The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-10-05 00:00:00

I

POLICE.

MANSION Housa.--Cuaaos AGAINST • SOLDIR*:
A Ownleman applied to the Lotto MATO& for a MX*
want against aCorporal of the Coldstream Foot Guards,
seder the following circumstances :
The applicant stated, that on the 17th of last month,
as he was walking up Ludgate-hill, be was suddenly,
sad with great violence, forced into the carriage toad,
when, on turning mad, he perceived a band of sol-
ders, to one of whom be addressed himself on the un-
necessary and outrageous violence with which be had
been pushed into the street. The leading soldier,
who was a Corporal, answered him in the most inso-
lent manner, cursed him, ordered him to get out of the
way, and raised hie bead
sat as if it was his intention to
scab him. The co ain temp
was much alarmed at this
actiew, and retreated into the shop No. 23, for safety.
He appealed to the Lora Mayor whether an assault
*flinch a nature, committed by a soldier with his
bayonet fixed, should be suffered to pass without pun-
ishment.
Tbe complainant said, be had followed the soldiers
to their barracks, and obtained the name of the ag-
gressor, and he now wished for a warrant to appre-
hend and bring him to punishment.
The LORD MAYOR said, that however the aggressor
might deserve to suffer punishment, it was not for him'
to adjudge or inflict it. All be could do was, to bold
the aggressor to bail to keep the peace, or to *e-
nvier the charge at the sessions. As there was little
fear that the soldier would run away, the best way to
wet was to indict him at the session ; and then if a
true bill were found, a warrant would follow of course.
His Lordship expressed his strong sense of the nature
of the outrage which the soldiers were but too prone
to commit in the crowded streets of London.
The complainant said, he should follow his Lord-
ship's suggestion, and left the office. He, however,
soon returned and said, that probably the soldier
would be removed, when it was heard that this com-
plaint was made against him. Indeed it was possible,
that before the indictment could be preferred, he
might be removed by coarse of service. Upon these
grounds he had thought it prudent to return, and sub-
mit to his Lordship the necessity of issuing his war•
rant to secure the offender, and oblige him to find bail
to answer the charge, which be conceived to be one of
the most serious nature. He knew there was some law
or regulation in country towns, for obliging soldiers
with fixed arms to march in the carriage way. He did
not know whether there was any obligations upon them
to do so in the crowded streets, where such a precautiew
was eso much more necessary.
The Loan MAYOR said, be was aware of the serious
nature of the assault, but as the matter had been ea&
feted to sleep so long, it would appear unneceeisey
now to issue a warrant, particularly as the Seaside*
MIS so near.
The complainant accouuted for the charge not being
brought forward at an earlier period, by assuring his
Lordship that be had been obliged to go oat of tows
immediately after, and bad but just returned. He bad
applied at Bow-street, supposing that the Magistrate
for Middlesex bad jorisdietioa over all within the
county, but was informed that he bad so jurisdiction
over the city. The complainant added, that be did
not know but that the soldier might have been re-

moved during his absence.
The Loan MAYOR suggested the propriety of ascer-
taining the fact.
The complaisant said he should make the inquiry,
and wait upon his Lordship next day.
GUILDUALL.—POINT OF Law lIRLATIVR TO POOR
RaTas.—The subject of the dispute between Mr. Pal-
ter. of Furnival's Inn-court, and the parish officers of
the city liberty of St. Andrew's, came again under
consideration at this office yesterday before Alderman
J. SMITH, the sitting Magistrate, upon application for
another(being a third) summons against that gentle-
man to show cause why a warrant of distress should not
be issued to levy the rate upon his goods and chattels.
Mr. Payne (the Magistrate's clerk) said, he had re-
ceived a note from Mr. Jobson, the vestry clerk, which
he read, stating that he (Mr. Jobson) bad convinced
Mr. Alderman Weighting, the Alderman of the Ward,
of the propriety of granting the warrant of distress in
this case ; but as the business had already been before
the public, and bad excited much interest, he deemed
it more honourable that the question should again un-
dergo public discussion, and therefore desired a sum-
mons for Mr. Palser's appearance at this justice-room
to-morrow (this day) when the Alderman of the Ward
would also attend.
Mr. Payne was about to explain the nature of the
rase, but the Alderman observed he bad already seen
ti .e report in the public prints. Mr. Payne then said,
it was for the Magistrate to decide whether, under the
circumstances, he would think proper to issue a fresh
summons.
A gentleman, who attended with Mr. Palser on the
two previous discussions, happening to be present,
said Mr. Palser was wholly unaware of this applica-
tion, and he bad hoped, after what had already passed,.
Mr. Jobson would not have attempted nay further pro-
ceeding without giving Mr. User notice. He bad at-
tended once before Mr. Alderman Brown, and twice
before Mr. Alderman Wood, on neither of which occa-
sions had it been attempted to be shown, on the part
of the parish officers, that the premises were withie
the city liberty, and the Magistrates in consequence re-,
fused to grant the warrant of distress until their right
of jurisdiction was established. Was it intended, and
wes it fair, lie asked, that Mr. Palser should go the
whole round of the Cqurt of Aldermen, and be sum-
moned before each of the 26 Magistrates, as they at-
tended in rotation at this Justice-room, in the hope
that one of them might be found who could be willing
to chance the consequences of issuing the warrant ? A
simple view of the premises would decide, that there
was no question but that they were out of the jurisdic-
tion of the city Magistrates.
Mr. Payne said, be had felt it his duty to make in-
quiry both at the office of the city surveyor,_ and also
at the Court of Requests for the city, and learnt that at
neither of those offices, were the premises in question
considered as within the jurisdiction of the city of.
London.
Mr. Alderman J. J. SMITH said, be always consi-
dered the duties of an Alderman within his Ward, es-
pecially with respect to poor-rates, as distinct from
those of the Magistrate, when acting judicially. The
act of the Alderman of the Ward, in signing a poor-
rate, was a. Mialsterial'Act, he having no authotity
whatever to object to the rate, or any part of it; but to