The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-29 00:00:00

COURT OF REQUESTS, CITY.

Edward Forburn, a dramatist, residing in Milton-street,
was summoned before the Commissioners for the sum of
11.8 s. 6d., the price of fifteen sheep's heads and a vast
number of trotters.

The bill, it appeared, had been running on fora great
length of time, the defendant having obtained credit upon
the representation that the lessee of the two great theatres
had accepted and promised from time to time to perform a
tragedy which he had consumed full half of his life in writ-
ing. The plaintiff sold other delicacies, which the defend-
ant might have had if he fancied them, instead of the heads
and heels ; but, whatever was the cause of it, no order ever
reached the shop from the poet which did not particularize
one or other of these dainties.

Edward Plaistow, the plaintiff, had indulged the defend-
ant with a much longer tally than he was in the habit of
scoring, and would even have trusted him longer had not
a very ugly trick been played upon the house by the advice
of the defendant, who could not check his disposition to;put
people in unpoetical situations. The trade in "jemmies"
had been flourishing greatly, when one morning, as the
cellar door was up for the purpose of receiving a new half
hundred, a fellow emptied a sack of horses' heads right into
it, and said, " When you've used these, Mr. Plaistow, I'll
bring you another eighteen penn'orth."—(Laughter.)
Mr. Forburn—Upon my honour I never was capable of
playing you so villainous a trick. Whatever fun I may
occasionally cause, I take care that it is never mixed up
with mischief.

The plaintiff—l han't a doubt on it. What made you
begin to laugh before the man was within twenty yards of
the house if you didn't know what he'had in the sack ?
Why you laughed fit to bust.—(Laughter.)
Mr. Forburn—lt was at the comical appearance of the
man that carried the heads. Ho laughed so immoderately
as he walked that he was obliged to stop three or four
times, and every body knows the power of sympathy.
The plaintiff—The powers of the devil ! I never seed
you cry when other people cried—not a bit of it. I'm
blest if you don't laugh more than ever when others is vexed.
Mr. Forburn—lf I were given to shed tears I'd have
employment enough in your house when I look at your
poor wife.—(A laugh.)
A Commissioner—You don't deny the debt ? Mr.
I'orburn—Certainly not. There is not a more honest man
breathing. I never got better sheep's heads in my life than
at his shop, and I seldom touch any other meat.
The plaintiff—You won't get any more of my meat.
Talk to me of cutting and blowing out a half-starved don-
key by way of a calf! It a'nt half so bad as a norse's
head, and then twelve on 'em to be shot in amongst my
wholesome wittles."--(Laughter.)
Commissioner—Well, we , have nothing to do with that
question. We suppose that Mr. Forburn is not able to
pay the amount he owes you. He has very frankly ad-
mitted the debt. Now, what time will you give him ?
The Plaintiff—lf he hadn't come down upon me with
the horses' heads, he should a had Mil own time ; but you
see people says as they pass, " I say, master, ha' you got
any stallion broth to-day ?—(Laughter.) Its quite un-
bearable. It was only yesterday a coalheaver as belongs
to the Union was a smoking of his pipe, and he says to ano-
ther as was doing of the same thing, says he, " I say, Bill,
there's the man that's like Sampson, for I'm blowed if he
can't kill us all with the jawbone of a norse."—(Laughter.)
Mr. Forburn—lt is useless to try to remove this impres-
sion from his mind. lam willing to pay a shilling a week
until the whole is liquidated. You see, Gentlemen, by my
dress, that I have had a hard wrestle with misfortune. She
not only proved too strong for me ; but she gripped me so
hard, shoulder and elbow, as to leave the marks of her nails
in my garment. Ay, she is a very tyrant, for she will not
leave me a stitch of clothes either upon my back or my
stomach.

The sheep's head merchant acquiesced, and the unfortu-
nate poet, who, if he any longer depends upon the produc-
tion of his play for a sustenance, will doubtless have to shift
his custom to the nacker's, betook himself to the " shelter
.of the academic bowers" of Milton-street.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

GUILDHALL

Yesterday John Roberts, a journeyman plumber, was
brought before Mr. Alderman WINCHESTER, charged with
committing an assault on a plumber in the service of Mr.
Webb, employed in repairing St. Sepulchre's church, with
a view to intimidate him to depart from his work.
Benjamin Woodland deposed that he is in the employ of
Messrs. Webb, who have contracted to repair the church.
On Wednesday a number of workmen surrounded the build-
ing, and he and others (who had assented to sign the anti-
union declaration) were afraid to leave the place till after
dark, when Mr. Webb escorted him home. Just as he
reached Smithfield-bars, the prisoner, who was one of the
mob who followed him, struck him on the shoulder, and Mr.
Webb had him secured. Witness tried to take advantage
of the confusion to slip away, but so many pursued him that
he was obliged to return to Mr. Webb for protection, and
Mr. W. saw him safe to his counting-house.

Mr. Alderman WINCIIESTER asked if the blow was a
violent one or a tap ? Witness said it was not very light,

The ALDERMAN asked if it was meant to attract his
attention only, or to injure him ? Witness said it was not
a friendly slap. The prisoner had been upon the building
in the course of the afternoon, asking him to leave the job,
and promising to support him. He told him he would not ;
and the prisoner left him, saying he would give him till half-
past five to consider of it.
Mr. Webb said there were about 150 workmen assem-
bled about the church, who were hooting and yelling, and
pointing at Woodland as he was working on the roof.
Woodland refused to join the Union. When he and his
brother brought Woodland away, a policeman accompanied
them as far as Smithfield-bars ; but as soon as he turned
away, the prisoner shouted to his comrades, " Now let us
give it them !" and by way of example, he gave the com-
plainant a smart blow on the shoulder. Two patrols, who
were following in plain clothes, immediately seized the pri-
soner, and daunted the courage of his accomplices.
Three other witnesses proved that the blow or shove was
given with considerable force.

Mr. Deputy Blackett (on behalf of the.parish) said if
the man was sensible that he had done wrong, and would
undertake to abate the intimidation, he hoped Mr. Webb
would forgive him.

The prisoner said he had done nothing that he had not
a right to do as a free man. He had asked the complain-
ant if he would belong to the Plumbers' Benefit Society,
which was not in connexion with the " Grand Consolidated
Union," though they considered it was putting a man in
bondage to make him sign the anti-union declaration. He
told the complainant that if he would come down and
speak to the man below, no harm would be done to him.
He gave him till half-past five to consider of it, and when
he came out, he tapped him familiarly on the shoulder with
" Well, my old fellow, how come you on now ?" He only
wished to know whether he would belong to the society.
Mr. Webb said, that if the Plumber's Society did not
belong to the General Union, they were supported from
its funds.

The prisoner said that was not true.
Mr. Webb repeated his assertion.

Mr. Alderman WINCHESTER said he should commit the
prisoner for the assault and conspiracy as the Sessions could
punish him more severely than a Magistrate could. The
prisoner claimed to act like a freeman, and why was 'Wood-
land not to be permitted to decide for himself, and act like
a freeman too ? Why was he to be intimidated by hooting
and yelling from doing what he had a right to do.? The
prisoner and his associates might choose to strike and
plunge their families into misery ; but they had no right
to coerce the complainant to act as foolishly, and make his
family as miserable. He required two sureties in 40/. each
for his appearance at the Sessions.
Mr. Deputy Blackett said a subscription was about to be
raised in St. Sepulchre's to reward and encourage those
who chose to return to their work, in spite of the Union.
A great number of plumbers were about the office, and
some of them chuckled over the idea that the case was not
within the statute, as the strike was not for an advance of
wages, or to alter the hours of labour, but to avoid signing
a paper. The statute, however, goes further, and pro-
hibits the employing of intimidation to another, on account
of bis not conforming to any resolutions to regulate the
mode of managing any business. If a master determines
that lie employ only such_ men as will sign a certain
paper, that determination becomes a part of his mode of
regulating and managing his business, and all persons who
abet or assist in forcing him to abandon that determination,
become liable to punishment.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
Hannah Brown, a middle-aged woman, whose dress pre-
sented a complete pitture of wretchedness, was yesterday
placed at the bar, charged with having attempted to -com-
mit suicide.

---- -
A mechanic, who was passing through Poland-street ten
the previous' night, saw the unfortunate defendant suspended

•
by a handkerchief from the knoglier of a door, she being at
the time in a stooping position. He immediately pulled the
handkerchief, and the knot slipping she fell in his arms.
She was conveyed to the watchhouse, where medical assist-
ance was obtained.

. The account of the poor woman was that her husband,
who was a tailor, had deserted her, and she had been left
completely destitute.
Mr. CHAMBERS endeavoured to convince her of the
enormity of the offence she had nearly committed.
The defendant replied that she was miserable where she
was, and in any other world she could not be worse.
Mr. Bryant, the parish officer of St. James's, was ulti-
mately spoken to by the magistrate, and the woman was
admitted into St. James's workhouse.
S. Hoskins, a publican in Great Windmill-street, was
charged with suffering gaming.
The informer was Sharing, whose witness stated that
some men played in the defendant's house at. a game called
" ring the bull." It was done by a ring suspended by a
cord from the ceiling, which was flung by the hand towards
a hook on the wainscot, and those who got it on the hook
most out of twenty times won the game.
Defendant produced the apparatus. He said the ring was
the bellpull, fixed to call the waiter, and the hook was one
of the many round his room for the purpose of hanging a
hat on.

Mr. CHAMBERS said an informer might as well say that
the hooks in this office were put up for the same purpose, and
that the Magistrates amused themselves at " ring the bull."
The witness swore that the ring was' not a bell-pull, but
put up for, the game, having no connection with the bell.
Two respectable men disproved this assertion, and the
Magistrate convinced himself of the falsehood of the in-
former by sending an officer to the house.
The information was dismissed.

Ann Whittaker, an elderly female, was brought before
Mr. Chambers, charged with being drunk and also with
committing various acts of disorderly conduct, at the house
of Mr. Thomas Cribb, the Union Arms, Panton-street,
Haymarket.
The veteran champion of the ring deposed, that the de-
fendant came into his house on the previous evening, and
asked for a glass of gin. Seeing she was in liquor, he re-
fused to serve her ; on which she began to use towards him
language of a most disgusting description. Finding it was
her determination to annoy him and his customers, he turned
her out of the house. On her getting into the street she
took off her bonnet and challenged him out to fight, swear-
ing she would lick a fellow like him in five minutes. - The
violence of her conduct bronght 'several persons round his
house, and he was, at length, compelled to give her in charge.
Mr. CHAMBERS—WeII, Madame, do you think you
could beat Mr. Cribb ? Defendant--Really, Sir, Ido not
think I could.

Mr. CHAMBERS—What made You use such disgusting
language ? Defendant—l am not aware of doing so ; but
really it is a laughable occurrence that I should want to
fight Mr. Cribb. •
Mr. CHAMBERS --- I shall make the ,matter still more
laughable, by ordering you to find bail ; for I will not have
the feelings of respectable persons insulted by the nasty
language of drunken women.
The defendant begged to be let off.
Mr. CHAMBERS—You must find bail, and if you do not
I shall commit you.
The defendant was-then locked up.