The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-20 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.--William Robert Capp, a
complete dandy, was put to the bar, charged with having
stolen table spoons in taverns in the city.
The prisoner walked into Baker's Coffee-house, and
called for a glass of sherry. He contrived to get possession
of a silver table-spoon which lay on one of the tables; but
the waiter missed it, and candidly told him that he must
be the thief. The prisoner laid this spoon upon the table,
and in order to avoid suspicion of being an illiberal thief,
laid another alongside of it. The second spoon proved to
be the property of the landlord of the George and Vulture
Tavern, with whose name it was marked. A duplicate of
a spoon was found in his pocket. He had attempted to
intimidate the officer who took him into custody, and the
waiter, by stating that he was intimate with the Lord
Mayor and Mr. Hobler ; and he requested, upon being
brought up, to he examined privately. The request was
rejected, and the acquaintance was denied. The prisoner,
upon being asked what he had to say, declared that no
charge could be substantiated against him. He was re-
manded for a second examination.

GUILDHALL.—As soon as the list of prisoners had
been disposed of on Saturday, a solicitor rose, and stated
that he appeared there on the behalf of a party who was
charged by the inquest of Cripplegate with using a false
balance in his shop. He bad been waiting above an hour
beyond the time fixed in the summons, and as the gentle-
men of the inquest did not appear to support their charge,
he claimed to be dismissed. He had no doubt they ab-
stained from coming, because they were aware their com-
plaint must fall to the ground.
Mr. Alderman CROWDER.—I recollect something of the
case. NVho is your client? Where does he live? Solicitor
..-James Briggs : he lives in Grub-street.
Alderman CROWDEIt (raising his voice.)-oh, James
Briggs, a baker, in Grub-street. There was a string fastened
under the bread-scale, which was acted upon as a jigger--
some contrivance by which light bread would be made to
appear heavy.
Solicitor—There was a bit of string fastened to the scale,
but I do not know how it was used; for aught I know it
wes for the benefit of the publie.
Mr. Alderman Caowuxu—Do you believe it was used
for the good of the public. Solicitor (somewhat abashed)
—ln the situation I am standing, I am sure you will not
press me to answer you.
Mr. Alderman CROWDER.----NO; but as you assumed it
was for the good of the people, I thought you might be
able to throw some light upon the subject.
Solicitor—l have heard the description given of the
scales when the summons was applied for, and 1 have looked
through all the Acts of Parliament upon the subject from
the time of Henry VII. to the present period, and I can
assure you there ' is no law which declares what my
client has done to be an offence. It might be punished as
a cheat at common law,.

Mr. Alderman Cuownrit—l believe you Fe right. I
must dismiss the complaint, but I hope the publicity that
will be given to what has passed will not he without ad-
vantage ; and I also hope the defendant will become sensi-
ble how unfeeling and shameful it was to practise such de-
ception upon the very poor class of persons that were in the
habit of approaching his counter. Veir slender means,
obtained with extreme difficulty and exceeding hard labour,
should least of all have been subjected to diminution by such
practices.
Solicitor—l hope he will benefit by your admonition, Sir.
A person behind the solicitor now whispered in his ear,
and he immediately applied to have the scales retunied
to him.

Mr. Alderman Cuownta—Oh ! is this the worthy cha-
racter I have been speaking of ?—(Loud laughter.)
The whisperer'alface became immediately suffused with
a deep blush.
" He is a young man, and lam sure this will be a
warning to him," said the solicitor.
Mr. Briggs haying recovered 'himself o maid Le 'boa
mepy enemies in the Ward, and he bad been entrapped.
The string found tied to the scale was a necessary appen-
dage to secure it to a ring.

The Alderman replied, that the scales were in the pos-
session of the inquest, and the application must be made
to them.

The baker and his solicitor had not retired from the
hall above ten minutes, when the inquest entered with the
Vestry-clerk, Mr. Earnshaw, at their head. TLey ex-
pressed their regret that the matter had been disposed of
in their absence, and said, their delay arose from their so-
licitor being detained in a very particular engagement.
They were asked what they should do with the scales.
They were told, that the defendant's own solicitor ad-
mitted he was open' to an indictment at common law, and
that if they should determine upon taking that course, they
must produce the scales in Court in evidence. They ought
not, therefore, to restore them to the baker hastily and
without deliberation. _ _

Mr. Earnshaw said, the inquest had had a lesson upon
that subject. They once indicted a man for using false
measures, and were foiled, because they had not the mea-
sures to, produce, having destroyed them at the time they
were seized.

The inquest then retired.
When the discovery was first slightly mentioned, it was
nderstood that the weight upon being placed in the
weight-scale, effected, through the concealed machinery,
an uniform reduction of its own power, to the extent of
one-fourth part. When the present summons was granted
on Thursday last, the operation was, however, explained
differently. The string under the scale passed through a
hole in the counter, and was simply acted upon by the
foot when necessary. Thus, if a 41b. weight had been pnt
in one scale and a penny loaf in the other, the latter would
have sunk as if containing the heavier body, upon the
baker placing his foot on the end of the string under his
counter.

BOW-STREET.---Mr. Leslie, a respectable linen-
draper, in Oxendon-street, Haymarket, was, on Saturday,
brought before Mr. MlNsitem, on an assault-warrant, at
the instance of his wife, a young woman about 25 years
of age. The case was partly heard on Wednesday evening,
when the Magistrate remarked that the charge of assault
did not appear to be of a very serious nature, and Mrs. L.
then charged her husband with having discontinued her
allowance of 1-is. a-week ; and Mr. Leslie, on the other
hand, undertook to prove that his wife had been unfaith-
ful to his bed, and, therefore, she could have no legal
claim upo❑ him. The case was therefore poatpcned until
Saturday, to examine witnesses.
Mr. Harmer appeared for Mr. Leslie, and another soli-
citor attended for Mrs. Leslie.

Mr. Harmer said, that if it was proved that Mrs. L.
was living in adultery, her husband could not be compel-
led to pay her more than the usual allowance, and be pro-
ceeded to call the followingwitnesses:—

---
Mrs. Joanna Christie, of No. 5, St. Alban's-place, Pall-
mall, stated that a Mr. Cutler lodged in her house about a
twelvemonth ago, and during that time Airs. Leslie was in
the habit of calling upon him, and she was then known by
the name of Morris ; she informed witness that Mr. Cut-
ler was her first cousin, and that his mother had requested
her to keep a strict watch on him, as she (Mrs. Cutler)
lived in the country; but Mrs. Leslie never slept at his
lodging, nor was she aware that she visited him for any
improper purpose.
A Mrs. Fairweather stated, that Mrs. Leslie lodged with
her seven months, and during that time Mr. Cutler was in
the habit of -visiting her as late as twelve o'clock at night,
and as early as seven in the morning ; and on ono occasion,
when Mr. Fairweather entered Mrs. Leslie's apartment, he
found Mr. Cutler extended on the bed; but he only slept
there one night, and Mrs. Leslie slept at her sister's, in the
Haymarket. The last time she saw Mr. Cutler with Mrs.
Leslie was in July last; she was not aware that he had
lived with her since that period.
A Mr. Hillier said, he had seen Mr. Cutler come out of
Mrs. Leslie's lodgings at a quarter before five o'clock in the
morning.
Mr. MlNsituLr. expressed a wish to see Mr. Cutler, if
he was in the office ; and a tall young man stepped forward
and announced himself as that gentleman, and stated, that
the object of his appearing there that day was to justify his
ownCiaracter.

Mr. MtbisnuLL—l think as much has been proved
against Mrs. Leslie as will justify her husband in discon-
tinuing the handsome allowance of fourteen shillings a week.
Mrs. Leslie's solicitor asked if it was intended to charge
Mrs. Leslie criminally?
Mr. Harmer—It has been already proved that Mr.
Cutler frequently visited her.
14.0. Lepliep with tear, in her eyes, declared that shy

was innocent of the criminal conduct imputed to her ; and
there was a female in the office who had slept with her
for the last three years. Her husband had been under
400/. bail for assaulting herd and some time since she
would have prosecuted two men, whom he had employed
to ill-treat her, had not her principal witness died before
the trial could come on. With respect to the present
charge, of assault, a young woman had given her credit for,
a week's board and lodging, and when she accompanied
the young woman to bar. beslie's house, for the purpose
of being paid, he turned her out of doors ; but she would
go home, if he would receive her, and endure his ill-treat-
ment, rather than live apart; she formed an acquaint-
ance with Mr. Cutler, froni being employed, a short time
ago, to make some waistcoats for him, And he had always
conducted himself with propriety towards her.
Mr. Harmer'—Mr. Leslie's object is to obtain a di-
vorce ; but, if she returns home, he will be debarred from
procuring one.

Mr. llitNstrum.—Let him bring his action, for Criminal
Conversation ; but, until the divorce is obtained, he must
support her.
Mr. Leslie said, he would not allow her more than the
common parish allowance : for he had been supporting an
idle vagabond who lived by her prostitution.
Mr. MINSIIULL observed that he could make no order
respecting the allowance Mrs. Leslie ought to receive; but,
as a private individual, he thought ten shillings a week
quite sufficient; and this sum Mr. Leslie, after some demur,
agreed to allow his wife ; and, the parties then retired, Mr.
Cutler and Mrs. Leslie going one way, and Mr. Leslie and
his friends another.