The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-20 00:00:00

THAMES POLICE.

THE LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT.—Mr. George
IValton, a respectable plumber and gas-fitter, of No.
5, George-terrace, Commercial-road, Stepney, and
John Scaltock, a lad in his employ, were brought
before Mr. Broderip, on a charge of stealing one of
Deffrie's patent dry gas meters, value 71., stated in
the police-sheet to be the property of William Cor-
mack, of the firm of Banks and Cormack, gas-puri-
fiers, of Church-row, Limehouse.
Mr. Walton, who was much agitated, said that a
few days ago he entered into an agreement with
Banks and Cormack to fit up a gas apparatus for
them, and after the job was commenced Mr. Cormack
requested the loan of a meter which he kept in his
shop, for the purpose of trying some experiments on
a gasometer the firm had lately erected. He agreed
to lend them a patent dry meter, on their promising
to take particular care of it, and conveyed it to their
premises. Having done work and furnished mate-
rials to the amount of 151., and knowing very little
of the firm or their resources, he waited upon Mr.
Cormack that morning, and asked him for an advance
of money. Mr. Cormack refused to advance any-
thing, and he would not pay a farthing till the job
was completed. He said he could not proceed with
the work till he received an advance of 51., and Mr.
Cormack immediately directed his foreman to pro-
ceed to the nearest gas-fitter's, and bring him to the
premises to complete the fitting-up of the apparatus.
He then said he should take home his gas meter, and
took it up and gave it to his boy. Mr. Cormack im-
mediately sent for a policeman, and gave him into
custody for stealing his own property.
Mr. BRODERIP—Then you are in custody for
merely taking away your own property, which Mr.
Cormack refused to give up !
Mr. Walton—Yes, Sir, I lent it to the firm of
Banks and Cormack for a day or two. It is my pro-
perty ; and there are persons in court to prove it. I
have had the mortification of being taken through
the streets as a felon, pointed at by my neighbours,
and followed by a crowd of persons, to many of whom
I was known, in open day. It is too bad, Sir.
Mr. BRODERIP—Too bad ! it is indeed. (To the
policeman)--You should not have taken these parties
into custody at all. You should have known better
than to have arrested a man for stealing his own pro-
perty, under such circumstances. What time did
you apprehend them ? Policeman—About eleven
o'clock.

Mr. BRODERIP—And it is now twenty minutes
past two. The man and his servant have been ille-
gally in custcdy for about three hours and a half, and
no prosecutor has ventured to appear against them.
The policeman said he took the parties to the sta-
tion-house to settle the matter amicably.—(A laugh.)
Mr. BRODERIP—I must beg ofyou, Mr. Symonds,
to mention this to the superintendent of the division.
It has happened-before, and must not be repeated.
The liberty of the subject is not to be trifled with in
this manner. Every person engaged in the detention
of Mr. Walton and his servants are liable to an action,
and I have no doubt a jury will give the aggrieved
parties very heavy damages.
Ellis, the uglier, said he knew Mr. Walton to be a
most respectable and upright tradesman.
Mr. BRODERIP—He leaves this court without a
stain on his character. It is a monstrous infringe-
ment of the liberty of the subject.
The prisoners were then set at liberty, and Mr.
Walton took home his gas meter.