The Sun.
London, England, 1840-07-20 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

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MANSION-IIOU USE.
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of
,htwhboefostraetetdhethLatordhemwas
o ra,
charged with having refused to pay the amount:of an
manl
e Saturday,tters,
extensive treat of coffee at four o'clock in the morning
to some ladies.
It appeared from the statement of the keeper of a
rolling coffee-shop, which occasionally makes a stand in
the neighbourhood of Billingsgate, that the gentleman
called unaccompanied at the shop, and, having ordered
a cup of coffee, sat down upon a piece of timber, and
began to study the characters of all the customers.
There were some ladies among them, but as they had
no money they were lookers on, until Mr. Hook ordered
half pints round. The time of reckoning, however,
made its unwelcome appearance, and Mr. Hook was
called upon to discharge a bill for sixteen half-pints, and
a corresponding supply of half rounds off a half quartern.
The gentleman, however, answered the demand by
giving a fresh order for coffee ; but the ladies thought
it would be an act of charity to give the publican, whom
they had been eyeing with compassion for some time, a
turn, and proposed
a little drop by way of a compro-
mise ; and Mr. Hook, who was never known to refuse; a
lady anything but money, consented. Here was a di-
lemma. "Be so good as to pay me first," said the
complainant. " No," replied Mr. Hook ;" do you
come along with us, and help to make amends to this
respectable tradesman, who so heavily taxed, for the
injury you have done him by your innovation." " Pay
me three-and-tenpence," cried the poor woman. " Ne-
ver, so help me, Heaven !" answered Mr. Hook, and
soon found Winielf in,the station-house.
The Loan AIAYOR—WeII, Mr. Hook, what have
you to say ? I am surprised that a person like you
should refuse to pay this poor woman for your enter-
tainment.

Mr. Hook---The fact is, that I treated but one lady,
who tipped the good woman the wink to supply all the
rest, and bleed me for the whole. Now, although I
don't care about the amount, I don't fancy to be made
a coffee-shop spoony of, and I resisted.
The complainant declared that the gentleman had
regularly invited all the ladies to the banquet on the
spot, and he could not forget the very odd circum-
stances under which he gave the invitation.
The Loan Mayort—What are the circumstances ?
The complainant said that the defendant addressed
himself to one particular lady, and told her that he had
walked down to Billin sate for the purpose of drown-
ing himself, in consequence of a disappointment in a
love affair.
He Lid, he said, appointed that day for
his marriage with a young lady, but, upon calling at her
lodgings on
the preceding night, he learned that she
g
had walked off with a big red-headed Irishman, and left
nothing but her compliments for him. He therefore
sat down behind a pipe of tobacco and a glass of gin-
and water, and made himself up for London-bridge.
If, however, the lady he was talking to would marry
him, and promise to make him a good wife, he would
give up the intention of a watery grave, and go home
with her. The lady seemed to like the proposal very
well, and said that although she had been on the town
three
Years, her morals were not a bit the worse, and
she would make a first-rate wife. She then introduced
the gentleman to the other ladies.
The LORD MAYOR (to the defendant)—Well, Sir,
have you determined to take the lady home ? De-
fendant—No, my Lord. The fact is I was drunk, and
deserve all I get. I might, if I was not brought before
your Lordship, have made a fool of myself by marrying
a —, but I have recovered my senses, and I thank this
respectable teetotaller for sending me to the station-
house. Had I not gene there, I might now be settled
for life.

The LORD MAYOR—Then you can have no objec-
tion to give to her the five shillings I might be disposed
to fine you ?—The complainant, with great willingness
paid the woman her bill for coffee and appendages, and
gave her five shillings, but with a special direction not
to spend a f arching of it in the gin shop.