The Sun.
London, England, 1829-10-02 00:00:00

BOW.STREET.

Yesterday Mr. Martin liraslin, a coal-merchant
of the Adelphi-wharf, Strand, appeared before Sir
R. BIRNIE, to answer to a summons obtained against
him at the instance of Mr. Turquand, one or the
principal Surrey land coal-meters, for having de-
livered 18 sacks of coals in sacks of a less depth
than four feet two inches, cont►ary to the provisions
of the Act of Parliament.

Mr. Adolphus, who appeared for the defendant,
took a-preliminary objection to the information, and
called Mr. Turquand an informer, hinting that he
preferred the charge for the sake of the penalty.
Mr. Turquand denied that he was an informer,
and said that he was merely acting in pursuance of
his duty. As for the penalty, not a penny of it
would go into hi. pocket.
Mr. Adolphus—Ay, ay, if you don't get it,one
way, you do in another.
Mr. Turquand asked the magistrate if he was to:be
subjected to these observations: he was paid a salary
for the office which he held, and had nothing to do.
w;th penalties, which went to the committee under
whom he acted.
The objection of Mr. Adolphus being overruled,
'I he clerk read the summons, and the defendant
pleaded " not guilty."

Elizabeth Hunter then deposed, that she lived in
Maiden-lane, and had dealt with the defendant for
coals during the last 16 or 17 years. On the 22d
of last month, 18 sacks were delivered by the de-
fendant at her house, and Mr. Rickman, now
present, measured the sacks, which he said were
not proper ones.
_ _

By Mr. Adolphus—Witness never had any com-
plaint against the defendant. She believed the
reason for that was, because she bad never measured
the coals which he sent her.

Mr. Rickman deposed, that he was a principal
Surrey land coal meter. On the day in question,
he saw the coals delivered from a Croydon waggon,
and thinking it strange that a Surrey waggon should
`be delivering coals in Westminster, he—
Mr. Adolphus—Don't tell usaboutyour thoughts,
Sir.

Mr. Rickman—l have a right, I apprehend, to
state the reasons that occurred to my mind for the
conduct I pursued.

Mr. Adolphus—l want to hear nothing of what
passed in your mind—if you have a mind. You are
here as a common informer, and must act as such.
Mr. Rickman—Am I to be insulted in: this man-
ner, in the presence of the Magistrates ? I cell
upon Sir Richard Birnie to protect me from such
observations.

Sir R. BIRNIE interposed, and requested the
Learned Counsel to restrain his remarks.
The witness than proceeded to state that he could
measure only one sack of the coals, as Mr. Muslin,
who had been sent for, prevailed upon Mr. Hunter
(husband of the first witness) to allow the remainder
of the sacks to be shot without being measured.
Ford, the gaoler, produced the sacks, and upon
their being measured, it turned out that most of
them were at least three inches short of the pre-
scribed length. A discussion arose as to whether
the lips of the sacks ought to be included in the
measurement. The Magistrates decided, however,
that the sacks ought to be the prescribed length in-
dependently of the lips or the lappels.
The person who made the sacks proved that they
had been regularly stamped by the proper authority.
Mr. Taylor, an inspector of Westminster land
coal-meters, said, that in his opinion the sacks were
Of the proper length,if the lips were included, which
he considered ought to be the case.

Mr. Turquand expressed his surprise to see Mr.
Taylor come forward as a witness for the defendant,
and expressed his determination to reporehim.
The defendant said that if his sacks were defi-
cient, two-thirds of those used in the trade were in
the same condition.

Sir R. BIRNIE said he was very sorry to hear
that. He was bound to convict the defendant ; but
he could appeal.
The defendant was then convicted in the sum of
20s. He signified his intention to appeal against the
decision, and entered into his own recognizances for
that purpose.
The ease and despatch with which the new Po-
lice conduct their night charges at Bow-street
forms a striking contrast to the slovenly and unsa-
tisfactory manner in which the defunct nightly
watch performed their duty, and proves the supe-
riority of the new system, even while yet in its in-
Lucy. The Magistrates themselves seem astonished
at the regularity with which the business is done,
and the improvement must be obvious to any per-
son who is at all acquainted with the subject. The
charges are arranged and brought forward by the
Superintendent and Inspectors, who have the re-
spective parties marshalled in order outside the
office, so that no time is lost in getting them in be-
fore the Magistrates. This order, it is but fair to
state, if not entirely owing to, is at all events
greatly facilitated by, those of the men who had be-
longed. to the patrol who were attached to this
office. The clearness and distinctness with which
the men delivered their evidence must also have been
matter of satisfaction as well to the accused as to
the Magistrate.

Sir R. 131FINIE said that it was really matter of
congratulation to perceive the difference between
the new police and the old watch.

The Chairman of a Free and Easy, John Murry,
and Patrick • Kenny, two well-known characters,
were yesterday charged with having been concerned
in picking pockets. It appeared that the prisoners
were observed by two gentlemen a-sisting a boy in
picking pockets. The boy got away, but the pri-
soners were secured. On them were found some
gentlemen's cambric pocket handkerchiefs, which
they said they had pnrChased for wearing round
their necks on Sundays
Mr. HALLS observed, that if they did not mind
they would, ere long, have something else round
their necks.
• Mr: Thomas, the Superintendent, produced a

duplicate of a handkerchief, and a bundle of cards,
of which the following is a copy :
" FREE AND EASY.
" SlR,—The favour of your company is requested
on*Monday evening next, at seven o'clock, at Mr.
Fassett's, the Harp, Georee•street, Bloomsbury,
and you will oblige " Your's, gr.c.
" JOHN MURRY, Chairman."
Mr. HALLS observed, that this was a very polite
invitation.

Evidence of the repute of the prisoners was then
taken, and they were committed for two months
each to the House of Correction.
In addition to the present dress, the policemen
are to have, we understand, in wet weather, a large
oil-skin cape, lined with serge, which is to be af-
fixed to the gteat coat, and reach to the chest.

lIATTON-GARDEN.
The boy, John Annear, who was charged at this
office on Monday last with stabbing a youth named
Gorman, was yesterday placed at the bar before Mr.
ROGERS and Mr. LAING for final examination.
Several of the boys who witnessed, or were par-
ties in &he transaction, with one or two other per-
sons, attended, and gave evidence, of which the
following is the substance:—
On Sunday afternoon the prisoner was passing
through a hop-field adjoining to Maiden-lane, St.
Pancras, where a vast concourse of boys were at
play at the time, and having a switch in his hand,
about thirty of those boys singled out, and falling
on him, deprived him of his switch. He made an
effort to recover it, when he was violently assaulted
and knocked down ; some dragged him along by the
heels, while others kicked and trampled upon him,
and the severity of the treatment was carried to such
an extent, and persevered in so long, that the pri-
soner at last drew his -knife to repel and defend
himself from his assailants. Gorman, and two or
three others more desperate than the rest, rushed in
upon him to wrest the knife out of his hand, and
en this occasion some slight wounds were inflicted,
and Gorman received two stabs, one in his side im-
mediately under his breast, and the other between
his hip and groin. The prisoner then ran away
with the bloody knife, the point of which was
broken in the conflict, firmly grasped in his hand,
but was still pursued by his assailants, who pelted
him with mud and stones, ❑ntil he reached Battle-
bridge, where he was overtaken, and the assault re-
newed, which must certainly have proved fatal in
the event, had not a constable and some other per-
sons interposed, and .taken the prisoner into custody.
Mr. Tilt, the surgeon, deposed that Gorman,
though unable to attend the examination, was out
of danger. The wounds he received were not se-
vere, and from their appearance, coupled with the
evidence, he believed them to be accidental rather
than the effect of meditated blows. The witness
added, that the field in which the assault took place.
was a nursery foi viciousness and disorders of all
kinds, and on Sundays particularly, was sure to be
the, scene of continual riots among thousands of
youths of the most profligate character.
Mr. LAING, after some observations upon the pro-
vocations the .prisoner received, and also upon the
yet unjustifiableness of his using a knife under the
circumstances, recommended to the parents of both
parties an adjustment of the matter between them-
selves, which was agreed to, arid the prisoner was
then bound over in his own recognizances to ap-
pear at the ensuing Sessions, to answer to any in-
.diatment- that -may..-be preferred against him under
the circumstances.