The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-11-22 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

THE BENCH OUTWITTED.—A person named Llewellyn, evi-
dently quite a novice in the ways of London, charged John Gee
and John Cook on suspicion of having stolen his portmanteau.
Mr. Llewellyn said he arrived from Wales a few days ago,
and put up at the Three Kings' Inn, Piccadilly. In order to en-
sure the safety of his portmanteau, he gave especial directions
to the chambermaid to take it under her care. Having occa-
sion to shift from the bed-room he at first occupied into another
room, which was double bedded, he inquired of the chamber-
m:iid if his portmanteau was sate, and was answered satisfac-
torily. On Thursday morning last, he went outof his bed-room,
leaving Cook, who, he was told, was a Wiltshire farmer, come
to spend a few days in London, in bed. On Friday the' port-
manteau could nowhere be found, and suspicion then fell upon
Cook, who had not made his appearance at the Three Kings'
Inn since Thursday morning last. The other prisoner, Gee, a
person whom Cook had given out that he had engaged as a
,o-uide to the wonders of the metropolis, having been seen on
l'hursday morning in the passage leading to the bed-room of
Mr. Llewellyn, was also taken into custody on Saturday night,
in company of Cook.
Mr. Chambers called upon Cook, a stout, ruddy-faced little
man, with an air of farmer-like honesty and simplicity, and a
dress which exactly corresponded to that character, for his de-
fence. Cook, in a strong Wiltshire dialect, with an appearance
of great sincerity, denied all knowledge of the portmanteau.
Mr. Chambers.—Well, Mr. Cook, what are you ?
Cook.—Whoy, Ize independent, bike. I be corned from
Wiltshire to zee Lannon tights, vor I never woe in Lunnon
afore. _ _ _

What do you mean by being independent?—Whoy, doant'ee
zee, uncle cited and left I his varni and all his money. Zo I left
off varming, and be coomed to Lunnon to be a jeutleman.
Where is your property ?—Doan't know exactly. Zums in
Banker England, and zums where I can't get it.
How came you acquainted with that other man ?—Wboy, I
zeed 'un in public-house, and zo I ax'd un if he know'd Lun-
non, and if he'd take me to zee the vine zights, as I be strange
loike ? and so he zed " ees."
Why did you not return to the Three Kings' Inn, on Thurs-
day night?—ply vriend here zed I was to goo and zee the big
stone poast—l vorget name—the Monuyment, I think though
it wos; zo I went, and he took me to a vine theater-house, zo
I was too late to get in.
Well, but as to *tour property in the Bank of England. I
want to get at that l'—Shouldn't wonder if thee did!
This latter repty was given with so much naivete, that the
whole Court burst into laughter, in which Mr. Chambers joined
heartily.
" Well," said the Magistrate, "it does not appear that this
poor simple country fellow is very likely to know any thing
about the portmanteau. We must hear what the other one
has to say."
The prisoner Gee, whose appearance was the counterpart of
a Whitechapel prig, confirmed what the " Wiltshire farmer"
had said respecting his engagement as Cicerone, and declared
that otherwise they were perfect strangers to each other.
At this stage of the proceedings Avis, one of the officers, and
Drew, a police inspector, came into the office. Avis went up
to the Wiltshire farmer, and asked him, with a peculiar air, if
he did not recollect him ? The Wiltshire farmer wished to avoid
recognition, but Avis assured the magistrate he had known him
for the last twelve years as a frequenter of " flash houses," and
one of the most knowing shots about town.
Inspector. Drew likewise said he had known the 'Wiltshire
farmer for more than twenty years. lie knew him as a sort of
jockey at pony races about the suburbs of London.
These communications having entirely altered the magis-
trate's opinion, a very minute investigation was set on foot;
and, as circumstances of considerable suspicion were elicited, it
was resolved upon to remand both prisoners, for the purpose of
Affording time to trace, if possibleohe destination of the port-
manteau.
The " Wiltshire farmer," as he left the bar, promised to
book" both the officers for " a good turn" as soon as he got
free, as they had frustrated his attempt at what he termed
"ganurioning the beak."

SHERIFF CRIMINAL COURT, STIRLING.

coAtBINATIoN LAWS.

We think it of the greatest importance to the country at
large, and particularly to the working classes, to be Made
aware of the exact state of the law on the subject of combina-
tions, and would therefore take leave to call the attention of
all to the following case, tried on 'Friday last, before our
Intermin Sheriff-Substitute, Hugh Barclay, Esq.., and above
all to the able address of the Judge to the pannel, in pronounc-
ing
sente.pee...-_
James Ewing,. some time cotton-spinnot at Culcreuch works,
the property 01 A. G. Speirs, Esq., was charged, at the instance
of the Procurator-Fiscal of the county, undet the act 6th, Geo.
IV., cap. 12J, with having, inter alia, "by threats or intimida-
tion, of by molesting, or in some way obstructing, forced, or
endeavottred to force, Isabel Stirling and Jean Wright, both
cotton-spinners, at Culereuch, to depart from their employ-
ment or work at Culereuch aforesaid." The pannel pleaded
not guilty ; and the prosecuter adduced the two girls in suppott
of his libel.
Isabel Stirling being sworn, deponed that she belongs to
Aberdeen, and came to work at Culcreuch about three months
ago, as a cotton-spinner. Knows that some of the old spinners
had struck work ; and that witness and fifteen other girls from
Aberdeen came to supply their places. Since they came, they
have met with many annoyances from the old workmen. Re-
members one day, shortly after they came, of seeing the
pannel in a crowd. He called bad names to witness, and to
Jean Wright. Called them " Knobs," which means that wit-
ness and her comnanions had taken work from others. Damned
them that they would not work long at Culereuch. He intimi-
dated and molested them, and it was his intention to prevent
her and others from working. Said that witness would not be
allowed to work six days, instead of six months, far which
she was engaged.
Interrogated by the Court.—No violence was lased. A stone
was thrown, but cannot say by whom. All that witness has
sworn to as being done by pannel, was done by him with the
view of forcing witness to depart from her employment.
Jean Wright being sworn, corroborated the other witness in
every particular.
The pannel adduced one witness.
William Ewing, some time cotton-spinner at Culcrench, re-
members one day when a crowd of boys shouted at the two wit-
nesses for the prosecution. Saw Ewing, the pannel, there, but
he did not Intel fere in any way. Used no violence to them.
Has known pannel all his Ufa. Gave him a very good cha-
racter.

'I he pannel's agent took. an objection, that the affray was
charged in the libel to have taken place in the morning, while
the witnesses spoke to an affray happening in the afternoon.
The Sheriff repelled the objection,. and then, addressing the
panne!. spoke newly to the following effect:—"That it was
painful in any case for him to award punishment, but doubly so
in a case where the prisoner had been certified to bear en ex-
cellent character, and where it is feared that much ignorance
existed us to the state of the law. At one period the law pre-
vented all combinations amongst work Men. The law has been
altered, and it was to be feared that it was supposed that now
no restraints Whatever existed on the workmen. This was,
indeed, a great nii4ake. It was, no doubt, now quite legal fur
workmen to associate. for the regulation of their own,wages,
and of their own time of working;. but they have no ritht t.