The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-30 00:00:00

UNION.HALL.

Yesterday an investigation took place at this
office relative to the conduct of a watch-house-
keeper, named Morley, who was accused of having
taken a small bribe for the liberation of a man in his
custody without bringing the charge before a magi-
strate. The case exhibited in a strong point of
view another instance, if any were required, of the
necessity for a reform in this department of the

police.
It appeared that on Sunday night, as a watch-
man belonging to Rotherhithe was proceeding along
one of the streets near the water side, he observed
a man dressed in sailor's clothes lying on the pave-
ment in a state of intoxication, and bleeding very
profusely from some cuts in the face, which were
probably produced from falls. The watchman in
this district having received instructions to take all
men found in the streets in the above state to the
watch-house for safety, the sailor was accordingly
conveyed there, and the charge, which was that of
drunkenness, entered in the night constable's book.
This book was placed before Mr. CHAMBERS the
following day, who, observing the charge, and hav-
ing been given to understand that the parties were
not in attendance, inquired the reason, when it
was intimated that Morley, who has the care of
the watch-house in the absence of the constable,
accepted of a bribe of ss. from the sailor when
he became sober the next morning, and set
him at liberty. The magistrate, determined on
sifting the case, and ascertaining whether men placed
in brief authority presumed to take money from the
pockets of those who fell into their clutches under
such circumstances, had the parties confronted, when
the sailor admitted that his friends had, at his re-
quest, given Morley ss. on condition that he should
be set at liberty without being taken before a Ma-
gistrate. The sailor added, that so far from Morley,
having refused to accede to these conditions, he ap-
peared most anxious to settle the matter in that
way, saying, " 1 may as well have the ss. as the
King ; for if you are taken before a Magistrate,
you will have to pay a fine amounting to that sum,
and ls. besides for your discharge, all of which
will go to his Majesty."
Morley, who is an aged man, said that he had

filled the situation of watchman and watch-house-
keeper for 22 years, and declared that although the
money was offered he did not accept of it.
The night constable's statement relative to the
affair confirmed the truth of the sailor's account,
added to which, as the Magistrate remarked, the
very circumstance of the man having been set at
liberty without being brought to this office com-
pletely established the fact of the passing of money
between the parties.
Mr. CHAMBERS then said, that it was quite time
Morley should be displaced from his situation : there
was little doubt but he had compromised affairs of
this nature in a similar manner frequently, end it was
requisite that such a person should be removed.—
" The business of most watch-houses," added the
Magistrate, " requires to be narrowly watched, and
persons should be appointed who are of good cha-
racter and otherwise efficient men, to fill a situation►
which has certainly some responsibility attached to it."
Morley hoped that after his lengthened services he
would not be sent adrift at his time of life.

The Magistrate said, that as the appointment was
vested in the Commissioners, and Morley was one
of their servants, he should leave them to determine
the case.

The night constable was then directed to apprise
the Commissioners of what had transpired at this
office relative to the conduct of the accused person.
Another case, pretty similar to the foregoing, was
also investigated after the disposal of the above.
Iwo women, whose conduct was excessively ob-
noxious at Vauxhall, were locked up in the Vauxhall
watch-house, and the charge of drunk and disorderly
entered in the book. The following morning, in the
absence of the night constable, the watchman left in
charge of the defendants liberated them (there is
every reason to believe on receiving a bribe), and
afterwards tore the leaf out of the b3ok in which the
charge was entered, with the view, it seems, of
preventing disclosure before the Magistrates. The
fellow was soon afterwards discovered in a state of
intoxication in the watch-house alone, arid had, it
appeared, procured the liquor to get drunk with the
proceeds of the bribe he had from the two women,
for liberating them. The watchman in this case was
discharged from his situation.