The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-18 00:00:00

SOUTHIVARK.

Mr. Ayres, en;;;;;,Fleetstieet, and Nelson-
square, Southwark, was summoned before Mr. Cot-
tingham to show cause why he refused to pay
121. 14s. 7d , due by him to the Phoenix Gas Com-
pany, Bankside, for gas supplied to him in Nelson-
square.
On the part of the defendant it was contended that
the demand was excessive. He had lately taken ex-
tensive premises in Fleet-street, and removed the
greater portion of his business there. Since his re•
moval from Nelson-square, he stopped burning three
lights, but still the company charged him just the
same as they did when he used seven. He remon-
strated with the collector, requested the attendance of
the inspector, to examine the meters, but no person
came near the premises. Letters were sent to the
secretary on the subject, but although they were
answered, no inquiries were made on the subject.
All Mr. Ayres wanted was a fair understanding, and
not to pay more than he was indebted to the company.
Mr. Noble, the collector, said that every attention
had been paid to Mr. Ayres, and his meters properly
examined, but still he objected to pay the demand.

The gentleman who attended for the defendant de-
nied that such was the ease. To show that the com-
pany was wrong, they charged 41. 17s. a quarter for
seven burners, and the same for four, until the
Christmas quarter, was little more than two pounds.
All they required was common courtesy from the
company, and no litigation.
Mr. Noble said that the accounts were sent in ac-
cording to the meter. Mr. Ayres had been in the
habit of burning gas all night, which was the reason
of the account being so large.
The defendant denied burning gas all night on any
occasion. The fact was, that when he reduced the
number of the burners the company sent for the old
meter, and placed a new one there, at the same time
making an error in the number of cubic feet burnt.
He also objected to the summons, which specified that
the amount had been applied for seven days prior to
its being issued. Such was not the case, the whole
amount had never been applied for before.
Mr. COTTINGHAM asked whether he had any proof
of that ?

Complainant replied that he had. He handed in a
card left by Mr. Noble for 91. 17s. on the 6th
of January. He also received a letter from the secre-
tary for the same amount on the following day,
threatening proceedings. Now the summons was for
121. 13s. 7d.

Mr. COTTINGHAM said that the summons must fall
to the ground, but still he thought the Gas Company
would afterwards bring evidence to substantiate the
claim.

Defendant said that Mr. Ayres considered that the
amount was exorbitant, and it was only on publin
grounds that he objected paying the demand. lie
certainly must have the summons dismissed, on the
ground of informality.
Mr. COTTING HAM accordingly dismissed the sum-
mons.

William Paine and William Watkins, two well-
dressed men, were brought up on remand, charged
with stealing a large quantity of Wellington boot-
fronts, from the warehouse of Messrs. Hackblock and
Company, tanners, Bermondsey.
A few days ago the prisoners were detected in
secreting a number of boot-fronts in their pockets,
and given into custody just as they were leaving the
warehouse. They had been there on previous occa-
sions, and represented themselves as tradesmen, and
requiring a great quantity of goods. They were,
however, observed, on leaving the place, to have their
pockets filled with goods, which induced some neigh-
bour to warn the prosecutors of their customers.
Mr. Barton, a leather-dresser, now came forward
and said, that Watkins had robbed him for twelve
months of 2/. and 31. worth of property in a similar
way. He was afterwards tried and transported for
seven years.
The prisoner Paine handed in a document, setting
forth that his family were starving, and that it was
his first offence.

Mr. COTTINGHAM said that he could not take any
notice of the paper handed to him. It was clear that
they had plundered the prosecutors to a great extent,
and from their system it was, no doubt, that other
tradesmen had been served in the same way. lie
asked the officer whether there were any other
parties in attendance to charge them.
The officer replied, that if they were remanded
for a few days longer there would be, as several trades-
men thought that the prisoners would not have been
brought up until Wednesday.
Mr. COTTING HAM said that, under those circum-
stances, he should remand them until Wednesday.
In the meantime the officer would be able to get evi-
dence about Watkins's transportation.
On being removed from the dock, Watkins de-
clared that such an allegation against him was false.
Roberts, the man who was charged last week with
stealing a pint pot from Mr. Cleggett's, the Rose and
Crown, Leadenhall-market, and Mr. Dooley, of the
of the Old Bailey, waslbrought up for re-examination.
Mr. Binns attended on his behalf, and informed
the magistrate that, for the last four years, he had
been in great distress. He had known him for seve-
ral years, and that was the first time he ever knew
him to be charged with dishonesty.
It appeared that the prisoner had been seen by
some people who lodged in the same house with him,
erasing the name of publicans' pots. Information
was given to Wild, a policeman of the M division,
who went to the place, and found three pint pots se-
creted under some old rags.
He was committed for trial on three cases.

BENEVOLENCE.—The magistrate received, on Sa-
turday, '2 . 25., from " P. H. H.,1 through the hands
of Messrs. Gosling and Sharp, for the poor box of
that Police Court, which the donor wished to be ac-
knowledged in the newspapers.