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

GUILDHALL.

Mr. Richard Howe, the landlord of the Star and
Garter public-house, Old Bailey, appeared at this Court.
in answer to a charge preferred by a man named
Pritchard, who follows no other occupation than that of
a common informer, under the Tippling Act, for illegally
detaining a hat and handkerchief as a pledge.
On the case being called on, Pritchard addressed the
Magistrates, and stated that he thought it would be
better for him to state the whole of the case to their
Worships before he proceeded to call evidence.
Alderman CHALLIS observed that, perhaps, would be
the better course, when Pritchard again spoke out, and
begged that Mr. Teague, the Chief Clerk, would pre.
viously refer to the Act of Parliament, at the same time
handing in a dilapidated piece of paper, which, after a
deal of unfolding, and placing together, proved to be
the Tippling Act. He then went on to state the case
after a fashion, and had not far proceeded before he
made a sudden stop, and after a short pause said
that, no doubt, now, if he called his witnesses,
it would be more agreeable to the Alderman. He had
fifty of them in the neighbourhood of the Court, and he
could say fearlessly to the Magistrates that not one of
them had been " ear-wigged." He should, however, only
call his principal witness, a man named Jones, as the
facts were so clear, and he had no wish to occupy a
greater space of time than was requisite.
Alderman CHALLIS—Do so as speedily as you like.
Jones, a dissipated looking fellow, here got into the
witness box, and declared that on Thursday evening he,
with a friend, went into the defendant's house, and called
for a quartern of rum, which was supplied, he throwing
down 2d. on the counter, and his friend 3d., as payment,
which was taken up by the barmaid. His companion,
after taking a glass of the spirit, went out into the
street, and on him drinking the remainder, the defendant
campinto the bar and demanded the payment of the rum.
He informed him that it had already been paid, but he
insisted that it had not, and on witness attempting to
leave, the defendant suddenly seized his hat and hand
kerchief therein, and stated that he should retain those
articles until redeemed by the price of the quartern of
rum. He then went out to speak to his friend about the
dilemma in which he was in, when he accidentally met
Pritchard, who knowing him as a friend also, made him
acquainted with the occurrence. Pritchard then went
into the house and asked the defendant whether he in- ,

tended to keep the hat and handkerchief as a pledge,
and the answer was " most certainly." He was confi-
dent that sd. for the rum was paid, as he had only 2id.
when he entered, and he told them after the occurrence,
if more than one halfpenny was found in his pockets, he
would make the defendant a present of ss.
Mr. Alderman CHALLIS—WeII, Mr. Howe, what an-
swer have you to make to this man's charge ?—Defend-
ant—Why, sir, that a very gross fraud is attempted to
be imposed upon me. Finding that the man was about
to leave without paying the rum, I admit seizing his hat
in order to defray my charge. As for them talking about
paying my barmaid the sd. it is false, and she is in at-
tendance to disprove the statement.
The barmaid was accordingly called, and swore that
she had not received the price of the rum.
Alderman CHALLIS, after consulting with his brother
Alderman, said that there was no proof of illegal pawn-
ing, and he should dismiss the case ; and he did not
know but what he should have acted in the same manner
as the defendant had done, if he had been placed in a
similar situation.
Pritchard—Very well, sir ; but I trust the clerk has
taken a full note of the evidence, as the case certainly
cannot end here.
Alderman CHALLIS—No doubt, sir; Mr. Teague does
not require any of your interference.
Pritchard—Well, gentlemen, I should like to know for
what reason you dismiss the case ?
Alderman CHALLIS—We do not sit here to have our
judgments questioned in an open court by such persons
as you, and I must request you to leave.
The officers did their duty, and ejected them into the
Guildhall yard, to the no small gratification of those
assembled.