The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-27 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Dec. 24.

WORSHIP-STREET.—On Friday, John Leiry,
a shoemaker; John Cooper, of the salt to trade ; John
Rayner, comic singer ; Charles Mor an, a dancer ;
Mary steel, a dancer • Emily Hayward, sentimental
singer and dancer; Alfred Barkley, -musician; and
Charles Phillips, money-taker, were "brought before
Mr. Hammill, on a warrant granted by the Com-
missioners of Police, under the 2d and 3d of Vic-
toria, for being unlawfully engaged. in an unlicensed
theatre, thereby incurring penalties under the act.
Superintendent Steed, of the 1-1 division, produced
the warrant, and stated that in virtue of it he, between
9 and 10 o'clock on the previous evening, proceeded
to premises situated in Church-street, Bethnal-
green, used as an unlicensed.theatre, and had all
the defendants taken into custody, as being engaged
in and connected with the performance. The audi-
ence, greatly alarmed, were allo wed to leave: There
was a raised stage, scenery, ttnd appurtenances
for the performance of theatrical 'pieces, besides a
bill of entertainments at the door, " Commence at
six—New singers, new dancers, &c.," which, with
portions of the " effects," were re.moved to this
court. .One of the sergeants was ready to give evi-
dence of the performance, and this being required,
Sergeant Cleary, HB, said—l had been ordered
to attend the theatre several times. Once I saw
the " Robber's Wife" played, but last night it was
a new piece.
Mr. Hammill—WhL't was it called ?
Witness—" The Promligate Nephew, or the Dis-
inherited." (Laughter.]
Mr. Hammill—You were one of the audience, I
presume ?
Witness—l was a dustman, with a black eye,
and I paid one penny admission. (Much laughter.)
Mr. Hammill—Then you did not go to the boxes.
Now, what did you see ?
Witness—The first thing was a. song, c, paddy on
the Railway ;" then there was a sailor's hornpipe,
by a lady in tights ; then there was tile laughing gas
that did not affect anybody; then there was—
Mr. Hammill—Come to the legitima.te—was there
any acting ? Who was the profligate _nephew ?
Witness—This gentleman ; and thin, was the
Count ; and this was Ralph the Reckless.—a most
determined villain. This lady was the Count's be-
loved wife Alice ; and this genteman was the old
one.

Mr. Hammill— The bill states this to be a ballet ;
was there any dialogue ?
Witness—The " old un "—I mean the un .cle—
enters and says that he has a dissipated .nej ?hew; I
and that he is going to town—Doctors'-commc 'Ds,
believe, or else the Apothecaries' Hall—to disin-
herit him. The nephew, who is the Count, (wines
in, and begs that he will not go, for the sake of his
beloved Alice. The old gentleman is not to be done,
however, and does go. The Count strikes a bargain
with Ralph the Reckless to way lay and murder
him, that he may get possession of the will in his
bosom, and does so.• The uncle dies at the AP-
pointed time, is carried off as stiff as possible, and
the piece terminated without any satisfactory result,
as I stepped on to the stage and collared the Count,
while, upon a given signal, my superintendent and
inspector with 12 men forced an entrance and Se-
cured the rest.
Mr. Hammill—The Dustman secured the Count?
Witness—Yes, sir ; I thought he was the worst
of the lot, but just as I got hold of him, 67 H, my
brother officer, collared me. He thought that I Was
one of the "dramatis personre."
Mr. Hammill—Well, the piece certainly turned
out tragically.
Witness—lt was a melodrama, sir. Thero was
comedy in it, for this gentleman was one Peter= Popp,
a beadle or policeman; who had a scene wit fi this
other lady, his sweetheart, " Sally come up," in
the kitchen.
Mr. Hammi)l—Was there any scenery and
dresses ?

Witness—There was, sir. The act drop Nras ano
Italian sketch," The margin of fair Zurich's waters,
I believe. Then were shrubs and other scenes.
The defendants were rouged and the old gentleman
was wrinkled. Black I{alph had big boots and
pistols—in fact, it was all quite regular as a
theatrical performance, with the exception of the
" Death of Nelson," which was in private clothes.
The place was full, and the door locked.

Inspector Constable—There is not any
even for singing. The owner was not found. The
place is the resort of thieves.
The defendants, who expressed their ignorance
of the law in woe-begone tones, promised never to
offend again, and
Mr. Hammill having remarked that he would
certainly put a stop to all such places that were
brought under his notice, as they were calculated
to effect irremediable mischief with the youth of
both Sexes, allowed the defendants ultimately to
depart on entering into their recognisances to keep
the peace for the next three months ; at the same
time making favourable mention of Sergeant
Cleary, whose apt sketch and immobile countenance
during it rendered all attempts to preserve gravity
totally impossible.

COUNTRY MAI?KETE.