Star.
London, England, 1828-11-05 00:00:00

SURREY ADJOURNED SESSIONS.

. • •
COMPLAINT AGAINST TVS COAL 111ITSNS.
• Yesterday The charge contained in the Petition to the
Court, by Messrs. Horde, the coal merchants, ef Patton
Wharf,'Blackfriars, against the' labouring Coil-meters,
Wilcox and Smith, for alleged gross misconduct in their
duty, 'and which was postponed from the • preceding •
day, came on to. be beard before a very Lull Bench of
'Magistrates.
Mr. BANNWIILL (and Mr. JSItaIITT), for the &fen-
dants, said he should be able to show that the charges
against the defendants were without any fettedatiou.
They had received instructions from •their principals to
watch. -and detect if.rhere was any irregularity going
forward at Messrs. Horne's wharf, and to Metric a
bribe if offered to them. .The Learned Couniel, in al-
luding to the li.a week presented by the coal merchants.
to the Meters, said that that sum had been presented to
the Meters previous to the new regulations, for their
general attention to their duties, and to the interests of
'
the wharf clerk and his employers.
Mr. Targuand, one of the principal coal meters, was
then called, and stated that he employed Smith and
Wilcox to attend at Messrs. Horne's wharf, on the 6th
of Septeicher; they bad previously attended at different
wharfs, but having 'performed their duty so much to
his satisfaction, on various occasions since his appoint-
ment: and that, haeidg season to suspect that improper
;practices wele going forward at Messrs. Homes wharfs,
be stationed them there, in order to detect whatever was
ring wrong. He insteucted them to submit to every
irregularity that they should witness on the part of those
belonging to the wharf that should be required of them;
and also to ,eceive any money by way of bribe .Or gift
that 'was offered .to them; and of coOrse they (the
blelerpi. had instructions to communicate every thing
that did occur tii`withels.'The witnets 'went' on to state,
that subsequently to those directiOns having been given
tit Smith and Writoi,'theY communicated to witness
seme irregularities which took place relative to' 150
thigsheads of coals whkh were intended for the West
;Indies L.. tbok was cif Thnrsdo y evening. Oa Friday
evening the deiiiicjents ,called on witness again, and
stated the circumstances of the hogsheads being filled.
and pr duced the counterpart of the ticket, purporting
OA the hogsheols tentoirieir 1.100 sacks . They men!
gloried Ahit..an terecularity hid taken place in the mea-
surement of the coals. On Saturday witness !received
the mange for the-stralvi and not having seen either of
the defehdadts on that day; one of them (Smith) called
at his house the following day (Sunday). for the purpose
of giving him further.informatioh relative to what was
going forward at the wharf. Smith told. him that •he
and Wilcox had asked Archer? the wharf, clerk, for the
customary gift allowed' to the Meiers, but Which Archer
bad refused to give them, and alit* mentioned to him:
(witness) that the wharf clerk had- glebe them some
brandy and wafer on Saturday night.when the tilling
of the hogsheads was completed: No 'complaint had
been made to the withess et misconduct on the part of ,
Wilco& incl*Smith while they were stationed at Mesirs.
.Home's :wharf:
Mr. Tannage, in addressing the Court oft the part,
of the complainants, said that the labouring Vial meters
ewe bound, by a most esplicit form of oath, to act
honestly and impartially between the buyers and sellers
"f coals • a regard for that oath ought to have bad the
effect oepreventing the labouring coal esters 'ending
themselves to such a system, and certifying under their
handethae dor biyer, bad his full measure, when they
knew that was not the•fact. It 'was ; raetiaing a fraud
on the buyer, for the purpose of leading the seller into
temptationttbat be might- tinafter wards betrayed. He
asked for nothing vindictive; but he considered that
they ought to be censured•for their conduct.
.*. The Magistrates then retired, and after consulting
.r,agittiar about an boar; said they were of opinion that
the meters had not acted from a corrupt motive, and
theretore dismissed the complaint.

About half past nine o'clock yesterday morning a
respeciablrattited young oasts went into the shop of a
;osier in.Cuventry-street. and desired to be shown a
riaing.belt, when he was observed to secrete three silk
;ans.-kerchiefs in his hat. He was detected by the shop-
man, and taken into custody.