The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-20 00:00:00

NUISANCES AT THE WEST LONDON UNION.

Alderman CHALLIS brought up the following re-
port:—
"In obedience to an order of this Honourable Court
of the 29th of September last, to examine the report
of the Commissioner of Police with the report of the
inspector; of the division, upon the petition of the
inhabitants of West Smithfield, relative to the nui-
sance they are exposed to from the congregation of
vagrant and disorderly persons applying for admission
into the workhouses of the West London Union, and
to report our opinion thereon, we, whose names are
hereunto subscribed, your Committee for General
Purposes, do certify that we proceeded to consider the
whole subject, and were attended by Mr. Daniel
Whittle Harvey, the Commissioner of the City of
London Police, who was heard upon the said reports
and petition.
" That we were also attended by Messrs. Boyle,
Turner, Strugnall, Shar.k, J. Pratten, and other
petitioners, who were heard at considerable length,
and represented the great and serious nuisances they
are continually exposed to, in consequence of the
improper and disgusting conduct and behaviour of
numerous persons of both sexes, thronging the im-
mediate neighbourhood of, and applying for admission
into the said workhcuse.

" That we also heard Mr. Miller, the relieving
officer of the establishment, and, after an attentive
consideration of all the circumstances, we recommend
this Hon. Court to direct the Commissioner of Police
to provide for the constant attendance, both by day
and night, of two additional police-officers in that
neighbourhood, to endeavour to remedy the evil com-
plained of, and having communicated our opinion to
the Commissioner, he expressed his readiness to corn-
ply therewith, and to present a report to this Hon.
Court, at the expiration of a month, as to the effect
produced in consequence of such additional attend-
ance. At the same time your Committee feel that
the hoard of guardians have not provided adequate
accommodation in their premises for the numerous
parties applying for admission into the same."
Alderman SIDNEY said it was impossible that he
could be induced to believe that the want of accom-
modation for the poor wretched applicants for shelter
was not the origin of the evil complained of. There
v< ere but two miserable rooms, into which when they
were crammed, almost to suffocation, there were 40
to 70 more applications nightly for admission. How
could order be expected, or decency, or anything but
what was revolting ? It was stated, that many of the
applicants were thieves of the lowest description. He
regretted if such happened to be the case, but the law
commanded that even thieves should be sheltered, and
certainly the casual poor at the \Vest London Union
were infinitely worse treated as to room than were
the most abandoned criminals.
A copy of the report was then ordered to be sent
to the board of guardians of the West London Union.
Adjourned.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE BY FIRE.
About four o'clocleyesterday afternoon a dense volume
of smoke was seen to issue from the wine stores
under the pit entrance of the St. James's Theatre,
King-street, St. James's.
As might be supposed, the greatest alarm prevailed
in the neighbourhood, and it was thought necessary
to send for the engines without delay. Fortunately
those from the County, King-street, Chando.s-street,
Crown street, West of England, and several of the
City engines arrived, when, be it spoken to the
credit of-the water company, a most excellent supply
was procured.

As the theatre itself was supposed to be on fire, the
alarm of course increased to the utmost extent ; but
on the arrival of the firemen, they poured forth tor-
rents of water into the cellar from whence the smoke
proceeded, whilst others tendered their services to
the theatre; fortunately, it was ascertained that
although situated so near the entrance to the house,
not the least damage was likely to accrue to that
establishment.

All that the firemen could see was the smoke, and
Staple, the foreman of the brigade, on finding such to
be the case, sent to Watling street for the fire-proof
dress, which on its arrival he put on. By pumping
air into this dress Staples was enabled to find out the
exact seat of the fire, which was nearly 300 feet from
the spot the firemen at first imagined it to be. By
attaching additional lengths of hose the fire was ex-
tinguished, but it was nearly half-past seven before
that could be accomplished.
Mr. Braidwood, in his official report, returns the
damage as follows:—" Fire in the Bazaar-buildings,
St. .Tarnes's-street and King-street ; occupier, Mrs.
Sarah Croxford ; used as wine cellars. Cause, spark
from a candle. Contents and building insured in the
Alliance. About one load of straw burned in the
cellars. Stock damaged by
heat water
ant and
,
so;eral squares of glass broken."

acaiwforktehsyon his'emble
,t I:in:lord at
eaetti:ldhhaheecharacter. lie
A HINT Fall PunLica;:z,
In.onee
n winter
pDilylms ameaarni3l.ocphtaiesti
the
lenghonirehto
told us a capital plan of giving notice 70 quit.
a number of the shepherds ass
drink, and crack, and while away
Sometimes they get quarrelsome. When a fray tie.
brewing, our hero puts a quantity of cayenne pepper in
a bit of brown paper, makes the tongs red hot, lifts the
packet with them, and holds it at the bottom of the door.
The result seems almost unagical.:An inveterate sneezing
commences, which is instantaneously lic:ceedcd by a
rush to the door, and a dissolution of the company.—
Border tJ'atch.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Oct. 19.
(Before Mr. Commhsiuner EvANs.)

IN RE BROOM.

The bankrupt, H. C. Broom, who carried on busi-
ness as a grocer, in Laurence Pountney-lane, appeared
before the Court to obtain his certificate. lie was
opposed by Mr. Lawrence on behalf of the trade
assignee. The debts amounted to between 7,000/.
and 8,000/.
Mr. LAWFANCE said that he opposed the bankrupt
on several grounds. It appeared from an inspection
of the bankrupt's books, that a great many erasures
had been made in the cash-book and ledger; and it
was suspected that the bankrupt had not given a
a faithful account of his affairs. It appeared that the
bankrupt had been chosen to take charge of the
estate of a person of the name of Varney, and that he
purchased the accounts due to the estate that a
fiat of bankruptcy was subsequently issued, and that
in consequence of that a very gross alteration had
been made in the books by the bankrupt and his
clerk, Mr. Harwood, whereby the assignees were de-
frauded, and a large sum of money not accounted for.
The erasures were not done for the purpose of cor-
recting a simple inaccuracy, but with the view of al-
tering the state of accounts, and with the intention of
concealment. It also appeared that, in February last,
this Harwood, who was book-keeper to the bankrupt,
had helped himself to a sum of upwards of 3001,
and the reason assigned by the bankrupt was, that
Harwood kept the cash, and could help himself with-
out the sanction of the bankrupt. Since that time,
however, Harwood had not been heard of, and it did
not appear that the bankrupt had taken any pains to
discover him. If Mr. Harwood had taken the money
without the sanction of the bankrupt, it looked very
much like felony. Harwood was, in fact, a debtor to
the estate. It appeared that he was in the habit of
signing bills for the bankrupt, and when he signed
them he entered them to his own credit, as it' they
had been paid by him, but when the bills arrived at
maturity they were not paid by Harwood, and he
was consequently indebted to the estate to the extent
of the amount of such bills. He also wished to call
the attention of the Court to another transaction of a
most suspicious nature. It was under the head of
loss. A Mr. Simpson, a son-in-law of the bankrupt,
and who was in his employ, had, it appeared, ab-
stracted upwards of 1,0001., and this sum was placed
by the bankrupt to the profit and loss account. Now,
it was most extraordinary that so large a sum of
money should have been abstracted without the
knowledge of the bankrupt, and he hoped the Court
would not be satisfied without a sufficient explanation
of the matter. He had nothing to say against the
bankrupt on the score of extravagance. Of the sum
of 3,1271. put down as losses a great portion was ac -
ceunted fur by the MIMS taken away by Harwood and
Simpson. The assets would not pay a dividend of
4s. in the pound.
A Gentleman, who appeared for the bankrupt,
stated that the erasures had been made without the
knowledge of the bankrupt ; that he had suggested
that a supplemental cash-book should be made out,
which was done, and satisfied the official assignee.
With respect to the affair of Varney, he begged to
say that Varney was indebted to the bankrupt ; that
the accounts due to Varney's estate were purchased
by Harwood, who managed the affairs of Varney's
estate, and the alteration in the books was made in
order to avoid the suspicion of a fraudulent preference.
As to the sums taken away by Harwood, the fact was
that Harwood was in the habit of getting bills dis-
counted for the bankrupt ; and finding that his affairs
were in a precarious conditiOn, he took the money and
paid it to the parties who had discounted the bills, to
prevent loss to them. With reference to the sums
abstracted by Simpson, when the bankrupt discovered
that he was injuring him he at once discharged Simp-
son. He begged to state to his Honour that the bank-
rupt, in January, 1846, received a severe injury by
being thrown out of his gig, and he was for a long
time unable to attend to business, and it was during
that period that the erasures complained of had taken
place, and that the other misfortunes had occurred.
The bankrupt had commenced business in 1839, and
had conducted himself throughout with propriety,
' and he hoped that his Honour would, therefore, grant
the certificate.
Mr. Commissioner EvANs-It appears that he was
attending to business, notwithstanding his accident,
' and it appears to me that he must have been cognizant
of the erasures. The alteration in the affair of

Varney was evidently a fraud. If Harwood had
taken away the money without the sanction of the
bankrupt he had committed a felony, and should have
been apprehended ; and if he had abstracted the
money with the sanction of the bankrupt, the latter
must be made liable. He had throughout, to say the
least of it, acted with great carelessness and impro-
priety, and he should suspend his certificate for twelve
months.

The bankrupt hoped his Honour would grant him
his protection ?
The COMMISSIONER—That depends on the other
side ; do you object, Mr Lawrance ?
Mr. LAWRANCE—No, sir, we have no objection.
The protection was then granted.

CITY S.4.ILL DEBTS COURT, Oct. 19.
(Before Mr. Commissioner BULLOCK.)
SILVA V. EtIzTON.

The plaintiff, who is a bootmaker by trade, sum-
moned the defendant, who was his landlord, for 11. 10s.,
being an overcharge of rent, which the defendant com-
pelled the plaintiff to pay.
The plaintiff stated that he had been a tenant of the
defendant's for several years at a rent of 30s. per
month ; that he paid his rent on the 9th of July,
when he was clear with his landlord. On the 26th
of August he gave the defendant 11., and in a few
days afterwards lOs., being in full of that month's
rent. lie remained in the house for two months
longer, when the defendant made a demand for 41. lOs.,
and refused to permit the plaintiff to take away his
goods unless it was paid. Although 3/. only was due
he was compelled to pay in order to get his goods
....way. He subsequently applied to the police, the
Lord Mayor, and a solicitor, but they could give him
no redress, and he therefore applied to the Court.
The defendant denied the statement of the plaintiff,
and said that he was still owing him a month's
rent. The defendant entered into a rambling state-
ment with reference to the accounts which was quite
unintelligible.
The COMMISSIONER, after taking a great deal of
trouble to master the accounts, which was no easy
task, decided that the defendant had overcharged
the 1/. lOs., the sum claimed, and must pay.

The defendant wanted time, and was -allowed to
repay the money by instalments of ss. a month.

SURREY QUARTER SESSIONS.
The general Quarter Sessions for the county of
Surr,y was held yesterday at Kingston, before Mr.
E. Penrhyn, chairman ; Earl Lovelace. Lord Lo-
vaine, Mr. Alcock, M.P., Mr. Locke King, M..P.,
Messrs. Briscoe, Trotter, Freshfield, Puckle, Bonser,
Austin, &c.

From the reports of the governors of the gaols of
the county, it appeared that they were most incon-
veniently crowded with prisoners, particularly Guild-
ford and Brixton.

Mr. SMALLPIECE, the county treasurer, made a
report of the state of the county finances, and it
appeared that he had a balance of more than 8,0001.
in his hands, and that a fresh county rate would not
be required.

Colonel CHALLONER called the attention of the
Court to the heavy charges for coroners. During
the last quarter the expense of coroner's inquests was
more than 8001, the preceding quarter it was 690/.,
and during the year the cost to the county under this
head had amounted to between 3,0001. and 4,0001.
lie wished to know how it was that the expense of
coroner's inquests had increased so much of late.

Mr. SMALLPIECE said that coroners now were em-
powered to pay witnesses and other expenses, which
very materially increased the cost of inquists.
Colonel CIIALLONER said the effect of the alteration
was to throw a heavy charge upon the county, but he
supposed there was no remedy.
'ME COUNTY COURTS ACT.

Mr. AUSTIN called the attention of the Court to a
subject which he said was one of very considerable
importance in connexion with the administration of
the new County Courts Act. He said that the judge
of the Court at Guildford had felt it necessary to
commit a party for some default to the Guildford
gaol, but the governor refused to receive him, as a
person so committed did not come within the descrip-
tion of any of the classes of prisoners for which the
prison, in accordance with the rules sanctioned by the
Secretary of State, was calculated as a receptacle.
The judge then committed the party to the county
gaol ; but the expense of conveying him such a dis-
tance, the bailiff being entitled to one shilling per
mile, and the whole of which fell upon the suitors,
being so great, it was impossible to continue to commit
to that prison, and the law was, therefore, quite
inoperative so far as the power of commitment,
which was a very important one in some cases, was
concerned. The judge of the court had informed
him that he felt so strongly the importance of the
power of committal as regarded the working of the
Act, that unless the Court made some alteration in
the regulations of the gaol, upon the next occasion
when any person was committed by him, if the go-
vernor refuses to receive him, he should prefer an in-
dictment against him in order to try the question.
The DEPUTY CLERK or THE PEACE, who was
Appealed to by the Court, said that, in his opinion,
tcheeive suchg
to r
governor was
someirr vseprisoners,
r s clearlyas,a
ejeuosrtdi
to
on refusing tore
gr ea--
lat ions, upon which alone he could act, there was no
class
furtherthera discussion, the Court passed a
motion calling calingupon the
After
Secretary of State to sanction
a fresh rule, giving the governor
all prisomera committed bythej auudtaheo reifty t o
the
he
Countyreceive
Court.