The Sun.
London, England, 1835-05-12 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.
Yesterday, a man in very shabby attire, named John
Peacock, was brought before the LORD MAYOR by a
policeman, named Parish, charged with having stuck upon
the walls of King William-street a placard, calculated to
excite the people to acts of violence.
Parish stated that, at a quarter-past seven o'clock on
that morning, he observed the defendant stick up against
the walls some ordinary auction placards, and one placard,
of which the following is a copy :
" Poor men, take notice. A dinner to Peel will be given
by the Rump, the Pitt, and Plunder faction, assisted by the
self-elected and corrupt Courts of Assistants of the Grocers,
Tailors, Goldsmiths, and Skinn'rs, seven City Aldermen,
seven poverty-stricken Peers, twenty more defeated candidates,
live Bishops, a bloated buffoon, the idiot, and a Mayor, on
Monday next, May 11. Dinner on table at Merchant Tailors'
Hall, at five o'clock precisely. The expenses to be defrayed
out of the funds left for charitable purposes. Kemp, printer,
&c., Broadway."
itness noticed that the defendant did not fix up the
obnoxious placard until 'he perceived that nobody was ob-
serving him. In the defendant's pocket was found a placard,
of which the following is a copy :
" Murder of Percival, by Bellingham.
" Sir Robert Peel and the Tories will celebrate the anni-
versary of the above important event by a dinner at Merchant
Tailors' Hall, Threadneedle-street, on Monday next, May 11.
Dinner on table at six o'clock precisely. Tickets to be had
at the Hall. Jenkins, printer, Hill-street."
The LORD MAYOR (to the defendant)—Who authorised
you to stick these bills in the city of London ? Defendant
—I was employed by another billsticker, and did it merely
in the way of business.

The LORD MAYOR—Do you consider yourself bound to
placard things of this kind, calculated as they are to load to
violations of the peace ? Defendant—There were amongst
UV. vs arla, • •
These were altogether, and I acted in the same way to all.
I meant no harm.

The LORD MAYOR—Can you read ?—The defendant
answered in the affirmative.
The LORD MAYOR—WeII, and did you not read these
placards ? Defendant—l stick up scores of bills of all sorts.
A policeman said that the defendant was a person of edu-
cation, and had been a midshipman.
Defendant—l have never been here before.
The LORD MAYOR—And I'll take care that you shall
recollect the occasion of your first visit. Do you think that
I will permit the public peace to be violated by the conduct
of such fellows as you, who dare to come into the City and
act as the agents of others who do not choose to show them-
selves ? Defendant (in a very loud voice)—lf you will sa-
crifice me for nothing, I can't help it ; but you might as
well rob me as prevent me from using the means of earning
my bread.
The Lord Masoa—l shall prevent breaches of the pub-
lic peace, and, havinc, hold of you, shall not let you go
till you procure good bail to answer for this outrageous
violation of propriety. You speak of having acted in the
manner as if it were a regular part of your business. I
suppose you would call it part of your business if the city
were set on fire on account of the mischievous bills which
you thus circulate. But I shall take especial care that the
citizens of London shall not be interrupted in their busi-
ness by such fellows as you, and those for whom you are an
agent in iniquity.
Defendant—Will your Lordship allow me to go upon
my own responsibility ?
The Lord MAYoa—Oh, by no means. You don't quit
me until you procure two sufficient bail. I desire that the
officers bring before me all persons whom they may see fol-
lowing the mischievous example of this man.
The defendant was ordered to find bail.
Edward Lee, another billsticker, was brought up by
Parish, charged with having acted in a similar manner.
The defendant said that 300 placards had been sent to
him with orders to post them, and being quite an unedu-
cated man, he had no idea that he was doing anything
wrong in obeying the directions.
The LORD MAYOR—Do you know that you have been
posting bills to incite people to commit murder ? The de-
fendant solemnly declared that he was quite innocent
of any knowledge of mischievous consequences. He as-
sured his Lordship that, if set at liberty, he should imme-
diately go forth and destroy or deface every placard he had
posted. He begged for the sake of his poor wife and
children that his Lordship would rely upon his sacred pro-
mise to remove the cause of offence as soon as it was pos-
sible for him to accomplish it.
The LORD MAYOR—If I trust to you, will you inform
those engaged with you in this business of my determina-
tion to punish in the event of any repetition of this conduct.
The defendant—l shall do so instantly, my Lord. I shall
at once take some men to assist me in removing all the pla-
cards, and I never will as long as I live stick up any placards
that appear to be mischievous.
The LORD MAYOR—Very well. I shall take your word.