The Sun.
London, England, 1834-09-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1834.

GREENWICH PETTY SESSIONS.

Yesterday the Greenwich Petty Sessions was held at the
Greyhound, Greenwich. Colonel FOREMAN, Chairman,
and Messrs. SMITH and YOUNG, sat on the Bench.

THE NEW POOR LAW BILL.
Catherine Fitzgerald was placed at the bar, charged by
Mr. Morley, one of the overseers of Greenwich, with causing
a disturbance before his door, under the following circum-
stances :
Mr. Morley stated that since the alteration of the Act
for the relief of the poor the Governors and Directors have
taken to themselves to relieve the poor, and that the power
was out of their (the overseers') hands. The poor, how-
ever, not being aware of the alterations, were continually
annoying him and the other overseers. It was to convince
the poor of the parish of the position in which they were
placed that he had ordered the prisoner to appear at the
bar: The woman, who has four children to support, was
in the habit of receiving 7s. per week, and 2s. for lodging.
The last week the Board reduced her pension to 4s. 6d.
Subsequent to receiving a moiety of this she called upon
him, when he told her it was no longer in his power to re-
lieve her. She became very violent in consequence, when
he was obliged to give her in the custody of a policeman.
Mr. SMITH—Then it is decided by the Board that the
overseers cannot give relief ?
Mr. Morley--qt has been decided so by the Governors
and Directors. There was a meeting at the church on
the Friday, and it was there proposed, after the Sunday
week, that the overseers should no longer afford relief ; and
that if they did they should be punished.
Mr. Finch, clerk to the Magistrates, said that the over-
seers could do as they pleased till the rules and regulations
were sent from the Commissioners.

Mr. SMITH—Have you any rules sent down ? Mr. Mor-
ley—No.
Mr. YOUNG said that with respect to refusing outdoor
relief, be considered the alteration an outrage on humanity.
He stated a case of a poor woman of the name of Esther
Allen, near eight► years of age, and another of a man of the
name of Cheek, a bricklayer, near ninety years of age, who
were ordered to enter the workhouse. He thought that
the Governors ought to have waited till the rules and regu-
lations were received from the Commissioners.
Colonel FOREMAN and Mr. SMITH coincided in the view
taken by Mr. YOUNG.
Mr. YOUNG said that there was no prohibition in respect
to outdoor ►elie where there was an union ; but they were
a parish of itself, and in their case the law was imperative.
They could not help themselves.
Mr. Morley remarked that the overseers were in a far
more terrible situation than before. _ _

Mr. Finch—Who raises the money ? Mr. Morley—
The overseers have the responsibility, but the power is
taken out of their hands. _ _ _

Mr. Lloyd, another overseer, observed that on the first
application at the Board by the poor, after the resolution
adopted by the Governors and Directors, there were ninety
cases, each of which was a fit object of relief, and eight of
which alone received outdoor relief.

Mr. Morley then told the prisoner, and all those who
were behind the bar (at which place a great many paupers
were present), that they were to consider him no longer the
person they were to apply to for relief.
The prisoner was then discharged.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

WORSHIP-STREET.

Yesterday a chimney-sweeper, named William Cox, was
brought up in custody of a police officer of the N division,
and placed at the bar, before Mr. TWYFORD and Mr.
GROVE, a county magistrate, charged with having infringed
on the new Act of Parliament, by calling aloud in the public
streets.

The constable was yesterday morning on duty in Hoxton,.
when he heard the prisoner bawling " Sweep, 0 ! Sweep,
0!" as loud as his lungs would permit him. Witness in-
formed him if he continued to so offend against the law he
must take him into custody. The prisoner replied that he
knew nothing whatever about the Act of Parliament ; he
had his wife and kids to support, and support them he
would ; and immediately commenced a repetition of the
noise, and witness then took him into custody.
Mr. TWYFORD—WeII, what have you to say? You
know very well you are offending against the law by calling
out in the public streets. Prisoner--4ndeed, yer Vortship,
I don't. I knows werry well I have heard a good deal of
great tauk about this 'ere new Hact of Parliament ever
since the sth of last November, but I wasn't aware that it
had yet come into hoperation.
Mr. TWYFORD—Then you are now informed that it has,
and every person in your trade that so offends is liable to a
penalty of forty shillings, or two months' imprisonment and
hard labour. Prisoner—Oh, yer Vortship, don't commit
me, for the sake of my poor wife and young kids ! Isn't it
a very cruel thing on the part of the Legislature to prevent
a poor hard-working fellow from getting a 'onest living ; for
you knows, yer Vortship, that it always been the rule in our
profession to call out " Weep, weep I" ever since Lunnon
town 'as been Lunnon town.
Mr. TWYFORD—WiII you promise not to offend again if
you are this time let off? Prisoner—Oh, dear! I suppose
I must (with a heavy sigh). Oh ! the Government wants
to put a stopper on every poor individual. I wonder what
the world will come to next.
The prisoner was, after being severely admonished by the
Magistrates, ordered to be discharged.