The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-14 00:00:00

RIGHT AT LAST.

During the past week a decision was come to by the
magistrates of Bow •street police-court, which is of some
importance to licensed victuallers, and may be worth
the attention of the various police magistrates. The
facts are as follows :—For some time past the police of
the F division (by the orders of Sandrock, until lately
the superintendent) have been in the habit of summoning
the landlords of various public-houses in the district, for
permitting prostitutes to meet together in their houses.
Among other houses proceeded against were the Old
Drury, the White Hart, &c., the landlords of which
were on each occasion fined to a large amount. They
invariably appealed against the convictions at the ses-
sions, and almost in every instance succeeded in over-
throwing the decisions of the stipendiary magistrates.
About a month since Mr. Smith, landlord of the White
Hart, disposed of his business to a Mr. Moncrieff, who,
after he had been in the house only four days, was sum-
moned for allowing prostitutes to assemble in his house,
When the case came on before Mr. Jardine, Mr. Duncombe,
the solicitor, drew the attention of the magistrate to the
fact that "prostitutes," in the proper construction of
the Act, were not within the denomination of notori-
ously bad characters, which had always been considered
to be thieves and frequenters of flash houses.. In conse-
quence of this statement, Mr. Jardine, taking also into
consideration the short time Mr. Moncrieff had been in
possession of the house, agreed to suspend the summons
for a month, in order that the police might see the
manner in which the house should be conducted, and t'

see whether Mr. Moncrieff would still persist in carrying
on his business in the same manner. Three days after,
another summons was issued against Mr. Moncrieff for a
similar offence. On that occasion, Mr. Clarkson, the
barrister, attended for the defence. The Learned
Counsel informed the magistrate, that a short time since
he was present at the sessions, when Mr. Smith appealed
against a conviction for a like offence. Mr. Montague
Chambers on that occasion attend& d for the police commis-
sioners, and Mr. Bodkin for the appellant. The latter
contended that the conviction ought to be quashed, on
the ground that prostitutes were not included in the ca-
talogue of notoriously bad characters, and were not even
mentioned in the licence, or the Act of Parliament 9
Geo. IV., cap. 61. They had quite as much right to
obtain refreshment as any other persons. The Learned
Counsel for the Commissioners concurred in this view
of the case, as did also the Chairman ; and it was agreed
by all that the appellant was entitled to have the con-
viction quashed, which was instantly done. Mr. Jardine
said he was aware that no mention was made of
prostitutes in the licences of publicans, nor had he been
able to discover, until mentioned by the Learned Coun-
sel (Mr. Clarkson), on what grounds the numerous
appeals had been quashed at the sessions. He would
make inquiries respecting them immediately, and if it was
found to be the real reason he would alter his views of
such charges for the future.—Mr. Clarkson said be would
leave the case in the hands of the Court, to be decided
according. to the precedenthe had mentioned, and ifaday
was appointed for a re-hearing of the charge. On that
day Mr. Duncombe appeared for the defendant, and the
inspector on duty delivered a message from the Com-
missioners in Scotland-yard, to the effect that, in conse-
quence of the decision of the magistrates at sessions,
they had thought it advisable to withdraw the sum-
monses, and the complaint was therefore dismissed.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]
RE PORT of JOHN M'KINNON, ESQ.
HYGEIAN GENERAL AGENT TO THE BR:
TISH COLLEGE OF HEALTH.
Cape Breton, April 2, 1845.