Star.
London, England, 1828-11-04 00:00:00

COMPLAINT AGAINST THS COAL-MiTgfl.

When the CHAIRMAN had taken his seat, a Petition,
addressed to the Clerk of the Peace of the County, was
read, from Messrs. Horne, ei the Falcru Wharf, Black-
friars, complaining of the conduct of two coal meters,
named Wilcox and Smith, who, it was alleged. had
been guilty of gross negligence and malversation, in
signing a certificate, and giving a fake ada.easurement
of certain coals intended to be 'Nipped from three of
their barges to Demerara. The Petitioners begged for
an inquiry into the subject, and concluded by praying
the Court to make such order in the case as in its wisdom
it might deem fit.
Messrs. THISSIOER and CHANNEL appeared on the
part of Mews. Horne, and Messrs. BARNEWALL and
JEMUITT for the coal-meters.
Mr. Tinsman opened the case, stating the gratifica-
tion he felt at seeing so many highly respectable lien.
demo present. The public felt a very great interest
in the present inquiry, because it must lead to a series
of investigations upon the subject. The question at issue
ieally was, whether frauds had been practised by the
coal•meters, or whether they had been corn:tinted by
the Messrs. Horne? It was much t• be regretted that
many misrepresentations upon the subject had gone
abroad, and therefore the present inquiry became the
more imperatively nects.ary. Mr. Thesaiger proceeded
co make some comments upon the conduct of the coal
meters. when he was interrupted by a County 51 4gia-
trate, who objected to the line of argument adopted by
the Learned Counsel.

The CHAIRMAN said, that he was sure Mr. Thessiger
had no wish to pursue au objectionable course.
Mr.Tnusioxit then explained to the Court the dif-
ference between wharf measure and prxil measure. The
quantity of pool measure was always a fluctuating one,
and therefore there would always be a difference. After
some observations, with a view to show the difficulty of
knowing the exact qu entity of coals contained in any,
particular barge, the Learned Counsel entered into the
particulars of the transaction in question. On the 6th
If September last, a person named Smith, a coal meter,
was asked how much he would charge for shipping
1,100 hogsheads of coals on board a vessel bound to
Demerara? but as the Messrs. Home agreed to supplyl
them at two shillings a chaldron less than any other
person, the contract was given to them. The measure-
ment IX the coals was made from their barges near Black-
friar's-bridge. on the llth" of September, and the two
succeeding days ;and one part of the Learned Counsel's
argument was directed to prove that Messrs. Horne
could not be aware of the quantity of coals delivered
out when reduced from pool measure to wharf measure;
and that no imputation of fraud could lie against them.
There were two gangs employed in the transaction in
question, called the m two-bushel gang" and the •• three.
bushel gang," and a cooper attended fur the purpose
of beading-up the hogsheads when filled. It was after
wards discovered that oily 21 bushels, hutted of 22

rhusbels, bad been put into the hogsheads; bin as it
rn t 4, told
civa
ti
Horne
y
of coal. pit into each of them, the f•ct landed •
cnetaorepdathy aptaortniecuTarth:ttMessetsi
proof that they could have bad no fraudulent mien
t.on. The Learned Counsel went on to state that he
should prove it was the duty of the coal miter to rye
rat the proper measure was given, and that the coal
' reset chant could not know any thing about the matter.
One pint of the evidence, the Learned Counsel said.
was almost decisive of the question, and he called the
particular attention oldie Court to it. He should prove
that Armand, the cooper, was sent expressly to head
up the casks, and as the meter suffered him to gr. r-
(so m the operation without any remonstrance, if the
poorer quantity had not been put into them it was
clearly the fault t f the :peter. and not of Messrs. Horne.
When all the hogsheads had been nailed up. Sm th, the
meter, gave a certificate importing that 1.100 sacks of
coals had been put into the hogsheads.
Mr. Tlitssioxit read a section c.f the Act 47th of
George 111. ti. pose that it was the duty of the meter
to have ascertained the quantity of coals which the
hogsheads contained before the certificate was given.
Now in the present ease the two meters had given a
false certificate of the quantity, and were clearly guilty
of the charge alleged in the petition. The Learned
Counsel said, that the evidence he intended to adduce
would bring home the charge to them in the most
satisfactory manner.
The following witnesses were then examined:
Thomas Archer stated, that be was wharf cleik to
Messrs. Horne for the last 15 years; in the month of
September last, 150 hogsheads were brodght to the
wharf anti filled with c..als; on the 11th and 12th of
the same month. Charles Smith and George Wilcox,
labouring coal meters, attended; on Saturdabthe 13th
September. about eight o'clock in the evening, Smith
and Wilcox, who had left the wharf, returned, and the
former said to witness, that they had taken the liberty of
calling on him slain, as they understood he was in the
habit of allowing the meters something on Ssturday
night ; w itness replie.l. that they were ma in the liah t
of Atha ing the meters anything. They ho h then said
they knew he did, for they had been so is Coined by an!
old coal meter, who told them they (meant's!! the coal
merchants) wete in the habit of allowing 11. a week.
an I had given it to the last men that were the• e; witness
said they were young trivets, and he hot M irli to
take Advantage of them; hut. ittid r the se 'stations sal
the New Act, they were pinhibited town asking or de.
minding any thine. Smith then said tli4t it ey did n t
like the new segillationts, but expressed a wish that the
itade might be btouglit hack again to the good rid
times. Witness slid, these were a few :hilltop felt by
some dealers, which should be divided amongst them at
the end of the month ; witness then awmpted to leave the
place, and Smith tos.k hold of the lappets of his char, and
said, is You shan't leave us so," and pointing to the
hogsheads said, 42 You'll give us s imething for them
At any rate; you know they ate all right." Witness
raid, that he did not know there was any thing wrong,
but at all events he would not give them any thing ;
they then said, " As you'll not give us any thing, you
must take the consequences." The atteudance of meters
belote and atter the hours they were bound to attend
was a great convenience to coal merchants, and enabled
Messrs. Horne to send out ten chaldrons daily more
than thq could otherwise do;' and three of the dealers
ism cpal had allowed him to give a shilling a week to the
meters fur their general attention to business. Witness
received a certificate from Smith and Wilcox of the
quantity rf coals shipped in the hogsheads, for which
quantity he paid mintage to Mr. Taurguand, principal
coal-meter.

Cross-examined—He told Smith that if he bad given
him the least hint of what was going on, he would have
prevented Mr. Taurguand knowing where the coals
came from. Mr. Taurguand had been at the *had that
morning to mike some inquiry about those coals, and
witness said to him, that he s..pposed that was one of
the consequences the meters threatened him with, when
theywanted to bully him nut if money onSaturdaynight.
eke CalatttalAN--He could net say to what meters
he gave the last twelve shillings a month, lett by the
customers; he gave Wilcox and Smith an order for a
glass of brandy and water at a public-house a.) Satur-
day night.
It was the practice under the old Act to give the
meters a pound a week for their attention, but it was
discontinued since the lit eaeiit Act came into operation.
because they had not the same accommodation. The
last I 2 s. left by customers was given on the 6th Sept.
The dealers were Boys and Marsden, William Gould,
junior, and Mr,. Hayward.
Joseph Horne stated, that he carries on the coal trade
in partnership, at it eSttand and at Vauxhall. On the
20th of September be saw meter Wilcox sign a certi6- ,
cam at w itness's wharf with his sot name only; witness
asked him, was be at aid or ashamed of his Christian
'same? witness also asked, was he the meter that had
been at Horne's wharf the last month, and superin-
tended the hogsheads ill. re ? he said no, he was not ;
but he knew all about it, as it was a cousin of his; there
were three Wilciixes, and he had been in the office
seven years; he said the short Mr. Horne (he after.
wards called himWilliani Horne) had offered his cousin
a pound for the hogsheads, and on Saturday night re-
fused to give it to him, and that was the season be told
his principas of it; about ten days after, Wilcox tame
to him and said he was sorry for having told him a lie
about his cousin being at Horne's wharf—it was him-
self that was there; and as he (witness) appeared to
know something about it, he wished to know whet! er
Horne meart to prosecute? witness replied that he was
sure they did ; Wilcox said. if they did, their character
would be blasted, and asked witness what he had best
do? witness said, it he was really sorry he had better
go to Messrs. Hot ne, aqd perhaps they might torego
the pro-ecution. Wilcox said he would sleep upon it,
and if i.e made up his mind to do is he would go is
the morning.
Mr. William Horne stated, that he was in partner.
ship with two other persons as coal merchants; he
never offered to give ‘Vilcox or Smith a pound respect-
ing the coals shipped in the hogsheads. This witness
was not cross examined.

Mr. CHANNEL addressed the Court in 6uppnrt of the
charge; the evidence given in support of v hich, he
said, mubt pre.erve to Messrs. Horne the high character
they bad always possessed. He recapitulated the evi-
dence, and submitted that it completely supported the
charge.

The Court adjiorned at six o'clock to eleven o'clock
to-morrow (this day).

Conroe* Ertratbu.—John leeved in Annandale,
on the Scotcn side, and has a grate-stone two hundred
sears old ul-on him—and this is his inskripshun
1 Joeky Bell o' Meeks% brow lyes under this static,
Five w my awn beds laid on my Wale, ;
I keyed all my 44p but snot or strut,
Was man o' my meat, and master o' my wife.
It you done better an your time than I did In mine,
T4k the stow alt My wame, and lay it on n thine.
Diu:Tries jour Rae.