The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-28 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

William Pinner, a stout young man, well known to the
police, was charged with knocking down and robbing Mr.
Peter Ludwell, of Nelson-street, Bermondsey. The com-
plainant, about half-past eleven o'clock on the preceding
night, as he was going home, on passing. the Observatory in
Nelson-street, was suddenly attacked by two men. The
prisoner came in front of him, and thrust his hands into
his trousers' pocket, while his associate pinioned the com-
plainant by both the arms, and while held in th:s manner
they robbed him of his purse, containing a sovereigo and a
quantity of silver, amongst which were three half crown
pieces. The moment the man behind let go his arms:- he
(complainant) was knocked down by the prisoner, when
both of them ran off.

The prisoner, who denied the offence, was committed.

WORSHIP-STREET.

Yesterday George Ballen, fames Wells, a weaver, and
Daniel Wild, a twine-spinner, were placed at the bar, be-
fore Messrs. BROUGHTON and GROVE, charged, the first
with causing a breach of the peace, by flinging snow-balls
in the King's highway, and the two latter in resisting the
police in the execution of their duty. The charge was en-,
tered into on Monday night by Mr. BROUGHTON, when,
after an investigation of about two hours, as, in the opinion
of the Magistrate, there appeared to be a great remissness
on the part of the police, in consequence of there not being
a sufficient force to quell the riot and disturbance, which
had continued for above two hours, he gave orders that the
superintendents of the two divisions of the district should.
be directed to attend that day, for the purpose of offering
an explanation. Superintendents Pearce, of the H, and
Macie, of the G, divisions of police, accordingly attended
yesterday.
Mr. BROUGHTON having stated the object for which he
had called them, caused the evidence to be repeated.
Mr. Robert Parker, potatoe merchant, No. 138, Shore-
ditch, about half-past one, on Monday afternoon, saw seve-
ral persons collected, who were flinging snowballs at gen-
tlemen's carriages, at omnibusses, and every sort of vehicle
that was passing through Shoreditch ; and finding it get-
ting to an alarming extent, as in a short time near 1,000
persons were in the street, and who were attacking persons
in a most audacious manner, he told, a policeman that he
ought to stop it. The policeman said it was of no use for
him to interfere against so many. Several windows had
been broken, when, as fears were raised that the thieves
would commit some daring acts of robbery, the shops got
gradually shut up, and an end was put to business, while
persons were placed to turn all passengers and vehicles
down the bye streets. One gentleman was knocked off
his horse, and some vagabonds made an attempt to take it
from him. By this time Sergeant Avery, G 5, had ar-
rived, and attempted to take a man into custody, in doing
which he was knocked down and nearly killed. Witness
asked Avery if he should go to the station-house for some
assistance. Avery said that he would be much obliged if
he would. Witness then went there in his cart and gal-
loped all the way. He brought back two policemen.
Mr. George White, grocer, No. 147, Shoreditch, while
he was at dinner, about two o'clock, heard the hurrahs of
the people. On reaching his door he found the street
thronged with men, women and children, and snow balls
were flying in all directions. An omnibus or a man on
horseback was speedily covered with snow. Seeing his
neighbours shut up their shops he followed their example.
The confusion lasted till dark.

Police constable G 203, who was on duty in Shoreditch,
said that he once attempted to take a man into custody,
when he was knocked down, and three or four men got on
his body.
The prisoners brought evidence to character, when
George Ballen was held to bail to answer the charge at the
sessions. James Wells was fined 10s., or a fortnight's im-
prisonment, and David Wild was fined 20s. or one month's
imprisonment.
The inquiry lasted several hours.

It is a singular and mortifying fact that, in the same
column in which we have had to record the distribution of
Christmas cheer to felons and other inmates of prisons, we
have had to announce its denial to the poor in work houses.
ALARMING AND DESTRUCTIVE FlRE.—Yester-
day morning, shortly after one o'clock, a most destructive fire
broke out in the lower part of the premises of Mrs. Tol-
frey, stay-maker, No. 30, Blackman-street, Southwark.
The fire was first discovered by one of the L division of
police, who immediately gave the alarm, and aroused the
inmates ; but from a considerable period elapsing before he
could awake the persons residing on the premises, the lower
part of the house was in one entire body of flames, and
they were compelled to effect their escape by crawling oa
the parapet on the top of the house, with only their night
dresses on. Messengers were immediately despatched to
the different engine stations in the metropolis, and in a short
space of time an engine from the Southwark-bridge station
arrived on the spot and was instantly got into operation,
and was soon followed by those from the Waterloo-road
station, Watling-street, Farringdon-street, and likewise
those belonging to the West of England Fire Office. The
supply of water was most bountiful, and sufficient to sup-
ply all the engines, fourteen in number ; but, notwith-
standing the hydraulic force from the above, the flames soon
communicated to the houses of Mr. Hellwell, confectioner,
and Mr. Jones, straw-bonnet manufacturer, adjoining, and
for some considerable period the destruction of the three
seemed inevitable, but, owing to the arduous exertions of
the firemen and police, they were saved. The house from
whence the fire commenced, with the entire stock, furni-
ture, &c., were entirely consumed. From the best infor-
mation that could be gleaned yesterday it would appear
that the fire was occasioned by an escape of gas, which
ignited by the kitchen fire. Whether the above parties
were insured or not, could not be ascertained. There
were on the spot during the raging of the fire a large body
of the L division of police, under the superintendence of
Mr. Grinsell, who merit the highest praise for their con-
duct, and likewise in preventing various robberies, as there
was a numerous party of the light-fingered gentry on the
ground. No lives were lost.

CORONER'S INQUEST.—On Monday an inquisition
was taken before Mr. Higgs, at the Noel's Arms, Noel-
street, Soho, on the body of Mr. John Winkstehd, aged
22, a book-binder, residing in Berwick-street. It ap-
peared that for some months past he had been subject to
fits, arising from habits of excessive drinking. He was at-
tended by a medical gentleman of the name of Elwyn, who
informed his relatives that he would not be able to survive
long unless he altered his conduct. Latterly his brain ap-
peared so affected that he could not bear even the tick
of his watch in bed, and he used often to start in his
sleep, declaring that there were persons in the room. Last
Friday night he came home, and complained of not being
well. He never left his house after that. On Saturday
night he continued no better. On Sunday morning, about
ten o'clock, he was seized with a fit, in which be fell down,
and fractured his skull, which caused a concussion of the
brain. Mr. Elwyn was sent for, who pronounced his re-
covery impossible ; he had fits successively, and he ex-
pired in about an hour's time. A deal of blood had
escaped from the bead, and the ventricles of the brain were
suffused with blood. When the deceased was of age, he
came into the possession of nearly 4,0001. He was a sin-
gle man. Verdict--" Accidental death in a fit."