The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-27 00:00:00

TII

THE COMPLIMENTS OP THE SEASON.—An odd c llec-
tion of offenders were charged this day with being drunk
and disorderly, or drunk and incapable, and every one of
them indicated they had been sacrificing very freely to
Bacchus. " Please you, my lord," said one, anticipating
Mr. Selfe's elevation to a seat in one of the superior courts,
" I only get drunk once a year, and that is Boxing-day."
" Then you can have no objection to pay 55.," said the
magistrate, to which the man replied, laughing, " Cer-
tainly not ;" and, after paying the fine exacted, said ":it
was a glorious privilege of a free-born Briton to get drunk
and pay ss. for doing so."—A little drop too much and
Christmas time, pleaded another offender against the laws
of sobriety. The cold weather made me take ct glass too
much, said a third. Met a few friends, and took a little
more than I ought to have done, was the excuse of a fourth.
Just come up from the country to visit my friends, and the
London spirits got into my head, roare I out another jolly-
faced fellow.

William Wilton, a broad-chested heavy-looking man,
with two black eyes, dejected and woe-begone, and present-
ing a deplorable appearance, was brought up on a warrant
charged with boating his wife, who would not appear
against him.

Mr. Selfe, hearing she was outside the court, ordered her
to be brought in, and on her expressing a great reluctance
to say anything against him, the magistrate recapitulated
what she said on applying for the warrant. Her husband came
home inebriated on Christmas-day, after spending all his
money, threatened to cut her throat with a razor, and
frightened her so much that she left her home and was
afraid to return to it on Christmas night. Yesterday morn •
ing, the prisoner beat his wife and threatened her, and also
held a razor before her.

The prisoner said it was Christmas time, and the liquor
got the upper end of him. He had a little too much.

Mr. Selle--A great deal too much. Bind him over to
keep the peace to his wife and all her Majesty's subjects for
two years.

Mr. Pryor, the chief clerk, having proclaimed the terms
of the recognisance in the usual manner,
Thomas Duggan, an Irishman, who had been severely
wounded, was arraigned in the dock. His head was
enveloped in surgical bandages, his face and clothes satu-
rated with gore. He was intoxicated last night, insulted a
policeman, who took him into custody, and they had a se-
vere conflict, in the course of which the policeman
drew his truncheon and used it. Duggan, however, threw
the policeman and ran away. A gentleman with a heavy
stick struck the prisoner a violent blow on the head and
inflict-±d a severe wound. The prisoner said it was Christ-
mas time, and the drop taken caused all the mischief.
Mr. Selfe—A drop taken—more likely a pailfull. You
are fined 10s.

A cap proprietor named Adamson, and two men, who
were engaged to drive them to Sydenhara, wore charged
with being drunk and riotous.

Adamson—Boxing-day, your worship. I got a drop too
much ; these gentlemen treated me because it was Christ •
mas time.

Mr. Selfe—A very absurd way of celebrating a great
Christian festival, and disgraceful to the national character.
Adamson—l have oft-en driven yon home, Mr. Selfe, and
you never saw me drunk.

Mr. Selfe—Have you? I don't recollect you.
Adamson—Yes, sir ; I have often driven you in my cab
from Mile-end to Gordon-square.
Mr. Selfe—lt is no reason you should get drunk on Box-
ing night. You are fined ss.
Several others with blackened eyes, broken noses, bruised
faces, who attributed their respective conditions to the
season of the year, wore fined ss. each. One man, picked
up "dead drunk" in the Commercial-road, was reported to
be in the hospital.