The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-09-29 00:00:00

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POLICE.
GutrzonAT.t..—A respectable solicitor appeared be-
ar Mr. Alderman WOOD yesterday, on. the part of a
aptain Smith, the commander and part owner of a
vessel in the coal trade, to answer to an information
exhibited against him, on behalf of the majority of
the owners of the said vessel, under the statute 34th
(leo. 111 cap. era, sec. IS, for refusing to deliver up
to thedi.the certificate and register of the ship, legal
demand of the same having been made by them.
Captain Smith's solicitor said that he bad objections
to make to the information, bat it was not his wish
to press them, his object being that the business
should stand over. By the deed of partnership be-
tween the owners, all differences that might arise with
respect to the concerns of the ship were to be settled
by arbitration; and at his recommendation Captain
Smith had gone down to Northumberland, where the
greater, part of the owners resided, fur the purpose of
adjusting all differences, before lie knew of this infor-
mation leaving been exhibited against him. The soli-
citor then read extracts from some letters tending to
shOw that arbitrators on both sides had actually been
nominated. He was therefore not prepared, nor did
he think it right to enter into the merits of the case;
but if the matter was now pressed, he must feel it his
duty to object to the form of the information, especi-
ally as it was under a penal statute, and the penalty in
case of conviction, so large a sum as 1001.
The solicitor who attended on the part of the infor-
mants said that he had no concern whatever in this bu-
sineas otherwise than as related to this information,
abiltheiefore wished the magistrate's decision upon it.
iir was prepared to show that the demand had been
made to Captain Smith by the majority of his owners,
both iu number a'nd value, to deliver up the certifi-
cate and register of the vessel, and that be had refused
so to do. • He (the solicitor) was not employed on any
other question of differences between the owners, and
t-hereforewished the business to go on.
Captain Smith's solicitor then objected that the in-
formation was not made upon the complaint of the
owners personally, but by the solicitor on their be-
half, by virtue of a power of attorney. The act, he
sisutended, directed that the complaint should be
made by the owner or owners, on oath ; and no one of
the owners had appeared before the Magistrates to
make. tbe complaint, and be sworn thereto.
, To this it was replied, that the information did not
state that the owners had appeared personally, nor was
it necessary that the complaint should be made upon
their personal oaths.
The words of the act. were then referred to, from
which itnppeared that the owner or owners were, in
case of soch information; "to make complaint ON
OATH." From these words the solicitor fur the infor-
mants contended, that it was only necessary for the
complaint to be made by, or in the name of the majo-
rity of the owners, on oath, and not upon THEIR oath.
The complaint in this instance was upon oath, though
Dot open that of the informants. The information, he
said,. must be laid in the place where the refusal was
given,' which in this case was in London, and it would
be hard to compel the owners, the majoiity of whom
lived in Northumberland, to come to town to make
their comptaint on oath. Indeed, before that could be
done the Ciptain might again set sail with the vessel,
and put his owners at defiance.
Mr. Alderman Woon said, that this last argument
was entering into the merits of the case, with which
'he at present bad nothing to do, objection being tiken
to the form of the information. Ile was of opinion,
that it would be more adviseable to adopt the sugges-
tion of the defendant's solicitor, and let the business
stand over. As that, however, was not consented to,
he must decide against the information, having no
tionbt in his.mind that the words of the statute re-
qnited that the complaint should be made upon the
oath of the owner or owners themselves, who preferred
the information.
The information was in consequence quashed for
want of form.
Bow-stateeT.—Yesterday, soon after the Sitting Ma-
gistrate, O. It MiNsnow., El. bud taken his seat, a
Gentleman, who had placed himself in the situation
usually allotted to• witnesses, rose up, and addressing
bitnself to the Magistrate, stated his name was Squire,
of •Langbottrn Chambers, Fenchurch-stmet ; that he
called in consequence of a paragraph which had ap-
peared in several of the papers, respecting an applica-
tion wade by a person dressed as a Quaker, on Thurs.
daY. Prom the description given of his appearance and
conduct, he had no doubt but that it was a brother of
his, who was insane, and the object of
.his application
was to request that be might be detained, if he should
again appear at the Office.
Mr. NIIINSHULL said, he recollected the circumstance
perfectly well of his coming to the Oilier, but he must be
wade further acquainted with the affair, before he should
feel•hintself authorised to detain him, if he again made
his appearance.
Mr. Squire then stated, that his brother was the pro-
prietor of an extensive farm, near Ilyegate, Surrey, the
matiagesneat.of which he had superintended I • self for
many, years ; about May last lie was seized with an ill-
. ness, which confined him for a short time, and on his
. recovering his bodily health, it was discovered that his
intellects were affected; he continued getting worse for
at t a month, and it was then judged necessary by the
who attended him to put him under restraint.
This measure seemed to have effected a favourable
'chars e, and lie was released, in the hopes that the pur-
suit of his usual avocation would fully establish his
cure. A short time back be absconded from Iffeegate,
since which time his friends were, unable to discover
him until the present period ; they, however, ascertained
that he was the person, who had 4aineil some notoriety
by parading about London in the dress of a Quaker,
wearing the national cockidtctind distributing the works
- -of Wuoler, Hoar, and others of a similar nature.
•••-•-, Mr. Alissittita, suggested that if Mr. Squire had no
Irtijection to swear to the facts which lie had stated, lie
&kid feel no Vesitation in• causing him to be detained,

Mt Squire reddily acquiesced, and Mr.. Minshull di-
&Vented that be should. be shown' into the Clerk's Oilier,
• livirce .bis sleposition. was taken accordingly; and to
waa.afterwards sworn. He soon afterwards
itit.the Office, Mr. Minshull assuring him that he should
„ , bitsvp the swirliest intimation if any thing transpired.
About "three o'clock the " Eccentric Quaker" was
obseivd Wearing his cockade to pass tip Bow-street, on
side of the way, by Limbrick, one of the
ttors of petrol, who immediately reported it to
f, 44 r..lllinthill, and beireitend that he should be brought
in ; Limbrick accorcliaglrovet ever to him and induced
him to cpuie into then
* .June attended" at ieVets4dtbsele in the evening,
..:And his Siinves44 %tibia ease. At Isis re.
tbeitsittsi weisaersiermfr to assisain with him during
• the i.ifb4 wbe Itielilloitt4tounalt'witla his frieeds as to
the future disposal of his brother.