The Sun.
London, England, 1833-04-09 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING. APRIL 9, 1833.

open on Sunday night, and robbed of articles of
plate to the value of upwards of 1001.
BOW-STREET.

RIOT AT THE SELECT VESTRY OF ST. MARTIN'S.
—Mr. Joseph Hayes, son of Mr. Hayes, the den-
tist, of May's-buildings, St. Martin's-lane, was yes-
terday brought to this office in the custody of'the
new police, charged with having, in company with
other persons, riotously and outrageously broken
his way into the Vestry-room of the parish, at the
time when a vestry was assembled for the purpose
of electing fresh churchwardens, and other parish
business, according to law. It is, no doubt, fami-
liar to the readers of reports from this office, that
differences exist between those who consider
themselves entitled, under the old system, to act as

vestrymen, and those who, under the new order of
things, cla m a similar privilege. The latter hear-
ing of the intended meeting, determined to assert
their right to be present at the discussions, and for
that purpose assembled outside the door, a position
in which the " ins" resolved to keep them ; for,

despite their clamour for admission, they would
not suffer them to enter. Among those who were

distinguished in the crw.vd, were Mr. Fenn, Mr.
Simpson, Mr. Hayes, sen., the defendant, and se-
veral others. The defendant, finding that the force
of eloquence was insufficient to gain the object they
had in view, made up his mind to have recourse to
more powerful arguments, and, starting off, soon
returned with a couple of crowbars for the purpose of
forcing the outer door. On his re-appearance he
found that a side window, which looked from the

hall leading to the vestry-room, had been opened,
and that through that avenue, his father and others
of his companions had already made their way.
Having followed their example, on reaching the
vestry-room door, a peremptory demand for adrnis-
slon was again made, but without success, when
the defendant gallantly determined on a breach, and
dashing his crowbar through the pannel of the door,
smashed it to pieces, and quickly forced his way
amidst the forbidden conclave, and then as valiantly
commenced an attack upon the fastenings within,
so as to secure an easy access to his confederates
without. In the mean time, the astonished garrison
had sent for a reinforcement of police, preferring a
Coup de main of this description to a sortie, to which
they must have been otherwise driven, or submitted
at discretion to the mercy of their assailants. In-
spector Adamson and his corps arrived in the nick
of time; and, just at the moment when the defendant
had removed the last barrier to the triumph of his
party, he was captured, crowbar in hand, and
brought to this office, followed by his clamorous
battalion, and the more peaceable occupants of the
vestry-room.
Mr. Clarke, the vestry clerk, who was in attend-
ance, stated the case, the truth of which the de-
fendant did not deny. The forcible entry was ad-

mated, and an acknowledgment given that the
only object in view was to try the right of those
parishioners who had been unjustifiably excluded
from participating in the discussion of matters in
which they were greatly interested, as housekeepers
and payers of scot and lot in the parish.
Mr. HALLS signified his disinclination to enter
into any examination with regard to the pretensions
of the heated partisans, either on the one side or the
other, and as Mr. Hayes had thought proper to
adopt a step which was decidedly illegal, he must
leave him to defend himself before that tribunal for

the judgment of which he had become a candidate
in so extraordinary a manner. As it appeared,
also, that Mr. Hayes, sen., was the first to open
and enter the original breach, he felt it his duty to
call upon both father and son to enter into sureties
to answer for their conduct at the sessions.

INIr. Simpson and a gentleman named Smith then
stepped forward and tendered them,elves as sureties,
but Mr. Halls objected to Mr. Simpson as a par-
ticeps criminis, and another good and sufficient man
having been obtained, the parties were liberated.
The office during this very extraordinary exami-
nation was crowded by interested parishioners, who
seemed highly amused at the fate of the " battering
train" who had so gallantly mounted the ramparts
of the vestry citadel, and put at defiance the thunder
of the St. Martin's exclusives.
A PLEASANT NEIGHBOUR.—John Gibson, Henry
Tyson, and Louisa Graham, were placed at the bar,
charged with having most flagitiously put at deft•
ance the old Roman laws of 'WWII et tuuni, in an-

propriating to themselves the whole wardrobe of a
young man, named Edmond Roche, who occupied a
room at the house No. IS, Little St. Andrew's-street,
Seven Dials, in which the prisoner Graham also
lodged. On Saturday night last Roche quitted his
room for a short time, leaving the door locked, and
on his return he made no particular observation, but
went to bed, previously fastening the door after
him. Ou rising the next morning he prepared to
attire himself in his gayest apparel, in honour of the
festival of Easter, but on opening his drawers, to
his dismay, he discovered that the pride of his cos-
tume had vanished. Not believing that the moths
could have made such quick work with so many
good things, and more especially as he did not
find the buttons to speak for themselves, as in
the well-known case of Paddy WShane's tripe
supper, whose leathern breeches had been cooked
for his accommodation by his waggish landlord, he
sent for a police officer, by whom, on the Sunday
evening, in consequence of suspicions which existed,
he was accompanied to the Roebuck public-house,
in Holborn. On entering the parlour they there
found the three prisoners, and, on the person of Gib-
son, Roche recognised a coat and waistcoat, part of
the property stolen, and on his head his hat. In a
subsequent search in the room of Mr. Graham, they
found a key which unlocked his door, but which
did not unlock hers, and for the presence of which
she could give no satisfactory account.
John Gibson said he had only just come out of

be unable to produce any direct contradiction to that
charge, as no one was present at the interview will'
Mrs. Leveredge. He thought, however, he could
give the Magistrate such ample proof of the impro-
bability of the act imputed to him, and also, by the
testimony of his servant, show the sort of annoyance
and abuse he had been subjected to for refusing to
comply with what he considered an extortionate de-
mand, that no doubt could remain as to the real
nature of the affair.
Mr. CONANT intimated his willingness to hear
any evidence the Hon. Member could produce, and
adjourned the case for a short period. In a short
time afterwards, Mr. and Leveredge having
entered the office, the matter was again brought
before Mr. Dyer and Mr. Conant, who were then

sitting.
Mr. DYER then called Mr. Leveredge forward,
and desired him to repeat the substance of his for-
mer application.
Mr. Leveredge—l have no wish to enter into
unpleasant statements again ; I did not expect to
see the Hon. Member for Safford here, and I am
reluctant to pain the Hon. Member more than is ne-
cessary by entering into particulars.
Captain Gronow—Oh, pray have no delicacy on
my account ; I wish you to state everything you
know. _ _

Mr. Leveredge-1 should be glad to have Mr.
Dyer, junior's, notes of the case produced, before I
enter into statements which will be disagreeable to
the Hon. Member's feelings.
Mr. DYER—Pray, Sir, understand, that no per-
sonal matters are to be mixed up with the charge
you have chosen to bring against this gentleman. As
to the notes you ask for, there were none taken on
the subject.
Mr. Leveredge—l would much rather put my
wife before you than make any statement myself.
Mr. CONANT— I cannot understand why you
should have this hesitation ; you came here to make
a complaint, and when requested, you evade the re-
lation of the particulars.
Mr. Leveredae—Well, then, I am the holder and
maker of a bill for 421., accepted by the Hon.
Member, and made payable at his bankers', which
bill, when it became due, was dishonoured ; I made
a second application at the bankers' for payment on
the 11th of March, and I was then told there were
" no orders."

Mr. DYER—AII this is not evidence, though I
have no objection to hear it as introductory matter
necessary to the elucidation of the charge.
Mr.Leveredge—This bill I had paid away, and was
obliged to get possession of again. I was compelled
to have recourse to stratagem, in order to obtain an
interview with the Hon. Member ; and after con-
siderable difficulty, my wife, on Wednesday last, did
contrive to see him, at his house, in Hans-place, and

then she asked hint whether it was his intention to
take up the bill ? The Hon. Member broke out
into violent language, and then an attempt was made
by the Hon. Maniter to snatch the bill and to get
forcible possession of it
Mr. DYER—Let your wife come forward now and
make her statement.
Mrs. Leveredge, on being sworn, said—Last
Wednesday I knocked at Captain (Ironow's door,
and the moment I went into the parlour he swore at
me, and said who are you—what do you want ? I
said, I am the person who knocked at your door,
and I've brought this bill for payment. The bill
was wrapped up in a piece of paper, and he
snatched at it, having a good fire to throw it in I
suppose. Let hint deny it if he can. I said, I'll
swear a robbery against you ; and he said, ir► an-
swer, " I am a police magistrate, and don't care a
curse." He then called my husband every epithet
he could bestow upon him; he said my husband did
not go down to Stafford for him, and he swore he
would not pay the bill for my husband ; he said he
would knock the election on the head, if he went
into the witness box of the House of Commons ; he
went on in a violent way, and first said he would
pay the bill, if my husband did not say something
he knew, and then afterwards he swore he would
not pay the bill.
Sir Robert Sidney (who accompanied Captain
Gronow to the office)asked Mrs. Leveredge ►f she
did not use some words of abuse towards Captain
Gronow, at the interview on Wednesday ?
Mrs. Leveredge—Oh, I'll say the truth—l'm not
afraid to repeat it. I told him he took the benefit
of the Insolvent Act in 1825. I was obliged to
say something, as I was but a lone female in the
presence of a Member of Parliament, who was
violently abusing Mr. Leveredge.
Mr. DYER—But I do not see what this has to
do with your complaint. What is the precise na-
ture of the charge you make against Captain Gro-
now ? Mrs Leveredge—l charge him with the in-
tention of trying to take the bill from me in a vio-
lent way. He said he only wanted to read it. I
told him if he had asked me, I s:-.ould have let him
see it.

Sir Robert Sidney begged to put a few questions

to Mrs. Leveredge ; and having received permission
from the Magistrates, he inquired when she had
seen Captain Gronow last ? Mrs. Leveredge re-
plied, that she delivered a letter to him last Friday.
Sir Robert—Do you know what the bill was
given for ? Mrs. Leveredge—For Mr. Leveredge's
time and expenses, I believe. In fact, for bringing
Captain Gronow in for Stafford.
Sir Robert—Has your husband received any
money on account of these expenses ? Mrs. Leve-
redge—My husband has received 20/. and 30/.
. _

Sir Robert—Did you not have some conversa-
tion with the baker who supplies the family of
Captain Gronow on the subject of the bill ? Mrs.
Leveredge—Oh, I won't deny that ! I told him
that 1 had got a dishonoured bill of Captain Gro-
now's, and was afraid it would not be paid; for he
would probably do as others did, plead his prorec•
tion as a Member of Parliament. The baker ihen
asked me, if Mr. Leveredge, the drawer of the bill,
was my husband; and I told him " No."
Sir Robert handed over a letter, and asked if it
was in the hand-writing of her husband ?
Mrs. Leveredge admitted it was.
The letter was then read, and appeared to be as
follows :

" London, 30th Oct., 1832.

" Sir,—The. 301. handed over to me this day, as my
remuneratica for time and travelling expenses, to obtain a
requisition from the electors of Stafford to you, I considered
a sofficient payment ; and I shall hold you harmless from
ail further claims for expenses, as I consider there exists
great doubts of your success in that quarter.
(Signed) " W. LEVEREDGE."
" To H. Gronow, Esq."
Another letter was then read, which was also ad-
mitted tobe in the hand-writing of Mr.Leveredge:—
" The gallant female whom you so outrageously abused
yesterday has undertaken to deliver this. The monstrous
falsehoods uttered yesterday against me falls harmless to
the ground. You menaced me—you threatened me. I
dare you—l defy you to proof. Your career of dishonour
will be short. I shall meet you before the 16th of April.
I shall meet your menaces and threatened intimidation on
a short skin of parchment. We shall meet at the bar of
the House of Commons. The instant the House assem-
bles—that House will throw its protecting arm over me,
and render impotent the threats of an arrant, lying bully.
I have taken down your words, and I shall embody them
to the Speaker. " WILLIAM LEVEREDGE.
" Thursday, April 4., 1833.
" A gentleman accompanies the heroic female whom
you so grossly insulted yesterday.
" To Rees Gronow, Esq., Member for Stafford."
Sir Robert Sidney said, he would just call one
witness to show the mode adopted by Mrs. Leve-
relge to annoy Captain Gronow.
The baker alluded to then came forward and said