Star.
London, England, 1826-11-27 00:00:00

WORSHIP STREET.

Saturday, a case or great hnportance to the interests of masters
and journeymen came on for hearing before the Sitting Magistrates,
Mr. Twyettan and Mr. Orioaxa. A warrant had been issued at
the instance of Messrs. Wilson, Moores and Robinson, against
James Cole, a journeyman in their employ, who was charged with
Fawning a piece of velvet, their property" Hearing that the war-
rant was Out against him, be immediately came to theciace and
surrendered. The circumstances of Use case, when explained, ap-
peared to be the following.:
In the month of September, the defendant received materials
'for makitig thirty-twit yards of velvet, and having manufactured it,
took it to the warehouse; but on account Of some previously &s-
-pited account, he refused to deliver his work until his balance of
wsges.sitould have been settled; and this not being complied with,
he pawned the velvet, and left tin pawnbroker's ticket with his
employer's.
Mr. Wes, solicitor to the Silk Society. attended fee the com-
plainants, and having proved the ease on the part of his clients, the
defendant was called open for his answer.
. He said that duds/ a long life be 'bad never before been placed
in such a situation, and would leave his defence with kis witnesses.
Wm. Thompson stated, that on Wednesday morning he went
with the defendant to the warehouse of his employers, where the
defendant tendered the piece of velvet to Mr. Robinson; but said
be could not leave it without being paid his wages. Mr. Robinson
turned upon his heel, and walked away, saying " Good morning,
Sir." The defendant followed, and said, " I will leave it, Mr.
Robinson, if you give me your word, as a Gentleman, that I shall
be paid;" and getting no answer, they went away.
The witness was closely cross-examined by Mr. Coles, to sheer
that the money demanded by the defendant was on some fesmer
account, and that there was an understanding between hits akd the
witness that the work should be pawned if it were not paid.
The witness said he knew there had been a disputed account be-
tween the defendant and his employers, but what he then claimed
was for the present work. He admitted that he had heard the de-
fendant say be would pawn the velvet if they did not pay him;
but he said he did not know it was thedefendant's'intentiou when
they left the wirehouse.
The piece of velvet was produced. It had been pawned with Mr.
Sowerby, of Brick-lane, fos 75. (Is. 6d. less than the wages for
making,) and Mr. Coles called upon the Magistrates to convict the
defendant under the Silk Act, which, for the first offence, subjects
the offender to the penalty of 404 or not less than 20f. and, in de-
Utak of payment, to an imprisonment of not less than three, nor
exceeding six months, in the House of Correction.
. .

This eiposition of the law appeared to take the defendant and the
numerous journeymen who were present completely by surprise.
The defendant protested that he thought he was justified in doing as
he had done, and would have been sorry to do any thing wrong.
Several of the journeymen interceded earnestly for the defendant,
who, It appeared, had himself been a manufacturer, dint's!) nou
in reduced circumstances, and had always borne an unblemishet,
character. lie had a wife and several children to suppot t.
The Mnonraarita lamented that such a 1114111 should have plac4

'himself in his unfottionate situation, hut it could not 1w petntitt.,l
that be should take the law Into his own hands, supposing his LIAM%
on his employers to be Well founded.
Mr. Cules•said he felt it netessary, for the protection of the trade,
to call for a conviction, that the journeymen might knob they cou:d
net offend against the law with impunity.
The defendant was accordingly convicted, and conveyed to the
loik-up-rootn, Mr. Robinson baying paid him his amount of wage•,
and also redeemed the velvet (rum pkdge.
Mr: Cohn shortly afterwards, nu the parrot Mr. Robinson, ap.
plied to the Magistrates, laying lhat.the object had been to convince
the journeymen of their error as regarded the law to which they
were subject ; and that being attained, he prayed that the-conviction
might not be signed.—The defendant was accordingly discharged.

LA M BETHATREST.
Friday, a Mr. Joliffe waited on the Magistrate, to requesta war.
rant for the apprehension of name Shirreil and Richard Ftlehi
whom he believed were concerned in the stealing the body of h:t
wife, from a room in which it was laid, at No. 3, Glohe-lan,
Betfinal.green. Mrs. Juliffe, it appeared, died on Tuesday,
body was laid out, in the first floor, on Thursday, and on Fttal..?
morning it was gone. Shirred had been heard to observe, that 0.
was a good thing Jaffe 's wife was stolen, as there was neither sh, ti
nor coffin provided for burying her. A conversation between
Filch had elm been overheard, which led Dlr. Mitre to conciliate
him to be it party. The Magistrate thought It strange, neither plud
nor co6n had been provided.
Joliffe—That was the fault of the undertaker.

The resurrection men, k appeared, gut in by the window • .they
took nothing but the body. When the Magistrate was made 4.
quainted with the latter circunutance, he refused to interfere, steal.
ing a body only being merely a misdemeanor.