The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-05-12 00:00:00

WATCH-COMMISSIONERS' MEETING.

At the weekly meeting of this board, held on Friday, for the
despatch of business, Mr. W. A. Smith in the chair, Mr. Dow-
ling, the superintendent of the dock police, preferred a charge
against Street., the keeper of Brick-street Bride well, fur brutally
assaulting two female prisoners by striking them whilst in his
custody. It appeared from the evidence of Mr. Dowling that
between eleven and twelve o'clock on Tuesday night last his
attention was drawn, when near the Queen's Dock, to two girls
of loose character who.were in custody of the watchman. He
observed them go quietly to Bridewell, and subsequently went
in himself, and saw one of the girls, whose dress was much torn
in the scuffle in which she had been engaged, imploring Street
not to lock her up as her offence was only that of interfering to
prevent her brother from fighting- In answer to the girl's en-
treaties Street turned round and struck her a l'low on the side
of the head,. which he followed up by a second blow. On see-
ing this brutal conduct he (Mr. Dowling) asked Street if that
was the proper way to treat prisoners, td which he replied "that's
the way we do business here," or some words to that effect.
Street then sent the watchman for a pair of handcuffs, on which
he (Mr. D.) again asked why he was going to handcuff the girls
as they were to be locked up and were displaying; no violence.
To this Street replied that if be was to stay an hourn or two he
would hear noise enough to warrant using the handcuffs. The
complainant was leaving the Bridewell, indignant at Street's
conduct, when he heard a noise, and on looking round saw the
girl staggering against tile wall, apparently from the effects of a
heavy blow. Under these circumstances he (Mr. Dowling) felt
it his duty to lay a complaint against '.;."trecr.
The commissioners said that they were much obliged to Mr.
Dowliug. for laying the case before_them,end Street having
'been called upon for his defence denied having used the words
imputed to him by the complainant:- He did not, however,
deny having struck the girls, but said that the blows were only
" gentle taps." A servant girl of Street's, on behalf of her
master, said he merely gave the girl a pat on the cheek for using
bad language..
Mr. Dowling said that the "taps" were such as he should not
like to receive. The dock police-officers had strict injunctions
not to strike. any prisoner; :
Street having left the room, a long discussion ensued as to
whether he should be discharged from -the trust, when it Was
resolved to give him another trial. He was then recalled and
reprimanded by.the bread, who gave hint to understand that the
recurrence of antis conduct, or any subsequent charge,. would
subject him to dismissal.

A. watchman, named Franceys, who was discharged at the
last board for drunkenness, applied to be reinstated, ou the
grounds that he had been twenty-one years a watchman. The
application was refused. ,
Captain Kerr, of the watch, and two of his men were re-
warded for their activity in apprehending felons.
The chairman having given notice of a motion for next Fri-
day for the appointment of a fire police committee, Mr. Thorn-
hill asked httu if be was aware that his duties, as chairman of
the board, did not terminate with the day's proceedings. The
chairman was not. Mr. Thornhill observed that it was a part
of the chairman's duties to attend at the office during this week
to see that the resolutions of the board were carried into effect.
The chairman said that although he was not aware that it was
incumbent on the chairman to do that, be would endeavour to
be at his post.
Mr. Wales having felt himself agrieyed at some expressions
relative to hint that had fallen, from M r. Cooper at the last board
meeting, as reported in the-Chronicle, the latter gentleman,
(Mr. .C.,) said that any explanations inade use of by him on
that occasion were not intended to refer personally to Mr.
Wales. althbugh he had objected to the appointatent of a per-
manent chairman of the board. He had always found 111 r.
Wales a
.very efficient inetnber of the highway board. The
board, having concluded the business of the day, broke up.