The Sun.
London, England, 1828-11-06 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER COURT LEET.

A Court Leet for the City and Liberty of West-
minster was yesterday holden at the Guildhall, _ for
the purpose of swearing in parish constables, and
confirming fines inflicted by the annoyance jug for
light weights, &c.
The Court met at twelve o'clock, when Mr.
WILLIAMS, senior burgess; took the chair in the
absence of Edward Robson, Esq., deputy to the
High Steward, Lord Viscount Sidmouth.
Mr. Robson, the clerk of the Court, said that
amongst the names of persons summoned to be sworn
in to serve- the office of parish constable, the first
upon the list was that of Joseph Sadler Thomas,
print-seller, of York-street, Covent-garden. This
person, he believed, had served the office of con-
stable is the parish of Coventiarden for the year
preceding. If that were the rase, Mr. Thomas was
ineligible to serve again for the space of seven years,
according to the provisions of an Act of Parliament.
Mr. Thomas —I appear het eby virtue of a precept
directed to me from this Court, to take upon me the
office of constable. lam willing to serve the office,
arid I come recommended by the churchwardens and
the respectable portion of the inhabitants of St. Nu!,
Covent-garden.

Mr. Robson—You cannot serve the office of con-
stable in your own right for two succeding years, ac-
cording to the provisions of the 25th of George 111.,
chap. 29., see. 7. .
Mr. Plttuirs, the solicitor, who appeared on be-
half of Mr. Thomas, said he considered that the
Act of Parliament in question did not apply to the
present case.

Mr. Robson—This Court cannot, by possibility,
have any other object in view than that of adhering
to the law. The words of the clause are these,—
" Provided always, that no person who bath served
the (Alice of constable shall be presented again to the
sameoflice by a Court Leet, until after the expira-
tion of seven years from the tune of his last serving."
The words " shall be presented" pointed out to the
Court the precise line it was to adopt, and left it no
other choice than to reject any person offering him-
self as a constable under such circumstances.

The CHAlRMAN—Certainly ; we have no discre-
tionary power.
Mr. Thomas—l shall presently have occasion to
address a few words to the Court upon the subject.
For the present I of course bow to its decision.

The COURT then proceeded to despatch other
mutters connected with the local business of West-
minster, until Mr. Ward was called upon to be
Sworn in to serve the office of constable in the parish
of St. Paul, Covent-garden, for the year ensuing.
Mr. Thomas then stepped forward, and said, that
Mr. Ward being unwilling to serve, he (Mr. Thomas)
was willing to act in his place.
Mr. Corder, the vestry-clerk of St. Paul's,
Covent-garden, then addressed the Court on behalf
of Mr. Thomas.

Mr. Robson.—lt is quite clear that Mr. Thomas
cannot be sworn in as an independent constable. It
would be another thing, however, if Mr. Ward, after
he were sworn in, should think fit to appoint Mr.
Thomas as his substitute, provided that he • (Mr.
Thomas) had previously been approved of by a
meeting of parishioners in vestry assembled.
Mr. Corder--I can show you the vestry minute
approving of Mr. Thomas's conduct while he filled
the situation of constable, and recommending him to
be re-appointed to the office.
Mr. Robson—Let Mr. Ward be sworn in as
constable.

Mr. Ward being sworn accordingly,
Mr. Corder said—Now Mr. Thomas offers to
serve as constable in his stead. We wish to know
if it be the intention of the Court to offer any further
opposition.

7 Mr. Robson—Mr. Thomas mu,t be recommended
and approved of by a meeting of parishioners, in vestry
assembled, before he can be sworn, in as Mr. Ward's
substitute.

Mr. Corder—l have the vestry minute to that
effeet, and can produce it in half an hour.
Mr. Robson—That minute, I presume, is dated
some time back. The Court can proceed only upon
a minute dated subsequently to the sweitring in of
Mr. Ward. Mr. Thomas must therefore wait until
the holding of a vestry meeting.
Mr. Thomas—Pray do not urge the matter any
further on my account. The thing is quite clear;
these objections all serve to show " a foregone con-
clusion."
The matter ended here.-

Letters from St. Peteriburgh state, that the
new levy for the Russian army will raise it to upwards of
900,000 men, including those of the military colonies.._.
Of this large force it is said that it will be in the power of
the EMPEROR to march 400,000 against the Turks in the
approaching campaign, without weakening the armies
which it would be necessary to leave as a check upon
Austria and Sweden.

On Sunday, as Mr. FURY, of the eminent
mercantile house of Snritt.ocK, of Abbey-street, was riding
in the Park, at Dublin, his h.,rse became unmanageable,
and running with great violence, dashed Mr. FURY against
one of the large trees, and killed him on the spot.

We have just heard of another mysterious
murder in this county. In August 1927, a little boy,
named Joisas ANSKLL, was found stabbed, in an osier
ground, at Monks Eleigh ; but no dew could ever be gained
as to the authors of his death. This morning an elder
brother 'of the above boy was found in a field in the parish
of /lidding, near the above-mentioned osier ground, with
his throat cut. An inquest is to be holden this afternoon
(Tuesday).—Bury Irtrald.

On the 23d of ;,,eptenaber, soon after six
o'clock in the morning, a respectable young woman went
from Ryhope into a geld near the sea-shore, and on her
opening the field gate to return, she was prevented by a
man dressed in a blue jacket and trousers, in consequence
of which she fled to the sea-shore, and ran along it to-
wards Ryhope Dean; but before she had reached the latter
place, she was overtaken by the same man, who ultimately
threw her into the sea and left her. The girl reached her
home about eight o'clock, and has since remained in such a
nervous state as to be unable or unwilling to relate the par-
ticulars of the affair. The general opinion at Rvhope is,
that the man had violated her before he threw her into the
water. The monster had slept the evening previous in a
coal-house at Ryhope, but has not since been heard of,—.
Tune Mercury.