The Sun.
London, England, 1832-03-31 00:00:00

HAT T ON. G ARDEN.

Yesterday George If Poole, the conductor of a
Paddington omnibus, was brought to this office on a war-
rant, charged by Mr. Ryan, of Mornington-square, with
the following assault and obstruction :
The prosecutor, on Monday last, had occasion to proceed
to the city on public business, and, as was his usual cus-
tom, he went to King's-cro-s, Battle-bridge, to ride in the
o

mnibus. On his arrival there be saw an omnibus con-
taming several passengers : the door was open, and the de-
fendant, who is the conductor, wag standing near to it.
Witness attempted to enter the vehicle, and as he was *tout
to go up the steps, the defendant jumped up and seizing
hold of him, said lie should not go in, and behaved him-
self in a rude and impertinent manner. Witness remon-
strated, and insisted upon his right of taking a place in a
conveyance intended for public accommodation, but the
defendant became more violent, laid hold of the handl, at
the side of the door, and with great violence pushed wit.
ness several times on the breast, and in a struggle to gain
admission into the vehicle, he was turned over, and the
defendant lay with all his weight across his person to pre.
vent him accomplishing his object. Several gentlemen
inside the omnibus expressed their indignation at such
conduct, and threatened never again to ride in the omnibus
unless witness was admitted, sad the whole of them
quitted it, urging him to prosecute the defendant for his
improper conduct, in doing which he (Mr. Ryan) con-
ceived that he was only pertorming a duty towards the
public, who were subject to :le most infamous annoyances
end impositions from a set of fellows connected with these
vehicles.

Mr. Serjeant SELLot4 asked Mr. Ryan whether he in-
tended to charge t,!e defen.iant wi.h the assault or the ob-
struction only ?—Mr. Ryan was ass-ailted and obstructed
both, and there were several highly respectable individual',
pr sent who had witnessed the transaction to give
e%idence.

Mr. Patterson, solicitor, of Dorset-square, was in the

vehicle with four other passengers, and knowing Mr.
ltyan, and witnessing the improper conduct of the de-
fendant in preventing his entrance, he refused to ride
therein unless Mr Ryan was admitted; and the whole of
the passengers quitted their places. Witness intiraat,i
that onanihusses were not sufficiently recognized by tb,
Stage-coach Act to insure the protection of the pull:;;
from insult and imposition. The proprietors had cer-
tainly assembled together, and had concocted and arranged
several plans for their guidance, some of which had ,ene-
Cited the public ; but their fares were unlimited;
acting under their own regulations, they could buittixe
upon and annoy the public with impunity.
Mr. ROGER'S inquired how the tare. were reg.ulate.l
. _

Nit.. Pool-, the defendant's father, who is the proprietor of
die omnibus, replied that they w. re unlimited. had
given his son orders not to take up passen.Aers under Is.,
until he arrived at the Peacock, Islington.
A gentleman here stated, that the usual charge was Is.
from Paddington to the Bank, and 6d. from King's-cross
to the Bank.

Mr. Ryan—l hold a situation in a Government office.
and am obliged to be punctual in my attend.ince, I
4enerally ride by tie omnibus, and the most seri“us incon-
venience might accrue from such o-structi.ms.
Mr. Patterson said, that acc.irtlinir to the present sys-
tem omnibus drivers might charge wl!ateve:- they tln,ught
proper. He generally rode from B.k,r-atreet, N-w-r 'rad,
to the City, and on a wet day they would charge him 2s. 6d.
Mr. Lomas, of Regent.,qua,e, and other
proved the assault, arid wer. loud in their coniok,nts
against omnibus driver, for th-it impertin• nt impositions.
Mr. Serjeant SELLON cot.si.iered it a most
abominable defect in the Stage Coach Act, that it did not
!ping oinnibuases more immediately under its provisional
regwations, which would relieve th public from many
nuisances. He inquired of Mr. Poole whether h- 4
licence ?—Mr. Poole replied that he had t :len out his
Mr. Serjeant SELLON—What licence? Mr. Poole—
The stiee coach Ikence

Mr. Loinas—The stage coach licence, and still the
proprietoni of oniuibutiei are guided by their i,vrn private

Mr. ROGERS concurred with Mr. Se jeans Strums: as
to ti:e defective twee of the statute, anti could see no reg.
sonable grounds for the inintrfent aseault upon Mr. Ryan,
who was era only justified in takim: a se.gt in the e n cage
if t e places hail not hero previously taken. Mr. RoGF.as
inquired whether such W•l4 the ea-e2—Mr. Pt coon
replied in ,he negative—there was p:enty of room.
Mr. Roceas read ov..r •he Art of t, e 48th of Gee
111.. which stated that my attempt at • xat,ion or imperti-
nence and abuse to pa-setigers subji•c'ed the parry nff-ioling
to a penal.), o! not less than 55., or riot wore than 40a.
Duke, the officer, stated •fiat the cause of the assault
was, that there sva- a long hilly road from liii-g's-cross to
the Angel at Isliu.Jon, and it was usual to retitle to take
up passengers until they passed the H AI.
111 r. ROGERS, with some warmth, said that such cir-
riages were intended for the cone-Diener and acenintlioda.

twn of the public ; and it hills were to be passed over, it
was fit that thr proprietors shou4l have animals sufficient
to draw the weight. A gentleman had been exceedingly
assaulted, which was plainly proved, and he thought the
prix finer ought to find hail.

11Ir. S-rjeant SELLOI4 said that it wilt a question of
great importince as regarded the right of t cue men to
charge un!imited fares, and ought to he decided at the sea.
!dons. He called upon th • prisoner for his &fence.
He denied the assault, sayioe that he had received orders
not to take up passtrigri a at King's-cross, but at Islington.
He was ord.-red to procure bail, which being ready, he
was liberated.