The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-10 00:00:00

THE METROPOLITAN BUILDING ACT.

Mr. FRESHFILLD, M.P., in rising to call the atten-
tion of the bench to the new Act, the 7th and Bth of
Victoria, said his object was to move for the appoint-
ment of a small body of the county magistrates, who
would act as a committee of inquiry, for the purpose
of gaining a body of information respecting the ap•
pointment of new districts, and acquiring other facts
that would tend to render the enactment more gene-
rally beneficial. The Act was entitled "An Act for
the Regulation, Construction, and Use of Buildings
to be hereafter erected in the Metropolis and its
Neighbourhood," and provided for the formation of
new districts, and the enlargement or contraction of
old ones, and also for the appointment of district
surveyors. As the Act came into operation on the
Ist of January next, it would be essential that some
course should be adopted by which a sufficient mass
of information would be ready to be laid before the
full bench of magistrates, at the Michaelmas next
general quarter sessions, and he thought the most
effectual means for doing this would be the
appointment of certain magistrates as a committee
to collect this information. In the selection of

this committee, he would suggest that the members
of it should be gentlemen resident in those partieular
localities which were about to be created into
new districts, as they thereby would have better
means of knowing and protecting local interests. The
Hon. Gentleman, after stating that the adoption of
this course would not at all bring the general court to
abide by the decision of the committee, concluded by
moving that a committee be appointed to consider
the necessary steps to be taken for carrying into
effect the provisions of a recent Act of Parliament
for regulating the construction of new buildings in
the county of Surrey, and to report thereon at the
next general quarter sessions; also to examine the
standing orders of the court, and to rescind such of
them as interfered with the operation of the said Act.
After a short discussion, the motion having been
seconded, was agreed to unanimously, when it was
decided that the committee should consist of the four
County Members, the four chairmen of the Surrey
general quarter sessions, Benjamin Hawes, Esq.,
M.P., and seven other magiitrates.
A HARD CASE.—As a specimen of the dispropor-
tionate severity with which various species of crimes
are visited in this country, the following may be
cited as one affording a striking illustration :
A decent looking poor man, named William Legg,
was indicted for stealing a small bundle of clover, of
the value of one penny, from out of a field belonging
to Mr. Charles Richard Harrison.
It appeared from the evidence of several witnesses,
whose expenses alone, in coming from Guildford,
where the alleged felony was committed, and Av-
maining in town during the sessions, must have cost
the county a good round sum, independent of the fees
of counsel, and other incidental charges, that the prose-
cutor, who was the proprietor of about 900 acres of land,
on Sunday, the 10th of August, saw the prisoner
take the bundle of clover, which was not, at all events
(according to the prosecutor's statement), worth more
than a penny, and on the. following Saturday he had
him taken before Lord Lovelace, who at once com-
mitted him for trial, thereby incarcerating the unfor-
tunate prisoner for nearly a month, and compelling a
number of witnesses to• travel nearly forty miles to
ensure the conviction of a man who received an ex-
cellent character, and who said he only wanted the
clover for a rabbit. He had also been in the habit of
working for a long time on the farm for the prosecu-
tor's predecessor.
The prisoner's counsel made an able speech in his
defence, and denounced the practice of sending such
paltry cases before a jury, and thus, in many in-
stances, unjustly imprisoning the accused parties, and
in all cases putting the rate-payers of the county to
vast and unnecessary expense.
The Learned CHAIRMAN having summed up,
the jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and the pri-
soner was sentenced to seven days' solitary imprison-
ment at Brixton.

Another case of four boys, named Walsh, Tisdale,
Wall, and Wood, was next tried, which exhibited
nearly the same features as the preceding.
The prisoners had been out "hopping," and having
failed to get work, they applied to the union work-
house at Farnham, where they were put in the casual
ward, and got some gruel in the morning. Being
hungry, and seeing the prosecutor's cart in the street,
from which they stole a loaf valued at sevenpence,
they were taken into custody, and fully committed
for trial, and no less than seven witnesses had come
from Farnham to Newington to prosecute them.
The jury having returped, a verdict of Guilty, the
prisoners were each sentenced to seven days' solitary
confinement.

' lIARVEST.—The fen harvest is rapidly drawing to
a close in this neighbourhood, and
.never within the
memory of that antiquated gentleman, " the oldest living
person,' has the wheat crop been so heavy and yielding.
The splendid weather of the last fortnight bas likewise
enabled the farmer to stack it in the best possible condi-
tion ; as dry as if subjected to the process of a kiln. The
oats are, with the exception of a few pieces, also
gathered iu, and are a much better crop than was ex-
pected, the condition being equally fine as that of the
wheat, ;aid the straw unusually bright and good. The
coleseed, as a general crop, is far from an average one—
it is bad. A few pieces on the best land, and early
sown, form the exceptions.—Cambridge Chronicle.
SKELETON OF A MAN FOUND.—One day last week
some men were digging earth up for the purpose of making
cellars adjoining Mr. Burgess's house in Wisbech, when
at the depth of between two and three feet they dis-
covered the skeleton of a men: the scull and teeth were
perfect. It is supposed to have lain in the position in
which it was found for a long period, and at present
is a mystery who the person was, and the reason for de-
positing human remains in such an unusual place. The
site on which the skeleton was found was that of a very
old house, lately pulled down: a new one is now building
there.—Cambridge Chronicle.
Chelsea Old Church is being repaired and beauti-
fied—the interior as well as the exterior. There is an
elegant iron railing being erected round the churchyard,
and the unsightly old wall taken down. The inhabitants
of Chelsea have opened a subscription to cleanse and
repair the monument of Sir .Thomas More, who was
beheaded by Henry VIII., and who was buried in the
interior of this church. Sir Haus Sloane's tomb will be
cleansed. His remains rest at the. entrance of the church-
' yard, and from whom the Cadegan family obtained their
large property in Chelsea.
PUSEYISM IN laILAND.—At a church connected
with a large parish and congregation in the north of Ire-
land, and where the clergyman persisted in the disuse o
the gown, &c., not one single person remained-to core
municate at the last proffered celebration of the Lords
upper,--,Belfszst Chronicle,

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Sept. 9.
About a dozen interim orders in cases of insolvency
were down for hearing before Mr. Commissioner Fano,
but as they were unopposed, they were totally devoid of
interest.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.

On Saturday Mr. Robinson, of the Horse Repo-
sitory in Little Britain, attended before Mr. Alder-
man Gibbs and Mr. Alderman Johnson, to answer
the complaint of Mr. Sims, a coachinaker, in Great
Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, and show why he
should not give up a gig, the property of Mr. Sims,
lawfully obtained from him by one B. Shoesmith, and
unlawfully pledged with Mr. Robinson.
Mr. L. Norton, on behalf of the defendant, first
objected that the power to -cause restitution was
created by the Police Courts Act, and was limited to
the learned magistrates appointed by the Secretary of
State to those Courts.
Mr. Wire, for the complainant, referred him to a
subsequent statute, 3 and 4 Victoria, c. 84, by which
two justices of the City are invested with all the
powers conferred on one magistrate sitting in a police-
court by the statute Mr. Norton referred to.
Mr. Sims then deposed that,- on the 7th of August,
Shoesmith applied to him for the hire of a cab for
five or six weeks. He presented his card, describing
himself as a:farrier and veterinary surgeon in Hanover-
street, Long-acre, and said he -wanted the gig for a
customer, whose horses he always shoed. An agree-
ment was made for 365. per week for six weeks cer-

tain, but before delivery, Mr. Sims ascertained that
Mr. Shoesmith was occupying premises let to him at
1001. a year. Ile required no further reference or
security. Shoesmith brought a well-dressed person,
whom he represented to be the customer, and who
examined and approved the gig.
Mr. Sims, senior, stated, that in consequence of in-
formation that his gig had been pledged at Robinson's
Repository, he went there on the 27th of August,
and found it was placed out for sale that day, though
it did not figure in the catalogue. Mr. Robinson
stated that the chaise was brought to him on the 7th
of August, by Shoesmith, who had an advance of
20/.. on it. Mr. Robinson showed him an entry in a

book of the payment, with a condition that if nut re-
paid the gig might be sold on the 26th of September.
Mr. Robinson said he had had some transactions with
Shoesmith before, and the clerk said he had known
him for several years. Mr. Robinson admitted he
had made an advance on another carriage brought by
Shoesmith, the sale of which had been forbidden by
the owner. Was sure that, though the entry respect-
ing the gig was that it was not to be sold till the
26th of September, it was actually about to be sold
on the 27th of August. Mr. Robinson offered to give
it up on payment of 101.
Mr. Norton cross-examined the witness—There
was no disguise about the gig being there. Mr. Ro-
binson said he wished to avoid litigation, and would
lose half the sum he had advanced.

Mr. Wire put in the catalogue of sale. It con -
eluded with an intimation that advances were made
on horses, carriages, and harness.
Mr. Norton apprehended the magistracy were not
authorised to sit there and try causes which properly
belonged to the courts above. The 27th and 40th
clauses of the-Police Courts Act were to be construed
together, so as to limit the jurisdiction to cases where
the value of property was not more than 151. It was
not intended that, they should decide respecting pro-
perty of any amount. Here the value of the gig was
stated to be.so/.

Mr. Wire said the cases to which the two clauses
referred were obviously distinct. Where there was a
detention of property not exceeding 15/. under a
colour of right, the Magistrate was to decide sum-
marily, but where there was crime—where property
was unlawfully obtained or unlawfully disposed of,
the Magistrate was to order restitution without limi-
tation of amount, upon such terms as he deemed just.
The object was to avoid litigation.
Mr. Alderman GIBBS and Mr. Alderman JOHNSON
consulted, and decided that the clauses were not to be
construed together.
Mr. Norton said this was a most important ques-
tion to persons in business. If Messrs. Sims had
been negligent they were not entitled to recover their
property without-paying at least a portion of the sum
advanced by Mr. Robinson. Shoesmith represented
that he was an importer of cigars, residing in Mary-
lebone-lane, and gave his card, He might therefore
he supposed to be the owner of the gig. There was
no evidence that Mr. Robinson knew it was borrowed.

Mr. Alderman GIBBS said the magistrates were
clearly of opinion that they had jurisdiction, and they
ordered the gig to be restored, or that Mr. Robinson
should pay 401. as the value.
Mr. Robinson was then called upon to answer a
like complaint' made by Messrs. Hale and Pope, coach-
builders, Margaret-street, Cavendish-square.
Mr. Wire conducted the prosecution, and Mr.
Norton defended Mr. Robinson.

In this case Shoesmith borrowed a phaeton for a
week, paying the hire in advance, on the 15th of
August. Ile took it to the Repository the same day,
and obtained an advance of 171. upon it. Mr. Robin-
son offered to restore it on repayment of half the sum
lent, but Mr. Hale preferred appealing to the magis-
trate, conceiving that Mr. Robinson ought not to
make an immediate advance on property brought to
him for sale.

The Alderman ordered the phaeton to be restored,
or 501. to be paid as its value.
Mr. Norton thought due weight had not been
allowed to his observations, and gave notice that he
should appeal against both convictions.
Elizabeth Price was placed before Sir John Key,
charged with the following daring robbery :
Thomas Little, Aldersgate-street, said that, as his
father and himself were going home last evening, the
female at the bar came up, caught him by the leg with
one hand, and pulled his watch out with the other. She
passed it immediately to a confederate, who made off
with it. He (complainant) caught the woman, and gave
her into custody. The watch had not since been found.
Police-constable 203, said that he had observed the
prisoner a little before the hour at which the robbery
took place, standing with thieves and other bad cha-
racters near. Skinner-street. He also observed her go
up to the complainant. When hearing the cry of "Po •
lice," he ran up, and was informed of the robbery. Her
companions had gone. When searched at the station-
kouse, the watch was not found upon her. She denied
knowing anything about it.
Sir .Touti KEY, to the prisoner—You hear the charge
against you ;-I will remand'you till Wednesday, and if
the watch is not forthcoming on that day, I'll send you
to Newgate. -