The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-07-23 00:00:00

POLICE.

Marestox-Hotter.—Thei;stice-room was crowded
yesterday by the members of a Benefit Society called
• The National Mutual Benefit Society," or "Mutual
Benefit Society," who attended to complain against their
officers for refusing to allow the accounts to be in-
spected._

Mr. HARMER attended for the complainants, who, be
said, had been induced to join this Society by very gross
tnismpremotatioos, which. held oat to the public that the
Society had been instituted upon a capital "of 20,000/.,
when no finch capital was in existence, and stated that a
number of Lords and Gentlemen of the greatest affluence
were its patrons, when on being written to those Lords
and Gentlemen declared that they had no knowledge of
and had given no sanction to the Society. A number of
rules had been published as rules of the Society, and it
was found on referring to the rolet enrolled at the Ses-
sions, that a number of the most important attieles were
omitted. 1n fact it was found that a junta had been
formed and had made themselves perpetual officers, se-
cretary, treasurer, &c. &c. who, when applied to, refused
to exhibit their accounts, which were audited by_ some
journeymen printers who were not members. Hy the
13th section of the Act any member of a Henefit Society
was empowered to demand and inspect the hooks of the
society. The members now eliimed to inspect the accounts
which were withheld so obstinately.
Mr. ALLAY, for the Officers of the Society, denied the
trath'of the statement just made, and declared that the
Officers were, highly respectable, that they had sub-
scribed a capital exceeding 4,0001., and there were op-
scuds of 1,000 Members. He then submitted, that by
the provisions of the 33rd of the late King, the case
was taken out of the jurisdiction of the Magistrates,
there being an arbitration clause is the Articles of the
Society, enacting that in case of a dispute not satisfacto-
rily settled by the officers, the stutter should be referred
to two arbitrators..

_
Mr. HARMER contended against this arentnest: ?be
charge was aot, lie said, a_ainst t p.rticular member,
but a general charge of nsisrepresentation and fraud.
Mr. ALLAY would not allow his clients to be libelled.
ilfthere had been false representations, the defendants

y.

•_ _ --~-~s-.-

or receiving relief I—WorraL—No ; I believe not:—
Mr. PATNI said, he was not aware- of any offence the
prisoners had committed. Skittles was a game of exer-
one, and not vituperated u an unlawful game in the
Statute 33d Henriorhe Vlllth. or any of the subsequent
St-outes; nor did.itaseate within the meaning of the last
Sewer Act for dm City of London, the runes therein
prohibited at public-houses being expressly termed
" sedentary" games.
A Solicitor who attended for the prisoners, hoped the
officer would be camlid enough to state that the prisoners
were sober.
Worrall.—Yes ; they were all three sober. I took
them for leaving their work.
The Solicitor observed, that they were all working by
the piece; their leaving their work would, therefore, be
their own loss, not their misters'•, and the officer could
have no authority to apprehend them on that score.
Worrall.—l did not take them on my own authority.
Mr. King sent for me.
Mr. Alderman Cox.—Yon must be very little acquaint-
ed with your duty not to know that skittles is not an un-
lawful game. Your zeal may have misled yon, but yon
have certainly exceeded your authority, and I am sorry
for it. There is no offence against the men, and I would
recommend to you to withdraw and talk to this gentle-
man (the solicitor.)
Mr. Parris observed there could be no change of
malice or ill will on the part of Worrell.
The prisoners' Solicitor.—Certainly not. I make none.
The men were then discharged, and the parties with-
drew together.
MARERnoarmt-ineastr.—JeAs Stock and a Jew named
Lies, liriug in High-street, St. Giles's, were yesterday ex•
amined before %Ir. Rog, the sitting Magistrate, the former
charged with having stolen some clasps from Mr. Inch-
lock, and the latter as the receiver of stolen goods. Mr.
Alley and Mr. Isaacs attended as Counsel and Solicitor
for Lion.
It appeared from the evidence of the prosecutor, that the
prisoner had been taken into the service of his house in
Gray's-inn lane, as a journeyman tailor. Last Thursday
week he missed total pair of clasps, valued at one guinea,
land sixpence, and asomeetiog the prisoner. who had left his
employ, Mr. ,(schlock traced him to his residence, and taxed
him with the robbery, which he confessed; at the same time
inforrting the prosecutor that he sold the clasps to,Lion for
four shilliags and a comb. The proeeeut.,r went to Lion,
and offered to repay him whatever he might have given for
the property if he would give it up, but be denied altogether
having transacted any business with the prisoner Stock, po.
natively asserting that he bad not pirchased any such pro.
petty as that described.
John Hall was called to prove that h. went with Stock to
Lion's house, rhea he told the witness he was going to sell
some steel clasps. Hall said he waited outside the street
door. but sawfoar shillings and four pair of clasps pass
netkireu the two prisoners.
Stock told the Magistrate that he took the clasps to
Lion, who purchased Ilan at two different times ; on
the firit occasion giving im two shillings and a comb
for two pair, and on the second giving him two shillings
for the remaining two pair.
Lion persisted in not being et all connected with the
charge.
Stock was fully committed for trial, and Lion was
discharged; the Magistrate giving Lion the benefit of
the contradiction in the evidence of the witness Hall, op-
posed to the statement of Stock.
MARY-I.I.IIONPOS OPTICS. —Yesterday, 1). Ha rte,v
and Jones, two youths were charged before L.
Gamma, Iraq. with stealing, in a very daring man•
Der, some articles of plate from the Stratford Coffee
House, Oxford street.
The prisooerswere observed going down Duke-street
by as aged woman. who keeps a fruit stall, and wh,,se
attention was attracted towards them by se ihg some-
thing bright, like silver, protruding from' Harvey's
pocket ; suspecting they d just committed some 'de-
predation, she communicated- her snspicions to a man

A lANATic's cuNNisu —tyro., the Manchester
Oeardies.J—A very laughable incident °marred at the
Lsaatie Asylum at Lancaster, about ten days ago. A
parish officer from the neighbourhood of Middleton took
a lunatic to the Asylum, pursuant to an order signed by
two magiettatee. As the man was respectably connected,
,a gig was hired for the purpose, and he was persuaded
that it was merely an excursion of pleasure on which he
wes going. In the course of the journey, however,
something Occurred to arouse the suspicions of the
labatic with respect to his real destination ; but he said
nothing oa the subject, made no resistance, and seemed
to enjoy his jaunt. When they arrived at Lancaster,
it wee too late in the evening to proceed to the Asylum,
and they took up their quarters for the night at en ion.
Very early in the twinning the lunatic gut up, mitt
searched the pockets of the offi, er, where he found the
magistrates' order fur his own detention, whi,'h of course
let him completely into the secret. With that cunning
Which madmen not %infrequently display, he made the bele
of Us way to the Asylum, saw one of the keepers, and
told him that he had got geed mad fellow down at LalleaS-.
ter, whom he should bring np in the course of the day ; add-
ing," He's a very, queer fellow, an has got very add ways.
For instance, I should not wonder if be was to say 1 was
the madman, and that he was bringing.me ; but yon
must take care of him, and not believe a w ,rd that he
says." The keeper of course promised compliance, and
the lunatic walked back to the ina, where In. foam! the -
overseer stilt fast asleep. He awoke him, and they at
doWa to breakfast together. " You're a very lazy fel-
low to be lying all day. I have had a good long stalk
this morning." " Indeed," sail the overseer, "1 should.
like to have a walk myself after breakfast: perhaps you
will go with me." The lunatic assented; sod after
breakfast they set out, the overseer leading the way to.
wards the Asylum, intending to deliver his charge; hut
it never occurred to him to examine whether his order
was safe. When they got within sight of the :try luin_, the
lunatic exclaimed, " What a fine house that le!" " Yes,"
said the overseer, " I should like to see the ids of
it." " So should I," observed the lunatic. " Well,''
said the other, " I dare say they will let us look through;
however, I'll ark." They went to the door; the over-
seer rang the belt; and the keeper, whom .the lunatic hail
previously seen, made his appearance with 2 or three as-
ststants. The oveeseer then began to fumble la hie pockets
for the order, when thelunatic produzed and gave it to the
keeper, saying " This is the man I yoke to you about,
you will take rare of him ; shave his head, and put a
strait waiteoat on him." The men immediately laid
hands on the poor overseer, who voolferaked loudly that
the other was the madman, and he th.tieeper ; but as
this only seemed to confirm the story prtyioa,ly ;old by,
the lunatic, it did not stall tend to procure his liberaiioa.
He was taken away, and became so very obstreperoue,
that a strait waistcoat was speedily put upon him. an I
his head was shaved secundum arteet. Meanwhile the
lunatic walked deliberately back to the inn, paid the
reckoning, and set out on his joarney•homew.:rd. The
good people in the country were, of emirs?, nut a little
stir, r sed on finding the wrong man return ; they were
I afraid that the lunatic in a fit of frenzy hail murdered the
overseer ; and they asked him, with great trepidation,
what he had done with ? Dune with him,"
said the'madman," wbylleft him at Lancaster Asylum,
' as mad esti-1; ' which, indeed, was not far from truth ;
for the Wits of the poor overseer were well nigh overset
by his' tmextected detention, and subsequent treatment,
Furtherinqutry was forthwith made ; it was ascertained
that the man was actually in the Asylum. A Magistrate's
order was procured for his liberation ; and he returned
linate on Wednesday last, with a handkerchief tied round
' his head, in lieu of the covering, whh.;ll Nature had bc-
, stowed upon it.

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