The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-23 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE.

SERIOUS ACCIDENTS FROM THE CAB NUlSANCE.—Yes-
terday Henry Conley, the driver of the cab No. 1,515, ap-
peared on a summons before the sitting Magistrate, Mr.
SHUTT, charged with having driven over and severely in-
jured police constable John Purvis, of the division No. 58.
The Complainant, on being sworn, stated that about nine
o'clock on Monday night, the 11th instant, he was pro-
ceeding along High-street, Marylebone, with a section of
the division to which he belonged, who were going on duty.
They were marching single file, the Complainant being the
last man in the rank, when all on a sudden the Defendant,
without calling to them, turned the corner with his vehicle
so sharply into Bowling-street, that he (Complainant) was
knocked down by the shaft before he had time to get out of
the way. He was picked up by his brother officers bleed-
ing profusely, and in a state of insensibility, who conveyed
him to the nearest surgeon's, where his wounds were
dressed. He was, however, so much injured that he was
compelled to keep his bed for the four following days, and
he had not as yet completely recovered.

A certificate to the above effect from the medical man
who attended him was here handed to the Magistrate.
William Ireland, 107 D. said that he was marching next
the Complainant at the time in question, and so narrowly
escaped that he had a button torn from his coat by the
wheel of the cab, which came so sudden upon them that it
was impossible to get out of the way.
The defendant, in answer to the charge, said that be
was proceeding at a very moderate pace at the time, and
that the policeman alone was to blame, who fell so re-
markably easy that it was impossible he could have been
injured to the extent he had described. He called out to
the complainant to get out of the way, and could bring the
gentleman who was in the cab forward (if time were al-
lowed) to prove the fact.
Mr. SIIUTT adjudged him to pay a fine of 205., and to
give the complainant 10s. as a compensation for the injuries
inflicted besides defraying the expenses.

A fellow of ruffianly aspect, named George Hall, driver
of the cab No. 168, was brought before Mr. SHuTT,
charged with furiously driving against the carriage of Mrs.
Henshaw, a lady.residing at No. 26, Wimpole-street, and
damaging the same to the amount of 10/.
Stephen Alchin, coachman to Mrs. Henshaw, deposed
that, on Tuesday evening last, as he was driving along the
Hampstead-road towards London, he observed two cabs
coming along at a furious rate racing together, and before
he (witness) could get out of the way the defendant, who
was driving one of them, in endeavouring to pass between
the carriage and the other cab, came in violent collision
with his mistress's vehicle, bursting one of the pannels, de-
facing it in various parts, and throwing down one of the
horses.
Mr. Redding, a coachmaker, was here called, who
proved that the damage done to the carriage was full 101.
Mr. Aldridge, the proprietor of the cab, having consented
to pay that sum, together with all expenses, the defendant
.was liberated, after a severe admonition. . __

Charles Lucas, owner and driver of the cab No. 836,
was charged with being drunk, and carelessly driving his

vehicle.
Thomas Duggan, a horse patrol, doing duty in the Har-
row-road, deposed, that on the previous evening, about
eight o'clock, he observed the defendant, who was quite
drunk, driving in a random and highly dangerous manner,
the reins hanging loosely from his hands. A gentleman
who came up offered to drive the defendant home, but he
refused to let him, when he (witness), to prevent accidents,
was compelled to take the defendant to the station-house.
The defendant, who denied being intoxicated, was fined
20s. for the offence, together with the costs.
Margaret Lucy charged Jonathan Williams with having
assaulted her, and, moreover, committed a riot before her
house ; and her husband, .lohn Lucy, was likewise charged
with having assaulted Jane Morris, a neighbour.

As the warrants were what are' termed cross-warrants,
and both assaults arose out of the same proceedings, the
Magistrates, Messrs. Dyer and Chambers, heard them

together.
The defendant Williams, it appeared, was a " quondam"
lodger of the Lucys, and as he was not approved of for a
tenant, due notice was served upon him to quit the front
attic by a stated time. The defendant Williams did not
choose to give up possession of his room, and in order to
prepare for the worst", had contrived to remove his goods and
chattels without opposition. At the expiry of his notice a
broker was duly put in, but the functionary's duties were of
a very light description, as all that he found in the room to
distrain upon was a Awoken backed chair and-a couple of
useful earthenware utensils,-without handles. There was,
however, a collection of canary birds, which the defendant
particularly valued, and which he had not found means to
remove. He was, therefore, obliged to resort to the
curious expedient of fastening the cage to a string,
and, on the approach of the broker, lettinr, it down out
of the window to the room of a lodgerc beneath,
and when the broker went there to seize the cage, hauling
it up again. The landlord finding he had got a trou-
blesome customer, set himself resolutely to work to ac-
complish his ejectment. He tried the effect of choking
him out with brimstone smoke, by lighting some sulphur in
the chimney, and covering over the chimney-pot ; but
having nearly suffocated himself in the experiment, he gave
up the attempt. Finding the garrison hold out in spite of
his exertions, he turned the siege into a blockade, by bar-
ricading the door and the passage, so that all communica-
tion from the street was cut off. Having placed his wife
as sentry at the door, he retired to a neighbouring public-
house to refresh himself with a pint of beer. The pro-
ceedings which had occurred having attracted a consider-
able crowd, the complainant, Jane Morris, sympathising
'with the defendant Williams, determined to raise the siege
by a ruse de guerre. Her first movement was to desire
Williams to let down a string of sufficient length, to which
she proposed to attach some refreshments. While in the
act of throwing in these seasonable supplies, the defendant
Lucy having been informed of what was going forward,
rushed out of the public-hou'se and attacked her briskly in
the rear with his fist. The defendant Williams finding all
succour hopeless, surrendered at discretion, and Lucy walked
into the garret to celebrate his epimeion.
The assaults on both sides having occurred during these
proceedings, the Magistrates settled the matter by fining
Lucy .5/., and directing Williams to find sureties to keep
the peace.