The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-13 00:00:00

THIRD EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock.

THE BETTING IN BRIDE-LANE.

GUILDHALL POLICE-COURT (THIS DAY).

Thomas Newcome, Philip Powter, Charles Wales,
Alfred Scarratt, and John Valentine Stanley were sum-

moned before Sir James Duke, at the instance of the City
Solicitor of the City Police, for obstructing one of the high-

ways of the City of London—viz., Bride-lane—and thereby

creating a nuisance. The latter two, Valentine and Stan-

ley, did not answer.

Mr. Metcalfe appeared for the defendants.

Mr. Sleigh said he appeared there that day, instructed by
the City Solicitor, to charge the defendants with obstruct-
ing one of the highways in the City, thereby im-
peding one of the public thoroirzhfares, and therefore
causing a nuisance. The defendants, in company

with many others, were in the habit of assem•
b]ing in Bride-lane for the purpose of betting on horse
racing, but the proceedings were not instituted against
them for carrying on their occupation as betting men, be-
cause this was a free country and any one had the right to
do whatever he pleased providing he did not break the law.
The obstruction would have been the same had the defen-
dants assembled for the purpose of disseminating useful
information on politics, temperance, or -religion, therefore,
the profession of the defendants would not act as a

prejudice against them on the present occasion.
The learned gentleman then cited several cases

as precedents, and amongst these one of them
by Lord Tenterden, who decided that any person collecting
together a crowd of persons, to the annoyance of his neigh-
bour, was guilty of creating a nuisance. Another instance
of a prosecution for obstructing the highway, was that of a
person named Carlyle, in Fleet-street, in which a convic-
tion took place. He was not instructed to use harsh lan-

guage because the gentlemen summoned chose to engage

in the speculation of horse-racing; they had a perfect right
to enter into any profession they pleased. He would have
rejected any instructions to use language prejudicial to the
defendants as persons of respectability; but the point he had
to submit was that the defendants, by causing a great num-

ber of persons to assemble in Bride-lane, did create a nui-
sance. He therefore on the present occasion proposed to

call for the binding over of the defendants to meet the
charge at the Sessions.

Constable Trim 20, said—On 6th May last I was ap-
pointed to do duty with another constable (Hooper) in

Bride•lane. I had done duty there for eight months pre-

vious. I know the whole of the defendants. I first saw
Scarratt in Bride-lane on the 4th of July. On the 6th of

May, at noon, I saw Newcome, Powter, and Wales,

in Bride-lane. There were a great many persons

round each of them. They were all separated
from each Other. The lane was occupied from about 10
yards from Fleet street to the bottom by the defendants and
the persons around them. I have seen as many as 20
persons round each defendant at a time. I have seen as
many as 400 persons in the lane, and I should think there
was that number present on the day I have mentioned•

The defendants were standing there with them betting.
Bets were very often made by parties around them.
Mr. Metcalfe—You heard them ?
Witness—Yes.

Examination continued—They moved on when I told

them, but the crowd followed them. They did not stand
still in opposition to what I said. As the defendants
moved the crowd followed, but they did not leave the lane.
'When they made their entries in their books I saw them

do so sometimes standing and sometimes walking.
Mr. Sleigh—Was the public thoroughfare obstructed ?

Witness—lt was.
Mr. Sleigh—So much so as to be difficult for passengers
who passed through ?
Witness—Yes. Very much near the steps at the back
of the church. The defendants usually remained in the
lane from twelve to two. On Tuesday, the 7th of May, I
saw Newcome, Powter, and Wales in the lane. There
were others in the lane on that day. I should think on
that occasion there were about 500 persons present. The
defendants were making bets and talking to people. From
about a quarter to one till half-past the crowd is the
greatest, so as to make it very difficult for passengers to
pass through at all. On Wednesday, the Bth of May, from
about 12 o'clock till 20 minutes past one there were between
400 or 500 people there as before, and also on the oth and
10th of May. Scarratt had not been there " making a
book" until the 4th of July, and was with the other de-
fendants then daily acting as before.
Mr. Metcalfe objected to Mr. Sleigh going into the new
case in which Searratt was concerned.
After a discussion the Alderman decided that the evi-
dence should proceed, and the witness identified the four
defendants as having been in the lane on several days be-
tween the 4th and 12th of July, On the Bth of July the
lane was completely crammed up. People could not get
along the pavement. I have been on duty in the lane up
to the present time, and speaking generally I have seen the
whole of the defendants there. They were engaged making
bets. The lane is exceedingly narrow. There is not room
for more than one carriage to pass through. I have
had many and frequent complaints made to me by the in-
habitants of the place of the obstruction caused by the
crowd.
By Mr. Metcalfe—Mr. Hawkes, the builder, has com-
plained two or three times a week. He lives near the bend.
Mr. Thomas, the clergyman of St. Bride's (the Rev. Mr.
Marshall), Mr. Jewell, the hotpresser, and Mr. Anderton
have also made frequent complaints. I bought the book in
which I made the entries about the lane for that purpose. I
was sent there by my inspector upon special duty. I have

known the bookmakers when they get too many persons
round them run away for a few minutes to get rid of the
crowd. Inspector Mitchell was not the person who sent
me to the lane. I have reported all I saw to an attorney.
I don't know why the summons was not taken out before.
Between 12 and 2 I should think 20 persons, independent
of betting men, go down the lane. There are 27 houses in
the street. I have but very seldom seen the defendants on
the pavement. Generally they walk in the road.
By Mr. Sleigh—l have seen persons I know, not to be
betting men, incommoded in passing through the lane.
Mr, James Anderton—l am one of the Common Coun-
cil of Farringdon Without. I have often had occasion to
go through Bride-lane, and I should pass through it much
more frequently if it were not for the betting men. I
always found the lane in a state that was a disgrace to the
city of London.
Mr. Metcalfe—This is a summons for obstructing the
footway—not for betting, so you will please confine your
remarks to' that point.
By Mr. Sleigh—The lane is quite impassable for females.
These proceedings were instituted by resolution of the
vestry of St. Bride's. I have frequently made complaints
to the police about the state of the lane.
Mr. Sleigh—Can you recognise any of the defendants as
those frequenting the place.
Mr. Anderton—No ; they are no friends of mine.
(Laughter.)
By Mr. Metcalfe—l consider it a disgrace to the City to
allow the lane to remain in such a crowded state. I don't
live in the parish, or you may depend I would not have
allowed the evil to go on so long.
The Rev. C. Marshall—l am vicar of the parish of St.
Bride's. I hare had frequent occasions lately of passing
through the lane. I have always found the lane unplea-
sant to pass through owing to the number of persons pre-
sent. I mean unpleasant because it is not pleasant to be
jostled. I mean by " jostled" to be pushed first on one
shoulder and then on the other—not being able to walk
straight. This has happened hundreds of times. I have
complained of the obstruction frequently to the police. ' I
have often asked the policeman to make way for me down
the lane—the passage being blocked up. I am unacquainted
with matters of betting, but I have seen many persons
there with books in their hands. On the 6th May I should
think I passed through the lane five or six times. The
parochial schools are in Bride-lane. About 250 children
attend the schools. The building is very near what
is called the bend. The children leave at 12, and return at
two daily. I have frequently seen the men opposite the
school door. the
ecrheu
ar crhe
generally occupies ll,letcalfe7;sl'huentoil 1 o
ccasio,cnlaolckdudt
y of
pTrhaeyreersi
s ndaoiltywihna
tth ise
called full
ervanscltiheeeydcaonilyc about . ud el 2.
Mr. Robert Hawkes, builder, of Bride-lane, said-;-Since
the 6th of May, exceptingThe crowd
beSunday,gins tthe plabecomece h
inconvenient
be en very
much crowded.
in the spring of the year. In the winter nobody comes
there. During the racing season the lane is crowded by
persons betting on horse races, receiving and paying
money, making entries in their books, and talking about
horses.
Mr. Metcalfe—l suppose Kettledrum would be one of
the horses talked about.
Witness —I saw some of the defendants present on the
occasions 1 have referred to.
Mr. Metcalfe—Yes, paying money.
Mr. Sleigh—l did not say they did not. No doubt they
are all honourable men.
Examination continued—l have had to complain to the
police of the crowded state of the lane. I have seen per-
sons compelled to struggle through the ct owd in order to
get to their residences. I have measured the lane, and
computing two persons to the square yard, I have seen, I
should- think, between 600 and 700
• -- persons there in one day
during the present month.
By Mr. Metcalfe—l have seen ladies with crinolines
there struggling to get through the lane. I have 80A what