The Sun.
London, England, 1829-04-30 00:00:00

HATTON-GARDEN.

Yesterday Simon Mosely, Rebecca (his wife), and
George Martin, were brought before the Magistrates of
this office (Messrs. LAING and Sitntox), under the autho-
rity of a warrant, charging them with.the csmmission of
a most disgraceful outr,:ge and assault upon two young
men, brothers, of the none of Wilson.
William Wilson, one of the vimplainants, deposed, that
as he and his brother were possing through Field-lane, Hol-
born, about half-past four o'clock the preceding afternoon,
the defendant Martin, who was standing outside the shop
of the other defendants, stopped him, and asked him if he
wanted to purchase any thing. He replied that he did not,
for he had already purchased some handkerchiefs in another
shep. Martin that said, that perhaps be was in want of
a good thrashing, and upon his replying. that he
would not suffer him (Martin) to give it to him, the latter
stripped off his coat, rushed at him, and struck him a vio-
lent blow. While he was defending himself from the at-
tack of Martin, be was struck several times with a large
wooden bar, by Mrs. Mosely, who appeared more like a
fury than a female. Blows fell upon him from all sides,
anti he was ultimately knocked down. His hat fell off in
the affray, and as he was rising from the ground he was
fortunate enough to see it in the possession of a fellow who
was in the act of running away with it. After regaining
his hat, ke returned to the scene of riot, when be found
his brother lying on the ground covered with blood. The
defendant Martin had then his (witness's) brother's u;n-
brella in his hand, with which he was walking away.
Witness ran for a constable, who quickly arrived and pre-
vented further outrage.

Barnsley, the street,-keeper attached to Saffron-hill and
its vicinity, stated that outrages similar to that with
which the defendants stood charged, were of very frequent
occurrence in Field-lane. Indeed, it was impossible for
any person to pass through that lane without being in-
sulted in some way or another. Amongst the most dis•
orderly of the inhabitants of Field-lane was the defendant
Martin.

The Magistrates consulted together for some time, when
Mr. Laiwc said that his brother Magistrate and him-
self had come to the determination of sending the defen-
dants to the Sessions.
The defendants were then held to bail.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

Yesterday Thomas Organ was charged before the Sit-
ting Al gistrates (Mr. CONANT and Mr. DYER), by George
de Hochepied Larpent, Esq., of Putney, with having in-
troduced himself into his service as footman by Means of a
false character, furnished him by John Oliver, otherwise
Sir Charles Oliver, otherwise Captai❑ Armstrong, who
for a similar offence was committed from this office on
Friday last to the House of Correction.
Mrs. Larpent, her brother, Mr. Wi'son, and Ballard,
the officer, attended, and gave their evidence against the
prisoner.
It appeared that on the 18th March last, while Mrs.
Larpent was residing with her brother in Montagu-square,
the prisoner called upon her, and offered himself for the
situation of footman then vacant. He referred for his cha-
racter to Sir Charles Oliver, Baronet, of Lincolnshire,
who happened at the time to have been in town, and to
have taken up liNresidence at Hatchett's Hotel, with whom
he had lived in the capacity of footman during the two
years preceding; but that now he was obliged to leave his
service, in consequence of arrangements Sir Charles had
made to travel to the Continent. He added that he lived
five years before that with Lord Ashtown, who was very
nearly allied to Sir Charles. Mrs. Larpent, in conse-
quence of these representations, had an interview with the
pseudo Baronet the following day, and he with much ear-
nestness supported every thing the prisoner had previously
stated to her, recommending hint as a diligent, sober, and
honest servant, and saying that he regretted being
under the necessity of parting with hini. Ales. Lar-
p,nt, without further hesitation, took the prisoner
into her service, and he continued with her until
the 20th instant, when, without any reasonable ground,
he left her. He then applied for a situation to Mr.
Alivart, who keeps a hotel in Lower Brook-street, and
referred fur his character to Mr. Larpent, to whom he
immediately went, and stating that Oliver (Sir Charles)
had left the kingdom, requested him to give him a charac-
ter to Mr. ,Alivart, and Mr. Larpent agreed to do so, ap-
pointing the following day to meet Mr. Mivart at Mr.
Wilson's residence, in Alontagu-square but Oliver's ap-
prehension and conviction in the precioutt case having in
the interim appeared in the newspapers, and given Mr.
Larpent the first alarm that he had been grossly imposed
upon by false representations, he sent to this office for
Ballard, and measures were adopted for the prisoner's ap,
prehension. The prisoner seemed also to have taken the
alarm spread by the newspapers, for he did not make his
appearance at the time appointed in 'Montagu-square, hot

sent a ',Per there to inform Mr. Lerma. that he was going
into the country. Ballard, however; being on the Alert,
met the prisoner on Monday night going into Mivart's
Hqtel; to see a Nobleman with whom he was just on. the
point of engaging to accompany him to the Continent,
and took him into custody, when he confessed that the
whole was a cheat and a misrepresentation. He declared
that he had never been in concert with Olive:, but that
he had given him a sovereign. the usual fee, for his
ratter. He had lived, he said, in the service of Cohinel
Onslow, Lord Mhtown„ and the Hon. Edward St/inky.
Mr. CoriANT observed, that the practice 'of giving am!
obtaining false characters, must he met, in order to sup-
press it, with the utmost severity. Most of the robberies
committed in gentlemen's houses had the w-ay paved to
them by those means ; and, as an instance of it, he referred
to a person now committed for trial, whe, by means of a
false character, obtained a situation in the service of Sir
William Beechey, and robbed him of plate of the value of
2001.

The prisoner was fined in the penalty of 201., and in
default of payment was committed for two months to the
House of Correction, at hard labour.

UNION-HALL.

A tradesman, residing in Newington, named Byfield,
attended at the office for the purpose of asking the Magis-
trate's advice relative to a mischievous report that was cir-
culated against him, and that was calculated to be of
serious injury to him in his business.

The applicant said, that he had resided for some years
past in the neighbourhood of Newington, and never had a
1.1 ur on his character. Latterly, however, some individuals,
envious of his prosperity, circulated a report throughout
the place, that he was detected in the act f,f stealing two
dead bodies, and taken to the office in custody, and was
only liberated on condition of his delivering up the " sub-
jects," and paying a good round sum of money in the
b irgain. Such a base report as this, said he, although
without the least foundation, was actually considered by
many to be founded in truth, and the consequence was, that
the majority of his customers left off dealing with him,
and the remainder were dropping off by degrees, and if
some contradiction was not given to the rumour, he was
confident that he should be obliged to shut up his shop.
The applicant :hen appealed to the Magistrate as to the
utter falsehood of his ever having been in custody at this
office for an offence of the nature imputed to him by his
neighbours.

The Magistrate said that he never recollected having
seen the applicant before, and the minute-book having been
examined to ascertain whether such a charge had been en •
tered, nothing of the kind appeared.
The applicant then asked whether his slanderers could
ngt be severely dealt with for propagating such a foul and
calumnious report to his prejudice.
The Magistrate said that he could not be assisted there,
and advised him to apply to his solicitor, and if he.could
ascertain the p arty who bad spread the report, an action
would lie for slander and defamation of character.

The applicant intimated his determination of following
up the investigation into the affiir, and obtaining the names
of the parties who had first circulated a report which tended
to do him such incalculable injury. Having thanked the
Magistrate, the applicant then withdrew.

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

LICENSING IN THE CITY.

On Tuesday a Court of Aldermen was held, for the pur-
pose of taking into consideration the expediency of applying
to Parliament to make such alterations in the new Licens-
ing Act, commonly called Mr. Estcourt's Act, as might be
deemed necessary, in order to render the Act more available.
A great deal has been stated, both by counsel and others,
relative to the awkward manner in which this Act has
been worded, and the awkward effect it would have, if in-
formers thought proper to avail themselves of the blunders
which were considered to abound in the Act. Some days
ago it was mentioned to the Lord Mayor, that the Act ap-
peared to be defective in every respect as it regarded the
City of London, and that there was not a single Licensed
Victualler in the City who was not daily subjecting him-
self to penalties by selling beer and spirits. This opinion
was afterwards contradicted, and it was asserted that the
Licensed Victuallers of the City, upwards of 700 in nutnber,
were perfectly well satisfied with their licenses, and with
Mr. Estcourt's Act, and desired no alteration or improve-
ment whatever.

The Loanlavos, thus assailed with opinion on both
sides, and being himself of opinion that the Act was got
up, though with the brat intention in the world, with a
yew small degree of skill or judgment, thought that the
beat mode of proceeding on the subject would be,. to state
before a Court of Aldermen the objections entertained
against the new law, and leave it to the Court to decide
upon the propriety of applying to Parliament.
His Lordship, we understand, represented to the Court,
that on the last licensing day the Licensing Act bad come
under the consideration of the sitting Magistrates, and that
au objection had been taken that notices had not been duly
served. This objection held good, for it waseitund by the
Act impossible to serve the notices as was by its provisions
requited. Since that discover!, it had been stated that
the Act itself was at the present moment in operation,
and that the publicans of the city of London were every
minute subjecting them-selves to penalties. If the Court
should view the Act in the same light, his Lordship
thought the most effectual means of protecting the licensed
victuallers from the consequences of a violation of its pro-
visions would be by applying to Parliament.
Alderman Woon said, that he had watched the Bill in
its progress through Parliament in the most scrupulous
manner. He had, in the Committee upon it, in -his
anxiety to protect his fellow-citizens, proposed several
clauses which he thought might give additional security to
the Licensed Victuallers of London. Those clauses, how-
ever, were objected to, us Calculated to encumber the
measure, to render it so involved and complex as would be
likely to embarrass the Legislature. He found it neces-
sary to withdraw them, upon the general assurance and
understanding, that the Bill, as it at present stood, would
accomplish every thing required, and that any apparent
omission or defect would be supplied by reference to the
preceding measure, which was in such cases to have opera-
tion. He believed that the new Licensing Act was now
in full operation, that the licenses obtained in the City of
London were completely available, that no inconvenience
could arise from the activity of informers, and the Licensed
Victuallers might rest secure with regard to the appre-
hended invasion of their property.
Alderman VENABLES considered the Act to be calculated
to answer all the purposes intended. Ile did not see that
it would be advisable for the Ctairt to interfere.
This was the sentiment generally entertained in the Court
on the.subject.
Alderman Woon further stated, that Mr. Peel was pre-
cisely of opinion that the Act comprehended every thing
meant and suggested by the framers, and never fur a
moment-thought that it was questionable as to its efficacy
in authorizing the sale of beer, spirits, &c.

The Court then determined that the measure should re-
main in staLu quo undisturbed.
It Appears that when it was publicly stated that
the publicans were liable to penalties for selling beer,
&c., by virtue of their licenses lately granted, Alder-
man Brpwn, who is solicitor to several of them,
was consulted upon the question of their liability. His
answer was, that there was- no need .of apprehension,
that the Act and the licenses were perfectly corresponding
with each other, and that the Magistrates could never de-
cide that there was any liability upon the part of the publi-
cans who should act conformably with the provisions.
The Itxcoanea would have been willingly heard upon
the subject, and several opportunities were given to him to
declare his opinion. He, however, studiously avoided say-
ing a word.
Whatever may be the just construction to be put upon
the parts of the Act objected to, it is evident that the
Licensed Victuallers of the city of London may rest satisfied
that there is no danger to be dreaded from the activity of
informers. The Aldermen will act to a man upon the con-
struction alluded to above, and as informers have always
been discountenanced at the Mansion-house and Guildhall,
even when they appeared upon an Act which had long been
notoriously violated, it cannot be reasonably expected that
they will run the hazard of expence upon the foundation of
an Act which has thus been pronounced to be perfect. So
effectually had all apprehension ceased, if any existed,
amongst the publicans and tavern-keepers, that we did not
notice one in waiting to learn the result of the discussion.
It was, we are informed, the determination of. the Licensed
Victuallers, if it had been determined to introduce a new
Bill into Parliament, not to pay one farthing of the ex-
peaces incurred.

A woman, well known by the farmers in this
neighbourhood, and who has long been designated the
Virgin, alias the Virgin Mary, alias Maiden Meg, was
married on Monday after having been proclaimed six times
in the course eight days. She was proclaimed to a cer-
tain individual on Sabbath the 12th three times; on the
Monday morning she went off in a post. chaise fur Kirkaldy
with another individual, to whom she had children,
expecting that the episcopal minister there would perform
the ceremony without certificate. In this, however, they.
were disappointed ; they returned, and were proclaimed
three times on Sabbath last, and on the following day the
marriage was consummated, leaving the brat-made bride-
groom to eeek after another mate.—.. Fife Barak'.