The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-03-13 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE,

DEFRAUDING THE PARISH.—On Wednesday, a man
and woman, who gave their names as John Gardner and
Mary Jane Howley, were charged with obtaining money
from the parish by false pretences. It appeared that the
parties, who were in truth man and wife, had been pre-
senting themselves at the parish-office for relief, the wife
assuming to be a widow, and by that means obtaining an
undue share of relief. The man was discharged, and the
woman sent to gaol for two months.
PROOF OF SEAMANSHIP.—At the Police-court, on
Tuesday, two foreign seamen summoned the master
of the ship Sailor King for a balance of wages for a
voyage from New Orleans. The captain demurred on ac-
count of incapacity. As the question turned on this
point, the magistrate bade the interpreter to ask the men
to box the compass, which they did. The captain then
objected to the steering of the ship, and also to the inca-
pacity of the men to reef the topsails. The interpreter
said the best proof would be to show whether they could
make a reef knot, and asked them so to do in their own
language, when one of the men took off his handkerchief
and made the reef knot. The interpreter, who was a sea-
man, said that any one who could make the reef knot
knew how to reef a sail, and the magistrate thinking this
practical logic conclusive, ordered the wages to be paid.
LODGING HOUSES AND CELLARS.—On Wednesday, a
number of persons were summoned before the magistrates
for overcrowding their lodging-houses, and not registering
them. The greater portion of the defendants were fined
40s. and costs, and those who were not registered were
required to do so. In most cases it was proved that from
20 to 30 persons were herded together in small houses at
the north end of the town, and that such overcrowding
had engendered fever and other diseases. In one in-
stance, there were 61 persons in one house. The number
fined was 48, and it appeared that in the whole of the
houses there were no fewer than 948 individuals, giving an
average of 20 to each dwelling. Several of the officers
whose duty it was to visit these places bad been indisposed
for days afterwards in consequence of the foul and pesti-
lential vapours. Mr. Rushton expressed his determina-
tion to fine all offenders against the regulations,—he
would carry out the law strictly, and keep the people alive
if he could.
ASSAULT.—On Wednesday, James Matthew Tiernan
was summoned for an assault upon Jane Ann Tiernan.
The complainant, who lived in a court in Great Homer-
street, stated that on the previous Wednesday evening the
defendant, in company with Mr. Tyrrell, one of the mar-
ket constables, came to her house. The defendant re-
mained till about half-past one, and after making use of
some offensive language he produced two pistols, and
said he would take her life. The pistols were taken from
him by Tyrrell, and the complainant, finding that she was
in great danger, fled for refuge to a neighbour's house.
In reply to questions the complainant added, that the de-
fendant• attempted to violate her person, and took the
most unwarrantable liberties with her. Mr. Tiernan, in
his defence, alleged that the charge was a base and
'groundless one. Mr. Rushton then ordered Tiernan into

custody, and fined him £5 ; he was also required to find
sureties for his future good conduct. In default he must
be imprisoned three months. The magistrate repri-
manded Tyrrell for taking any part in the affair, he being
a police officer in uniform.