamped publications should be liable to fine
and imprisonment, yet, he contended, unless the carrying
about was proved to be with the intention of selling, it
could not be deemed an offence.
Mr. Tilsley said that the immediate object of the Stamp
Office was to have the papers seized, and he should, there-
fore, be content without the prisoner's being convicted. He,
nevertheless, contended that there was sufficient against the
prisoner to make him liable under the 16th Geo. 11., the
words of which, in application to such cases, were—" sell,
hawk, carry about, utter, or expose for sale."
Mr. Wooler again urged that the prisoner was not au-
thorised to sell, but was employed as a mere carrier, and
could not be convicted.
Mr. Tilsley again observed, that he did not press for a
conviction against the defendant, but that the papers must
be detained.
Mr. MINSHULL said he should not order the papers to be
given up.
Mr. Wooler—Nor to be detained, I hope. In the latter
event the proprietors of the unstamped papers would be de-
prived of the power of bringing actions for their recovery,
if they felt disposed fairly to try the question.
Mr. MINSIIU LI., after some further conversation, directed
that the papers should be detained, and the prisoner was
then discharged.
George Payne, a young man, well-known as a vender
of unstamped newspapers, was also brought up on a similar

charge.
*The prisoner was stopped by Shac
three kell, th
quires of the
unstamped papers, under his arm.
In reply to the charge, he said that he was employed by
a, Mr. Jenkins, of Somerstown, to fetch the papers from
Mr. Wilson's, in Fetter-lane. He had no objection to give
up the papers.
The papers were accordingly detained, and the prisoner'
discharged.

HATTON-GARDEN..
James Evans, aged 14 ; William Martin, aged 23 ; an
James Hurd, aged 20, whose appearance indicated great
distress, were brought before Mr. LAING by two of the

mendicity officers, charged with singing glees in the St.r.k7fls. i
The officers stated that they saw the prisoners in Bedford-
row, singing glees and touching their hats to, passengers, but
they did not see them receive any money. They led them
to the Mendicity Society's office, but they were not known
as vagranti. The manner and demeanour of the prisoners
while at the bar were superior to the common order.
Mr. LAING ordered Martin and Hurd to be taken,out,
and he then questioned Evans, who stated that he got his
living by glee singing: He had sung at concerts, but lat-
terly was obliged to sing in the streets. Frame-making
- his trade, but he was -not fit to work in consequence of
was .
the badness 6: his eyes,and he devoted his attention to
music. Martin was lui'ought up t .the stage, but Paisfor-
tune compelled him to sing in the streets. .Tbey were no:.
begging, but depending on voluntary contributions. Hurd
was also a professional singer, and clever in his line, as a
bass. He (Evans) first met his companions on board the
Gravesend steamers, when they sang songs, glees, and
duets ; they had travelled the country together, and visited
Salisbury, Portsmouth, and other places. In reply to
another question as to why be did not get work, Evans re-
plied that his own brother would not employ him in con-
sequence of hist sight being bad, and it was not likely
strangers would do sit, (His eyes looked very weak.)
Martin was then called in. iltl said that he sung at con-
certs, at the Royal Standard, and other places of amuse-
ment, but latterly was obliged to sing in the :Meets. He
agreed in the statement made by Evans, and added (in a
melancholy tone), in reply to ,the Magistrate, that he had
been brought up to no
,trade, as his parents were indepen-
dent, but at their death he was left friendless and desti-
tute, and he made music his study ; he was not aware he
was doing wrong by singing in the streets.
Hurd was then brought before his Worship, and boldly
answered that he got his living by his vocal abilities.
.Mr. LAING said he was an impudent fellow, and he had a
great mind to commit him to the House of Correction for
three months.
Hurd hoped his Worship would not do so.
Mr. LAING then asked him what right had he to beg ?
Hurd said he was not begging, he was merely singing part
of a glee, and doing no harm ; they were distressed and
obliged to do so.
Mr. LAING said Hurd was the most impudent of the lot,
and he should commit him to the House of Correction and
hard labour for one month, Martin for three weeks, and
Evans for fourteen days.
This unexpected decision seCYlled to astound the prisoners,
who were taken to the lock-up by il:f! officer.

WORSHIP- STREET.
On Saturday night several tradesmen appeared before
Mr. BROUGHTON, to request that he would rescind his
order of appointment of inspectors of weights and measures
of No. 1 district, to which Mr. Reynolds had been sworn in,
Mr. James Hayman, corn dealer, Westminster-road, for
the appellants, said that they had to appeal to the Magi-
strates in consequence of the perilous situation in which
they, , as
.traders, were placed, from the present mode of
testing weights and measures.
Mr. BROUGHTON—What is it you ask for ?
Mr. Hayman—As regards the order issued from this
office, to the inspector of weights and measures, that you
will rescind that order, in consequence of the whole wooden
measures of the county of Middlesex having been tried by
a wrong test.
Mr. BROUGHTON—But I have no jurisdiction. Will
you point out in the Act of Parliament any clause by which
I have power to interfere ? I have no jurisdiction out of
Sessions. The inspectors are appointed by Sessions, and
dismissed and controlled by Sessions altogether. It is, there-
fore, a mere waste of your time to proceed further.
Mr. Hayman here referred to the investigation now being
pursued by the City Lands' Committee, which was ap-
pointed by the Court of Aldermen, and by which it has
been decided that in wooden measures water is no correct
test, on account of the various degrees of absorption of water
by wood. The effect of which is that almost all wooden
measures vary ; which is the case in all Middlesex and
Westminster. The City of London have adopted the test
of trying the accuracy of measures by seed.
Mr. BROUGHTON—Then what is your object ? Mr.
Hayman—To request you to rescind the order above re-
ferred to, and to try the measures by the new test ; as,
there being so many which are wrong, tradesmen suffer
much opprobiam, loss of character, and injury to business,
by an imputation against which they have no redress.
Bushel measures have been stamped which are two quarts
different from the maximum.
Mr. BROUGHTON said he had no power, and the proper
way would be to draw up a petition, and to present it to the
County Court on Thursday, and request the Magistrates in
Sessions to suspend the order. Mr. Broughton added that
on Thursday he would be in the County Court, and if they
attended he would pay every attention to their petition. He
was sorry that they should have had so much trouble.
The applicants left the office, intending to appear at
Hicks's Hall.