Star.
London, England, 1821-10-17 00:00:00

POLICE.

Mainstow-House.—After the business of the Jus-
tice-room was concluded yesterday, little Waddington
entered the room, and claimed his Lordship's atten-
tion. He said he had now to address his Lordship
upon what he considered the most outrageous act of
tyranny that ever disgraced this or any other coun-
try. He proceeded to remind his Lordship that some
of his Majesty's most loyal subjects had thought it
their duty on the death of her late ever-to-be•la-
merited Majesty, to give the lead to the public send-
ment of the United Kingdom, by moving a Loyal
Address of Condolence to his, Majesty upon the oc-
casion. This was all they intended; but notwith7
standing that due and regular notice of the Meeting
had been given to his Lordship—notwithstanding
that his Lordship had said he saw no harm in it—
notwithstanding that the Civil Authorities were on
the spot to preserve the peace, some fellow had had
the tyranny to threaten the landlord that if he suf-
fered the Meeting to be held in his house he should
lose his license. The man who had dared so to pre-
vent a Loyal Meeting for an Address of Condolence
to his Majesty, must be an enemy to the King ; and
the Civil Power ought to look afier him and bring
him to justice for the unprecedented outrage. The
orator proceeded to state, that loyal subjects and the
friends of good order were not to be intimidated by
any endeavours of that kind. They would have held
the Meeting notwithstanding this threat, but they had
a regard for the family of the publican, whom they
could not recompense for any loss he might sustain on
their account, and in consequence they lead abstained
from holding it as they might have done. But to
shew of how little avail such endeavours were, they
were determined to hold another Meeting for a more
extended object, and he now begged to lay before
his Lordship the nature of it, and hoped, that as it
was on a loyal subject, they should have his protec-
tion. Waddington then handed to his Lordship the
coke of the Meeting that had been published.
The LORD MAYOR said, if the speaker was so con-
fident of the loyal and peaceable disposition of the
Meeting, he need be under no apprehension of inter-
ruption.—Waddington said, that as the proprietor of
the rooms where they were-to hold the Meeting had no
license to care for, they were not under the same ap-
prehensions as on the last occasion, but it was inti-
mated to them that the Authorities would interfere
to prevent it: and although the persons who com-
posed the Meeting might have every desire to pre-
serve the peace, yet peace-breakers were always on
the ales t,; throw the well-disposed into confusion.
Vs'addingtci, was bursting into a flow of eloquence,
• which lie commenced by quoting the text, " Whoso
sheddeth nusn's blood, by on4n shall his blood be shed,"
and was proceeding to dilate on the death of Honey
and Francis, when the Loan MAYOR, to the regret of
all present, cut bins short, and said the Meeting would
be looked to. Waddington bowed and retired.
A woman was brought before the Loan MAYOR,
and charged on suspicion of having robbed an orphan,
under circumstances which excited the commiseration
of all who heard the case. The complainant was an'
interesting girl, nearly eighteen years of age, and
stated that she had been some years since left, by the
death of her father and mother, _ without relations or

friends, entirely destitute, in the metropolis, at a
very tender age. She had fortunately learnt how to
bind hats, and procured work from the shops of dif-
ferent hatters, and by great industry and economy
had been enabled to support herself decently, and to
save, in a course of years, £37. She had a short
time since contracted an acquaintance with the pri-
saner, who professed warm friendship for her, and
solicited her to lodge in the same house. The com-
plainant.consented, and had lodged with her for some
weeks, when she went to the Bank to get her little
stock of notes changed for sovereigns. In the pride
of heart which may be conceived on the occasion, she
eoald not forbear sheaving her hoard to the prisoner,
in whom she placed the 'greatesteonfidence. The
prisoner saw where they were deposited, which was
In a small bar that was locked in a very large one,
in which the complainant kept her clothes. On the
following day the complainant was nearly distracted,
on finding that the lock of her clothes-box had been
picked, and that the small box which contained her
treasure had been broken open and rifled. She was
so much confounded by the discovery that she was
at first unable to take any measures for the detection
of the offender, but upon recollecting herself, her
suspicions fell on the prisoner, who she found had
pawned her clothes and some trinkets that belonged
to her without her knowledge, and had afterwards
redeemed them with sovereigns, although she was
before in the greatest poverty. Under these circum-
stances of suspicion the prisoner was brought before the
Lord Mayor. The officers stated, that they had used
their utmost exertions in the case, but could only
learn that the prisoner bad had a sudden plenty of
money, with which she had redeemed goods she had
formerly pawned. The prisoner affected great in-
dignation at the charge, and made use of bitter
threats against the complainant for taking away her
character. The LORD MAYOR reproved the prisoner
for this behaviour, which,.he said, only tended to,
confirm the suspicion under which she lay. His
Lordship regretted that he was unable eci aford the
complainant any relief, and discharged the prisoner.
GUILDHALLCOUNTERYSIT SOVRILLIGNSIn
consequence of the resumption of cash payments by
the Bank of England, the coiners have recommenced
their operations, which had been almost entirely sus-
pended during the circulation of the paper currency.
The Public must therefore be exceedingly cautious
as to the silver and gold now circulating, but more
particularly with regard to the sovereigns, as coun-
teifeit ones are now making their appearance very
fkequently. Two cases of attempts to pass a coun-
terfeit sovereign occupied the attention of Mr. Alder-
man SCHOLEY, the sitting Magistrate at this Justice
Room, yesterday :
The first was that of a man named John Coleman,
describing himself as a hackney-coachman. A female
it appeared, bad tendered a bad sovereign in payment
for some articles purcha.ed in Newgate-market, and
on being stopped with it, offered to go with the
tradesman to the person from whom she had it. She
was accordingly accompanied to St. Martin's-le-
Grand, where she pointed out Coleman as the person
from whom she received it, and who appeared to
save been waiting there for her. Coleman took the
4overeign from Jeer, and on Honey, the officer, who

actoinpfinied the wail% questioning him respecting'
it, he refused to give any account whatever, and en- ,
deavoured to make his escape. He was pursued and
taken, but in his flight had contrived to get rid of the
sovereign, which was not to be found upon him when
searched at the Compter, and in the interim of pur-
suit the female who had tendered ie slunk away.—
Under these circumstances, neither the counterfeit
coin uor the person who tendered it bei to be pro-
duced, the Magistrate was under the necessity of dis-
charging the prisoner, after a suitable admonition for
the guidance of his fufure conduct.
The second case was that of Charles Simmons, a
sort of costermonger, residing in or about Bream's-
buildings, Chancery-lane. In this instance, as in the
former, the prisoner was not the actual utterer; he
had dined and drank tea at Bream's-buildings, where
he was in treaty to tent a kitchen of them, and had
sent the s m, George Owens, a lad about 16, with the
bad sovereign, to purchase some butter and eggs at
a cheesemonger's in the neighbourhood. The lad
was stopped with the sovereign, told who had sent
him, and accompanied the shopkeeper to find the
man, which they accordingly did, in Chancery-lane.
The prisoner, when brought by young Ost'ens to the
shop, acknowledged having given hinithe sovereign,
but refused to state any account how he himself be-
came pos'es.ed of it, and was therefore detained in
custody. Nothing was found upon him, nor at his
late lodgings in Ship-yard, which were searched, to
strengthen the suspicion against him. In his defence
yesterday, he alleged he had received the sovereign
from a pawnbroker in Gray's Inn-lane, where he had
pledged a carpet, the duplicate of which he produced.
He had, however, it seems, never mentioned this cir-
cumstance before, nor expressed any desire to procure'
the attendance of the pawnbroker in his justification.,
Indeed, when the Magistrate told him it would be
necessary to procure the pawnbroker's attendance at
the next examination, for which he should remand
him, he received the communication with an indif-
ference that seemed to intimate no great reliance on
the benefit to be derived to kim by the pawnbroker's
appearance. He was accordingly remanded until
Thursday, with orders to the officer to give the ne-
cessary notice to the Solicitor for the Mint.—The
counterfeit sovereign was produced, and appeared to
be afac simile of one found in the possession of a girl
of the town, who underwent an examination on sus-
picion of robbery, before Mr. Alderman Cox, last
week. The impression on these counterfeit sovereigns
is very coarse; they are manufactured of gold of an
inferior value, and are in appearance very new and
bright. By particular attefttion to their weight, they
may, however, easily be detected, even without the
scales, as they are exceedingly light.
BowNSTRENT.—PUBLIC NUISANCE.—Upwards of
70 of the lower order of prostitutes were yesterday
morning brought before the Magistrate, on charges
of riotous and disorderly conduct. For a consider-
able time past Brydges-street, Covent-garden, and
the neighbouring streets and avenues, have been so
infested with girls, many of them mere children, and
more than half naked, that it has been next to im-
possible for any person of either se: to pass after
sunset without experiencing insults of the grossest
kind. These unhappy creatures commence their pro-
menade at dusk, and continue the greater part of the
night to annoy the inhabitants as well as passengers
by their outrageous conduct. They associate with
and materially assist the light-fingered corps in their
operations, and have several times succeeded in screen-
ing notorious thieves from justice by favouring their i
escape from the officers. On Monday evening Sir
RICHARD BIRNIE issued a general search-warrant for
the apprehension of all disorderly females found
within the Parish of St. Paul, Covent-garden, and a
strong party of patrol in a short time completely
cleared the streets. Several inhabitants attended, and
said that unless something effectual was done to put
a stop to the nuisance, it was impossible they could
stay in their habitations. Some of them had more
than once been assaulted by these girls at their own
doors, and after a certain hour they were obliged to
remove the female part of their families to a remote
part of the house, in order that their ears might not
be assailed with the horrible language which was
constantly resounding through the streets. Sir Bien-
ARD BIRNIE said, he had walked through the streets
for several nights past, on purpose to inform himself
upon the matter, and he bad seen sufficient to deter-
mine him to adopt the most severe measures for the
prevention of so abominable a nuisance. He regret-
ted that, in consequence of the crowded state of the
prisons, be could not commit the whole of these
women, but after the Sessions he should issue war-
rants every night, and commit all who were brought
before him. Some of the worst of the prisoners were
then selected for committal, and the remainder were
discharged with a suitable warning.
Dolmas:G.—Yesterday John Du gin, a youth of
eighteen, the son of a dyer in Bloomsbury, was
brought before Sir RICHARD BIRNIE, on a peace-
warrant issued at the suit of Mr. Gibling, a clerk in
a public office, for putting the said Mr. Gibling in
great bodily fear, by challenging him to mortal com-
bat with a pistol, or some other deadly weapon. The
statement of Mr. Gibling was, that having some
leisure hours upon his hands lately, he had employed
them in collecting debts for his brother, and, in the
course of his peregrinations ig that employment, he
had occasion to make several calls upon the defend-
ant's father for the payment of a bill, and was always
desired 4, to call again." He went the other day, and
receiving the same answer, he made some rather
warm observations, and in a few hours afterwards he
received the following epistle from the defendant:
" Orange-street, Oct.
0 Tittles* Mr. Gibling retracts the assertions which he made
use of the other day, Mr. Dugghi expects that Mr. G. will meet
him, on Tuesday morning, at Primrose-hill, with pistols, or such
other weapons as seemetk fit, without fail. Mr. Gibling will, of
course, bring a friend with him."
Upon the receipt of this warlike note, Mr. Gibling,
not chusing to gratify this aspiring youth with a meet-
ing, repaired to a Magistrate and procured a warrant
for his apprehension, in order that he might be bound
over to keep the peace towards all his Majesty's sub-
jects. Sir RICHARD BIRNIE, before he issued the
warrant, asked Mr. Gibling if he really felt any ap-
prehension at the nonsensical threats of a foolish boy ?
—Mr. Gibling said, he really did not think himself
safe, for the youth was a very Hotspur in his tem-
perament, and he was very likely to be guilty of
some outrage.—The gallant young dyer now ap-
I geared, and a more innocent, harmless lad, in point
ofitppearance, is'not often seen. Mr. Gibling having

stated his complaint, Sir RICHARD DIRNDL said, hel
thought it altogether a very fooliTh affair, and advised I
the parties by all means to come to an amicable ar-1
rangement. The opponents retired, and it was spee-
' lily announced that the momentous quarrel was ad-
justed without the fear of bloodshed.
PRlSONS.—Yesterday Sir RICHA nn BIRNIE left the
Office in Bow-street before the usual hour. for the
purpose of attending a meeting of the Jail Committee'
of Magistrates for We.tminster. The object of the •
meeting of this Committee *as to consult upon the
propriety of causing a new jail to be erected fn.
Westminster, instead of the Tothill-fields Bridewell,
which is rapidly fallitig• to decay, and is muci too
small for the reception of the large number of pri-
soners which it is now the melancholy duty of the
Magistrates to send there. This prison was built to
hold SO prisoners only, and that is the number pre-
scribed by Act of Parliament ; but there are now
upwards of 200 within its walls ; 197 had been com-
mitted up to Saturday last, and the state of the pri-
soners must of necessity be wretched in the extreme.
In the New Prison at Clerkenwell there ate at this
moment upwards of 800 prisoners, and the House of
Correction is almost equally crowded.
UNION-HALL.—Yesterday a boy named William
Riordan, about 17 years oi age, was brought before
C. CHAMBERS, Esq. the sitting Magistrate, dinged
with having most violently assaulted his mother.—
The unfortunate woman stated, that ter %,311'S habits
were incorrigibly bad ; that perhaps the least she had
to complain of was his conduct to herself. He had
frequently not only threatened her in the most violent
manner, but struck her. In the hope that the Magis-
trate would interfere for her protection, she now came
forward to complain that her son had beaten her
until one of her blood-vessels was ruptured, and had
threatened to repeat the punishment if she at any
time offered any opposition to his wishes. He had
not confined his violence to his mother. His grand•
father, who is 75 years of age, was also a favourite
object of attack, and had lately been threatened by
him in the most furious manner. Upon that occasion
the prisoner drew a knife, and s',‘,,pre he would use it
to the destruction of his grandfather. The frequent
appearance of the prisoner at the Office, to which he
has been brought upon charges of a similar nature,
evidently made no 4livourable impression upon the
Magistrate. It appeared that this young desperado
has become connected with a gang of thieves. His
mother added, that he was in tne habit of staying out
till very late hours, and frequently all night. The
Magistrate ordered that the prisoner should be com-
mitted to the House of Correction at Brixton to hard
labour for two months.

LIGHT BREAM—George Phillips, a baker, residing
in Weston-street, in the -Parish of St. Olave, South-
wark, pleaded guilty to an information charging him
with having sold bread short of weight. It appeared,
that in three quartern loaves which had been pur-
chased at the defendant's shop, a deficiency of six-
teen ounces was ascertained. One of the loaves was
eleven ounces deficient. The Magistrate, strongly
reprobaing the conduct of the baker, who had been
thus cheaung the poor, assured him it was the worst
road to fortune, and declared that if he should be
'brought up again under such disgraceful circun:-
stances, the full penalty should be inflicted upon him.
In the present instance, the Magistrate was satisfied
with calling for the mitigated penalty, which was
ss. for every ounce founedcficicnt.
An elderly woman, named Smith, was brought up
on rather a curious charge, An officer, who took
her into custody, stated, tnat there was no shopkeeper
to appear against her, although she had been a very
great annoyance to many in their business. It was
her practice to go into a shop, and after remaining
some time employed in looking over articles, to take
up something or other, and say, " This will do for
me. Now give me my change." This address has
frequently surprised the shopman, who knew he had
received no money from her ; but the moment he
would tell her that he bad no money of her's, she has
burst into tears, detailed the sum, the occasion, and
the moment she had given it into his possession, and
insisted upon having her change with the utmost in-
dignation. This sort of conduct had been in many
instances successful, and the woman had walked off
with money and goods; but the shopkeepers of the
Borough were soon put up to it, and at length neither
tears nor entreaties could prevail upon them to part
with their property upon such conditions. The Ma-
gistrate regretted that no prosecutor appeared against
so vile an impostor; and assured her, that if at any
future period she should make her appearance before
him upon such a charge, she should go to hard la-
bour at Brixton for three months.

MARY• LA.BONNEOIFICE.-J. Fellows was charged
by Mrs. Hill, of Blandford-street, with defrauding
her of 1.30. The prosecutrix, some time ago, adver-
tised in the Times Newspaper, offering a douceur to
any person who could procure a Presentation for a
child in a Public School. The prisoner went to her,
and stated that he was uncle to Admiral Fellows,
and could procure it either for the Charter-House or,
Christ's Hospital; and, under this pretence, obtained
of ber £l5 in cash, and
.a bill for £l5 more; but
some time having elapsed, and no Presentation being
procured, information was given to Staples, one ofl
the Officers, who apprehended him on Monday even-I
ing. On application at Admiral Fellows's, it was
discovered that no such person was known to the
family. Another charge was preferred against him
by a Gentleman, of whose brother he had obtained a
pair of sporting dogs, valued 25 guineas, to whom
he represented himself to be Mr. Fellows, of Rick-
mersworth.—Remanded. •