The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-26 00:00:00

THAMES.OFPIOE.

On Saturday, the Office was crowded fo excess by people
connccted.with Greenwich and the various steam-boatcom-
panics ti hear the proceedings instituted by the Corpora •
tion of London rgainst the Waterman's Pier, lately formed
its front of Garden Stairs, Gi eanwich, for the aecommoda-
team-boat passengers. The greatest let rest was
tinn a.°
cvitea. There were several informations laid by the
city g )I;gitors against the parties owning and having the
care of the vessels forming the floating pier. The first
itiformatioe read was
ttgainst Edward Gillett, a Green-
wich wa Orman, having ()harp of vessel called the Kind
Friend, and Edward Lovegrove and Samuel Lovegrove,
of the London Coff o house and Brunswick Hotel, for
having on the 13th and 14th of April, neglected to re-
move the yowl after notice bad been given them to do so
by Charles R ,wand, the Harbour-master, by which they
for every hour the vessel re.
had incurred penalty 611 '5l!
rnained after re( oiving Welt tlf4;oe.
Mr. Charles Pearaon, the City Solicitor, appered for
the prosecution; and Mr. Newhen, a solicitor, and Mr. C.
Phillips, the baiai,ter far the defence.
Mr. Pealips atated that to save time, it would be as
well for him to sta*.e, Oat the Messrs. Lovegroves had
totally abandoned the concern, sad ho now no iltereit in
the pftr.
Loy,:grove said he had taken measures to dispose of
t'se barge when be found he was subject to pearilties.
The City Solicitor said be should require strict prof of
fact before he abandoned the information,
After a long discussion as to whether the Messrs; Love,
grove bat abandoned their interest in the pier before or
after the notice served upon them by the Harbour Master,
Mr. BALLANTINF, the presiding Magistrate, said it would
he r sther too much to call upon the defendants to prove a
negative.
The case was then proceet!ed with, and the defendants
pleaded not guilty.
The City S,licitor then called upon Captain Rowland,
the harbour master, who was stopt.el in his evidence by Mr.
BALLANTINE reading over the information, and gornment•
ing on its informality. The information and summonses
were directed jointly against the three defendants, but the
conviction was sought to be obtained against Gillett, who
was said to have incurred a pena'ty of 5/. for every hour,
&e. ; and the information went on to state that the penalty
" was to be recovered of the owner of the said vess, I aca
cording to the form of the statute," &c. He thought the
information bat, and that any Vie of tiae parties Daglit to
be selected.
The City Solicits said, if he iiht.ined the conviction
against the master, he shOuld- proceed for the recovery of
the penalty.

Mr. C. Phillips took up the obkc!ion of the :‘l,l,..2ls-
'rote, and said the prosecutors had no rlgiit FA4,posc,
Gillett would not pay :f col.vietel. If he did cot pa)
there must he a subsequent procei_diag a:7,ainst the owncts.
The City Solie for said the same form of informative,
had always 17K-en adopted at that office and umviction,.; ob-
taihed, which was proved by the production of an informs.
lion worried in a similar manner. The opinion of eminent
counsel had been taken, who were of opinion the form was
correct. But if the Mag'.strate thought otherwim he must
prefer fresh informations against the parties far offences
committed on other days.
Mr. BALLANTINE said the information should say the
penalty was to be recovered of the party against whom it
'vas fiLd, and then a distinct information could be pre-
ferred against the owners, averring that the penalty was not
paid. Perhaps the other side would waive the objecti-n
he had taken and appeal against the convici,m, if one toc,k
place.
Mr. C. Phillips said he was the advocate of a nnmber
of poor watermen, who received a Nal benefit from the
r, and they could not afford the expenses of appealing.
fie should prefer the decision of the Magistrate.
Mr. BALLANTINE said he. must decide, against the Cor-
imitition of London and dismiss the informati,:n.
This decision seemed to afford great delight to Ihe
wstertnen a :d the directors of the Wa!ermetes New Steam
Packet Company present.