The Sun.
London, England, 1827-11-01 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BOW-STREET.—DUELLING ; or, MARCH OF 'NMI
LECT.-Yesterday, while Sir RICHARD BIRNIE and G. R,
AliNstium., Esq. sat on the Bench, a tall young man, at-
tired very respectably. in black, entered the office, and having
taken his station in front of the magistrates, in a very grave
and solemn .tone of voice, addressed Sir RICHARD BIRNIE
upen a matter of very serious moment that required his im-
mediate interference. The applicant said that he wanted
a warrant issued against an individual, and, with an air of
great mystery, whispered something in his .Worship's ear,
at the same time placing a letter on the magistrate's desk.
Sir R. BIRNIE informed the applicant it was absolutely
necessary that lie should make a statement of the facts upon
which he applied for the warrant, before it could he granted.
The Applicant replied—You will see by this letter that I
have received a challenge to fight a duel!
Sir R. BIRNIE read the letter, and said, " a challenge !
so indeed it is ; go into the clerk's office and get a warrant."
—The Applicant proceeded to the clerk's office, and gave
his information in due form.
Sir R. BIRNIE remarked, it certainly is a challenge, ex-
pressed in language the most clear and unequivocal ; but
/there cannot be more decisive evidence of the extraordinary
" march of intellect " than the fact, that the challenger is
a baker, residing at Islington, and the challenged a clerk
to a person who is proprietor of a lead-mill, at Iloxton.
At this instant Townshend, the police-officer, whe has
the honour of being police attendant on his Alajesty, ca-
tered the office. Sir Richard Bitnie said to him, "John
Townshend, you are come very opportunely to execute a
warrant, and prevent a duel from taking place; here is a
challenge sent by a baker to the clerk of a lead-mill pro"

prietor."
John Townshend raised himself upon his toes, and look•
eel at Sir R. Birnie, with his usual knowing expression o
physog., hardly conceiving whether the Magistrate was in,
jest or earnest, and replied, " Why, Sir Richard Birnie,
Ij
beg leave to tell you, that I think it would lessen me ai
great deal if I were to execute a warrant upon a barber (he;
had mistaken the word baker, for barber), after 46 years'!
service, duringewhich period I have had the honour of
taking Earls, Marquises, and Dukes. No, no, Sir,
Richard, let the barber fight if he likes it ; but don't letc
me be degraded by executing the warrant."
Mr. Misfsnum, turned to Townshend, and said to him,
" I am sure that you arc not an advocate for duelling."
Townshend replied, " No, Mr. Minshull, I am not ;
I.
think the practice is altogether unjustifiable, and I disap-
prove of it ; and for barbers and the cutters of cabbage-,
stalks to fight duels is the height of absurdity; but youi
know, Mr. Minshull, that many strong arguments have,
been used in favour of the practice among persons of rank,,
and it has been asserted, that it operates as a check upon
those who would othewise violate the decorum and outrage
the feelings of polished society."
Sir EICIIARD BIRY4IE intimated to the veteran officer,
that he meant nothing more than a jest in asking him to,
serve the warrant.
Townsend said he thought so ; and having adjusted his
flaxen wig, he said, " Why, Sir Richard, I was employed
to apprehend the late Duke of Norfolk and Sir John Hony-
wood, when they went out to fight a duel; and I also ap-
prehended Colonel Macnamara and Colonel Harvey Aston,
the latter of whom was afterwards shot in a duel in the;
East Indies. I also apprehended the late Marquis Towns-
hend and Mr. Pousonby, on a like occasion ; and I re-
member that I received the warrant to apprehend ColoreL
Lenox (afterwards Duke of Richmond), and the Duke of
York, and prevent their fighting a duel ; but they had suet,
and settled their dispute before I had time to get to the.
spot. God knows how many great men I have taken—
why I apprehended Mr. King and Lord Paget (now Mar-
quis of Anglesea), when they were going out to fight a
duel ; and I remember Lord Paget's father (the Earl of
Uxbridge) told me not to prevent the meeting, for his sun
was good for nothing if he did not go out and fight. Be-
sides, now it occurs to me that I was applied to at my own
house by Mr. Pitt and Mr. Dundas, late one night, to go
in quest of Earl St. Vincent and Sir John Ord. The fact
was, that Earl St. Vincent, who had nothing but his coun-
try's
glory in view, broke through the rules of Royal eti-
quette ; and instead of sending the second in command, Sir
John Ord, on an expedition to the Nile, he dispatched the
immortal Nelson ; and after the victory was over, and the
naval armament returned to England, Sir John Ord sent a
challenge to Earl St. Vincent, and I took the parties, and
prevented their meeting."
Sir P. BllttilE complimented Townshend upon his
public services, and another officer was sent to serve the
warrant upon the baker at Islington. •
L AMBET II- STREET. ---EXTORTI.NG MONEY ay
TIIREATS OF EXPOSURE 414 TIIE NicwsrarEas.—A. young
man, dressed in the garb of a mechanic, who gave his name,
as William Sinintonds, was placed at the bar, charged
with having, by threats, extorted at different times, various
sums from a Mr. Barestock, the assistant of Dr. Robinson,
a medical gentleman, residing in Goodman's fields.—A
Professional Gentleman, who Attended for the prosecutor,
stated the grounds for the prisoner's apprehension.—About
six years since, the prisoner, when in the service of Dr.
Robinson, was detected in. plundering his master of pro-
perty to some amount, among which were some phial
bottles, which he disposed :of for his own advantage;
on the discovery being made he was taken into custody, and
his defence was, that he acted merely as the agent of the
present complainant, whO was then the confidential ser-
vant of Dr. Robinson, and who participated with him in
the robbery. On this allegation being made, the most
minute investigation was set on foot, to ascertain its truth
or falsehood, the result of which was so confirnsitory of
the latter, that Dr. Robinson retained him in his service
up to the present moment, and reposed in him his cus-
tomary confidence. The prisoner was then, through the
humanity of Dr. Robinson, though his offence was most
clear and aggravated, set at liberty. Since the period of
his discharge he frequently called on his client supplicating
relief. He assisted him from time to time, until at length
his tone changed from the, mendicant to the bully, and he
had the effrontery, as wotdd be proved, to demand no less
a sum than 151. under circumstances of a peculiar cha-
racter, which his client would explain.
Mr. Earestock then stated, that about a fortnight since,
he called upon him, and said he wanted 101. but he (Mr.
B.) told him that it was. quite out of his power to supply
him, as the sum was beyond his means; the prisoner re-
plied that he must, that through him he had lost his cha-
racter, and that if he did not do so he would make him,
the complainant bring him beftire a Magistrate. In order
to gain time and advice as to how he was to act, he handed
him a sovereign, promising to give him the remaining nine
in a week's time. In the mean time, however, he recei-
ved a letter, saying that no less than 15 would answer the
purpose, and that mild; he must have. .
In answer to some further. questions put to him by his
solicitor, the witness replied, that on his first refusal to
give him the 101. the prisoner used such threatening lan-
guage as to put him into bodily fear; he said he was a re-
porter of, the Times and the Morning Chronicle Journals,
anti would well lard him, and show him up in these
Papers, by publishing his opinions about him.
Mr. Miller, the chief officer, on the previous night at-
tended at Dr. Robinson's, where he cencealed himself in a
small room. At nine o'clock, the hour appointed for the
meeting, the prisoner called, and was admitted by the pro-
secutor. The prosecutor said he could-then give him only
a sovereign, which the prisoner took, and after examining
it for some time, put it into his pocket. On his doing so,
he (witness) immediately tosk him into custody, and found
on him the sovereign, which, by his (witness's) direction,
had been marked previous to its being given to him.
The prisoner, in his defence, was proceeding with a volley
of abuse, when he was interrupted by the Magistrate, who
asked him if it was possible that such a person as he was
could be a Reporter to any Paper whatever ?—The pri-
soner said he was not kßeporter to any Paper.
MAGISTRATE.-Can you have any connection whatever
with the Press? Prisoner.—Yes; I work the steam-
engine of The Morning Chronicle."
The MAGISTRATE seemed incredulous on the subject, and
ordered him for further examination on Friday next.
V A person of the name of Simmonds was once engaged
in the steam engine department of our establishment ;
and
his office was that of stoker, i. v. to supply the fire with
fuel, but it is two years since he left our employ, and we do
not recollect to have seen him at our office during that
interval.'
HATTON-GARDEN.—John Cramer was brought
yesterday before Mr. ROGERS for re-examination, on a
charge of stealing a quantity of Welsh .flannel, of the vain
of 501., the property of Mr. William Jones, of Montgomery-
shire, flannel-manufacturer.
The prisoner acknowledged having stolen the flannel.
The witnesses were then bound over to prosecute, and
the prisoner was fully committed to take his trial at the
Old Bailey Sessions.
Thomas Williams and Ellen Rae were charged by the
driver of the hackney-coach, No. 507, with refusing to pay
him his fare.
John Crompton, the driver, had taken the lady and gentle-
man from Rowbottom's, in Covent-garden.
Mr. ROGERS—Where is Rowbottom's? Lee, the officer
--It is what is commonly called a " finish house," your
Worship.
The coachman,•in continuation, said that the lady and
gentleman were rather freshish ; and, being apprehensivo
that some damage walla be, done to his coach, he.was
the look-out ; but he had net proceeded far when he saw