The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-10-16 00:00:00


PO ME.

COVENT GARDEN THEATRE.

_......

now.sTartr.—The following are the partieu.
o.s th;it occured before Mr. GHANA ,t un Friday
night resiseetina Covent-garden Theatre:
.101 IN STONE, of Liticoltes.inti.fields, was
c‘targed by George While, jun. of Park-street,
Westminster, who stated that soon after WV.
price had commenced, and during the performancfs
of the fourth act, he observed the Prisoner stand.
in; up in one of the Wad boxes making a Beat
noise by scratching and knocking with his stick,
and on a placard being stuck up in the Pit, he
called out " turn it round ;" the placard was,
however, loon struck down by some person who
was near it, when Mr. Stone called out " knock
hirn,down, turn him out," and he continued to
make a great noise and disturbance till the witness
pt round to the boss, and he was then taken into
custody. Ordered to find bail.
ROBERT WINDALD, a youth of about
seventeen years of age, of good adders', was
charged with making a disturbance in the Pit. lie
elocliqed saying who he wu, hut that he resided in
r,:en lett .

Mr. Iknry Bennett, of Carey-strret, saidt
that, aboothalf past nine e►'cluek, he was in tit
Pit, at which time the performance was going ow,
n hen he observed the prisoner, who was next to
him, stand upon the seat, and exhibit a paper to
the audience. with the words 66 Covent garden
Rabbi," at the same time holding up Lis hat and
henaing, which induced many of the people it
ti,e Pit, and other parts of the house, to join
it. and created a great disturbance for mute theta
file minutes. After thin, the prisoner called to
the persons in the Two Shilling Gallery, to resents
a servant, whom the officers were then endeavour?:
big to take into custody. He then exhibited yes
other p per, u ith the words 66 Old Prices" spell
it, and which predated nearly the same dieter.
',mace as the former. The youth declined saki
env reply to the charge, observiug, that he shoe
deter that, till he was advised, lest he shoe
commit himself.; but that he cowld refiete the prises
died part of the charge, by his friends, who le
the. Theatre wheu he was taken into custody.
iie elm-awed his surprile to find the white*
te !king a charge, its he had been making es mach
'wise as himself, and applauded all he did, and
appeared to art with him. lle gate bail, himself
in pool. and two sureties in 501. each. 'Die Ma-
gistrates sat till near 12 o'clock.
On Stlurday evening the following Gentlemen
mere brought front Covent-garden Theatre before
Mr. Read :
THOMAS SMITEI and WILLIAM SAWN',
of the Chapter
.Colfee-house, St. Paul's Church.
yard, were charged by Mr. Bennett, of Carey-
street, who said, be was in the Pit, and during
the performance he observed both the prisoners in
company together in the lower Dress Boxes, when
one of them held up a placard upon a slick, which
I.einediately produced a-general loom' trot* dif-
ferent parts of the House, particularly the Boxes
and Pit ; he observed some writing upon the pla.
card, but whit the words were, he could not
tell; he endeavoured to snatch the placard from
him, but could not obtain it ; %hen be held up
the placard he struck it with his stick ; the wit.
ness then went into the Bates, and had him se-
cured ; that the other prisoner, William Smith;
assisted the other in holding up the placard, ansi
afterwards held up a placard himself, with thst:i
words written on it, "No HIM Prices," and which
produced hewing, and a great noise and tumult
in the Pit.
Mr. Iletzetson, of Battersea, said, he was in
ono of the Lower Boxes, and, after half price,
the two Gentlemen charged, in company with
ethers, came into the Bin where he was; they
soon began to make a great noise, by calling out
" Off, ofT, no Jews!"—While the witness was
endeavouring to tear down a placers] which was
held up in the Pit, they abused him very much;
Mr. Thomas Smith, and another Gentleman, then
held up a large placard, and Mr. W. Smith held
up a mail one, on which were the words s• No
le:w prices ;" the effect prodnoed by this was great
Owning, noise, and tumult frost the int and
li )aes, which continued for some time, and it
was so great as to cause some Ladies to leave the
Bows.

.

Henry Fallion, an officer in the Eaxt.lndia
Company sertice, said he saw the two Messrs.
smith together in the Box, assisting in the to.
rnult, and that Mr. Thomas Smith held up a pia.
card, and soon after a smaller placard was held up
ever Mr. Heoctson's head, with the words " Nu
new prices" on it.
Charles !leak, of Marehment.street, Bruns.
wick.square, Francis Auslin, of Holborn-court,
Gray's inn, and Preach Pike, of Kill-street,
Covent-garden, who were in the box aith the
Messrs. Smith, all agreed in asserting that Mr.
Thomas Smith did not hold up any placard, but
assisted a Gentleman in holding one up with his
stick; but that Mr. William Smith did not touch
any of the placards that were handing shout.
rho- also stated, that there was the same kind
~r noise and tumult in the hot:4e before the
cards were exhibited from their hot.
Mr. Kean ordered both the Mr. Smiths to find
hail, themselves in WO. each, and two sureties it►
each, which they did by the arrival of some
friends.

tumor) ORnEMI.
Jvhts Dale and Joseph Fletcher, clerks to
Messrs. Allen and Wilson, tailors, of Bond-street,
mere charged with offering a forged order at the
pit dour, to admit two, written as follows
" Admit I, Pit. J. Brandon. Saturday, 14th
October, 1809."
It was immediately discovered by tho door.
I eem that it was not the writing of either of the
Mr. lirandons, and he gars the prisoners into the
custody of Smith, the conductor of the patrole.
Mr. J3MCII and Mr. John Brandon attended,
and proved that the order was not written by
either of them. The Prisoners solemnly declared
they did not know it was a forgery, but that it was
given them as a genuine order.
This was confirmed by Mr. Newcomb, the ♦t-