Old Bailey New Court.
The Times, 1824-06-07T00:00:00

On Saturday, wrhen the LoRD MAYOR arrived at the new Court, Air. Sherff I,AuRrst rose in his place, and addressed the Court in the following words:-" I beg to caU the attention of the Court to a eircumstance upon which I think it necessary to ask their advice. On Thursday evening, in consequence of the determination of the Court of Coammon Council to interfere with the regulations of this Court, I went as a private person in my plain clothes to the doors of the gallery of the Court, and claimed admission. but was ob- structed bv two persons who are not my officers, and whom I do not know. Those persons refused me admission, and upon my ques- tioning them as to the authoritv upon whici they did so. they said they were arppinted as door-keepers by the Court of Common Council. Utpon being told that I was the Sheriff* they admitted me, but they still hold possession ot the gallery under the authority of the Court of Common Council. I, as Sherhf, know nothing of the Couirt of Common Council. I know no authoritv but that of the amagistrates and judges of the commission, of whih lI am the exe- cutive officer, that has power to control the regulations oF the court. MTy colleague and I are anxious to preserve the rights and privileges of the office which we hold, and to take care to place it in the hands of our successors unimpaired, and as we received it from oar prede- cessors. r consider thcassunnuption of this authoritv by the Common Cotncil as an invaision of the rights and privileges of the office I hold, and of the authoritv of the commission under which I amt boand to act. Under those circumstances, I csll upon the Court to state the manner in wlhich I am to act towards the two perssns who continue to conduct themselves in violation of my authority. I at the same time tlhink it necessary to mention, that the same assumed authority has appropriated a box in the court, anl locked it against the public, without my sanction or consent. [lrhat box, we understand,is ap. propriated'to the use of the City Lands Committee.] The whole Court, I submit, is under the jurisdietion of the commission, and can't be appropriated in any part of it by any other authority what- ever." Mlr. Sheriff WHITTAI;EI said, he perfectly agreed with his col- league in the obsenvations he had made. The REcorItDEt requested that the two persons who held the doors of the gallery should be brought before the Court. The loor- keepers were then brought into thebody of the Court, in custody of two sheriff's' officers. In answerto a question from the LORD MAYOR, they said they were placea at the doors, butnot by the sheriffs. 'The. LORD llYoRt.-t is the opinion of the Alagistrates and officers of the commission, that the control of this Cotrt is in the commission, of which the SherihTs re the exceutive officers. Unless you are appointed bv the Sheriffs, you must not continue to exercise F this authority, arid if yoa presume to interrupt them in the exercise of their duty, yot must do it at your peril. I Themnen bowedl and retired. They gave np the keys of the gal- tIerv to the Lord illayor's and Sheriffs' servants; and we understand that admistion is to be gained on the same terms as at the old court. The neiloor-keepersbegan totakenmoney ilmmediatelv from'visiters. This money is to be divided between the Iord Mavor;s servants and the sword-bearer. The reason assigned for giving the profits of the gallery as a perquisite to the Lord Mayor's servants is, that they receivc miserable-waees, and it is found necessary to make up for'tbe deficiency. The Court of Common Council have wished to abolish the practice of demandinlg money for admission, and to in- crease the allowane to thet servantsof the ,Lord Mayor, if it appear- ed they were entitled by prescription to a larger salary than they at' present receive (141. ayear.) Their wish has been successfullY re-. sisted by those who are of opinion that thc gallery would be filUed by a mere rabble if a pecuniary precaution were not taken. NON-ATTENDAXCE OF COUNSEL. We have beets infonned that Mr.- Lvw, upon learning the facts which we stated on Fridav, relative to the case of a prsioner who ought to have been, but was not,defended,immediately returned the fee. VWemnention this as an honourable act upon the part of thelearn- ed counsel, as it has been longan established principle at the bar not to return a fee unler any circumstances, OL.D BATY,WV MRW COTTR'P