The Sun.
London, England, 1829-10-29 00:00:00

BOW-STREIif.

Yesterday Mr. Powell, Secretary to the Water-
loo.br:dge Committee, came before Mr. HALLS,
the sitting Magistrate, accompanied by Caleb Tilt,
the toll-taker of the bridge, against horn a com-
plaint for passing a counterfeit shilling upon a gen-
tleman who tendered hint one in payment of toll,
was preferred at this office on Monday, and reported
in The Sun of Tuesday.
Mr. Powell stated that the complaint was with-
out foundation, and produced the copy of an affidavit,
in which Tilt deposed that the shilling handed to him
by the gentleman was a counterfeit ; and to prove
that it was so, he bent it with his teeth at the mo-
ment, which circumstance induced thegentleman to
believe that the shilling which was returned to htm
was not the one which l.e gave to Tilt. Mr. Powell
added, that Tilt was a man in whom the utmost eon
fidence was placed. He had been employed a- toll-
taker for the last twelve years, and never had a
charge brought against him before.
Mr. HaLLs advised Mr. Powell to bring forward
the gentleman who had made the charge, in order
that Tilt might prove his statement in his presence.
Mr. Powell said he would have done so, but the
gentleman was out of town, told it was desirable to
contradict the statement with as little delay as
possible.
A young man named Yarmouth and a well-
dressed young woman named Charlotte Freeland,
were charged with having obstructed Police Serjeant
No. 4, letter F., while in the execution of his duty.
The serjeant, while on duty the preceding night,
in Pickett-street, Strand, observed a boy carrying a
bundle, and stopped him. The boy being unable to
account for the bundle, which consisted of household
linen, his mother was sent for to Clement's-lane, for
the purpose of ascertaining the truth or falsehood of
the statement he had given.
While be (the serjeant) was waiting for the
mother, the female prisoner came out of a brothel,
called the Crown Hotel, and began to abuse him in
the most shameful manner. The male defendant
then came up, and knocked his (the serjeant's) hat
over his eyes, and then began pushing him about,
assisted by a parcel of Jews, in whose company he
was, and the rabble who were collected to the spot.
The female prisoner denied the charge, and said
she had not come out of the Crown Hotel, or any
such place.

Yarmouth declared that he was knocked about
like a bullock by the serjeant. In proof of the hard
treatment he had met with, he said he received so
severe a blow upon the forehead, that it was next to
a miracle it had not caused his death.

Mr. lIALLs observed that this was keeping the
peace with a vengeance. It was nor, he conceived,
the duty of the police to crack people's heads in this
manner without_ rhyme or reason. He (Mr. Halls)
regretted to see that the police were assuming more
authority than they were justified in exercising.
Yarmouth expressed his determination to indict
the setjeant for an assault.
Mr. Edge, of Essex street, Strand, waited npon
Mr. HALLS, to ask that Magistrate's advice and as-
sistance under these circumstances :—The Magistrate
would recollect that his house in Essex-street had
been attempted to be robbed several times, and in-
deed had been entered on two occasions and property
carried off to a considerable amount. A young man
named Sandford, now in Newgate, together with a
man named Leslie, for the attempt to rob the pre-
mises of Mr. Stultz the tailor, had lived servant with
him (Mr. Edge), and there was good reason for
believing that he had pat ticipated in both robberies.
Since his confinement in Newgate, he (Mr. Edge)
had received a great many threatening letters, con-
veyirg the most abominable menaces, in consequence
of the part which he had taken in bringiug Sandford
and Leslie to justice. A letter of the same de-
scripticn he received that morning ; and, wishing to
put an end to the annoyance, he submitted it to the
Magistrate, who would Le kind enough to advise
him how he ought to act.
Mr. Edge here handed to the Magistrate a note,

')caring the pot-mask of the Strand upon it, and
Addressed to " Edge, Ez-A ; private." The
note was as follows:

" You rogue, cut your throat if you do
not go single to the Spotted Dog, Strand, to-mor-
row, at half-past fire in the evening (Wednesday),
;Ind leave 61. for me. Remember my poor compa-
nions whe are in prison.
" THE DEVIL'S WIFE."

Mr. ITALLS having perused the above, gave direc-
tions to Ford and another officer to take the matter
in hand.

LONDON SESSIONS, OCT. 28.

These Sessions commenced this day before the
Lord Mayor, Recorder, and a Bench of Aldermen.
After the disposal of some caves of assault, of no
importance to the public, several petitions were
handed into Court, praying. for Music Licences; in
discussing the merits of which the Court was occu-
pied until a very late hour.
The first was from slr. lanes, of the Queen's
Arms Tavern, Cheapside and Pancras-lane. The
petition set forth, that as many of the customers of
the house were foreigners, they were, according to
the customs of their country, inclined for musical
accompaniments at their dinners, &c.; and that
without a license from the Magistrates the playing
of such instruments would be visited with a large
penalty.
Mr. ADommus, in applying for the license, said
that his client was most powerfully supported by the
most respectable inhabitants of the Ward, all of
whom, with the exception of one or two, had signed
the petition—seven Common Councilmen, and IGO
of the inhabitants and firms.

Mr. BROOKE (Deputy of the Ward) begged to
be heard on this subject. He hatl no doubt what-
ever of the good character of the house, or that good
order would be maintained in it ; but he would put
it to the Bench, whether such a thing as music is ne-
cessary in such a house in this great city ? - He had.
every respect for the petitioner, but he could not see
what a public house wanted with a band of music.
If a license were granted, every public-house in the
Ward—and there were eleven—would consider it-
self entitled. The music, whatever might be said,
never added to the pleasantry or harmony of a room.
Mr. ADOLPIIus said that the Act now-yin operation
upon- the subject—and the nature of which he had
been so unfortunate as to. disclose accidentally, and
thus to be the innocent cause of drawing into effect
a most injurious and unnecessary piece of legisla-
tion—was enacted on account of the robberies com-
mitted in Henry Fielding's time, in the reign of
George the Second. That author had represented
the dangers arising from the practice of fiddling in
low public-houses, which were thus curbed by the
proper authorities. But the present application was
from a house of the first respectability, most power-
fully supported.
Alderman HEYGATE said, there was a difficulty in
drawing a line between the houses which ought and
those which ought not to be licensed.
Alderman BIRCH—Have they a room capable of
holding parties of great extent ? Mr. Brooke—Oh,
yes; it is near my house ; it is up a court, and close
to the watch-house.
Alderman HEYGATE—That is a recommenda-
tion; it is sure of being well protected between the
Deputy and the guardians of the night.—(A laugh.)
Mr. BROOKE—I am Mr. Innes's neighbour, and
the Deputy of the Ward ; and he never applied to
me till he applied to all the rest of the Ward, and
then I told him I felt it my duty to oppose the ap-
plication.
The RECORDER—I, for one, cannot consent to
the giving of these new music licenses. I do not
think that they can be of any public benefit.

Mr. ADOLPHUS—MusicaI licences are beneficial,
as the state of the times has been greatly changed.
When I was young, men used to meet at taverns
:Ind public-houses, to sing noisy songs and drink.
The introduction of music, sUfully performed, gave
a check to this boisterous mirth. People now as-
semble to hear scientific efforts of the voice, with
accompaniments, and all tap-room roaring is quite
out of fashion; and yet such is the virtue of the
old Act, that if, at the London Tavern, the Duke of
York's Band play " God save the King," without
a music licence, a penalty is inevitable.
Alderman FAREBROTIIER expressed a doubt of
the correctness of this assertion.

Mr. ADomtus repeated it. In one case—that of
Mr. Munns, who is about to apply for a licence—two
actions had been brought because his daughter•
played the piano-forte in the house.
Alderman FAREBRoTHER—But they are not tried
yet ?
Mr. ADOLPHUS—No ; one has been compro-
mised, and the other hangs over him.
Alderman FARERROTHER—StiII that says no•
thing; for neither has been tried.
Mr. ADOLPHUS—It is not likely that a publican
would compromise with a common informer, with-
out being alvised by a tau yer. You may depend
upon it, that the advice upon which be acted was
good. I know that a man has made between 3001.
and 4001. by informations of this kind, in conse-
quence of the unfortunate information which I hap-
pened to give in this Court; and about 40 or 50
years ago, one Shepherd made much more.
Alderman HEYGATE—DO you say, that if the
music was played at the London Tavern, without a
music license, the owner is liable to a penalty ? If
that be the case, the law ought to be altered as
soon as possible.
Alderman BIRCII—In all cases of application for
licenses, the regular mode is for the Alderman and
Common Council of the Ward to sign the petition
first. This has not been done ; the signature of the
Lord Mayor, who is Alderman of the Ward, is not
here. Let it go back for those signatures.
Mr. ADOLPHUS—The thing can only be done
this day. If it be not granted to-day, we must
wait a whole year. Do not act as they do in Po-
land—proceed to the last extremities without sheav-
ing any reason.
Mr. BROOKE—The Lord Mayor told me the
license was not wanted, and he would not consent
to give it.
Mr. Innes said he spoken to the Lord Mayor,
but had received neither assent nor rejection.
Mr. BROOKE—But I come upon this authority to
refuse it.

Mr. Innes—The Lord Mayor took the Chair at
my opening dinner, and approved of and shews his
respect for my house,
Alderman HEYGATE-It seems to me that the
state of the law is very singular. I think the license
ought to be granted ; you granted a similar license
last year to a house iib Smithfield, why refuse this ?
It is only for one year; if the house should be ill-
conducted during the year, you can refuse its re-
newal.

Mr. BROOKE—One of the gentlemen who did not
sign the petition said to me, that songs of a certain
description were sung in the house.—(A laugh.)
Mr. CLARKE (the Clerk of the Arraigns) stated,
that the signatures of four Magistrates were requi-
site to a house licence; and as there were but four
OH the bench, and one had decidedly given his nega-
tive, the first petition was disposed of.—Negatived.
The next petition was that of Mr. Morris, of the
White Hart, in Bishopsgate-street.
The RECORDER shook his head, and this was also
negatived.
The George Inn, Smithfield, was the next ne-
gatived.
The application of Mr. Munns, who was alluded
to in Mr. Adolphus's speech, was next taken into
consideration.

Alderman FAREBROTHER—Did the petitioner's
(laughter play in the public room that the penalties
have been sought for.
Mr. A1)01,1,111:5 It does not signify. If she was
heard to play in private, the penalty is incurred.
Alderman HEYGATE—IS there any case in which

t person playing without being hire! has subjected
a landlord to a penalty ?

Mr. ADOLPHUS—No doubt of it. 'lhere are fifty.

Alderman HErOATE—Then I am sure the law
should at once he altered.—Negatived.
'I he next c ise was that of the Golden Ball, King-
street, Moorfields.—Negati ved.
Nit. Hubbard, Deputy-Steward of the Liberty of
Duke's-place, applied for a music license for the
Fishmongers' Arms, in Duke's-place, upon the
ground that a great many Jews' weddings were ce-
lebrated in the house, and that on such occasions
music was indispensable.
Alderman HEYGATE said that it would certainly
be hard to refuse this application.
Mr. Apor.Pllus—lf you refuse this license, you
make a wedding as melancholy as a funeral. lhe
Jews are a most musical people; and we are greatly
indebted in our public entertainments to them.
Alderman HEYGATE—No doubt this license ought
to be granted.
Mr. ADOLPHITs—AII who read the Bible know
that music arid dancing formed part of the religious
ceremonies of the days of antiquity.
The RECORDER shook his head, and the license
was negatived.
Mr. Hubbard next applied for a license for
Howard's Coffee-house, also a Jews' house, in
Duke's-place.

The Steward of the Court Baron stated that the
Lord Mayor had, as Baron, promised to sanction
and assist the petitioners in their application.
The RECORDER-4 have been at fifty parish meet-
ings, and I never knew oue to take place ut a pub-
lic-house.

Mr. ADOLPHUS said it was a common practice for
the Jews to marry in the most public manner in a
public-room, instead of the synagogue. They receiv-
ed, every body knew, donations on such occasions.
The RECORDER would not consent, and the
license was negatived.
The next house refused a license was the Castle
Tavern, Mark-lane.