The Sun.
London, England, 1822-10-12 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.—RIOT AT HAMPSTEAD.—On Thursday
night and yesterday a great portion of the time of the Magis-
trates was occupied in hearing the following curious affair :
Mr. Smith, a respectable butcher, 'at Hampstead, was the
leaseholder of an inn at that village, called the Old White Hart,
which,
,however, has been shut up for a considerable time.—
Some months ago, there being then twelve years of the lease
iindxpiredi'he made an' assignment of it to another person, a
Mr. Pardoe, it was understood, who had it but a very short
time before he was found to be in insolvent circumstances;
and he employed one Sharpe, a broker and auctioneer, to
dispose of it to the best bidder. Mr. Sharpe soon found a pur-
chaser in the person of a Mr. Hodgkiss, who, in his turn, au-
thorised Sharpe to employ men to pull down the house and sell
the materials.. This work Mr. Sharpe immediately commenced.
Up to yesterday, the interior, tince.the commencement of the
dilapidation of the house, pursuant to this Mr. Sharpe's order,
has been occupied in a series of occupations and expulsions from
the premises of the workmen of Sharpe, and Mr. Smith and his
'adherents ; and on Thursday an attack was made on Smith's
people, then in possession of the house, which ended in much
'bloodshed and the infliction of several severe wounds. Sharpe's
people, seven in number, were beaten off, and yesterday he and
they were held to bail.
HATTON.GAIMEN..—LAMENTABLE DEPRAVlTY.—Yes-
terday a youth, named Richard Farren, about sixteen years of
age, was brought up for re-examination, charged with com-
mitting a robbery on Mr. Win. Bowser, of Islington.—From
the evidence adduced on the occasion against this misguiided
'lad, it appeared that he was one of the most noted thieves,
pickpockets, or housebreakers, 'in the metropolis. That from
his earliest age up to the present time, he constantly employed
himself in daring acts of theft apparently far beyond his years;
and young as he now is, he has been frequently tried and
whipped, and on every occasion of his discharge from prison he
'returns with, if possible, renewed activity and vigour to his sys-
tem-of plunder. The theft for which Farren was yesterday
examined was committed on last Thursday week, and the pri-
soner had Only been discharged the preceding day from prison.
The evidence was conclusive against the prisoner, and he was
fully committed to Newgate for trial.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—CHARGE Or BlGANY.—Yes-
terday Miles Rayner, a middle-aged man, late a servant in the
family of Lord Westmoreland, was charged with having inter-
married with Maria Ann Flask, an interesting looking young
woman, his former wife being still living.
The prisoner was also charged with having deserted his for-
mer wife and three children ; and, in so doing, burthening the
parish of St. George with their support.
' It appeared that in consequence of the prisoner's neglecting
to support his wife and children, application was made by them
to the parish, when support was granted, and continued for
some time. A warrant, however, was issued for the apprehen-
sion of the prisoner, which was executed at the time he was
Cohabiting with another Woman, to whom it was afterwards as-
certained the prisoner had been married. The officer here
produced the certificates of both marriages, the last of which
proved the marriage of the prisoner with Maria Ann Flask, to
have been solemnised 'at St. George's Church, Hanover-square,
on the 21st of February last.
The prisoner, on being asked what he had to Say in his de.
fence to the charge of deserting his wife and children, said, he
had continued to support them as far as was in his power, until
a few months back, when his wife was continually threatening
to prosecute him—in consequence of which, together with not
being overstocked with money, he had neglected. giving her the
usual stipend ; he was, however, at present perfectly willing to
enter into an arrangement, and continue to contribute as much
as lie possibly could to their support.
Mrs. Rayner, now deposed, that she had been married to the
prisoner for a number of years, and had three children by him ;
but, in consequence of frequent disagreements, the prisoner,
about eight years' ago, quitted her, when she was obliged to
resort to the parish for relief, and the prisoner was compelled
to' allow her a weekly stipend; which he acted up to for some
time, but ultimately seemed to forget that she and her children
were existing. Since he had thus deserted her, he had cohabit-
ed with another female, and she at length ascertaiaed that lie
had intermarried with llaria Ann Flask, who had occasionally
called upon her with the greatest effrontery, confessing that she
had been married to her husband, and making proposals to
allow her something per week, which she disdainfully rejected,
and determined on bringing forwardsthe present prosecution.
Mr. CONAT asked the prisoner what he had to say in his de-
fence to the latter charge ?—He acknowledged to having mar-
ried Mary Ann Flask, but repeated his readiness to support his
wife and family.
AL CONANT asked if there was any person present to prove
the second marriage ?
Grist produced the certificate, informing the Magistrate that
the only person present, who could prove the marriage, was
Maria Flask, the second wife. The.officer said he had only in-
, structions to proceed against the prisoner for the desertion of
his family.
Mr. CobrAwT—But here is a charge of felony brought be-
fore me, to which lam bound to pay attention. You must
swear.
Flask—No,-your Worship, I will not be sworn. I feel no
' inclination to injure the prisoner, nor do I see any necessity for
my being sworn. "have never taken an oath in the course of