The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-16
From Chambers Edinburgh Journal.
ReCOIlectIOns of n Police Officer,

RecOIlectiOns of n Police Officer
THE TWINS.
The records of police courts afford but imperfect
evidence Of the business really effected by the off
GERS attached to them. The machinery Of English
criminal law is, in practice, subservient to the
caprice of the individual prosecutors, that instances
constantly occurring in which fragrant viola
tlons of natural justice are, from various motives
corrupt and otherwise, Withdrawn not only from
the cognzance of judicial authority, but from the
reprobaon of public opinion. Compromises are
usually effected between the apprehension of the
lncuipated parties and the public examination be-
fore a magistrate. The object of prosecution has
been perhaps obtained by tie preliminary step OF
arrest, criminal understanding has been ar
rived at IN the interval; and it is then found ut
terly hopeless TO proceed, however manifest may
have appeared the guilt of the prisoner. If you
adopt the expedient of compelling the attendance
Of the accused, it is, in nine cases out OF ten,
tune and trouble thrown away. The utter forget
illness OF memory the loose recollection of facts
so vlvldly remembered but few hours before, the
delicately scrupulous hesitation to depose conf
deLty to the clearest vertes evinced by the reluc-
tant prosecutor, render a convict on almost impos
sIble that except in cases of fragrant and start
ling crimes which of course earnestly prose-
cuted by the crown lawyers, offences against " our
sovereign lady the Queen, her crown and dignity,
rs criminal indictments run, if aggrieved sub
Iect voluntarily appears to challenge justice in be-
halt OF his lIege lazy remain unChastlsed, and not
untrequently unexposed. From several examples
OF this prevalent abuse which have come within
my own knowledge, | select the following in
stance, merely changing the names of the parties
My services, the superintendent lats one after
noon informed ne, were required in a ;rplexed
and entangled affair, which would probably oc-
Cupy me for some time, rs orders had been given
TO investigate tine matter thoroughly. Their, ,"
he added, " is Mr.. Repton, highly respecta BILE
country solicitors card He is from Lancashire,
and i7 staying at Webb's Hotel, PiccadlIy You
are 10 see him at once. He will put you in pos
session Of all the fscis-surmisss, rather, should
say, for the facts, 10 my apprehension, are scani
enough-cOnnected with the case, and You will
then use all possible diligence 10 ascertain first il
the alledged crime has been really committed and
it so, Of course to bring the criminal or criminals
to Justice.
found Mr. Repton, a stout bald headed, gentle
manly person, about sixty years of age just in the
act Of going out.
al have pressing engagement for this even
ing. Mr.. Waters," said he, after glancng at tn,
introductory note had brought, " and cannot pos
slblV go into the business with The attention ant
mruteness it requires till the morning. But III
i-li you what; one of the p rites concerned, anC
the one, too, with whom you will have especially Il
deal, is, / know, TO be at COvent Garden Theatre
iuis evening. 1t is, of course, necessary that yOl
should be thoroughly acquainted with his person
and if you GO with me in the cab that is waiting
outside will step with you into the theatre, anc
polnt him Out"
ass-ntrd and on entering Covent Garden pit
Mr.. Rsplon, who kept behind me, TO avoid obser
vition, directed my attention to a group of person.
occupying Tie front seats of the third box in th
lower tier from the STAGE on the right hand side o
the house. They were, a gentleman of about thirt!
wears of age his wife, very elegant person,
YEAR or two younger: and three children, the eld
est Of whom, a boy, could not have been more thai
six or seven years old. This done, MIR. Reptol
left the theatre, and about two hours afterwards
did the same,
The next morning breakfasted with the Lanca
sl,re solicitor by appointment. As soon as it wa
concluded, business was at once entered upon.
'You closely observed Sir Charles Malvern, yes
ierday evening, presume % said Mr.. Repton.
al paid great attention to the gentleman yo
pointed out to me-" | answered, "if he be 81
Charles Mevern'
"He is or least -. But of that presently
First let ine inform you that Malvern, few month
ago, was beggared gamester, or nearly so, t
speak with precision. He is now in good bodil
health, has a charming wife, and family to whor
he is much attached, an unencumbered estate c
about twelve thousand year, and he's not gam
he'd since he came in possession of the property
This promised, is there, think you, anything re
markable in Sir Charles demsanOr."
'Singuarly so. My impression was that he wa
aborng under terrible depression of spirits caused
imagined, by pecuniary difficulties. HIS manne
was restless, absrracted. He paid no attentio
whatever to anything going on on the stage, excei
when his wife or one of the children especiall
challenged his attention and then a brief answt
returned, he relapsed into the same restless unol
srrvance as before. He is very nervous too. Tt
box door suddenly opened once or twice, an
noticed his sudden start each time"
''You have exactly described him. Well, tn
perturbed, uHquiet teverishness of manner has col
SANITY distinguished him since his accession to Il
Redwood estates, and only since then. ltstreng
ems me and one or two others in possibly an u
founded suspicion, which --. But had be
ter # | wish to render myeef Ineligible, rela
matters in due sequence.
+" Sir Thomas Redwood, whose property in La
ctsnre is chiefly in the neighhUrhond of LIverpOt
met his death, did his only son Mr.. Archha
Redwood, about six months ago, in a very sudd
and shr Cking manner. They were trying sple
did mare for the first time in harness, which s
rhomas had lately purchased at a very high pric
Two grOoms on horseback We're in attendance
render assistance if required, for the animal was
NeSy powerful, high spirited one. All went We
well, ill they arrived in front of Mr. Mereditl
ulaCe Oak Place. This gentlemen has n Dassi
for firing off number of brass cannon on the 3
nversaTY of such events as he deems worthy of
honor. This happened, unfortunately to be one
Mr.. Meredth's gunpowder days; ard as
Thomas and his son were passing, stream of liz
flashed directly in the eyes of the mare, follow
hv the roar CT artillery, at no more than about
PAGES off The terrified animal became insian
Immanageable, got the bit between her teeth a
darDed off at the widest speed. The road i
curved and rugged one, ana aier tearing along
about half mile, the off:wheel of the gig car
at an abrupt turn, full against very large m
stone.
"The tremendous shock hurled the two uni
tunate gentlemen upon the road with frightlul
lence tore the vehicle almost completely asunC
and so injured the mare that she died the next
The much alarmed grooms, who had not only b.
unable to render assistance, but even to keep
with the terrified mare found Mr.. Archibald r
wood dead. The spine had been broken close
the nape of the neck his head, in fact, was doub
up, so to speak, under the body. Sir Thomas
breathed, and was conveyed to Redwo Ma
House. Surgical assistance was promptly
tanned but the internal injuries were gr
that the excellent old gentleman expired in
hours after he had reached his home. | was
tily sent for, and when | arrived Sir Thomas
still fully conscious, He impaired to me mat
Of great moment, to which he requested | We
direct, after his decease, my best care and at
lion. His son, was aware, had but just retur