The Sun.
London, England, 1829-08-28 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

Yesterday Mr. John Beck, one of the Westmin-
ster coal-meters, appeared before Sir R. BIRNIE, to
answer the complaint of Mr.lhomas Bradfield, who
has distinguished himself in bringing to light some
of the frauds in the coal-trade. The summons
which the defendant appeared to answer set forth
that he, "being a labouring land coal-meter, did, on
the 19th instant—to wit, at Hungerford wharf, in
the parish of St. Martin-in-the-fields—deliver cer-
tain meters tickets to one Absalom Abrahams, for
a certain quantity, to wit, 32 sacks of coals, the whole
of which he did not see measured." By the 104th
section of the 47th of Geo. 111. c. 68, any labour-
ing laud coal-meter so offending, is liable to a fine
not exceeding 101., and is further declared ineligible
to act as coal-meter for the future.
Mr. Harmer appeared for the defendant, and Mr.
Bradfield conducted his oven case.
_ .

The clerk having read the averment set forth in
the summons, the defendant pleaded " not guilty'
to the charge.
Mr. Bradfield then called Mr. John Sambroke,
who deposed that he lived at No. 10, Isabella-row,
Kennington-lane, and was some time ago employed
as a labouring land coal-meter at the Surrey side of
the river, but was now in the service of a coal-
merchant. On the 19th instant, witness went with
Mr. Bradfield to a public-house at Hungerford-
wharf. Witness observed a waggon loading at Mr.
Lumley's wharf. Three men were filling sacks
under the superintendence of Mr. Absolom Abra-
hams, the vender of the coals. Mr. Lumley, the
owner of the wharf, was also present. When the
coals were -loaded, witness, accompanied by Mr.
Bradfield, followed the waggon to the residence of
Lord Sinclair, at No. 27, Bryanston-square, where

he saw them delivered to a female servant, who re-
ceived the tickets.

—..—..
By Mr._ Harmer—l lost sight of the waggon for
a minute or so, but I am certain that no other wag-
gon was near the spot at the time. 1 will not
swear, however, that another waggon might not
have been loading at the same time.
Mr. Bradfield said lie should now call Mr. Lum-
ley, the proprietor of the wharf, but begged to say
that lie considered that person an interested wit-

ness.
Mr. Harmer—That is a most improper observa-
tion to apply to a gentleman whom you yourself
have called forward as a witness.
Air. Lumley denied that he had any interest in
the matter one way or another. Mr. Bradfield's re-
mark was quite uncalled for, and had no foundation
wha.ever in truth.
Mr. Bradfield—l know what I have said per-
fectly well, and I repeat that Mr. Lumley is directly
interested in screening the defendant. In fact, there
are so many persons whose interest pulls one way,
that I find it almost impossible to stand against
them. All I seek, however, is the truth.

Mr. Harmer—No doubt, yOur motives are per-
fectly disinterested.
Mr. Bradfield—Quite as much as yours are, Mr.
Harmer. Mine is a plain case, and relying upon
that alone, I have not found it necessary to employ
a paid advocate to bring me through it.
Sir R. BIRNIE—CaII your next witness.
Mr. Bradfield—l call Mr. Lumley.
Mr. Lumley here came forward, and in reply to
Mr. Bradfield, stated that he was a wharfinger
at
Hungerford-stairs. On the 19th instant he was
standing on his wharf, and believed that Mr. Ab-
salom Abrahams was there at the time. Some men
were employed in loading a waggon with coals.
Mr. Bradfield—Now, upon your oath, Mr. Lum-
ley, did you not stand by the side of the waggon
the whole of the time it was loading?—Mr. Lumley :
Upon my oath, I did not stand next the waggon the
whole of the time it was loading; for I recollect per-
fectly well going once or twice to the counting-
house. _ _ _

Mr. Bradfield—l thought how it would be. I
shall ask you no more questions, Sir. The whole sys-
tem is one of the grossest fraud, and you are vilely
interested in it.

Mr. Lumley repelled the imputation with some
warmth, and
' •

Sir R. BIRNIE repeated the obnoxious words, and
observed, that in his opinion they were actionable.
Mr. Harmer (to Mr. Bradfield)—You are here,
Sir, in the capacity of an informer, and as such it
is highly improper that yo►► should be suffered to
cast imputations affecting the character of a witness.
Mr. Bradfield—l have a tight to speak out, and
more especially when I see myself opposed to so
many persons. I repeat that Mr. Lumley being the
owner of a wharf is necessarily mixed up with the
frauds that are daily practised there, and knowing
what I do of the malpractices of coal-meters, have
no hesitation in asserting' that they ate most infamous.
Sir R.BIRNIE-1 know very little of coal meters,
but I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Lum-
ley for thirty years; indeed, we were fellow troopers
together, and I believe a more correct or• honest
man is not to be found.

Mr. Bladfield—l shall now call Sarah King, the
female servant to whom the coals were delivered.
Sarah King accordingly came forward and proved
that the coals and the tickets by which they were
accompanied were delivered to her on the 19th in-
stant, at the house of her master, No. 27, Bryan-
ston-square.
Mr. Harmer—Pray, whom do you live with ?
Witness—l am servant to Colonel Piggott.
Nlr Harmer—l thought you were in the service
of Lord Sinclair ? Mr. Bradfield—Lord Sinclair
rented Colonel Piggott's house, which he left on the
19th instant; the coals delivered on that day were to
replace some that his Lordship had consumed.
Mr. Harmer—l did not want this explanation
from you, Sir ; the witness could have answered for
herself. Mr. Bradfield—l know you are ready to
take advantage of every quibble, and am therefore
obliged to explain.
Mr. Harmer—Well ; is that your case ? Mr.
Bradfield-1 have no other witness, but here are the
tickets that the defendant handed to Mr. Abrahams.
They are signed by the defendant, and will speak for
themselves.
Mr. Beck-1 wish to sec those tickets—perhaps
they are not signed by me.
Mr. Bradfield—Here they are ; deny your signa-
ture if you can.

_ .
Mr. Beck having looked at the tickets, said he
should neither acknowledge nor deny the signature
which they bore.
Mr. Harmer submitted that the complainant had
. .

failed to prove his case. Mr. Lumley had denied
upon his oath that he was present during the whole
of the time that the waggon was loading, and at all
events the delivery of the coals and the tickets to
Mr. Abrahams was not proved. Why had not Mr.
Bradfield brought forward Mr. Abrahams to prove
that he received the coals. Mr. Bradfield replied
that he could not have done so, because Mr.
Abrahams, being himself an interested witness, was
not bound to criminate himself, which he would
certainly have been obliged to do had he came for-
ward and spoken the truth.
Mr. Harmer—l submit that no case has been
proved ag•dnst my client.
Mr. Bradfield—l am quite sure that I have proved
sufficient, but ofcourse I must abide by the Magis-
trate's decision.

Sir It. BIRNIE—The charge sets forth that the
defendant delivered certain meter's tickets to one
Absalom Abraham's. Now, that fact has not been
proved in evidence, and I therefore dismiss the sum-
MODS.
Mr. Bradfield—Since I am opposed in this way
L shall be compelled to take a more decided course,
for the purpose of exposing a most nefarious system
by which the public are robbed through the knavery
of those appointed to protect them. That system
must and shall be broken up, unless my neck be
broken in the effort, which is not at ull improbable,
considering the way in which I am threatened
every day. One of Mr. Lumley's carmen has sworn
to finish me, and attempted my life with a piece• of
iron.

Sir R. BIRNIE--The case is dismissed, let us
have no more about it. The parties then retired.
Richard Jacobs, a young tradesman residing in
Earl-street, Seven-dials, was brought up in the cus-
tody of Bond, jun. on a warrant, charged with as-
saulting Mr. Henry Hedges, under circumstances of
rattler a curious kind.

Mr. Hodges, a well-dressed man, apparently 45
years of age, and who gave his statement in a very
precise and measured tone and manner, deposed,
that he was in Little Earl-street, near the defendant's
residence, on Sunday evening last, waiting to see a
young female with whom he was anxious to corn-
mime, and had placed himself on the opposite side
of the street to watch her arrival home, when he
saw a female enter the house, and supposing it to be
her whom he was seeking, he advanced towards the
door, but met with a very rude and unexpected
repulse from the defendant, who sallied forth from
the threshold, seized him by the collar, and asked
him what he wanted ? Witness did not choose to
satisfy him on that point, and replied accordingly,
whereupon the defendant shook him, and smote him
on the shoulder; arid that was the assault he com-
plained of:
Sir R. BIRNIE—What was the cause of this at-
tack ? Mr. Hodges—l declare, Sir Richard Birnie,
I know aot. I only know that he smote me as
have described.
Sir RiettAßD—There must at least be some
fancied cause. Perhaps the defendant will explain it.
MI. Jacobs said the cause of the pretended as-
sault was this :—A respectable widow named Dud-
ley, with her two daughters, lodged in his house,
Ind had done for several years. On Sunday, at
and
o'clock in the afternoon, he saw the com-
lainant take his statiopposite the door, and he
plaint
loitering aboun ot
there until seven in the
evening; when he Came and gave a double knock

at the door, and it was answered by Mrs.
Dudley. In a few moments a confused noise
was heard on the stairs, and his wife, who
went to see the cause, called out to him to come
down. He did so, and found Mrs. Dudley, who is
rather infirm, leaning on the bannisters in a state of
considerable agitation. She said she had been in-
sulted by Mr. Hodges, who insisted upon seeing
her eldest daughter, and would not believe she was
from home. He (Mr. Jacobs) then went to the
door, and seeing the defendant walking away, he
merely followed and tapped him on the shoulder,
and asked him what he xvanted ? to which he re-
plied, with a flourish of his arms, " that he came to
seek Miss Dudley—that the flame had burned long
enough, and had become too intense to be borne any
longer, and that it must be quenched."
Sir R. BLRNIE—Oh, then this is a love affair
after all.
Mr. Jacobs continued to state that he told Mr.
Hodges that be must not come there again, or he
would give him in charge to a constable, upon
which he said he would come as often as he pleased,
and in the presence of several persons threatened to
thresh him (Mr. Jacobs), and said he would Whip
him like a school boy. He denied striking him.
Mrs. Dudley stated in explanation, that her family
and Mr. Hodges had Leen known to each other for
16 or 17 years, having first become acquainted at
a Dissenters' place of worship, at which, as at other
places of the same kind, Mr. Hodges occasionally
assisted. Mr. Hodges would sometimes escort her
daughters home from chapel, when they had gone
alone ; and as he had a wife and children, and had a
character for great sanctity of manners and pro-
priety of conduct, this was not thought improper.
About three years ago, however, he was seeing her
eldest daughter home, when he made advances of a►r
extremely improper description, which she at once
communicated to witness, arid lie was forbidden to
come to the house again. Ever since that period I,e
had pestered her daughter with nonsensical letters,
and had persecuted her ►n a much more serious way.
She had been shopwoman for five years at Mrs.
Sheppard's, a respectable haberdasher's in Compton-
street, and the defendant was in the habit of going
there, and insisting en seeing her, and .sometimcs
placed his foot against the door and refused to allow
it to be closed until his wish was gratified.
Sir RICHARD—What is the complainant ? Mrs.
Dudley—A shoemaker and a preacher, your Wor-
ship.—(A laugh.)
Sir R. BIRNIE—WeII, Mr. Hodges, what do 3ou
say now ? Why did you go there on Sunday ?
Mr. Hodges-0, Sir R►chard, you know but little
about it yet. Miss Dudley wrote to me only last
week, and here is her letter, and it was in conse-

quenee of that I went.
Sir R. BIRNIE—Now then, I suppose, for a love
epistle. Sir Richard then read the letter, of which
the following is a copy :
" Silt,—The appellation of friend or brother will
never again be applied by me to you, either verbally
or with my pen. Your conduct has separated the
friendship that formerly existed between us, and I
do assure you never again to be renewed. If you
reflect but for a moment, your conscience must con-
demn you. I can assure you that no appearance of
humiliation on your part shall affect my mind in the
slightest degree : it is all lost upon me ; and corre-
spondence of any kind is from this moment at an end
between us. The respect I have for your distressed
wife is sufficient to deter me from any future ac-
quaintance with you. You well know that nothing
in my conduct was ever calculated to excite such
baseness as yours. It has not done me the injury
you might have imagined—the adversary has often
been his own enemy—though he is mighty, he is
not almighty. I feel much for your soul—it is awful
to reflect that you may sink into eternal perdition
after the professions you have made, and the attach-
ment you seemed to have for the. Lord. I know
that you are not beyond the reach of Omnipotency,
and I leave you in the hands of Him who can pluck
brands from the fire, earnestly desiring your salva-
tion ham the dominion. of sin here, and the final
consequences hereafter. Ido insist that you will
not come where," am, for, though I wish well to
your soul, I do not wish to see you under any pre-
tence whatever.
" If this is not complied with, I shall take other
means, arid that immediately, as I cannot nor will
not be annoyed any longer. " E. DUDLEY."
Sir R. BIRNIE-1 should have thought this would
have been quite sufficient to put an end to your vi-
sits. It is a complete dismissal. Pray may I ask
what gospel-shop you hold forth at ? Mr. Hodges
shook his head. .

Sir R. BIRNIE—You have preached, have you
not ? Mr. Hodges bowed his head.
Sir R. BIRNIE—You -seem very taciturn all at
once. I think the assault, if it can be called one, was
of your own seeking, and the warrant is dismissed.
The warrant was then discharged, and Mr. Hodgos
left the office, complaining that justice was not in the
land, and that he was much aggrieved.

THE MARKETS.

COUNTRY CORN MARKETS DURING THE WEEK.

Vs, heat. I Barley. Oats. i Beans.
'Per Quarter. s. to s. s. 8. s. to S. s. to s.
Blandford '7O
Brigg—
— 69 29 21 33
Chard 56 70 32 38 24 30 42 48
Huntingdon 61 '7O 26 32 19 24 33 40
Long Sutton .. 54 60 17 21 35 37
Louth 66 70 26 30 17 25 36 40
64 '72 29 35 16 21 26 40
Newark 67 '72 31 34 22 29 41 41
Nottingham 60 '7O 22 29 40 43
Peterborough 50 70 37 40 18 25 37 42
Plymouth 60 76 '29 37 24 28
--71 22 43
Sleaford 55
.62 33 35 20 25 40 43
Uppingham 64 72 32 38 24 27 42 48
4Visbech -.» 51 64 26 18 21 36 38

LEEDS CORN A RKET.—Aug. 25.
The arrival of Grain to this day's market has been
smaller than last week. We have had a considerable quan-
tity of rain since this day se'nnight, but last night and to-
day the weather is fine, which has had a tendency to check
any material advance ; still fine fresh Wheat may be noted
Is. to 2s. per quarter higher, and the middling qualities
have been in better demand than last week, but no amend-
ment can be noted in the price of inferior New and stale
Old. Grinding Barley in more demand. In the price of
Oats, Shelling, Beans, Pease, an,' Malt, no alteration.
The millers ask an advance of 2e. per sack on Flour, but
only the needy buyers will comply with any advance.
Rapeseed may be noted the same as last week. There has
been a small parcel of New White Norfolk Wheat which
has been sold at 755. weighed 601 b. per bushel.
Wheat, Norfolk and Sufolk, 601 h.
--- York. and Lincoln. 601 b.
Barley, Norfolk and Suffolk
--- Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
--- Grinding 5°,427.55s roc, co 3.
225. to 235.
Beans .............................. 631 b.
255. to 28s.
Oats, Potatoe
Mealing, Foreign 12d. to 13d....English 1214 d. to 14d. per
load.
st
Shelling 335. to 355. per
Rapeseed, English, 27!. to 291 Foreign, —I. to —I, per last.

---------
LIVERPOOL CORN EXCHANGE.—Aug. 25.
Being without rain last night and this morning with a
fine drying wind, we had rather a dull market to-day.
Prices of Wheat must, however, be noted 3d. to 4d. and
those of Oats 401. to Id. per bushel above the rates of this
day se'nnight. English Flour was is. per sack, and Ame-
rican Is. to 2s. per barrel dearer. The value of other
articles in the trade was unvaried.
WHEAT, English, White, per 701 b. los. ;a toil,. oil
--.------ Red 10 3 10 6 •
---- Scotch, Welch, and Manx
Irish, White
------ Red
- - Foreign
OATS, English, Welsh, and Scotch, per 451 b ,3 3 3 6
---- Irish 3 1 3 4
- - Foreign
BARLEY, English,Malting, per Imp. quarter 34 0 38 0
---- Scotch and Irish, per 601115.
-- - Feeding 4 6 5 0
t) 0 43 0
- Foreign ....... ... ... .. ,
PEASE, English, per linperial quarter
quarter
BEANS,.
1EF:.:iriii:g5gi1,iii:::1.11.,;..i.p)r....1..n....i..1..i..e.:r.....1
.................
..... r..
:so
40 0
42 0
38 0 41 0
Foreign •- • ... gjg
FLOUR,
INDIAN CORN, per 410I1s.
PeriQairs. Foreign, !iris !Irish Ste yck
OATMEAL, English and Irish, per 2.101b5.
RYE, per Imperial quarter 5l 053 0
32 6 35 0
'lt 0 36 0
56 0 62 0
IMPORT OF GRAIN for the W '
My per::
Wheat. Oats. Barley cex ending Aug. 24.
Flour. 23 000 :3,62 (?)
Oatmesl
5,566 13,433 1,951 15,984 •1 %06-0. th liacds.

Flies and most other troublesome insects are
said tube unusually scarce this year.—Brighton Ga tete.