Star.
London, England, 1827-09-29 00:00:00

PALACE COURT, SIFT. 28.

SUMMERS V. ALLEN.
Mr. THOMPSON opened the pleadings.—Mr. ADOL•
PHUS (who was brought to this Court special) stated,
that the action had been brought by Mr. Summers, 4
man of some opulence, carrying on the trade of a
butcher in Skinner-street, Somers Town, against the
defendant, who was also a butcher, and had formerly
been the plaintiff's foreman, to recover a compensation
in damages for the injury the plaintiff's feelings and
reputation had sustais.ed, in consequence of the gross
slander uttered by the defendant. The Jury which he
had the honour of addressing would, he thought, be of
opinion, that the character of a tradesman was as dear
Ito him as that of any other member of society, however
exalted might be his rank ; arid he was also confident
that they would not think the alleged slanderous word!
were either captious or frivolous. The Learned Coun-
sel read the slanderous words, and called upon the Jury
to give such damages as would mark the defendant's
conduct in this transaction, who had not ventured to
put a plea of justification on the record, but had c•.n-
tented himself with denying having uttered the defa-
matory language imputed to him.
Jeremiah Clarke, a furniture broker, at Somersj-swn,
and a son of the plaintiff, were called, and they proved
that, on the 17th of August last, the defendant, at the
Brill Tavern, Somers' Town, and also at the door of
the plaintiff's house, said, " You are a thief; you
thought to have given me a ticket, but I will give you
o.se ; you kept your slaughter-house open all hours of ,
the nigl.t,-to receive stolen property ; and, if I were to
go before the Magistrates, at Hatton-Garden, and give
evidence against you, I could hang you at any time,
and that you know."
The witnesses, in cross examination, said that all thel
plaintiff said in reply was, " Go about your business, I'
have nothing to say to you."
Mr. FLANAGAN addressed the Jury on the part of the
defendant, and contended that the language of persons
in the line of business followed by the defendant was
not generally very elegant or classical, and that the
nicest construction ought not to be put upon words used
under a sense of injury by a man of the defendant's low
and vulgar habits and conversation.
GEORGE LONG, Esq. the Judge, said that the lan-
guage used by the defendant was grossly slanderous.
It imputed to the plaintiff that he was a receiver of
stolen goods. The character of a poor and honest man
—and that was as respectable a character as man could
ha-e—was as dear to him as reputation was to a Peer
of the Realm. The Jury would give such fair and
reas-nable damages as the case called for.
Verdict for plaintiff—Damages, 101. and costs.

MIDDLESEX ADJOURNED SESSIONS, Sspir.2B.

George Harrison, beadle of Paddington, was indicted
far a•saulting a boy, named Charles Butler, who stated
that on the day in question he and his younger brother
were walking through the churchyard at Paddington,
when the burial of a child was taking pace ; and their
attention being attracted by the small white coffin which
was let down into the grave, he was induced to ap-
proach the edge of it and look down; upon which the
beadle ordered him to be gone. The witness asked him
if the thorougfare was not open? To which he replied
by striking the witness with a stick he held in his hand.
The witness then Itruck him over the hat with a piece
of wood; but the witness's hat falling off, the defendant
broke his stick over his bare head.

The lad's brother, and other witnesses, corroborated
this statement. The prosecutor's head and arm were
severely bruised from the blows inflicted upon him.
Witnesses were called for the defence, who swore
that the prosecutor disturbed the funeral ceremony,
hunted the sheep in the churchyard, and used gross lan-
guage to, as well as assaulted, the beadle.
After a great deal of conflicting and contradictory
evidence,

The Jury found the defendant guilty, asd he was
sentenced to pay a fine of 101.
Sarah Eaton, Harriet Brag, John Clough, Hannah
Collier, Wm. Wincet, and 'rm. How, were indicted for
a riot in the parish of Bethnal Green, on the r4th of
August last.

Mr:PRENDERGAST conducted the prosecution; Mr.
BODKIN definded Mrs. 13rag, and Messrs. ALLEY and
PHILLIPS the other dele:.clAnts.

It appeared from the evidence for the prosecution,
that a woman named Jane Lee had been coniieteel
upwards of i year and a half ago of ill treating an ap-
prentice, for which she was sentenced to six months'
imprisonment. In about twelve months after she had
undergone this punishment, a number of the neighbours
thought proper to burn her in effigy. Whilst this ope-
ration was going forward, a mob of nearly 200 persons
were collected outside her house, who threw stones and
oyster shells at her windows, and offered her every
species of insult. Amongst the rioters she perceived
the defendants at the bar to be most active in encou-
raging the others.
For the defendants several witnesses were called, three
of whom proved different alibis for the same person,
which excited much laughter in Court. On Mrs. Brag's
behalf evidence was adduced to thew that she was a
religions, charitable woman, and incapable of being a
party to such conduct as that imputed to her. Besides,
she was the prosecutrix's landlady, and was therefore
likely to be the sufferer from the injury done to her
house.—The Jury found all the defendants Guilty.
They were ordered to be brought up for judgment
on Thursday next, to which day the Court adjourned.

When are the various improvements in London
and its vicinity to be fini bed? At present a pe-
destrian is sure to be over his ancles in a bog, or
tripped up by a pile of stones, or compelled to make
a detour of a mile, wherever he bends his course.—
By the way, we perceive a board stuck up at Pimlico,
with a notice as follows:—" Horses and carriages are
respectfully requested to go round the other way.' This
is polite end considerate at all events. What would be
said if such an inscription appeared in Dublin?

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. •
GinLDHALL. •
The Stewuds of the Amicable Society; a clob instituted, as the
preamble sets forth," to contribute to (an awkward expression, by.
the-by) and alleviate each other's distresses." appeared before Al-
dermen Au and Legate yesterday, upon complaint of having
unlawfully expelled one Hugh Price.
The complainant had belonged to the society twenty years, and
had paid about 50i. into the box, while he had drawn tack only DX
In June last, while receiving 18s. a-week as a sick member, be was
observed putting up the abutters of his shop at 1 i o'clock at night,
without a hat on. The Steward, who witnessed this act, walked up
to him, and gam him notice that he should repoit the circumstance
to the Society. Two general meetings were held upon the subjett,
and finally Price was expelled.
Price said, he was a green-grocer, and his wife, who was a very
fat heavy wornan,ha•ing been trudging about until her lees were
swollen, he was obliged to put op the shutters. lie acknowledged
he wits found shelling peas the next day, but that was under an Int.
presslon that hr should not be allowed the sick money for that week.
Mr. Alderman Arun,. said, that all societies of this kind were
disposed to draw the line too tight, the body feeling a natural anxiety
"to get ill of members as soon as they arrived at the age when they
were likely to become burdensome. They could not look at a
question-whether the rules had been Infringed by an ailing member
without prejudice, and authority was very properly accorded to the
Magistrates, who had no interest. to decide between the parties.—
in this case, if the man had been detected in bringing home goods
from market, or serving in kis shop, and carrying goods to his
customers, that would have fairly been following his ordinary
calling, But putting up two or three abutters on an emergency was
not so, and the pea-shelling was not set up as a ground of expulsion.
Sir Pasta Loma said, be should concur in ordering the man
to he reinstated in the society ; but the society bafi certainly had a
right to infer. that if Price was not afraid of ventiting out without;
his hat to put op shutters, he was well enough to do many other
things in his business as a greek-grocer, and he hoped the complainant
would never be guilty of inch an act again while professing to be
an object of relief from the sick fund.—The complainaat therefore
was reinstated.

BOW.STREFIT.
aarke, the officer of the Court of Requests. Vine-street, Picca-
dilly, who was charged, in conjunction with niter. another officer
of the same Court, who was ordered to find bail on Wednesday
last, with an outrageous assault on Mrs. Teesdale and her brother
( Mr. Jones), was yesterday brought before Mr.Miestseic, to answer
to the charge.
Mr. Jones re-stated his former evident, and swore distinctly
to his haying been struck by the prisoner. Mrs. Teesdale corrobo-
rated her brother's statement, as did also two other witnesses.
The prisoner was ordered to find bail, himself in 401. and two
sureties in 201. each.

An Officer of the Army charged Henrietta &emu and Ann AIMS,
two women of the town, with robbing him of the chain of his
watch and its appendages.
Aczording to the statement of the complainant, he was returning
on Thursday night from the City, where he had dined, when be
was accosted by the primers, who wished Man to give them some-
thing to drink. It being holignet eft in the morning, the public-
houses were closed, but she !snicked at the Black Boy
in Long-acre, the landlady of bepisw, for the purpose of
treating the ladies with a little re He found, however,
that one of them had made free with his watch, &c. on dis-
covering which he gave both the prisesseinto custody.
In answer to a question from Mr. hlinnann.t., the Lieutenant said
be was perfectly sober at the time.
The landlady of the house in question, however, admitted that be
was very much in liquor.
Both the prisoners denied in the strongest manner the act with
I which they were charged. They said, that they met the Gentleman
in Long Acre, and assisted him along, being incapable of helping
himself. He thanked them for their kindness, and said be would
procure them something to drink at the Black Boy, where he was
known; and he spoke in great raptures of the landlady's daughter,
to whom, he said, he was paying his add:asses, and was resolved to
run away with her. On arriving at the door of the public-house,
he knocked, and was admitted, having given the name of " the
Captain." He remained in the house about ten minutes, and then
returned, and charged the prisoners with robbing him. The pri•
soners said ft was very unlikely, if they bad robbed the Gentleman,
that they would have remained outside of the door for his return.
. . . .

The complainant denied the accuracy of this statement' and was
I indignant at the imputation respecting the landlady's daughter,
whose name, he said, it was most unlikely (having an unbounded
respect for the young Lady) be should have mentioned publicly.
There bring no evidence against the prisoner James, she was dis-
charged, and Henrietta Stevens was ordered to be detained for a
further examination.
H ATTON.G ARDEN.
A youth, named George Miller, late groom in the service of an
Oxonian, was brought before Mr. RlOO2llll, by the Overseers of the
parish of St. Pancras, on an order of affiliation.—The mothers a
somewhat fascinating little bed?, about twenty-live years of age,
with a well-dressed chubby boy in her arms, positively swore to
the fathership of the youth.
Mr. Itormas.—Well, what have you to say, young man?—
Master Dallier (smiling): I can only say as this, your Worship, we
were fellow-servants at Mr. at Oxford, in the beginning of
last winter, and that she seduced me to her bed; I went to her
purely out of good nature; but I have now good reason to believe
it was a trick played upon me, and that my master has a prefetable
claim to the honour of being the infant's parent. Your Worship,
the baby is the very picture of him.
Dlr. Rormas.—How old are you, young man?
Miller.—Seventeen, come Sunday, your Worship.
Mr. Room said he was not ignorant of the way in which such
affairs were managed, and ordered the youth to pay Is. 6d. a week
for the support of the child.