The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-19 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM POLICE, FEB. 15.

(Before TIIONIAS BEILBY and TitoNtAs .Bourox, Esqrs.)
ALLEGED MILITARY FREAKS AT THE THEATRE.—The
Public Office was crowded this morning by gentlemen
connected with the Theatre, and other parties interested
in the investigation, in the expectation of hearing a charge
brought against a Military Officer, now resident in our
Barracks, and who, it was said, had been implicated in a
late disgraceful out; age at the Theatre Royal. Mr. George
Edmonds appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. John
Smith, solicitor, on the part of the defendant.
[A man named Thomas Jackson was on Thursday last
convicted of throwing flour from the gallery of the theatre
into the pit, and in default of bail was committed to
prien.l
Mr. Edmonds said he had to apply to the Court in a
case of some importance. It was a complaint preferred by
the Manager of the Theatre Royal against a gentleman
named Craven, who he was given to understand was not
in attendance to meet the charge, which ho (Mr. E.)
was prepzred to prefer against him.
After a lengthened conversation as to the necessity of
the defendant appattring in person, the following evidence
was given
Mr. C. Cheshire-I keep the Garrick's Head, Lower
Temple-street, and a deal of the comp-any from the
Theatre visit my house. 1 saw Captain Craven in my
house on Wednesday night last, but I cannot charge my
memory exactly as to the time when I first saw him. I
recollect having occasion to send a caution to the Maoager
of the Theatre to the effect that something would, in all
probability, happen to disturb the audience that night. 1
could not tell the cause of the annoyance which I had
reason to apprehend. I had not, nor ever fad any com-
munication with Mr. Craven on the subject. I don't
know the person by name who gave me the information,
although I have occasionally met him in the street. The
information was given to me at the bar. Captain Craven,
Captain Milbank, and other strange gentlemen, were in
the house at the time. I do:not know Captain Quarrell.
Mr. Craven was in the house before I sent the message to
the theatre. It was not sent before the performance com-
menced. I can't tell the exact time. I believe I did tell
Mr. Simpson that I was listening at a window when I
heard something was to occur. There was a party in the
back parlour, and one of them came out and said there was
going to be a bit of a lark at the theatre. I sent word to
the Manager to send to Mr. Burgess, the Commissioner of
Police, and get a strong body of men ; and for this I little
expected to be insulted and abused, as I was afterwards.
Mr. Simpson, the Manager of the Theatre, stated that,
in consequence of a message he received, he went to the
house of Mr. Cheshire about half-past ten o'clock on Wed-
nesday night. Nothing at that time bad happened. When
he got there he saw Mr. Cheshire, who followed him into
a back parlour. He asked Mr. Cheshire the name of the
parties from whom he had received the information, and
Mr, C. refused to give them. Ile went back to the
theatre, and, after the flour was thrown into the pit, he
again returned to Mr, Cheshire's, and there saw Mr. Cra-
ven and another person in the back parlour.
Thomas Evans deposed that he was in the gallery of the
theatre on the Wednesday night. He knew Jackson, who
had been committed to Warwick gaol. A man named
Gallett was on the opposite side to Jackson ; and the word
" Now 1" being given by tibe former, three large paper bags
of flour, or whiting, were tlipawn by them into the pit.
The greatest uproar immediately prevailed throughout the
house, and seleral personsappeared to make a hasty retreat.
Henry Parker deposed tha: on Wednesday night last he
sat near the centre of the pit in the theatre. fle saw Mr.
Craven and two others. apparently military officers, on the
right side of the lower circle of boxes. situation
commanded a view of the places from which the bags of
flour were afte, wards tiltown. lie saw there sir dons..
Mr. Craves kept looking up tar the gallery, as it looki
out for some one in that part of the house. Ile plt.ced
--it at length in an angular position on the beret).
three paper b-gs' 101 l if flour acre throw
n
—nary of it fall urn himself, his wiff,
bud a die a, erApc shawl, veil,
• -vas found irnpossiole
efusion ensues ;
about to

Illil,

.600n_

into ti e pir. A y,._
and three friend:. His
and bonnet, Ltelly sip:Ale:l, as IL
4et Vaic! flour out of tip.rn, The greatest
and many patties, fearing something i.erloqs wa.

occur, ran out of the bonze.
Mr. Simpson—The greatest possible consternation pre.
railed, as many persona imagined the ceiling of the house
teas giving way.
John Barker depose:l that he was at the theatre ott the
night in question. When the flour was thrown into the
pi•, he saw a g►reat quantity of persons rush out of the
house. He saw Mr, Craven on his way from the lower
to the upper boxe=, immediately after the occurrencs took
place, and heard him exclaim to n companir)r}„ " What a
Mr. duy persoo who wi;;',,.:3l>t,Li, it
might have innocently said the same thing.
John Cooper, a carman, being sworn, stated that about

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