The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-15 00:00:00

Jack grumbled most lustily at the exorbitant charge, and
said he had, at Portsmouth, been tugged about the room
for half an hour, and then was only charged one shilling.
(Laughter.) Defendant was not unlike that sailor. Plain-
tiff had quickly earned his commission, which most cer-
tainly he was fairly entitled to.
Verdict for the plaintiff for £5O and costs.

CABBY AND THE MISTLETOE BOUGH.-BELL V. GOOTCH.

Plaintiff is a cab-driver, and sought to recover 25., good
and lawful money, in lieu of a counterfeit 2s. piece, alleged
to have been received in change from defendant, landlady
of the Bell, in the Old Bailey.

Plaintiff stated that on the 27th December last he received
half-a-crown from a fare, and drove up to defendant's
house, in the Old, Bailey, and there changed it. He had a
glass of ale, and " three ha'porth of gin." (Laughter.) He
put down in payment his half-crown, and received a two-
shilling piece and threepence. Upon leaving defendant's
house plaintiff drove to the Plough, in Smithfield
His Honour—Ah ! That is a boxing-house ?
Plaintiff—yes.

His Honour—Yes. It is kept by C. Davis the boxer.
What did you want there ?

Plaintiff—well, I just dropped in and had a little chat.
t was boxing-day, you know, and there I spent the 3d.
His Honour—You had some more gin there I suppose.
Plaintiff—Yes. I think I had another " three ha porth,'
then drove to the cab-stand at Sho reditch.

His Honour—That was a long way off?
Plaintiff—Then I went to a coffee-shop to get change,
and they told me the coin I tendered was a bad one.
His Honour—What did you go to the coffee-shop for.
Did you have any coffee ?
Plaintiff—Oh! no, I didn't want any.
His Honour—l should have imagined you did after all
that gin. (Laughter.)
Plaintiff—Well, I didn't have any, but drove back to
defendant's house as fast as I could. When I got there I
showed Mrs. Gootch what she had given me, and she denied
all knowledge of the coin. I assured her that I had
received the coin from her house and from her, but

all I could get was, "Oh 1 we all know what
sort. of men you cabbies are 1" (Laughter.) A
gentleman who was present said, " Don't pay him, Mrs.
Gootch; let him summon you." As she did not pay me,

I adopted that gentleman's suggestion.
Mrs. Gootch said—lt was impossible plaintiff could have
taken the coin at her house. She was was very particular,
and no one took money on that day in question but herself.
She was very particular in testing every coin tendered.
She tested the coins on a bender. She was quite sure the
plaintiff did not receive the coin at her house.
Plaintiff—You took that money off a shelf. There was a
good deal of laughing. All the mistletoe was hanging
up, and you were laughing with another young lady about
in the bar. (Laughter.)

Defendant denied that she was talking about the mis-
tletoe, and thought that had nothing to do with the case.
Plaintiff—Well, but you know the mistletoe was up, Mrs.
Gootch, and there was a good deal of chaffmg going on.
Mrs. Gootch—l know you had been drinking, and I also
know that I did not give you the coin you now produce.
You . ought to examine your money before leaving the
house. Our invariable rule is--no money exchanged after
taken from the bar.

His Honour—lndeed. We shall alter that rule here.
Do you remember what change you gave plaintiff in ex-
change for his half-crown.
Defendant—No, I do not.

His Honour—You see he swears most positively that he
received the 2s. piece from you, and you are not in a posi-
tion to contradict him. Although he seems to have been
greatly taken by the mistletoe bough, he remembers his
change, and, as he accounts for his time and actions sub-
sequently to leaving your house, I shall give him a verdict.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY,)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

ASSAULTS AT THE HAYMARKET THEATRE.—Mr.
Antonio Blacker, of 2, Upper Stamford-street, merchant,
was charged with creating a disturbance at the entrance of
the Haymarket Theatre, and also with assaulting George
Stroud, 144 A, the constable on duty there.
The constable said he was on duty at the pit entrance to
the Haymarket Theatre on the previous night, when the
accused created a great disturbance. He had been drinking,
and he told him that he would not be allowed to go in, but
notwithstanding he persisted in his attempt, and on his
again telling him he could not go in he struck him. He
then went to the box entrance, and he was compelled to
take him into custody.

The accused said he had paid to go in, having leis wife
and daughter with him at the time, but they got separated
from him. It all arose from the bad temper of the check-
taker, who would not allow him to enter the theatre.

Wm. Turner, the check-taker, said the accused's wife
assaulted him, being at the time in a state of great excite-
ment. He gave the gentleman his money back, seeing that
he had had as much as was good for him.
Mr. Inspector Steer said at the station the accused seemed
to have been drinking. He took bail for him.

The constable said he was not hurt.
Mr. Bingham said there was enough to justify him in
fining him the lowest fine-10s.
Mr. John Rudkin, of 65, Myddelton-square, was
charged with assaulting a gentleman in the boxes of the

Ilayinarket Theatre. -
The complainant, it appears, had dropped some silver in
the boxes, and the defendant having interfered, a dispute
arose, and the defendant was struck.
The prosecutor not being forthcoming, the defendant was
discharged.