Star.
London, England, 1818-04-08 00:00:00

CROWN aIDi—CROWS V. WALTER.

The plaintiff, a master baker, residing at Green-
wich, sought to recover damages from the defen-
dant, who is Governor of the County Jail at Horse-
monger lane, for •an alleged abuse or authority and
ill treatment during a short confinement there.
Mr. GURNEY said, he had to record an instance of
misconduct in it public servant, which, he hoped,
would never again occur. Mr. Crowe was, ou the
12th of August last, passing through the Borough to
Greenwich, when he was more than once assaulted
by two men, who ran violently against him. He
had with him a dog, which flew at the assailants, and
bit one of them severely in the leg. For this canine
assault the plaintiff was conveyed before a Magis-
trate, and committed to the House of Correction for
want of sureties. These, being so far from home, he
was unable to procure until late on the following day.
On his arrival at the prison, he was thrust into a
yard among a great number of felons, and set to
work with the rest, at the occupatim of picking
oakum. He continued so to labour till the greater
of.the rollon ing day, when his bail arrived.
William Bagley was now called. He was a pri-
soner in the Muse of Correction on the 12th of Au-
gust, and saw the plaintiff come in. The latter was
set to work with the other prisoners on that and the
following day. Their employment was to beat and
pick out the hearts of ships cables.
Mr. MARRYATT said he rose to repel a most un-
just attack upon a worthy individual, who for many
years had faithfully discharged the duties of an im-
portant situation. His client was charged with hav-
ing grossly abused the authority delegated to him,
and with having sanctioned the ill treatment of a re-
spectable man. But what was the fact? The_ de-
fendant was absent upon duty at Croydon, and knew
nothing of the arrest of the plaintiff until he was
served with a notice of action. It would, however,
be urged, that in point of law he was answerable for
the misconduct of'is servant ; but there was no proof
that the plaintiff had been ordered to work by the
defendant's servants, nor was there any evidence but
that of a convicted felon to prove that be had been
at all employee in picking oakum. The circumstance
of his being thrust among common felons was cer-
tainly a great grievance ; but it was unavoidable, for
the Keeper of the House of Correction had no ther
alternative, there being no separate place of confine-
ment. The Learned Counsel said, he would call a
witness, whose testimony would materially alter the
complexion of the case. •
William Spratbary, Superintendant of the House
of Correction, deposed, that he had known the wit-
ness, Bagley, as a' common thief for the last ten
years, doling which time he had been at least twenty
times in his custody. Witness never ordered the
plaintiff to pick oakum,'nor was he aware of his hay-
milt=so.
GRAHAM charged the Jury, who consulted
a few moments, and returned a verdict for defendant.

POCH-ISM—It seems that Spring will bay, plenty of work
on hand this summer; Painter wants to fight him again, Oliver
has challenged him, and Sutton, the black, scents to think he,
stands first entitled Scroggitus is ready, with his money, to
fight Itaudal, and the maul wi:l be immediAtely on.
RAN DAL AND DAN sporting lik;ht took place
between these fistic heroes, on Monday night, for love. They
quarrelled at a Free and Easy Club, in the. neighbourhood of
Linceherinn-flelds, and both being full of fight, the smoking
club was metamorphosed into a boxing ring, by removing chairs,
tables, dec. Wearthy is more than a stone heavier than Randal,
who seconded him agatruit Purcell in tlie late fight. Reynolds
and West Country• Dick seconded Ilan&d, and M'Carthy was
seconded by two of his countrymen not known in the fighting
ring. It was close quarters altogether, as from the pressure of
more than fifty persons in the raem, the men had not more
space than five or six feet. 'l'hey fought fifteen rounds in 25
minutes, and both received heavy hits and falls. 31`Carthy':
superior strength and weight gave him best in throning, lut
when overpowered Randal went dawn with him. M'CartLy
was outfought when in, from the quickness of Randal's bitting,
and the happy knack he has of turning their heal: to account
by changing his hitting hands. Beth men fell heavy in the fifth
and sixth rounds, and in the seventh counter hits were excbang
ad, and Randal got a blue eye. 'Wealthy, however, had no
chance after this, as Randal always got to• in in-fighting with
him, and at which he stands unrivalled. In the last round
Randal caught his adversary upon the advance, with a flush Lit
on the snout, which settled tie business.