The Sun.
London, England, 1828-11-21 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

Yesterday Mr. HONE, the sitting magistrate, was
occupied from one o'clock to six in the afternoon, in
the investigation of serious charges against Mr. Jones,
a coal-merchant, residing in Prince's-street, Commer-
cial-road. The cases in this instance differed from
those recently heard at this office, inasmuch as the
former related to bribes given by the defendants to
labouring coal-meters, for yielding to certain irregu-
larities; the present charges were for sending out
sacks deficient in measure.

The summons issued against the defendant having
been read, he pleaded " not guilty."
Mr. Tourquand, one of the principal land coal-
meters, who has been indefatigable, since his ap-
pointment, in discovering the abuses in the coal
trade, stated, that on the 4th inst., in passing along
near the Stags, at Lambeth, he observed a coal-
porter bring out an empty sack from a house, which
he threw on the ground. Witness said the sack was
short of the usual dimensions, upon which the porter
said that he had nothing to do with it. Witness
then procured a measure, with which he ascertained
the sack was deficient in length; and on subse-
quently measuring more that were in the cart, he '
discovered that 1 I were short of the proper dimen-
sions. Witness then directed the individual, at whose
house the coal was in the course of delivery, to put
the fraudulent sacks on one side, first having marked
each of them, in order to distinguish them. The
sacks were afterwards removed to the Principal
Coal-meter's Office, and are the same now produced.
Witness called at the defendant's wharf on the 6th,
upon which occasion the latter called him aside, and
entreated that lie would not take any farther notice
of the matter, in reply to which witness expressed
his determination to bring the matter before the Ma-
gistrates; upon which the defendant said that they
were old sacks.

It was here contended by the defendant's solicitor
that the sacks in question were originally of the legal
dimensions, but that they had shrunk considerably,
owing to exposure to the weather and other unfore-
seen causes.

Mr.HoNF.—The public are not to be defrauded
in this manner. The defendant, when he observed
that his sacks were not capable of containing the
legal quantity, should have had them lengthened to
the proper size, or destroyed them altogether, and
got new ones in their stead.
_ .

George Worster, an inspector of weights and
measures, was then called, and on measuring the
sacks in question, he found the deficiency as follows:
—The first sack, deficient two inches in length, the
second one inch and three-quarters, the third three
inches, and the fourth three inches.
It was stated that the legal measure of a coal-
sack was four feet four inches in length, by two
feet two inches in breadth.

The defendant, as well as several other coal-mer-
chants who were present, said that the sacks would
not be found wanting in measurement if measured
with the standard. This instrument was accordingly
procured; but the sacks were still ascertained to
have been deficient in length.

The defendant's solicitor contended that no fraud
was intended, alleging that a Mr. Green, the pur-
chaser of the coals, having ordered a chaldron, that
is, 12 sacks, his clieat added another sack, making
it 13, aware that there might have been a little de-
ficiency.

The MAGISTRATE observed that the case was
completely established against the defendant, and
accordingly fined him 20s. on each sack, making the
penalty V., together with costs.
The Solicitor who attended for the coal-meter,
here observed that they had another charge of a
similar nature against the defendant, by which it
would appear that the fraud was carried on to a
great extent against the public by this particular
defendant.

The summons having been read charging the de.
fendant with the alleged offence, to which he pleaded
" not guilty,"
Mr. Tourquand, on being again sworn, stated that
subsequently to the above transaction he went to
the defendant's wharf on the 6th inst., and observed
a waggon partly loaded with coals. The men were
loading the vehicle without the presence of a coal-
meter, and they took 4 or 5 sacks from a pile that lay
upon the wharf.
e
on the pile which
sacks remaining on the pile were short. in dimension,
he lt being evident to
‘uvsi‘t then
i,ce, n
it ptaliri:aeltavrteledi
d
ttoilmeasureerdeir
etie t
were
nine inieemn
siieanteeklits.i, who
rpemr eas arj dieg, just
were deficient, some of them as much as six inches
in length. Upon ascertaining the deficiency, the
defendant came up, and begged witness not to take
notice of the matter. Witness then insisted that
the sacks on the waggon should be taken off, for the
purpose of measuring them. Twenty-one full sacks
gs.th s2ix inches and a half.
except one, some of
were then emptied and measured, when all were
tfohuenmdstiox be deficient
others in rler
On discovery of the deficiency in the sacks, the de-
fendant said that it was of little consequence, as the
coals were going to a retailer, and repeated his en-
treaty that witness would not notice the affair. Wit-
ness added, that he directed the labouring meter to
take possession of the sacks until they were sent
for. There were 29 sacks deficient in all.

The witness was cross-exaaiined, but he did not
vary in the slightest degree from his previous state-
ment, lie admitted that coal-merchants were in
the habit of warehousing their coals.
It was here contended by the defendant, that the
coals in question were not intended for any dealer
or customer, but that his men were carrying them
into his warehouse from the barge.
Titterton, a coal-meter, proved the deficiency in
the 29 sacks.
Mr. Tourquand on subsequently calling at the de-
fendant's wharf, observed several sacks lengthened
with large pieces at top and bottom.
In his cross-examination, Mr. Tourquand admitted
that nine sacks were empty out of the twenty-nine
that he had measured.
- -

Mi. HONE, said with regard to the empty sucks, al-
though found on the premises, yet he should not con-
vict upon them.

The defendant again repeated that the twenty
sacks found deficient in length, were intended to be
placed in the warehouse, whereas Mr. Tourquand,
on the other hand, swore positively that the defend-
ant had at the time the deficiency was discovered,

distinctly worted that they were intended for a
coal-retailer.

Mr. HONE—As the case has been fully proved,
shall fine you 20s. on each of the 20 sacks deficient,
making the penalty in the whole 20/., in order to re-
strain you and others belonging to the trade from
practising such Impositions on the public.
There was another charge against the defendant
for sending coals out of his premises without a
meter's ticket ; but the principal coal-meters agreeri
to withdraw it, the defendant stating that he should
not appeal against the above convictions.
Mr. Somerfield, the coal-merchant, was fined 20
for an assault on one of the officers.