The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-09-18 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

A NICE RAT-CATCHER.—A rat-catcher, named Joseph
Kirk, was brought up at the police-office on Friday chargkd
with having deliberately cut and wounded a man named
M'Guff, under the following circumstances :—The complain-
ant, along with several other persons, most of whom appear-
ed to be from the country, were in the Nag's Head, in
Cockspur-street, when Kirk came in, and, recognising one of
the witnesses as an acquaintance, asked him for a glass of ale.
The man refused, but proffered to give him the price of
glass ale for a rat. Kirk answered "No, I have not
got any rats here, but I have some at home." Al`Gull
then said, " He has got some rats in his bag; I will cut it
open." Kirk replied, "If you cut my bag, I will cut you."

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The upshot was that Al`Guff took the-oppiirtunity of cutting
open the bag of the prisoner, and he, having distovered the
fact, went up to him and said, " You have cut my bag, and
now I'll cut your flesh;" and thereupon he took a clasp
knife and stabbed the prisoner three times in the arm.
It was," said one of the witnesses, " one of the savagest
things I ever saw in my life." The rat-catcher pleaded that
he had acted under the influence of drink, which he seemed to

fancy was a complete palliation of his offence, and offered to
pay " any doctor's charges they liked." This offer he re-

p.eatedonce.-or twice,
_and seemed in a great hurry to " pay

the fellow his charges" and be gone. Mr. Hall, however,
informed him that it was a most abominable thing in a man
to draw a knife under any circumstances, but when in the
cool and deliberate manner in which he seemed to have
acted, the offence became more serious, and he should there-
fore send him to take his trial." " Very well;" said the
prisoner, and diced down with as much alacrity and non-
chalance as if be had come to catch rats at a shilling a head.
DEFRAUDING EMIGRANTS.--Two very decent-looking
. .

Irishmen appeared at. the Police-office on Friday, to prefer
a complaint against a man named Abraham Abrahams. They
stated that on the 16th of May, 1837, they applied to the
prisoner, who then kept an American emigration office in
Dublin, to obtain a passage to America. He told them that
his employer, a Mr. Graham, of Liverpool, for whom he was
agent, had a vessel which was to sail on the 20th of that
month, and that he could let them have a passage in hei.
The men consented, paid down their passage money to the
prisoner—one paying £8 10s, and the other 14s—and
came over immediately to Liverpool, where they found that
no such vessel as had been mentioned by the agent was in the
port. They were consequently defrauded of their passage,
and bad since that time remained in Liverpool. Mr. Daven-
port, who appeared for the prisoner, stated that Abrahams
had been merely an, agent employed by one Mr. Graham to
obtain passengers, and that with him, and not with the pri-
prisoner, rested the culpability of having defrauded the eom-
plainants. Mr. Jones, of the government emigration-office,
stated that he recollected the period and the transaction
mentioned by the two men. In consequence of their aplica-
lion, he had made enquiries whether any such vessel as that
described in the complainants' passage-tickets was about to
sail, and he found that there was not.' An application was
then made to the magistrates, and a summons granted against
Graham; but when he heard of it, he disappeared.—Mr.
Hall said that the case was out of his jurisdiction; but he
eventually ordefed That Abrahams should be taken to Dublin
by an officer, and Mr. Jones and the complainants agreed to
go there and prosecute.

A SCENE PAINTER.--A theatrical looking personage,
named Dl•Connel, who described himself as a scene painter

was on Friday charged by his wife with ill-treating her on
the previous evening, at the Liver Theatre. They had been
living for some time apart, in consequence of his alleged
ill-
treatment, and on this night he came unprovoked! v to use
violence towards ke r. Complainant here exhibited a bonnet,
upon which the atrc used had been trying his handiwork, to
render it "a thing of shreds and patches." The complainant
was a dressmaker, and her husband had done everything to
injure her character, along with ill-treating her.
Mr. Hall (to Prisoner.)—Well, what have you to say to
this charge?
Prisoner (gathering himself up for the effort, and looking
about him with the air of a man about to say something of
importance.)—Why, sir, it is certainly true all that the lady
has been pleased to state. I did find her in the Liver Theatre.
but then, sir, what a place for her! The last time I looked
upon her, she was on the bed of sickness, weak and wan :
she had a blister on her back; eleven, yes, I think eleven

leeches to her side, and—.
Mr. Hall.—You need not be so particular as to the medical
treatment towards your wife: come to your own.
Prisoner.—L went by chance to the Liver Theatre: I ne-
ver thought to see my wife there- " 'Twas strange, 'twas
passing strange, 'twas pitiful, 'twas wonderous pitiful." I
thought_ she was at that moment extended helpless on the

couch of illness.
Mr. Hall.—Was it her health or her morals you were most
anxious about?
Prisoner (reflectively.)—Morals, health—health; morals—
both, sir.
Mr. Hall.—You are a scene painter?
Prisoner (extending his hand with dignity.)—l am, sir.
Complainant.—He earns about 245. per week, and he
ought to pay something out of it to the support of his child.
Prisoner (mildly.)-1 beg your's, sir, and the lady's par-
don. The average amount of my income is roost uncertain.
My profession extends over the whole world. I may be here
to-day, and off to-morrow. Had I the wings—
Mr. Hall.—How much can you afford to give for the sup-
port of your wife and child ? Come, now, mention something.
Prisoner (rubbing his brow thoughtfully).—l think I
could give three shillings a week, if my child were surren•
dered into my own custody.
Mr. Hall.—Unless you can give six shillings a-week to
your wife, out of your earnings, you must find bail for your
good behaviour.
The scene-painter retired.to runlinate, but afterwards made
his appearince and agreed to pay five shillings a-week.
Having paid the first week's money in advance, he retired.
OBTAINING GOODS UNDER FALSE FRETENCES.—An. elderly
Man, named Peter Molloy, who it was stated had at one
time filled a respectable station in society, was on Friday
charged at the Police-office with having, in two instances,
obtained property under false pretences from two respectable
ironmoneering establishments in this town.
Mr. Whittingham, of the firm of Whittingham and Wheel-
house, Lord-street, stated that early on the afternoon of the
7th July last, the prisoner came to his establishment, and
produced a note of request from Messrs. Ainsworth, joiners,
of Bootle, for a seven-Inch lock, which was then given to him
—that no questions were asked of him at that time. On the-
-9,h of the same month, in the evening, the prisoner again
called with a similar order from the seine parties for a lock
of a larger size, which was also without question given to
him. That the matter from, thence was taken no further
notice of until Mr. Ainsworth called for his pass-book, when
finding theta were more lucks charged to him than he had
sent fur, the orders were then shown to him, when he denied,
that they were his, or that he had given any authority con-
cerning them.
Mr. Pye, of 118, Whitechapel, stated that on Saturday last
the Bth instant, the prisoner came to his shop and produced a
written order under the firm of Ainsworth Brothers, Bootle,
with whom he represented himself as working, requiring a
lock and a pair of hinges of the value of ss. 5d., which were
given him. He also desired that a bill should be made out
of the articles, which was accordingly done, and banded to
him.
Mr. R, Ainsworth proved that the orders now shown him
are not in the handwriting of himself or his brother, and that
they keep no clerk. He had never authorised the prisoner,
nor any one else to get the articles sworn to as being obtained
in his name. The prisoner had never been in his employ-
ment, but he recognised him having frequently come to seek
a job.
John Walker, inspector of police, proved having arrested
the prisoner on Thursday, who was pointed out to him, and
that on being shown the orders, he denied any knowledge of
them.
The prisoner, in his defence, asked the prosecutors, were
they positive in thus swearing as to his identity ? Both parties,
in answer, swore positively that he was the person who had
obtained the property under the circumstances stated. In-
formations were taken against him, and he was committed
for trial.
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A SC APE-GR ACE.— A well-dressed young man, who has
respectable connexions in Chester, was, on Saturday, placed
before Mr. Hall, charged with having attempted to rob the
money-drawer at a tavern kept by a Mrs. Williams, in Law-
ton-street. The prisoner was observed, and given into cus-
tody before he had secured any of the money. The prisoner
was before Mr. Hall about a month ago, on a similar charge.
On that occasion his relations were written to, and they were
under the impression that he was at New York, from which
place he had just returned. On his person was found a do-
cument, dated January, 1838, which showed, that he had
committed some crime in America, for which he was ordered
to be imprisoned for two years, and had been subsequently
pardoned. The friends of the prisoner have been much dis-
tressed in consequence of his evil courses; and, though they
have frequently supplied hint with money, he has always,
as was expressed by the officer, " run through it." He was
ordered to be imprisoned for one month.
A MAN OF BAD TASTE.—On Saturday, at the Police-
court, a master of one of the vessels now in port charged
Ellen Healy, a bloated, dirty female, of dissolute habits,
and most forbidding aspect, with having allured him from
the paths of duty. The prisoner could not be less than fifty
years old. The complainant stated, that he was going to his
ship, about one o'clock that morning, when be met the pri- ,
soner. She asked him to go home with her, and she would
show him some beautiful pictures. Thinking it very likely
that a female of her indigent appearince possessed fine pic-
tures, he went with her. He had put his purse, containing
twenty-nine sovereigns, into his coat pocket, for safety.
He went into a private room with his fascinating companion,
and there she contrived to take his purse from him. He dis-
covered his loss and bawled out lustily for the police. An
officer, who heard him, entered the house just as the captain
plucked the purse from the bosom of the enchantress. The
complainant averred, that he was quite sober when this hap-
pened. The officer and the bridewell-keeper both swore,
that he was drunk. The prisoner was remanded.
Sueaoursonso A MAN.—On Saturday, at the Police Office,
an elderly looking personage, of portly appearance, named
Simmonas, the keeper of a shooting gallery in Cook-street,
having the outside of his waistcoat bedizened with a showy
silver watchguard, appeared to complain against a disorderly
female, for having attempted, as his attorney felicitously des-
cribed it, to " surround" him. After Mr. Davenport, the
complainant's attorney, had explained to the magistrates
that the complainant was " a horse," owing to a very had
cold, for which Mr. Hall expressed his sorrow, the com-
plainant preceeded to tell his story.
I was in Cook-street, a parsing the door of the public-
house, and two gemmen parsed me, and one trode on my
toes. " Beg your pardon," ses he. " I'm no Pope, but it's
granted," ses I, Then that there woman hollowed arter me
expressions I don't wish to mention in a respectable com-
pany like this 'ere. I jist knockered my stick for the perlice.
"coin' to get the b— perlice" ses she, "are you, old fogo?"
and .knocked me up and down the street, and used the most
shockingest names, as we be a shame fur to mention.
Mr. Hall.—Well, if she would beg your pardon now, pro-
bably, though you are no Pope, you would be kind enough
to grant it.
Prisoner,—Yes, sir, I beg his pardon; but I never spoke
to the man afore.
Mr. Hall (to Complainant.)—You don't press the case?
Complainant.—Not at all. But as 'l've lived in this town
now three months, and got Inv bread in it, and as there is
other galleries besides mine, they send these people every
night to annoy me.
111 r. Hall.-11 I could see that you were annoyed on pur-
pose,- I would very severely punish them, and give you•pro-
tection ; hut this seems a chance thtng. But she promises
not to do it again.
Prisoner.—No, sir, I won't.
She was then discharged.
WEi.sli STUPIDITY.—Yesterday, at the Police-office, two
disorderly girls, named Catherine 'Owens and Jane Robinson,
were brought before the magistrate charged with having rob-
bed a Welshman, named Evan Jones, of The complain-
ant, a thorough-bred Welshman, exhibited the usual amount
of stupidity which generally distinguishes the natives of Cam-
bria.
After just making it intelligible that he had been lob-
bed, it was next to an impossibility to elicit how, where, or
by whom. Mr. Hall.—Which of them robbed you? Coin-
plainant.—Him in kreen (meaning one of the females.) Mr.
Hall.—Did she put her hand in your pocket? Complainant.
—eighteen shillings. (Laughter.) Mr. Hall.—Pray, when
did you Caine from Wales ? Complainant.—Tont know. Mr.
Hall.—Can you tell what happened to you ? Complainant.
—He (one of the prisoners) asket hur (complainant) to co
up stairs to see his (female prisoner's) bed; ant when bur
cot up stairs there wass no ped to see; ant then one come
and get holt of hur, and put his (her) bast in bur (his) pocket.
Mr. Hall.—Which went up stairs with you? Complainant.,
after much apparent consideration, gave no answer. Mf.
Hall.—Upon my word you ate the. stupidest man I ever saw.
Complainant.—lf you. Will hear I will tell te,trute. 1 tid.not
like tem; I want to co out. A woman came pehind through
the passage, and one of them cot holt of my coat-tail, and
then sne came very close—" Oh. my tear, pedder stop wid me
tO-hiiiht"—and ten I found I had lost my monies, The pri-