The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-10-28 00:00:00

Mt COBAETT An/ THE TURNPIKE-MEN.

13011,11TREET.—Two Toli-Collectors; Joshua Hands and
Francis Carter, the former of Queen's Elms Hate, and the
latter of Hammersmith Hate, attended at this office yesterday
upon summonses issued at the instance of Mr. Coithott.—
The first defendant being called, came forward, and Sir R.
Birdie read the VITMODS under which he appeared ; this
charged that he, beings toll•collector, had applied scurri-
lous and abusive language to Mr. Cobbett, he then being. a
traveller and passenger passing through his sate.
Mr. Cebbett now addressed the Worthy Magistrate, and
said, that before the matter of the summonses was gone int..,
he was desirous of stating that he had been speaking to Mr.
Williams (the Solicitor for the defendants), and haul been
telling him that his object in bringing these two men for-
ward, was to skew the public in general that there was a
remedy against insnits which might he offered to them at
Turnpike Hates, and especially when those insults were
offered in con•egnenee of resistance made to extortionate
demands. For such conduct the Act of Varliatnentitnnosed
a penalty of 54 He was not desirous, however, of patting
these men's money into his pocket—on the contrary, if the
Magistrate thought their conduct was such as to deserve the
imposition of a tine, and of this he had no doubt, he would
Ewe the money to some poor man, or apply it to some
charitable purpose; but even now, having %hewn them that
• they were amenable to the law, if they would make a can-
did acknowledgment of their error, he would not proceed
againit them.
Sir KICIIARD BIRNIE said, that he well knew turnpike
men were if) the habit of taking COnsi der:: liberties, and
he considered the proposition of Mr. Cobbett extremely
liberal.

Mr. Cohbett observed, that there was a penalty of 101
if the public resis e.l these f-flows, and therefore it was the
more necessary to make an example of them when they
roiscondncted themselves.--liands said, he had nut the
least intention of insulting Mr. Cohhett, and if he h.o.i he
was very sorry for it. —Mr. Coiltltt sail, the word ii
showed a disposition to fence with the charge, which would
force him to proceed.--Sto Iticuattulitastc: If on apt.!ogy
is not made to Mr. Cohhetess satisfaction. I sh dl certaiuiy
levy the penalty.—Hands repeat. 41 that he had no intention
of insulting Mr. Cobhett, and if he had lie was very sorry
_

for it.—Mr. Cobbett presumest it was meant to contend
that the abuse poured upon him slid not come within the
terms of the Art. He would stare the words used, and
which he sbonld he enabled to prove by an undeniable
witness. What the defendant bail said, was this—.. What
we do, w.. do openly, and in the broad slay; we don't 1:111-:
into holes and corners; pot ran away to America, and
you'd rim away to America again, only the Americans
would not let you remain there,"—lf. then hallooed alter
him (Mr. C.), and said, " Yon's( better come hack and
have a little more of it," and this in the presence of several
persons. It was of this he came to complain; and it was
rather too much, when he objected to that which was a
gross extortion, that he should he abused.
At the sozgestion of Mr. Williams, the defendant then
made a candid acknowledgement that he was wrong; he
said be was sorry for it, but soshe allowance ought be
made for his irritation at the time.
Francis Carter, a lad about 17, was then called, but
Mr. Cobbett seeing him, be said he was not the person of
whom he bed to complain. When he was insulted at the
Hammersmith gate, two names revere up, that of lianas
and Carter. The man who insulted him was collecting
the tolls, and on his (Mr. C.) askine which was his name,
he pointed to that of Carter; but the boy, although present,
slid not jo'n in the abnse.—Catter caul it was his name
which was up, and refused to tell 14-1 name of the other
man, who it appears was an assistant at the gate. Mr.
Cobleat said lee would find out who he was, and take out a
fresh summons. Sit RICHAR6 nf am is warmly animas!.
verted on the trick which had Preen played, and expresses'
his determination to deal with the offender, when brought
before him, as he deserve!.

Sends), evening at half-past ten. * well dressed msn,
was observed to throW himself off the rop of 1,014,11
Bridge, near the centre arch. An alarm heinAr given, som
boats put off from Darlchonse Lane, and on their ge•ting
near the Bridge, they beard Rome etstarts, and found the
poor man Homily wedged in between the timbers of one of
the starlings, with hi' head much feat wed, and one of
his legs and a thigh broken. lie wis conveyed to Isaac's
Ward, Saint Thomas's and wal this morning in a
fair way of recovery.
DwEis MI. A TtEst rT.-0 n Sunday afternoon a dreadful
scene took place near Kings land. A female, very fashion-
ahly dressed, with an infant at her breast, wr4 observed in
an angry converse with a gentleman, in the fields by the
' side of the Regent's Canal. The gentleman parted ibt:
raptly with her, and Made towards, Heirgerstone the
female called to him to return, but be pursued hitt ,
anti she, boding he took no heed, ran to the brit;lt of the
Canal, into which she leaped, with Om baby at her breast.
fhe dreadful act was' obseried by many persona passing to.
and fro, who ran afterthe genthouati, whilst others ectri
,cared the unfortunate creature and her offspring from their
pettilotis sitna7ion. The young man in a few moments re-
turned, in a state bordering on insanity, and the meeting
between them is past description. The female, who isyoung
and beautiful, was provided with a change of apparel, as
was also her progeny, and she was conveyed away in a
coach by her friend to tueir residence, not far from ;be
,spot.
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