Star.
London, England, 1826-12-15 00:00:00

UNION-HALL.

A few days ago, a Mr. John Hunt, who described himself as one
of the Select Vestry beloagiug to Sc. Mary Lambeth, applied at
this Office, for a warrant to search the premises of Mr. William
Gibbs, the son of the late master of Norwood House of Industry,
the former of whom he alleged had feloniously conveyed away from
the Wotkhouse, certain property, cousistiug of a few rope mats,
some leather, and a►out albs. of black lead, the property of the
above parish.

The.blagistrates hating put the usual questions to the applicant,
the warrant was granted.

Yesterday the -defendant, who is a young man of very respecta-
ble appearance, was brought before the Sitting Magistrate, M.
Swaagy, Esq. He was attended by Mr. Harmer, and several of
his friends. There was also a very strong muster of the parish
officers.

The mats, the leather,-and rha• black lead which had hem ,
on the premises o( the prisoner, were produced for the Magistre....',
inspection, the complainant observing that hr should bring I,rai,4
witnesses to identify them.

A person naitird Kent was then called, who, on examining t* .t
black lead, sail that he hail sold a quantity of thlt article to
beth parish, but whether that produced was the same he coJI.I i,,t
take upon himself to swear.. _ _

Mr. Harris, a currier, who wss in the habit of supplying tL.
parish officers with leather, on examining the " butt ends" t.";
produced, said they were like those for which the parish contr.c4
wish him. Ha also stated that Mr. Gibbs's father frequently 1„1:
with him for leather on his own account, and he had futhish,l!4,
with " butt ends'. so much resembling those produced, that it %v;
impossible for a stranger to discover the difference.
Mr. Harmer sail that the conduct of the parish officer, to;;,
client was most disgraceful. The defendant was a youu2, e,4
living in reFfectability at Stanmore. Ott the death of his tattat
which took place at Norwood a short time ago, he removed td,;.:
premises all the property that be conceived to be his lath.;
including the ends of kather, the few pounds of black k a.j 5.,1
the old mats, the value of which would not amount to inure :..
thirty *billings. Loon after the removal tin deitiidani h,4
some obscure hints Ottawa out that he had tobt,rd toe p.ar,•11,4p.,
which be sought an opportunity of inviting the parish oil Lets
examine his premises; instead of doing which, in the hrs. ii.stanu,
they had applied for and obtained a search warrat.t. Uu lite,
log the vindictive proceedings which the parish offers
adopted, he immediately got into his gig, and to she w the oiseusi.:k.il
that actuated him, to give every facility in the seat ch, nteeittig
constable on the road to town, he took him up, drove him oats to
Stanmore, and pointed out every article 011 his premises tta: he
conveyed away from his father's apartments subsequent :o
Mr. Harmer concluded, by repeating, that the parish officeis
acted in the most crud and vindictive m.rater towards the
man, whom they must be aware, (even admitting the few pai..,
articles to he the property of the parisb,) had not taken them
felonious intent. A number of Gentlemen here spoke in high tern,::
of the character of the accused.

The Magistrate—Mr. Gibbs's character is not at all aliecte3 I,
these proceedings: there is not the shadow of a pretext th.: .c
had taken those things with a feloniutta intent, even auninting t, t:t
to be the property of the parish.
The parish officers all stared at one another; sad one of the—,
observed, that it the accused was kept longer in custusly, he hail
doubt a strong case would be made out agatnst bins.
Mr. Harmer—l think my client will have a much stronger c. -e
for being apprehended on such a charge, and I shall advise inn: ca
eater actions against one and all of you.