Star.
London, England, 1817-01-02 00:00:00

POLICE.

MA RLIONOUOII-ITRIET.--The following curious
case respecting a forged bank note, was heard :
Mr. Baooxst, a respectable pan nhrokereliving In,
High-street, St. Giies's, was on Saturday last waited
upon by an Inipector of the Bank of England, whol
produced a one pound note, which he said had been
passed by Mr. Brookes to his neighbour, Mr. Bull.
On examining the rote, it appeared by a memoran.
dum to have been received by Mr. lirookees shop-
man, from some person c tiling himself Gorbould,
No. 4., Tavistock-street. Mr. Brookes finding the
note had been in hls possession, gave Ali. Bull
another in lieu of the forged one, which lie said he
would keep in order to compel Gorbould, if he could
find him, to repay the one pound. The Inspector
objected to this, and insisted on having the note,
which Mr. Brookes as peremptorily ri fused to give
up, and the Inspector went away, threatening to
apply to the Magistrates at Marlborough-street, who,
lie said, were of a different opinion with the Lord
Mayer as to the right of individuals to retain forged
notes. On Monday Mr. Brookes received a summons
to attend the Magistrates, and he accordingly went
to the Office, when the before mentioned facts were
given in evidence, and Mr. Brookes was called upon
to delivei up the note.
Mr. Beoceas answered, that he considered the note
as his property, and although he should be ready at
any time to produce it for the purposes of justice, yet
lie would not part with it from his own possession.
On which Mr. Westwood, who attended for the
Bank, said he should apply to the Magistrate for his
committal as a felon, for having a forged note in his
custody without lawful excuses to which Mr.
Brookes replied, that as he had done no dishonest.
act, and felt convinced he was acting right in detain-
ing the note, he should submit to all the consequences
which might result from such detention.
Mr. WESTWOOD then applied to the Magistrate for
Mr. Brookes to be taken into custody, and he was
actually committed to C!erkenwell Prison under
charge of lamb until yesterday noon, when he was
Weight op by Foy, for. re-examination.
.Mr.'Haastra attended on the part of the deign-
and complained of the severe and oppressive
proceedings which 'had been adopted towards Ins
client, and obserikl, that as the, note was conspi-
curiusly stamped in two places as forged, it was not
in a state for circulation,.consequently Mr. Brookes
could not retain the note for any dishooest purpose,
and that the Legislature could only intend, that per-
sons found in possession of notes, which they meant
to negotiate, should be considered as felons, aud,that
Mr. Brookes e .uld not for a mument bsi suspected of
any such intention $ and that he had besides engaged
to produce the note whenever it should be required
for the purposes of justice.
Mr. Warrwooo and the Magistrate replied, that it
was Mr. Brookes's own look that he had been incon-
venienced and imprisoned, for he had been told, that
if he gave up the note, he should not be committed,
but he had obstinately persisted in keeping the note,
and be had therefore only himself to blame.
Mr. HAMM replied, that he considered the Bank
had no power, even by a civil action, to compel his
client to give up the note, and that he thouglit it ex-
tremely unjust that they should have resorted to such
adsoppressive mode to obtain it.
It was now suggested by Mr. Westwood, that if
Mr. Brookes would deposit the note in the hands of
the Magistrate, be should be admitted to bail, to at-
tend on a future day.
Mr. HARSIZa, however, objected to this, as it
might be interpreted that Mr. Brookes remained un-
der suspicion and it was at last arranged, that Mr.
jlrookes should be discharged, on an enKagemeat,
that the forged note should be sent to the Magistrate
in the course of she evening.
Manstorr Hovsa.—Yesterday a refeetable dealer
is the City applied to the Lord Mayor for a sum-
mons, in order to procure the attendance of some one
of the Officers of the Bank of England, to shew
cause why a note, declared bj a'Clerk of that estab-
lishment to be forged, was withheld from him (the
complainant). He stated, in support of his apptica-
tion, that the restoration cf the note would enable
him to trace it to the person from whom he received
it, and thus secure his own property. The btu)
MAYOR said the case was one in which he could not
interfere, and it would be but a waste of time for
him to hear a question discussed, upon the merits of
which he was not empowered to decide. Has Lord-
ship, however, thought it was a very fit subject for
investigation in a higher Court.
Two Jews were charged with robbing a sailorof their
own tribe of thirty-nine guineas in gold, and some few
Bank-notes for 41 each, the saving of fourteen years
service at sta. The prosecutors it appeared, had re-
turned to his native country last Sunday, and having
got among his relatives and friends at the east end
of the town, he made himself merry through their
affected hospitality and regard. While in this state
be was plundered of his property. Every exertion
was made by the officers to trace the stolen property,
but without effect ; but suspicion fell very strongly
upon the prisoners, who were seen in his company on
theta day mentioned. The charge, however, could
not be sustained against either of the prosecutors.
The prosecutor—es 'Tis a bard case, my Lord,
after an absence of fourteen years from home, that
rite timbers should be shivered; that si should be
boarded by persons even of m own religion, even
friends, and tom ymy little all. But, no matter, there
is no happiness on shore, and Jews :I know, will rob
their own father."

The LOAD MATOR•.•“ I plty your case much, and
wish I could relieve you bet it is out of my power,
further than to desire she (Awn to continue their
search for your property and the plunderers, and to
advise you to get to sea, far from your false friends
as quickly as possible again. Sorely the Jews might
Infer one of their own society to escape."
The prisoners were discharged.
Bow-cramr.—A perms who keeps a deity auction,
room in Picket-street, Temple.bar. Was charged by
Mr. Best, of Deasesiard, Westminster, with -having
sold to him, by amities, a seal warranted to be gold,
lengaginig to return the money if. on minute, exami-
nation, it ahosll rove to be otherwise. Mr. Best
stated, that on sbewiog the seal to a silversmith, he
twas assured it was not genuine gold: He therefore 1
seat his brother ti the anctlos.rooin to return the seal
and demand thcirepayment at Isis mosey ; bat he was
I told it could not them ha paid him, as he had art

cotes withis the usual hours for making
He Sited a short time for the arrival of the proprie-
tor of the room, but was again told he must call
some ocher time; whereupon he applied to the Ma-
gistrate for a warrant, and had the auctioneer brought
up in custody to answer his complaint. Mr. Amu.-
PIIUS, as Counsel let the auctioneer, contended there
was nothing like fraud in the traesaction ; that t!ie
auctiuneer was merely the agent In sale on commis•
don; that the seal in question, though not solid gold,
was strongly cased with gold, and cost the manufac-
turer, metal and workmanship. Ils.; that the price it
was sold at was out 2s. more, consequently but a very
moderate profit. That his client was ready to return
the money whenever it was called for in t:.e re3ular
hours. Mr. limes, the Magistrate, observed, that
complaints of the most flagitious frauds at many of
the perpetual auction-rooms were frequent, and very
' general ; that it was his bounden duty to put down
fraud in whatever shape it might assume, whether
auction or an; thing the. Fur the present he should
' order the defendant to be discharged from custody,
with an injunction, however, to the complainant, that
if, on applying again for the return of his purchase.
money, it were not paid, be should prosecute the par.
ties for fraud.

Uston-u sm.—A negro woman, named Amelia, a
native of Barbadoes, who lived servant with a Lundy
at Newington, was on Tuesday Nought up by Snow,
the Constable at Newington, for re-examination,
charged with the wilful murder of her illegitimate
child. She was folly committed for trial at the Sur-
rey Assizes.
Dustin Ponca.--Moommaru armor.--Williaos
HoterJrd was brought before the Sitting Magistrate,
on Friday, the 20th ult. charged with having grossly
and violently assaulted Bridget Hamilton and Jaue
Dignam.
It appeared on examination, that Bridget Hamil-
ton, a washerwoman, living at Drumcondra, had, on
Monday fortnight, made free with a field of the Lord
Bishop of Kildare, to lay a quantity of washed ar-
ticles to bleach in. Howard, who is son-in-law to
his Lordship's Steward, saw the trespass, and began
to gather up the clothes, either with a view to throw
them into the road, or to impound them. The wo-
man, seeing him treat her things in such a manner,
' and even, as she alleged, actually tearing some of
them, ran to him and entreated bim to desist, and
she would remove them herself. This he refused to
comply with, and a scuffle ensued between the two.
The woman (Divans) seeing the inequality of the
contest, and feeling for her neighbour, ran to her as-
sistance, and endeavoured to itiotect her ; the manly
prowess, however, of the person she had to contend
with, proved victorious on the occasion, and four
times successively laid Dignam flat on the earth.—
Her face was greatly disfigured by the beating she
got, and one oUher eyes tompletely closed up. This
woman told the Magistrates, what was very visible
to any observer, that she was tar advanced in a state
of pregnancy.
The Bishop attended .to vindicate his servant's
conduct, and insisted on the Magistrates taking his
depositions against the two women
The whole of the parties cinema into recognizance's
to appear at the County Sessions.
The transaction came under the consideration ofl
the CHAIRMAN of Kilmainhasp, and a Petit Jury, at
the late Sessions. After a full investigation, Howard
'was found Guilty, and sentenced to three months im-
prisonment in the county jail, with liberty to com-
mute the punishment by paying the prosecutors
(Hamilton and Dignam's) expenses, and giving them
ten pounds by way of compensation for the assault.
The cross bills of indictment which this person, by
desire of his master, sent up to the Grand Jury, were
thrown out.

Mr. PLATT, we are sorry to hear, is rather worse
than hs was last week ; be is confined to his bed ;
the wound still discharges, and the ball is not yei
extracted.

Mr. Firm%Taws, second clerk at Hatton Garden
Office, has not yet.returned from his search alter the
younger Watson. The last account received from
him was from Li►erpool.
Sir Jacoa Amity's game•keepe ifiprehended, a
few nights ago, five poachers in lhe Baronet's pre-
serve, with game and guns in their possession, since
which they have been committed for trial to Waking-
ham Jail.

About 11 o'clock, on Thursday night, when Mr.
William Whitby, rope-maker, East-lane, Kent-road,
and his wife returned home from a puty, they found
their, house had been broke open, and plundered of
feather beds, bed clothes, boxes,wearing app irel, and
many other artides. Pursuit was instantly made,
and a man driving • light cart with the stolen pro.
petty, was stopped and taken into custody.
Friday a meeting took place at Bobbing, near
Rochester, between Lieutenant B—, of the Royal
Navy, and Dr. a medical practitioner in ►hat
neighbourhood—when the friends of the respective
parties met, it appeared, on explanation, that the
Doctor hid omitted to inform his friend, either with
the cause, or the intention of the meeting ; and when
asked, if be was prepared to give the satisfaction
which was required of him he observed, that he
came to mule the business like a gentleman, hut lint
to fight. His friend, a professional gentleman of re.
,spectability in Rochester, on hearing the cause of
complaint which the Lieutenant had to urge against
the Doctor, was disgusted with his conduct; and
after seeing his nose almost wrenched from his lace,
by the intended second of I.ieutenant and
other indignities offered to his person by another in
jured party, be left him in the hands of his antago.
lists to shift for himself, and receive the chastisement
he most justly merited. Notice of the intended
meeting having, however, been given to the Ma-
gistrates, a peace officer arrived upon the ground,
whilst the complaining parties were insisting upon sa-
tisfaction, ■nd stopped all further proceedings by
taking them into custody. The parties, on being
brought before the Magistrates, were bound over to
keep the peace.
On the 18th ultimo, a little boy, about a year and
r a half old, son of Mr. G. Stunrize, of West Mailing,
was killed by a piece %f gristle lodging in his throat.
The mbstance lodged too low to be extracted with-
out surgical aid, and in ten minutes before that aid
could be obtained, the vital spark was extinct. A
medical gentleman peefonned the operation of open-
ing the windpipe of the little sufferer, and extracted
the gristle, but could net remote animation.