The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-22 00:00:00

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

, _ --
On Saturday a special Court of Alder men was held
for the purpose of receiving a resolution of the officers'
and clerks' committee requesting a conference on the
appointment of a minister for S. James's, Duke's-
place. There was a full attendance of aldermen, as
the subject upon which they were summoned involved
an important question of privilege, and there had
been recently a very marked difference of opinion ex-
pressed by several of the most active members of both
courts.
TUE COSTS OF A PROSECUTION FOR PERJURY.
_ _

Alderman WiLsorf presented a petition from Joseph
Softlaw, praying for the assistance of the court to
enable him to pay the costs of a prosecution for con-
spiracy.

- The' petition staled certain facts, all of which were
detailed in the police reports of the Guildhall justice-
room on occasions when Aldermen Sslomons, as-
sisted by Alderman ilumphery; presided. The peti-
tioner had been charged by a diabolical wretch with
having committed an indecent assault ; and the
aldermen, after having beard the evidence, not
only completely exonerated the petitioner from all
offence or idea of offenco, hut recommended that
the accusing party should be pros,cuted for wilful and
corrupt perjury, A prosecution was accordingly un-
dertaken by the petitioner, and the guilty party was
sentenced to transportation for seven years. The ex-
penses of the proceedings, however, amounted to 621.
23., and all the petitioner was allowed by the court
towards the liquidation of that sum was 161. 7s. En-
cumbered with a family, and incapable, in conse-
quence of the loss of his situation, of incurring so
heavy an expense, the petitioner's only alternative was
by application to the Court of Aldermen, under the
peculiar and afflicting circumstances of the case.
Alderman WILSON moved that the petition be re-
ferred to the General Purposes Committee.
Alderman SYDNEY asked whether such a course
was not calculated to establish a precedent, and whe-
ther the Court had a right to apply the City
the purpose of reimbursing a man for the costs of a
prosecution undertaken by himself ? funds to
Alderman WILSON said that, in a case of such pe-
culiar hardship, and in which two members of the
Court strongly recommended the course that bad been
subscquently adopted, it would be most proper at
least to make inquiry.
Alderman TN,MPSON thought the Court would not
be justified in entertaining the petition, and that such
a precedent would have the etlect of bringing down
upon them a variety of cares, in the hope that the
funds would be open to the discharge of all the atten-
dant expenses.—(Hear, hear.) The petitioner had
been allowed the reasonable expenses upon the occa-
sion, but he had thought proper to employ counsel,
and to incur a large amount of charges, which, if
sanctioned, would impose on the Court the duty of
reimbureement, which would swallow up the whole
of the resources of the city of London.---(Hear.)
He concluded by moving, as an amendment, that the
petition lie on the table.

- Sir PETER LAURIE said the probability was, that
if he had sat when the case was brought on, he
would have directed that a prosecution should be in-
stituted by the City solicitor, because the offence was
of a most diabolical nature, and one to which any in-
nocent man might be subjected by a miscreant—
(Hear, hear)—hut he agreed with Alderman Thomp-
son, that the Court would not be justified in paying
expenses to Ns hich they bed not legally given their
sanction. If they listened to such a course it would
be very easy for attorneys and complainants to get
up cases for their mutual benefit at the expense of the
corporation.—(Hear, hear.) Under those circum-
stances he would second tue amendment, repeating,
however, that if he had been the magistrate, he would
in all probability have ordered the prosecution.
Alderman HUMPRERT said he was present during
the investigation, and it was considered to relate to a
case of so simple a nature that it would be advisable
in Mr. Softlaw himself to proceed. He thought the
caso had a peculiar claim upon the society, and that,
as it was in the power of any miscreant to bring for-
ward atrocious accusations of this kind, the magis-
tracy were bound to render all the necessary aid to
enable those who might be unjustly charged to punish
such delinquency.—(lleur, hear.)
The amendment was then negatived, and the peti-
`ion was referred to the committee of general purposes.

PROCTORS' TOUTERS.
The inquest of the Ward of Castle Baynard handed
in to the Court a presentment, complaining of what
was considered by the inhabitants of the district of
Doctors' Commons and its vicinity a most obnoeXolOrlltlis
nuisance—the obstructions of the avenues to the
u
in Doctors' Commons by the touters for the proctors,
ladies in black were whTohaerepreitriatilosnfosrtati ntfast.
parti-
cularly liable to annoyance from the
, habit
a htoo
puuetseirnsg,.
were, %hen intoxicated, in tliy, of :
abusive language, and it expressed very who
Court would proceed rip. -
- -001 onsly to the correction or
the evil.
Alderman WILSON said had been very
the question
Matthew Wood
frequently before the court, that the
and that the late Sir
their endeavours to abate the nuisance, but all they
could do had proved ineffectual. The fact was the
and he bad been very active in
touters were paid by the proctors for catching hold
of claimants under wills, and from the competition
that excited sprung the annoyance so heavily com-
plained of.
Alderman HuMPHERY said that originally there
had been no more than one ticket porter stationed
iu the neighbourhood to direct parties in black to the
place of business. Two more were afterwards ap-
pointed ; but it was found by some of the principal
proctors that their casual business was very much on
the decrease. Irquiry was made, and it was ascer-
tained that the porters were converted into touters
for other proctors, and the consequence was that
several other gentlemen with white aprons and red
faces were employed, sad they plied bard fur their