Star.
London, England, 1818-07-07 00:00:00

SUSPENDING THE LICENSE OF A PUBLIC-HOUSE.
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This case excited considerable interest. It was an
appeal made by John Hall, landlord of the Thatched-
house, Field-lane, against a decision made some time
since by the Alderman of the Ward and the Common
Council, for suspending his license, on account of 1
improper company frequenting it.
His appeal was enforced with much ability by
Messrs. BOLLAND and REYNOLDS, Counsel for Mr.
Hall, and supported by a host of witnesses, princi- '
pally neighbours of the landlord, and also by three
constables, whose duty it was, at various times, to
inspect the above house. The evidence of all these
persons went to prove, generally, that the house in
question had been well conducted during the time of
Mr. Hill; but, upon their cross-examination, they
admitted that they were parlour-customers, and
could not speak as to the company which frequented
the tap-room.
The :LECORDEIL asked, if it was not " an old hack
house?" _ _ _

Mr. Hawkins, a Marshalman, did not consider it
to come under that denomination. It was most cer-
tainly frequented by the lowest description of people,
such as coal-heavers, costermongers, dustmen, fish-
women, &c. &c. but the landlord kept very good
hours. It was true, that the house h3d the reputa-
tion of being a bad one; anti thieves and prostitutes

were often there: but still he did not view it as a re-
ceptacle for thieves.
Two other constatles spoke favourably as to the
general conduct df the landlord; but said there was
frequently no room to sit down, owing to prostitutes
and thieves.

Mr. COMMON SEILYEANT observed, that he was
surprized to witness two able Counsel employed on
this occasion ; but it appeared the house belonged to
a brewer, whose object and interest was to dispose of
as much beer and spirits as possible. It had been a
house for the reception of bad characters for years ;
and it was well known that thieves met at this house
to take refreshment and liquor, and then form piano
for the commission of robberies. The conduct of
Mr. Hall, as far as it went, had not been of that na-
ture, which was represented by the witnesses; hut it
was out of the power of any man to remove the evil ;
and he left it to the Court to say, whether a house so
injurious to the morals of society should be suffered
to remain, under the visionary reform of Mr. Hall.
Five public-houses originally existed in this spot,
which had now been reduced to three, in consequence
of their danger. He did not wish to press hard against
any recommendation; but from the liberality and
consideration exercised upon all occasions by the per-
sons suspending the license, and the strong facts he
had adduced in favour of the decision of the Alder-
man and Common Council, he trusted the Court
would not altet it.

The Court, after some consultation, decided against
1 the Appeal.

MATRIMONIAL AFFRAY.

Jane Tomlinson was indicted for assaulting her
husband.—The prosecutor stated, that on the evening
of the 17th ult. he went home about ten o'clock, and
was immediately assailed with the grossest abuse by
his wife, whom he described as a most bitter virago,
and she at length struck him violently upon the head
with a hammer, and inflicted a very severe wound.
He then turned her out of the hc use, and bolted the
door, but she forced her way in and stole a great
deal of property, which she pawned to buy gin.
The defendant, in answer to the charge, accused
her husband of keeping another woman.—After
much recrimination between the parties, the Learned
RECORDER interfered, and succeeded in bringing
about a reconciliation.