The Sun.
London, England, 1833-09-14 00:00:00

EXTRA ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE.

As Mr. Hitchens, a baker, of Marden, was returning
from Devizes on Thursday evening week, he was attacked,
a short distance beyond the Nursteed turnpike-gate, on
the Salisbury road, by three men, one of whom, after
pulling him from his horse, placed his bands before his
mouth and eyes, whilst a second pinioned his arms, and
the third took from his pocket 7s. or Ss. i❑ silver. Dis-
pleased at the small amount found upon him, one of them
perceived that he had boots on, and observing " that a
man who could afford to wear boots ought to have more
money in his pockets," proceeded to pull the boots off,
but finding nothing in them, next examined his hat, and
all three went away, taking with them the boots and
hat. Hitchens bad not, however, proceeded more than
ten or twelve yards before they returned, and swearing
that he must have more money, pulled him to the ground,
took off his neckerchief, and were about to take off his
coat. Hitchens made some slight resistance to this, when
one of them took a knife or razor from his pocket, and
swore be would cut his throat unless he submitted to his
coat being taken from him ; but meeting with some
interruption, they again went away without the coat,
and Hitchens proceeded homewards. About nine o'clock,
Mr. Heath, brickmaker, of Stert, and a person named
Fishlock (who were also on their return from Devizes),
were attacked near the same place, and robbed. Heath
was suddenly felled to the ground, and while one or two
rifled his pockets, others knocked Fishlock down, with one
of whom Fishlock had a struggle, and took from Min a
neckerchief, which hung loosely round his neck, and es-
caped from the thieves. Fishlock and his companion gave
information to some persons in the neighbourhood, who
accompanied them to the spot, and were searching for a
razor which Fishlock had lost, when Hitchens came up.
Hitchens had proceeded on his way homewards after the
thieves left him. At Lydeway he met with a man to
whom he related what had happened. This man per-
suaded Hitchens to return with him in search of the
thieves ; and when within a few hundred yards of the spot
where the attack took place, Hitchens dismounted from
his horse and allowed the other to ride. The ma❑ was in
advance about two hundred yards, when Hitchens met
a person who told him that several men were in an
adjoining field seeking for a razor one of them had lost.
Considering that this must have been the razor
which was to have cut his throat, and that the persons
mentioned were the robbers, Hitchens at once made up
to them ; but the moment Heath saw him, be exclaimed,
" This is the man that robbed me !" and recollecting how
he himself had been served but a few minutes before,
commenced beating Hitchens without mercy. It was in
vain that Hitchens stated what had happened to him.
The other man came back and gave his testimony in favour
of Hitchens. This, however, only proved that he, too,
must have been concerned in the robbery. Both were,
therefore, taken to a Torn and Jerry shop, where they
received that sort of treatment due only to rogues, and
were afterwards marched into Devizes, and lodged in the
blind house. Next morning they were brought before the
Magistrate, when the only suspicious circumstance attach-
ing to Hitchens was, that he was without a neckerchief,
and that Fishlock had taken a neckerchief from the neck of
the person who robbed him, Fishlock. The neckerchief was
produced : at first Hitchens did not think it was his, but
upon examining it more closely, he recognized an old ac-
quaintance, and then the tables were turned. Hitchens
now said, that the fact of Fishlock's baying the neckerchief
in his possession was proof that he was one of the persons
concerned i❑ robbing him. All the parties were known
to be of good character ; the magistrate, therefore, thought
best they should appear at the petty sessions ; and on Tues-
day the above facts were deposed to. Heath acknowledged
striking Hitchens, and was convicted of the assault; but
as it was under the impression that Hitchins was the
person who had shortly before attacked him, and as they
were brothers in misfortune, the magistrate advised them
to endeavour to make it up between themselves, which
they eventually did, by Heath's consenting to pay all
expenses. The only way to account for the fact relating
to the neckerchief, is the presumption that the thief who
stole it from Hitchens must afterwards have tied it round
his own neck, whence Fishlock took it.--. Devises Gaz.

REFUSAL OF MEDICAL GENTLEMEN
TO CONNIVE AT THE PURCHASE OF PUBLIC
MEDICAL OFFICES.

(From the Lancet of S?pt. 17.)
We hesitate not to predict, that at no distant period the
evils, we might say the atrocities, of the hospital, the in-
firmary, and the dispensary system, will be rendered con-
spicuously apparent to the public mind.
But in order that the catastrophes which are to be

developed should produce a salutary tone of feeling, it is
necessiry that medical gentlemen, whose knowledge on
the subject must precede that of all other individuals,
should exert themselves unceasingly in the beneficial work
of disclosure.

We refer with feelings of indignation to the details
contained at page 785 of our present number. The
memorial of the thirty-three physicians and surgeons of
Sheffield, presented to the Governors of the Sheffield
Public Dispensary, has been rejected by those charity-
mongers,—has been cast back into the very teeth of the
gentlemen, without whose skill, generosity, and aid, it
would be utterly impossible to render useful to society any
institution having for its object the relief of the sick poor.
With the exception of the insult recently offered to the
medical practitioners of Aylesbury, by the appointment
of a surgeon belonging to the fallen, degraded hospital of
the late Thomas Guy, we cannot bring to mind any insult
offered to a large body of respectable gentlemen, at all to
be compared with the one now under consideration.
Surely, however, the point to which submission can
reach, has been attained ! The thirty-three practitioners
of Sheffield cannot, will not, sit down quietly under the
atrocious insult which has been offered to them, but will
cordially and resolutely unite in defence of their own in-
terests, and of the respectability and utility of the profes-
sion. Are there to be found any medical practitioners
who will continue to be the servants of men who have
thus gratuitously bearded the entire body to which they
belong ? Impossible. Should the medical men continue
to retain office in such an establishment, what will the
Governors constituting the dispensary, or anti-medical
association, be induced to exclaim ? " Behold! We have
nothing to fear from this disjointed body ; because there
is no uniformity of action in it. See—we have scouted,
spurned, despised the petition of the whole medical fra-
ternity of Sheffield, and yet some of the most respectable
of them bow berore us, obsequiously smile upon us, crouch
at our feet, and seem to pray for a continuance of our
buffetings, as the highest honour and reward which they
can be entitled to receive."

Since the foregoing remarks were written, we have
seen in the Times of Thursday last, a report of the pro-
ceedings at a meeting of the Governors of tie Alders,gate-
street Dispensary, held on Wednesday. At this meeting
the whole of the medical officers, physicians and surgeons,
resigned their offices. Why? Because the Governors, in
the opinion of these medical officers, showed a wanton
disregard of the respectability of the profession, and the
welfare of the sick poor.
Now, then, the medical profession of Sheffield will see
what the medical profession of London will do on suc►: an
occasion. Is there a legally-qualified member of any one
of the Colleges or Halls, who will ao debase himself—who
will so insult all his professional brethren—who will be
so ready to proclaim his own infamy—as to accept an
office in a medical institution, the Governors of which have
already declared that such office is open to sale, and may
be held by the highest bidder?
Good God ! how repeatedly have we declared that these
dispensaries may be denominated " human slaughter-
houses." And here, in confirmation of our statennent, it
is announced, that multiplied contributions of only a few
days standing, may secure the legal impunity of destroying
the wretched beings who seek for a mitigation of their
sufferings, under the much abused name of " charity."
Not having seen the report in the Times until a late
period of the week, and just as we were goiag to press,
we have neither time nor space for a more explanatory
comment. But we implore, most earnestly implore, every
member of the profession who places the slightest value
on the respectability and usefulness of that profession, or
who is desirous of preserving his own peace of mind, or
who would regard with feelings of deep emotion the
wanton immolation of his fellow-creatures on the already
blood-stained altar of Charity, to approve, by his voice
and actions, the noble resolution of those medical officers
who have abandoned an important station, rather than
witness the sacrifice of a principle in which the mainte-
nance of their own honour and the welfare of the sick poor
are alike involved.

Should any unprincipled Fellow, Member, or Licentiate
of the legitimate medical body, think proper to occupy
one of these offices in order to make himself known, his
otject, we promise him, shall be fully attained. He shall
be known. Verily, he shall be known !

SCOTCH BANKS.—The Scotch banks deli-
vered Stock on Thursday, to the amount of 800,0001.,
and carried over to next account upwards of 200,0001.—
Scotsman.

A courier, with despatches from the Austrian
Embassy, left Cbandos House the night before last, for
Paris and Vienna.