The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-25 00:00:00

CHARGE OF INTIMIDATION.

At the Marlborough-street Police-court, yester-
day, John Woolfender, Thomas Seckroyd, and
William Gracie, three operative tailors, were charged
before Mr. Tyrwhitt with intimidating Ann New-
land, a tailoress, for the purpose of preventing her
from following her lawful occupation.
Mr. Sayer, from the office of Mr. Edward Lewis,
appeared for the defendants.
Ann Newland, wife of a tailor, living at No. 10,
Silver-street, said about 4 o'clock on Tuesday after-
noon she was coming out of Mr. Poole's tailoring
establishment in Saville-row, when the defendants
came up to her and ordered her to open a bundle
which she carried. They opened the bundle, and
looked at some clothes which she had received for
the purpose of making alterations. They wanted
to see to the bottom of the bundle, but she refused
to let them look.

The court, which was filled with journeymen
tailors, now became a scene of momentary con-

fusion.

Mr. Tyrwhitt said he would not permit any bully-
ing by a parcel of journeymen tailors nor any one
else. If they did not behave with decency he would
order the court to be cleared.

Complainant continued—She had worked for Mr.
Poole for 11 years. Mr. Poole came out of the
house, and seeing how he was beset gave the pri-
soners into custody.
By Mr. Sayer—No one assaulted her. They did
not say that if she persisted in working for Mr.
Poole they would do something to her or her hus-
band. She showed them what she thought proper
in the bundle, and nothing else.
Mr. Henry George Poole, tailor, of Saville-row,
said he had employed the complainant and her hus-
band for about eleven years. In consequence of
there being a " strike" among the journeymen,
" pickets" were placed about to see that no one worked
for him. While talking to a gentleman he saw the
complainant struggling with the three prisoners.
The prisoners were searching her bundle to ascer-
tain if she was taking work away, intending, of
course, to stop it, if they objected to the kind of
work. The men on strike would not allow any one
to work for him. Seeing the complainant crying,
he went forward and desired the prisoners to go
away, and a policeman making his appearance he
gave them into Custody. •
Diri,Cutler, tailor, 8, Hanover-street, was in Mr.

PooWe office, and saw the prigoners surround tilt
complainant and seize her bundle. The prisoners
placed the bundle on the window sill and opened it.
Mr. Tyrwhitt inquired if the prisoners belonged
to the-picket.

Witness said they .did ; and, in reply to Mr.
Sayer, said two of the prisoners took hold of the
bundle, but he could not swear which two.

Mr. Sayer, on behalf of the prisoners, was ready
to admit they had no right to search the complain.-
ant's bundle, but ho denied any intimidation had
been used. The prisoners had no doubt been guilty
of a common assault in law, but it was an assault of
a trivial description only. The object of the priso-
ners in looking into the bundle was merely to see
what was in it, and certainly that could not be called
an act of intimidation.

Mr. Tyrwhitt said the tailors' proceedings had
not reached that point yet ; when it had, they would
learn how it would be dealt with at that court.
That a set of men who could earn ample wages, and
who set themselves up as high class and intelligent
workmen, should meddle with an old woman's
bundle was a poor and paltry thing ; and no doubt
the public would think so. It would perhaps be
enough in the present case if he ordered the priso-
ners to find bail, each in £5, to keep the peace for
six months.

Loud applause having followed this decision,

Mr. Tyrwhitt remarked that he could see by the
manner in which his decision had been received by
the assembled tailors the extent to which the affair
was likely to run, but he gave them full notice that
the justice of the country would meet any violence
they might be guilty of.
Bail was tendered and accepted.