The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-22 00:00:00

THAMES POLICE.

A good-looking young woman, named Mary Anne
Adelaide Newman, was finally examined on the charge
of creating a riot in the Old Church, Stepney, on
Tuesday.
The circumstances of the case are rather curious. It
appeared that the prisoner had been acquainted with a
young man, named Gregory Mathams, journeyman to a
baker named Durand, in High-street, Shadwell. After
twelve months courtship they went to church to get
married, but were five minutes toe late. He, however,
put the ring on her finger, made her a solemn vow, and,
after much persuasion, induced her to go home with
him. The evening was passed amongst their mutual
friends in the same manner as if the ceremony had
been performed, and on his promise to wed her the
first opportunity, she consented to cohabit with him.
He postponed the performance of his promise from
time to time, on the plea that he had no money to
pay the clergyman, and to obviate this objection,
she began to lay a little by, until she made out
the amount. He promised to marry her on Monday
last, but when everything was in preparation he made
some frivolous excuse to delay the ceremony for a few
days, to which she very reluctantly assented. On Tues-
day, to her utter sorrow and surprise, she heard he had
gone to Stepney Church to get married to another young.
woman, with whom he kept company, and cohehited
previously to his becoming acquainted with the prisoner.
She hastened to the church to stay the proceedings, but
only arrived in time to meet the wedding party coming
down the aisle, and being very wroth gave the bride-
groom a slap across the face.
Mr. BRODERIP remanded the case until Saturday, to
see Ns hether it would be taken up by the churchwardens,
and having ascertained that it was not their intention to
pursue it, said that they had shown a wise and humane
discretion under the circumstances ; but it should be
distinctly understood that such indecent practices would
not be tolerated, and if the laws were again violated,
the penalties must be put in force. The prisoner was
then discharged.
William Clarke, a dock cabman, was charged on sus-
picion of having set fire to the brig Anne, lying in the
West India Docks, on Friday, the 12th inst. Though
after circumstances made it clear that the prisoner was
guiltless of the crime, the circumstances were curious,
and well calculated to excite suspicion. It appeared he
had been taking guano for the Anne into a vessel
which lay alongside, and asked the cabin boy of the
former whether there was any grog aboard. The boy
answered in the negative. He said "I'll set fire to the
sh sp." About 12 o'clock that night, a fire broke out in
the forecastle, which was entirely consumed. It could
not have been accidental, owing to the great precautions
used. On the other hand, the prisoner said the words
he used were " may your ship be set on fire," and he
brought witnesses to show that he was in the neigh-
bourhood of the London Hospital from 6 till past 11
o'clock on the Friday.
Mr. BRODERIP, in dismissing the case, said it was one
of those in which care should be taken to avoid the post
hoc, ergo propter hoc fallacy. There was no evidence to
connect the prisoner with the fire, and he must be dis-
charged.