The Sun.
London, England, 1822-09-03 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANsicw-liousE.—(NutsaNcE.)— Yesterday, a man
named Channon appeared before the LORD MAYOR, to an-
swer the complaint of the watermen who ply at the Tower-
wharf, who stated that he was in the habit of committing, at
the instance of another person, a most offensive and dangerous
nuisance on the causeway.—Mr. Smith, the wharfinger, also
attended to confirm the accusation.
The complainants stated that the defendant was in the con-
stant habit of burning pitch and tar barrels under lighters that
lay at the Tower-wharf, which he was employed to repair, and
that in consequence of the nuisance gentlemen were prevented
from taking boat at the stairs, their clothes being constantly
exposed to injury from the quantity of " blacks" that flew
about while the combustibles were burning, and the pieces of
tar that occasionally fell in the boats, which were often large
enough, when they fell on the seats, to hold fast any one that
came in contact with them. The defendant had been often told
that he was subject to prosecution for such conduct, but he still
persisted, and the watermen now brought him before the Lord
Mayor, not for the purpose of having him punished, but of
having him instructed in his duty.
Mr. Smith, the wharanger, stated, that besides the injury to
the watermen, other mischiefs arose from the practice of burn-
ing tar barrels under the lighters ; serious apprehensions were
frequently entertained by those who had premises in the neigh-
bourhood for their safety, as well as for the safety of the craft
in the river, when the wind blew in a certain direction ; and it
was the earnest wish of all the parties interested that some de-
cision should be come to in the case.
The Lonn MAYOR said, the practice complained of was a
nuisance that could not be allowed to be continued; there was
no knowing what evils it might cause, and if any complaint on
the same subject was again made, he would give directions to
the City Solicitor to prosecute the person complained of.
MARLROROUGII-STREET.—(CUTTING AND MAIMING.)
—Yesterday Joseph Casby, a black man of desperate appear-
ance, was brought from St. Giles's watch-house, charged by
Daniel' Sullivan, a shoemaker, of Tottenham Court-road,
under Lord Ellenborough's Act, of Cutting and Maiming.—
It appeared in evidence that on Sunday .night last the prisoner
was in Broad-street, Bloomsbury, ill using a female ; on which
the prosecutor remonstrated with him, and advised him to
leave her alone, on which the prisoner challenged him to fight,
and they had two or three rounds. On the prosecutor going
away he was followed by the prisoner, who at the corner of'
Buckridge-street, St. Giles's, rushed on him with a naked
knife, and inflicted several deep incisions on the witness's per-
son. He called " Watch," and " Murder ;" on which the
prisoner was secured and taken to the watch-house, with the
knife in his possession—the prosecutor was taken to a surgeon
to have his wounds dressed. The prisoner, on his arrival at
the watch-house, pretended to be dead, and surgeon was sent
for. The prisoner carried the joke on so well as to deceive all
present, and Bartlett, the beadle, proceeded to procure a shell to
deposit the body in ; but, on that part of the ceremony being
performed, the prisoner started up with the greatest alacrity,
and endeavoured to escape. He is a well known character, and
has been before at this office on violent charges. He was or-
dered to procure good bail, in default of ,which lie was com-
mitted.
Woßstur-STREET.—(GirstEs•)—About two o'clock yes-
terday, five men and six women, with about twenty children,
were brought before SAMUEI. TWYFORD, Esq. the presiding
Magistrate, on a charge of vagrancy.
It was stated by Jonn Joss and his brother officers, two of
the Bow-street Patrol, that about eight o'clock in the morning
they met with these Gipsies in a green lane, situated between
Copenhagen-house and Holloway. They were all encamped
with regular tents, and amongst them they found two good carts
and two horses, and one of them had a violin, with which he
charmed this little tribe of wanderers.
The men were stout, and all the women had children in their
arms. They behaved to the Magistrate with due respect, and
endeavoured to move him with all the eloquence they possessed,
which was not the less interesting on account of the dark spark-
ling eyes and swarthy complexions of the orators. The women
assured him they knew nothing of fortune-telling, and that they
neither pretended to be nor were they in reality Gipsies, for, said
one, " I am certain we were never in Egypt." The men
pleaded hard for the consideration of the Magistrates ; that they
each had a wife and five or six children, and that they worked
hard at their several pursuits of tinkers, razor-grinders, &c.
and that although they were encamped in this lane, they had
houses and homes in the metropolis.
The Magistrate informed them lie hardly knew how to deal
with them but they must know their lodging in the open air
rendered them liable to punishment under the New Vagrant
Act, and therefore he should commit the five men to the House
of Correction for fourteen days, but the women lie should dis-
charge, who, with their numerous children, had better remove
to a distance. The women and children innnediately with-
drew, and the men were committed, one of whom observed, it
was very well, and he did not see how the Magistrate could
do otherwise.