The Sun.
London, England, 1835-02-02 00:00:00

EXCHEQUER COURT.

DICAS V. LAWSON.
Some misunderstanding having, from a statement made
by Mr. Lee, the plaintiff's counsel, arisen relative to the
of the compromise entered into between the parties
yesterday,
The *COURT considered, in the absence of Sir John
Campbell, the Counsel for the defendant, that the rule
had better be enlarged to the first day of next term.—
Rule enlarged.
The COURT did not rise till a late hour.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

GFILDHALL.

Mrs. Sandell, of Little Distaff-lane, on a former occa-
sion appeared to show cause why she had refused to pay
her poor-rates. Mrs. Sandell said that when she came into
the parish four years ago, the house was assessed at I/. 15s.
a quarter, her rental being 451., but her landlord had
thought fit to raise her rent to 601., and the parish to assess
her at 71. 10s. a quarter, as for a rental of 100/. The
house had not been used as an accommodation-house for
five months, and the charge was quite unreasonable. The
house was worth only 451.
.Mr. Crackland, the overseer, admitted the house had
been assessed differently from other houses on account of
its being a house of ill-fame ;he could not take less than
71. 10s. without consulting the vestry.
Mr. Alderman Cow AN said that its fair value was pro-
bably 451., at which the landlord let it, though, on finding
for what purpose it was used, he raised the rent to 601.
When the parish assessed it at 1001., while the houses
around it were assessed at 35/. and 401., and the next house,
which was a much larger one than Mrs. Sandell's, and one
of the same character, was rated at only 901., he could not
hold that the rate was an equal and fair one, and therefore
it was illegal, and he was not bound to enforce it. There
was no concealing the fact that the parish were seeking to
get rid of the house by this mode ; but, in fact, by taking
this ineffectual method they were really doing what they did
not intend—participating in the wages of iniquity.
The Solicitor said the same course had been pursued with
houses of this kind in St. Anne's, Soho, and the Magistrates

, .
Bow-street had enforced payment without a scruple.
Mr. Alderman CowAN finally refused to enforce payment

Q UEEN SQUARE.
Moses Ray, residing in Princes-street, Lambeth, was
charged as follows :—Policeman, 124 L, on going his
rounds, heard the cry of " Murder" issuing from the house
where the prisoner lodged : on proceeding to the spot he
observed Ray struggling with and beating another man,
who was nearly covered with blood ; he separated them,
and in endeavouring to take the prisoner into custody he
was seized round the waist by him, and, before he could
extricate himself, the prisoner drew the cutlass from the
side of witness, and held it up as if he intended to make a
thrust at him with it. Witness, however, caught hold of
the blade, and with assistance forced the deadlyinstrament
frqm the grasp of the prisoner, who then made all the use
in his power of his legs, and great difficulty was experienced
in conveying him to the station.
The inspector recognised him as an old offender in this
particular, and informed the Magistrate that he had visited
Brixton for similar outrages. He (inspector) feared that
the prisoner would one day commit murder.
The landlord of the house also bore testimony to the
desperate character of the prisoner, who was forthwith
committed to the mill for one month, in default of paying
the fine inflicted on him.

lIATTON-GARDEN.
On Saturday, Isabella Watson was charged with as-
saulting her sister, Ellen Watson, and threatening her life.
A creature in the garb of man, who at the station-house
had given the name of Bill Chapman, was placed by her
side, and complained of for being a common cheat and im-
pastor, and creating a disturbance.
It appeared that the two Watsons got drunk and fought
together.
The MAGISTRATE said, that as they were both disor-
derly characters, he would not take cognizance of the charge
and desired them to go about their business.
Mr. Oakley, inspector of the E division, then stated that
although the thing before them was attired in man's apparel,
he had ascertained that it was a woman.
Mr. BENNETT—Who was very much surprised--lookeil
steadfastly at the prisoner, and asked her name ? Pri-
soner—(speaking in a rough manner,)-:--It is Mary
Chapman.
Mr. BENNETT—I never saw a figure more like a man,
and the voice is manly.
Mr. Oakley—l have known her at least ten years, and
she always appeared in a dress similar to the one she now
wears—namely, a hat, smock-frock, trousers, or knee-
breeches, and until last night I always supposed her to be
a man ; she is known all over England as a ballad-singer,
and a crier of " The last dying speeches," &c.
Mr. BENNETT—She may be a disorderly and disreputa-
ble character, which, in fact, her dressing as a man clearly
shows ; but I know of no law to punish her.
Mr. Oakley—She travels the country with the woman
Isabella Watson, and they are both known at every race-
course and fair as ballad-singers, and considered, to be
man and wife.

Mr. BENNETT—She may have more than one reason for
dressing in that manner, and passing as the husband of the
woman Isabella Watson, and I wish it was in my power to
imprison her.
Mr. Oakley—For upwards of seven years she has occa-,
sionally lodged with Watson, at Mr. Thompson's, in
Buckeridge-street, St. Giles's, and they always passed with
him as man and wife ; moreover, she smokes ; and when
Watson gives her any offence she beats her and blackens
her eyes, though Watson is much taller, and apparently
stronger.
Mr. BENNETT.--It is a very extraordinary case. What
have you to say, prisoner? Prisoner—lsabella has lived
with me as my companion for many years.
Mr. BENNETT—Why do you dress as a man? Prisoner
I own I am disguised, and it was owing to the cruelty of a
father-in-law that I was first dressed in this manner.
Mr. BENNETT—When a man dresses as a woman, or a
woman attires herself as a man, it creates a strong suspi-
cion that it is done for a bad purpose.
Prisoner—l never did harm to any person ; I hive been
all over the kingdom, and never was in prison in my life
before.

Mr. BENNETT—WeII, I should advise you to be care-
ful. If I could punish you, I would.

Prisoner—l should not have adopted this disguise, if my
father had not ill treated me.
Isabella Watson—The poor fellow has been with me
hundreds of miles as my companion, and he never got into
a scrape before.
Mr. BENNETT-It is a case that puzzles me, but I must
discharge the prisoner.
The prisoner, who was chewing tobacco, then bowed his
head, and walked out of the office with Isabella, who ex-
claimed, " Never mind, my lad, if we live a hundred
years we will be in this manner." Watson is about five
feet seven inches high, with rather an intelligent but sod-
dened countenance ; and the prisoner not more than five
feet high. Her hair is Egli- t brown, and cut short, the same
as a man's ; and she has the gait of a man, and looks like
a costermonger.