The Sun.
London, England, 1823-09-03 00:00:00

POLECE INTELLIGENCE.

BATHING IN THE CANAL IN ST. JAMES'S PARK.
QUEEN-.SQUARE.—CoIoneI Thornton, Deputy Ranger of
St. James's Park, called at this office yesterday to consult the
Magistrates on the following subject very p.erniCiOus prac-
tice has lopg prevailed of bathing in the canal in St. James's
Park. It was so public and so offensive even to those who were
not over fastidious, that every exertion had been made to sup-.
press it, but hitherto they had proved unsuccessful. Notices
were recently placed there, warning all persons on pain of
punishment to abstain from such bathing, yet, in defiance of
these notices, the nuisance still remained in all its original ac-
tivity. Under these circumstances, he ventured to solicit the
advice and assistance of the Magistrates.
Mr. ItairrsFoun said, " The evil of which you complain,
Sir, is one in the suppression of which I am most willing to co.-
, operate with you ; and I can assure-you that every person con-
victed before us of such an indecent exposure as the bathing
in so public a situation necessarily implies, shall be punished
as far as we have power to punish turn. Our officers, too,
will give every possible assistance to your servants for the sup-
pression of this disgraceful practice.'
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
OuILAHAI.L.--Yesterday, Mr. Martin charged an ass-driver
with cruel treatment to his animal. The accused declared he
had ever treated his ass with the greatest attention to his food
and comfort, and had beat him only because he was apt to take
fright at stage coaches. Ile expressed his sorrow for hiving,
in any instance, beat so favourite an animal • in consequence of
which, he was fined only in the mitigated penalty of Ws.; one-
half of which Mr. Martin paid.
• 'FIRE IN SPITAL-SQUARE.
P-ST nE ET.— Yesterday Sarah lifelshji,rd was
brought up for re-examination before ROBERT IIEvILL and
JOHN MILWARD, Esqrs. on a charge of wilfully setting fire
to the house of Mr. Addington in Spital-square. This case
raised much interest in the public mind, and particularly in
the neighbourhood where the fire took place. The Office was
crowded with most respectable individuals anxious to know the I
result.

Mr. llarmer appeared as Solicitor for the prpsecuton, and
Mr. Price and Mr. Child as Solicitors for the prisoner.
Mr. Addington, who, on the news reaching him in the coun-
try, had hastened to London, appeared at the Office. He con.
fitmed the testimony of Mr. Lewis and Mr. Berry, as to the
directions he had given before leaving town of, the course to
be pursued in case of ilre. On his return he found that no
property was gone.
In addition it was stated by Mr. Berry, that a piece of iron
made for a pulley on the top of a door, but which might be
used as a crow, was found by hint in the surgery on the morn-
ing of the fire, behind the door. Mr. Addington knew this
piece of iron, and the last time he saw it was m a box in the
.prisoner's room amongst some old iron. It was also in evidence
by Mr. Harmer and Air. Robert lianbury, that they went into
Air. Addington's back kitchen tm Monday, the day after the
fire, and underneath a tub, partly consumed, they found amonet
the embers the burnt articles produced, consisting of a habit.
shirt, and some ribbon tied up, and other things ; and it was '
proved by Jane Burton, a servant, who
left Mr. Addington's
at the time her master and mistress left town, that the habit.
shirt and the ribbon were the prisoner's, who never kept them
in the kitchen, It appeared also that on the morning of tile'
fire the prisoner went into Mr. Chubb's house next door, and
there a conversation took place between her and Catherine Ann
Goring, the servant, to whom she had said she left the kitchen
fire and candles safe, and she was afraid it was the gas. The
witness observed also that her hair was in curl, out of paper.
Jane Burton further stated, that previous to Mr. Addington
leaving town, the prisoner said she did not
feel comfortable
Omit going, for site was afraid the bays would not be careful
about their candles, and that the house would take fire. This
witness, however, admitted that two or three days before the
fire happened, the prisoner did say to her that she hattsinva
or scorched her dap the last ironing day, and the servant boy
Beard her kay so at the same.
Mr. BEvit,t. was of opinion that there were so many circum-
stances of suspicion against the prisoner as to leave no doubt of

the duty he had to perform, and accordingly he committed her
for trial.

Bow.sTREET.--Yesterday an old man of decent appearance
who gave his name as Thomas Pastes, was brought up from the
watch-house, and underwent an examination on the.following
charge. A short time ago he kept a shop' in thilywelLatreet;
Strand, in the watch-making line, and had got into his posae#.•
sion about 80 watches, belonging to different persons who had
intrusted them with him for the purpose of repairing them; they
however could never get them returned, and a suspicion was
entertained that he intended to defraud them of their property ;'
and this idea was confirmed by the shop being shut up all
day, and he never being at home, one or two persons de-
termined on watching him, and on Tuesday evening they traced
him to a public-house in the neighbourhood, where they found
him smoking his pipe at his ease. They demanded restitution,
of their property; but he said it was impossible, as a dist!ess
had been put into his house, and every thing on the premises
was seized. They were not satisfied with this account, and
put him in the watch-house; and, on the following morning,
several of them had their watches returned to them, and refused
to appear against him. Two persons, who were not so fortu-
nate, attended before the Magistrate, and demanded of hin:ia
return of their watches. He reluctantly produced from his,
pocket nine watches, two of which were directly identified by
the persons who appeared against him, and the remaining ones
were ordered to be detained in the office, for the purpose of
storing them to the right owners ; and, after a suitable repri.
mand, he was discharged.

CONJUROR AND NO CONJUROR.--A woman'
whose husband has attended Henley and the neighbouring
markets with spectacles, &c. and who conjointly took up their
abode at a lodging house at Henley, about six or eight
weeks since, so far ingratiated herself into the good graces
of Mrs. Ridgway, wife of Mr. Joseph Ridgway, mercer, of
that place, as to obtain, on Wednesday afternoon last, an in-
troduction to an up-stairs room, for the purpose of practis-
ing the sibylline art. Nothing could be done, however, until
the following articles were provided : —Twenty-five one-pound
notes, 25 hairs from Mr. Ridgway's head, 25 pins, 25
needles, and 25 cards ! two mould candles were also to hi
lighted and placed on the table: These mystifying preli-
minaries were at length completed, and Mrs. Ridgway was
directed to pay particular attention to what she (the enchan-
tress) said. The order was immediately, " back towards,
me." This position, very unfavourable for inspection, ex-
cited something of fear in Mrs. Ridgway's mind fer the
safety of her notes, and turning her head, she thought some ope-
ration touching the said notes was going forward, and instantly
left the room to fetch Mr. Ridgway. On his appearing and
asking for the money, the woman said, his wife had vexed her,
and she had put it in the fire, They immediately searched
her, but no notes could be found, nor has she yet given any
other account. It is supposed by some, that her husband was
waiting outside, and while Mrs. Ridgway was out of the room,
she threw the notes (which were made into a little roll) to him.
They were both taken before a Magistrate but we have not
heard the result of the examination.

RATS.—The highlands of Perthshire have
lately been overrun by rats. The lowlands used
to be the favourite residence of this enterprising
species of vermin ; but within the last two or
three years they pushed their settlements into
the districts of Strathsay, Appin of Dull, Fortin-
gall, and Breadalbane, most amazingly. During-
the present season, they have been known to de.,
your whole litters of pigs and broods of poultry ;
and mothers begin to apprehend danger from
them to their helpless infants.—(Dundee Adver-
tiser.)