The Sun.
London, England, 1828-01-19 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS.-JANUARY 18.

RIGHT OF CONSTABLES TO ATTEND AT THE SESSIONS.
At the sitting of the Court this day, Mr. Will-
cock, as counsel on behalf of Mr. Robert William
Dickenson, rose to show cause against a levy that
had been made on his client for his non-attendance
as a constable on the last. adjourned sessions. The
learned counsel prefaced, by saying that the jurisdic-
tion of a court of petty sessions to enforce the. at-
tendance of parish constables to act iu their official
capacity out of the parish wherein they had been
sworn to discharge their respective duties, had never
been argued ; and should the Court this day con-
tinue in their opinion of their posssessing that power,
he respectfully intimated that the case would, by
his client, be carried into the Court of King's Bench.
The learned counsel went on at very considerable
length, and with great confidence as to his opinion
as to the illegality of fining his client for a derelic-
tion of duty in not attending the sessions out of his
precinct, until stopped by the learned Chairman'
(Mr. Sergeant ScalvEN), who observed, that the
question had occupied the Court's most serious at-
tention, and they decidedly were of opinion that
they had the power that had been put in force
against Mr. Dickenson. It had been a practice in
force upwards of 100 years, and that the Court
would not now alter their opinion, and indeed, their
jurisdiction ought not to be disputed. However,
the ;earned Counsel might proceed with his argu-
ment, and if it lasted for a week the Court was
bound to hear it ; but no argun;ent whatever could
induce the Court to act contrary to their former
opinion. He (the Chairman) merely threw these
remarks out to save the labour of the learned gen-
tleman, and the time of the Court.
Mr. Wincocti did flatter himself that from the
different authorities he should produce, the opinion
of the Coma would be in his favour; however, after
what had dropped from the learned Chairman, he
would not press the case further, but carry it into a
higher Court.
The CHAIRMAN said, that under all the circum-
stances of the apparent disrespect to the Court, by
the repeated non-attendance .of Mr. Dickenson ie
his official capacity -of constable, and his continued
disregard to their authority, the Court would levy a
fine of 51 upon him, and see that that fine was legally
enforced.
The applicant was accordingly fined.
Mr. HEDGER observed, that after the decision.ol
the Court, the applicant would be liable to. an In-
dictment if he acted as a constable, which iadictmem
he (Mr. Hedger) would take care should be prose-
cuted.

appears from
that on the night
HORRIBLE BARBARITY.--It
ed 51w
of RocklN% enter
a communication now before tm
of Thursday se'nnight, a party
house of a man named CASSIDY, near Drumkeerin, and af-
ter ordering to him
tion to he revenged for his having violated their laws, by
dealing with a Protestant, and proceeded to put down a
large fire:-while the fire was kindling, they whipped him
with a leather thong, which they brought for the purpose,
and then declared their intention to roast him—however,
is the first instance, they compelled the unfortunate man
to swallow such part of the tobacco and soap (which they
asserted he purchased from a Protestant) as they could get
in the house, and used bins so inhumanly in other respects,
as to cause his death. His remains were interred in the
church-yard of Kiltubrids, on Saturday.—Roscommon
Gazette.