Star.
London, England, 1827-07-12 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.
Tea New Senoottuct Acv..—Yesterday an information was
filed by the Solicitor of the Customs, charging John Nicholls, a
seaman or seafaring man, with having been engaged in smuggling
on shore a certain quantity of tobacco, intruding to defraud his
Majesty of the duties payable thereon. The penalty consequent
upon this offence is, that the convicted party is liable 40 be made
to serve his Majesty in the Navy for ate term of five years ; and
the information prayed that such punishment might be awarded in
this case. The charge excited a great deal of interest, as it arose
out of a recent and almost unheard-of Act of Parliament, which
annexes so heavy a punishment to the offence of smuggling the
merest trifle, and leaves no appeal except In the shape of begging for
mitigation to the Lords of the Treasury.
Nicholls is a mariner, and mate of a Hamburgh vessel. He
pleaded Not Gailty.
The Solicitor of the Customs requested that he might be per.
mined to withdraw this information, which had been framed in
order that the five years punishment might be awarded; and he
wi-hed, instead of it, to file an information for the 100 L pesaky.—
Ile proposed to adopt the milder course (the pecuniary penalty),
as the defendant might have acted in ignorance of the law upon
the subject.
In answer to a question put by the Loan Maros, the Solicitor
to the Customs said that the Magistrate had no power to mitigate
the fine. The Lords of the Treasury alone could relieve the de-
fendant from the payment of any portion of the penalty. Those who
subject themselves to the fine must remain in prison until they pay it.
The LOBO hiarort...—lndeed ! Then I really cannot consent to
allow you to withdraw this information unless the prisoner himself
wishes it. I think that it will be more merciful to him to let the
conviction take place on the present information, and send hint, who
has already served his Majesty, again into the service, than to let
him ran the hazard of imprisonment for life. His Lordship
then asked whether the defendant would have the case proceeded
with now, or prefer a postponement, and take time to confider what I
course to pursue?
The Solicitor for the Customs had no objection to a further post.
ponement,but it would be necessaryto detain the prisoner in custody.
The Loan Maros and Mr, Alderman Lucas were surprised that
such an Act was in force.
The case was then proved by two tide-waiters, who said, on the
9th instant they stopped the defendant on the Custom-house Quay,
and found upon him about 71bs. of cigars, which were composed of
foreign tobacco. The prisoner mid he had purchased the cigars at
liamburgh, and considered they were his property, and that he
was justified in bringing them to this country. After some discus.
don between the Loan Maros, Mr. Mclennan Lucas, and the So.
licitor for the Customs, the Loan Maros said he was bound by
the Act to convict, and therefore adjudged the prisoner to serve on
board one of hie Majesty's ships for five years. His Lordship and
Mr. Alderman Lucas most strongly recommended the defendant
to the consideration and clemency of the Lords of tht Treasury.
The warrant for committing the prisoner to the tender was then
made out, and signed by the Loan Maras and Alderman Lucas;
his Lordship having previously observed, that before the Custom.
house people endeavoured to get another conviction, they ought to
advertise the Act of Parliament, in order that seafaring men might
know that there Is such a law in existence. _ .

James Lamb,' man dreued in a white outside smock, and having
altogether the appearance of (that which he was not) a husband-
man, wis put forward, charged with running away with Neve!'
yards Gleam, which were hanging outside the shop of a puma
named Perry, in San-street, Bishopsgate-street. The shop-boy of
Perry proved the fact of the goods ►aving been foand on the pri-
soner, but said his master having heard his story was unwilling so'
prosecute hint, as he appeared to have committed the theft from
distress _

The prisoner, in answer to the Loan Maroa's questions, said, he
was a sailor ; had been discharged from his ship two months back,
and could not ince get another ; he had applied to the pariah
officers of the places where he had slept, and they had all refused to
pass him home to Liverpool, and it eras from want alive that he
was obliged to do what he bad dove.
The Loan Maros having ascertained from the officer who had
the prisoner in custody that kis story was correct, said he hoped,
in acceding to the desire of the prosecutor in this case, not to cow-
. mit the prisoner, that the ends of justice did not require it. His
Lordship, after adverting to the practice of shopkeepers exposiag
goods outside their shops, and thus affording a temptation to the
needy that few of them could resist, desired the prisoner to be taken
care of, and if employment were not found kere for him, that be
should be sent by the waggon to Liverpool.
Mr. nobler asked the prisoner if he had applied at the Tower to
enter the King's service? and be replied that he bad, but would not
be taken, as he had been wounded by a bullet in the thigh.
The prisoner was removed, deeply affected with the change in his
des:wettest'', front absolute poverty and despair to the prospect of
being restored to society.
• H ATTON- G AR DEN.

Yesterday, Tli4;nis, a baker, was sent to the Mill for six
weeks, being charged with attempting to extract a silk handker-
chief from the pocket of a Gentleman, while passing through Hat-
ton-garden the preceding evening. .
QUERN-SQUA RR.
Yesterday, Thomas Hill, came before Mr. Warn and stated,
that be had been at the Theatre on Thursday night, and thence
to the " Finish," where he got inebriated ; from thence he proceeded
to the Ship, in Charles-street.Weitminster,where he was persuaded
by Corporal Baker, of the 56th Regiment, to enlist. He received is.
which was spent in drink. He next repaired to the Hoop and Grapes,
in Queen-square, with the Corporal, where be remained MI hie
appearance at dila Once, and in the interim was prevailed on to
dispose of his clothes plec-meal, while their produce was expended
in additional drink. Oa Tuesday he was taken to the Samna, at
the York Hospital, by whom he was passed. When be got to the
Recruiting Department, in Duke-street, he was recognised by a
Gentleman, who wrote to his brother, who came to him and told
him his father was very angry, and refused to assist him. Mr.
Wares—" If you can bring evidence to convince me that yen were
intoxicated when you enlisted, I shall know how to proceed." The
servant-maid at the Ship then deposed, that he was so much in
liquor, that her mistress refused to serve him. The Serjeant then
applied to the Magistrate for Hill to pay tbe " smart money," which
was 20s. but Mr. W. would not allow one farthing of the sum, but
discharged the applicant freely.