The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-18 00:00:00

IN RE MUSTAPHA ALL

In this case the insolvent was described as a general
dealer in foreign merchandise, and applied on his petition
to be discharged.
No opposition having been offered by any of the cre-
ditors in his schedule, the COURT ordered him to be dis-
charged forthwith.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
CROYDON POLICE.
A person named Isaac Crick, attended before Messrs.
Reid, Adams, Currie, and Sutherland, to answer an in-
formation laid under the Police Act, by Collier, the In-
spector of Police for this district, charging that he being
the keeper of a place of public resort, did unlawfully al-
low persons of notoriously bad character to assemble in
his house. This was the first information of the kind
that has hitherto been brought forward, and it will be
seen that it involved a question of some importance as
to whether the Police Act applies to such cases.
➢ir. Robert Russell attended for the defendant. From
the testimony of the Inspector and other officers, it ap-
peared that Crick keeps a lodging-house, or place of
resort for vagrants, and other disorderly persons, and
that from the disturbance constantly going on there it
was a complete nuisance to the neighbourhood.
On the occasion which led to the present pro-
ceedings, upon an alarm being given, the police
went to the house, and found 37 persons, many of
whom were convicted thieves and prostitutes, drinking
and gambling. In some of the rooms a number of boys
and girls were in bed together, and the scene altogether
appeared to be one that required the interference of the
public authorities. This was about one o'clock on Sun-
day morning, and soon afterwards several of the party
were turned, very drunk, into the street, when they
commenced fighting and creating a disturbance, and the
police were obliged ultimately to take them to the sta-
tion-house.
In answer to questions from the Bench, the Inspector
said that the defendant's house was open at all hours, and
persons were stationed at the door to induce parties to
take up their abode there ; and any one who chose to
apply was admitted.
Dlr. Russell then addresied the Bench at some length,
and contended that houses of this kind, though a nui-
sance, could not be done away with by summary process.
The Bench, having consulted together, came unani-
mously to the conclusion that the house of the defendant
was within the meaning of the Act of Parliament, and
they adjudged him to pay a fine of 51., and in default to
be imprisoned for a month.
Mr. Russell said, that he felt so strongly upon the
point that he should appeal, and try the question at the
Quarter Sessions.
The BENCH said, they were very glad that power of
appeal was given: These lodging-houses were a com-
plete nuisance, and it was understood that the clause in
question was expressly introduced into the Police Act to
enable Magistrates to do away with them without the
trouble and expense of an indictment. If the Magis-
trates had the power they would certainly exercise it,
but as it was a novel and important question, it would be
satisfactory that an opportunity should be afforded to
have it fully argued, before a final decision was come to
upon it.—The usual notice of appeal was then given.

THE LATE RAILWAY ACCIDENT.---The Di-
rectors of the Great Western Railway Company intend,
it is said, to appeal against the verdicts of the two Berk-
shire juries, upon whom it devolved to investigate the
circumstances connected with the late accident at Son-
ning-hill. The well known leaning of the superior
Courts may excite the railway management to this de-
termination, but in our opinion they will do well to pay
the deodands without litigation, and allow the matter to
rest as quietly as it may. The more the occurrence is
discussed the less likely will the undertaking be to regain
its former position in the confidence of the public. That
such confidence has been exceedingly shaken will be
evident to any one who examines the weekly returns of
traffic before and after the accident. Ten times the
amount of the deodands imposed will not meet the loss
which has fallen upon the Company through this occur-
rence ; and the longer the recollection of its details is
kept alive by arguments and statements in Courts of
law, the further will such loss extend. We never heard
of a railway accident concerning which public opinion
was less divided than in this instance. Generally and
unequivocally the arrangements of the Company with
respect to the conduct of, at least, their third-class trains,
have been condemned, and, as we think, condemned not
without cause.—Railway Times.