Star.
London, England, 1825-11-19 00:00:00

A IANIAC.

Yesterday, whilst the Court of King's Bench were
occupied in hearing the arguments of Counsel upon a
ques.ion of ej-ctinent, a maniac rushed in, and pushing
aside several Barristers, placed himself before the
Judges. The wild look of the miserable intruder, and
the peculiar effect produced by his garb, instantly sus-
pended the business, and threw the 11:•ncli, the Pleaders,
Attornies, and suitors, into a state of surprise. 44 h-
alts be the King of England's throne," exclaimed the
unwelcome intruder, raising his arms in a dramatic
style, ‘• let us all have justice." The Usher of the
Court felt it was his duty to remove this unfortunate
being, and approached evidently under some alarm to
conduct him out of Ctin. t. The moment his arm was
extended for that purpose, the maniac, looking at him
with the wildest gesture, said—" Avaunt ! I know
thee not. Take away those unhallowed hands. I
charge thee cast aside ambitian. I must speak to it.'
These sentences were followed by a religious ejaculation,
uttered in the impressive fury of insanity. Tile officer
hesitated ; the Banisters appeared to be sensible of
danger from the new advocate, and were gradually
retreating to a secure distance. The poor lunatic then
laid upon the bar a pocket-book, a ring, and some
coin. "Who gave me Mat ring?" he exclaimed, and
was evidently in a paroxysm which must have produced
the most extravagant acts of madness, when the officer
forced him from the bar. The Counsel near this scene
of insanity told him, as he was going, to take with him
his ring, pocket-book, and money, " No, no," said
the madman, "I'll leave it here ; you want it; take it
among you." The Barristers, who had no objection,
to a fee in the regular way, were unwilling of course'
to retain the donation bestowed by the lunatic visitor.
The ring, the pocket-book, and the coin (whether
copper or silver we could not see), were c mveyed by
the officer to the deranged owner. The cause of inter-
ruption was then taken out of Court, and business again
followed in its usual smooth and placid course.
We understood that the unfortunate maniac was once a Thespian
of some repute in the Provincial Theatres, and that he became nen
comps mentis in pursuit of the Histrionic Muse.

In the Palace Court, yesterday, Mr. Newham, a
dealer in nautical instruments, near the West India
Docks, recovered 51. damages of Mr. East, a tailor, for
a violent assault on his person, indenting his forehead,
and demolishing his spectacles, whilst treating for the
(sale of some turtle.

DISTURBANCE AT THE AUCTION MART.—Yesterday,
according to public notice, several shares of the Inde-
pendent Gas Company were put up for sale at the
Auction Mart, by Mr. Williams, the auctioneer. They
were 2&i. shares, and the Company was described as a
valuable and improving concern. On asking for bid-
dings, Mr. Williams was interrupted by two Gentle-
men, who wished to know what the prospects of the
Company were? Mr. Williams replied, that he had
no doubt the Company would, in a short time produce
a handsome dividend. The Gentlemen said it was
impossible the Company could produce any hand-
some dividend. The Company had sold gas con-
siderably below the price charged by other Companies;
and they also knew, although it was stated to the
contrary in the cond tions of sale, that the Company
wsuld not allow the transfers of the shares to be
assigned to the purchasers. The Auctioneer offered to
make a condition that if the transfer was not made, the
deposits should be returned. The persons who attended
the sale were perfectly satisfied with Mr. Williams's
proposition ; but the two Gentlemen created so much
disturbance in the room, that Mr. Williams, finding it
impossible to proceed with the sale, passed the lots, and
told the two Gentlemen that actions would be COM.
menced against them.