The Sun.
London, England, 1833-11-29 00:00:00

MARYLER ONE.

COMBINATIONS AMONG IVORKMEN.—Mr. James
Osborne, superintendent of the works in progress at
a splendid mansion now erecting for James Holford,
Esq., near Macclesfield-bridge, in the Regent's Park,
appeared before Mr. HOSKINS, yesterday, on a war-
rant obtained against him by a labourer named
Thomas Marsh, for an assault.
The complainant bad been for some time past
employed as a labourer by the defendant, and on
Monday morning, about nine o'clock, he and about
thirty others of his fellow workmen struck for an
advance of Gd. per day on their wages, which de-
mand the defendant, although desired by Mr. Hol-
ford to do what was right, refused to comply with. At
the time the strike took place it was considered that
for the short period they had been at work (not more
than two hours) sixpence for each man would be a
fair equivalent for his labour. The defendant ac-
cordingly paid that sum to all who had struck, with
the exception of him (complainant), who, on asking
for his money, was violently assaulted by the de-
fendant, who struck him several times, and then
kicked him off the premises.
Mr. William Fownes, a gentleman who was
passing near the spot at the time in question, saw
the complainant and defendant standing close to-
gether, engaged in an angry altercation, when he
observed the latter aim a violent blow at the com-
plainant, who staggered and fell, after which lie got
up, and was in the act of walking quietly away,
when the defendant, who appeared much excited,
followed and kicked him two or three times as hard
as possible.
The defendant was employed to superintend the
works in question, and a great number of labourers,
among whom was the complainant, had for some
time past been engaged in excavating the ground
near the mansion alluded to, for the purpose of
forming an ornamental sheet of water; the rate of
payment to the men had hitherto been 2s. Gd. per
day ; but on Monday morning last, about nine
o'clock, they unanimously struck for an advance of

sixpence per diem, which he (the defendant), con-
sidering it an imposition, refused to accede to. At
this period-betiteen thirty and forty of them con-
gregated together, using threats, and pouring forth
the most unmeasured abuse. While they were
thus assembled Mr. Holford arrived, and having
learned how the men had conducted themselves re•
fused to comply with their unjust demands, and
desired them to quit his premises, which they
resolutely refused to do, and became ex-
tremely outrageous, and went so far as to threaten
Mr. Holford himself with vengeance. They also
swore they would do no more work themselves, and
endeavoured, by intimidation and threats, to pre-
vent the other workmen employed on the premises
from proceeding. Apprehending, from the menacing
attitude of the men, thit a serious riot was about
to ensue, he (defendant) lost no time in proceeding
down to the Albany-street station-house for the
assistance of the police, when Mr. J.ines, in•pec or
of the S division, and a strong party of his men,
accompanied him back, when sixpence for the hour
and a half which each man had worked on that day
was offered and refused. The presence of the po-
lice, however, having somewhat awed the party,
some of them agreed to a.-cept the offer. He (de-
fendant) then called over their names, and paid the
money into the hands of the principal men, who
undertook to distribute it fairly to the rest. Li
about an hour afterwards the complainant applied
at the gate for his sixpence, which he alleged he
had been cheated out of; and on being told that
the money had been paid he became very abusive,
when he pushed him off the premises, but denied
striking or kicking him.
Mr. HOSKINS ordered the defendant to find bail
in case the complainant should think proper to carry
the matter any further.
UNION• HALL.

Mr. Le Grand, a respectable looking elderly
man, was charged with assaulting a Mrs. Holding,
a young widow.
The widow stated that Mr. Le Grand had been
in the habit of annoying her, nearly ever since the
decease of her poor dear husbuid. He had in fact
become such a bore, that she gave directions to be
denied to him whenever he called at her house. A
few days ago, however, he called, and would take
no denial; and, rushing into the parlour where she
was, he exclaimed upon seeing her," My dear Mrs.
1-bolding, lam come to see you." She answered,
" You are no dear of mine; go home to your wife,
you old fool, and don't be coming here, after those
who don't care for you." He began to talk of his
love for her, upon which she pushed him out of the
room, and ultimately out into the street. Mr. Le
Grand attempted to regain the room, and when the
door was shut in his face be knocked for full half
an hour, and when it was at length opened, he
made another effort to get at the object of his affec-
tion, declaring at the same time that he was deter-
mined to see her, and adding that he should not
leave the place until he saw the widow again. Find-
ing that he was still bent on annoying her with his
nonsense, she asked two young men, lodgers in the
house, to eject him by force, upon which he called
her a -; and, exasperated at such an epithet,
she said that she slapped his face. Mr. Le Grand
threatened to fight the young men who were called
to the widow's protection.

The Magistrate asked the defendant what reason
he could assign for molesting the widow, when it
was evident she did not encourage his visits ? De-
fendant—l have been on terms of intimacy with her
for some time, and have been encouraged by her,
and sent out for brandy, rum, &c., to treat her
when we have been tete a•tete.

The Magistrate said that whatever might have
been between the widow and the defendant formerly
it was evident that she was now tired of him, and
he must not be suffered to annoy her. The Magis-
trate added that lie should now discharge the war-
rant after giving this caution.
Mr. Le Grand contended that he should have
been the plaintiff in the case, as he was the party
aggrieved.
The Magistrate said that the case was finished.
The defendant requested to be heard in his de-
fence, and his wife, who stood by his elbow, look-
ing towards the widow, exclaimed, " That woman
has been the cause of all my unhappiness."
The MAGISTRATE desired another case to be
called on, and Mr. Le Grand left the Office, ex-
claiming at the injustice of not being heard in his
defence.