Police.
The Times, 1824-09-11T00:00:00

MlANSroN.sIousE.-Mt; Cope, the city marshal, yesterday comrplained to the LoUD MIAYOrt, that a statement had appeared in all the public paplers, tending to throw on the police of the citv of London a charge which was in every respect unfounded. It stated, I that on one of the nighta of the fair at Smithfield, a gang otf thieves i itationed themselves near one of the booths, and robbed multitudes witlh impunity-that womnen were robbed of their shawls, and men of their watchesl; and that1 in fact, the outrages commilted there were only equalled by thore committed at West-end fair. The police were thus represented as disgracefully negligent, and it was s2ated that no person connected with the police was to he found on the spot at the time. Now the fact was, there were four officers on the spot when these outrages were said to have been committed, and those officers and manv other persons were ready to swear that nothi.g of the kind had ociurred. It wa.- but reasonable to suppose that if robberies had been committed. some personal repreaentation would have been made citber to the police or to the tnagistrates. There had been no statement of the kind; indeed, the fair was more quiet and free from thieves at least from successful thieves. upon this oCCasiRn, than it ever had been within his recollection. The police had not received information of a single robbery of a serious nature. it was, of course, the most difficult matter to keep voung pickpock. I ets out of the fair, but aU they got amounted to nothing more than [. few handkerchiefs.. One hundrelr and tw enty officers and constablesI had been appointed to preserve order, and sixty were kept constantly on the spot, whilst the others were in readiness to act in case of emergency. The Loan lAYOR expressed hi; belief that the charge was totally groundless. The nature of the cases brought before the nma. gistrates from the fair was a stfficientrefetation. .BoW.sTtEFT.--YesterdayJJohn Charnberiain, WMliam WIFilter, John (Gap, Willian Srell, Alexander SlXad, and Henry Holford, all young ment were brought ap in tho castody of Bond, on a war- rant, Charged with having caus.ed the death of Richard John iBull and John Freeman, by running down a wherry off'Chelsea. The defendants composed the crewof the beatwhich ran against Sharp's wherry, tn which were fifteen persons, t:wo of whom were drowned, and the warrant lbr their apprebensiois was issued imnmediately after the close of the examination of Sharp, the waterman, the particu. lars ef which we published e Thursday's paper. Two younz women wvho were in the boat with the defendantsi attended volutitarily. The boy Wirilkes, who was one ofthbse thrown out of the boat, and who swamn alongside of the defendants' wherry, but was repulsed, identified John Gay, but could not speak to the others. A young waterman of Qu'eenhithe, of the name of Colcond, rtated that on the Sunday in question he lent a wherry to the defendants, and they rowed to Putney, he accompanying them in another boat. He wvs behind them when the accidentoccurred, and therefore could say Rothing as to the merits of the case, except in the way of opinion; but he had Ro hesitation in sayinag that the thing coLild 6carcely have I happeted had it nor been for the overloading of Sharp's boat. A heavyish bnat only drifting with the tide would have been sufficient to have swamped a wherry with 15 persons in her. The defendants had only two oars, and one was broken at the time of the accident. The defendants being called on to answer the charge, declared that it was an unavoidable accident. They certainly were not keep. lng a good lookout a-headt, or they might have seen the wherry; butwhen they heard Sharp call out, they tried with their utmost I strength to atp theitr owe boat by backing water, but one of their 'Of rs broke into two ptecea. and ef course deprived them at on,ce o~f all I control ovef thoeboat. ircumstance whch presse Mr, HALL6 sidS A htt therc was one circumsunce which preed I-very stit po llpw W .Jas -in;.dicative p4' the kind of' feelUni which tIU.i- ave F-6iittd araorut ilth defenidants-he meant their lowitse away frot, tl,e uif'ortunate persoiss whomn they hail precip' t:ittd int o tile vwater, and absolutely refusing to Lake in onc whla bed beeni able to swim- alongside of thetxrboat. Giay at first denied this, but ufterwardls admitted the fue.. tifde2x- ciued h imself and compaions, ixpon the ground that they hadi eigbc of their owa party, atnd t. men who got on board from the other boat, anid the takinig any, more would bavn endangered. their awn lives. .John Prest, the mian whvo was rowin- -with ;jar, wore tha-t he andi another tyan jumnped into the defeadants?Ll.,rerry-lo save them- ielves, when1 Sharp's boat was goinig dowe isv tha bhedefendiants ..etitai1v hacked water toget away fromtog wr struggling to, save. themselves ; and in so doing theybktor Gay repeated that the oar was broe reideoungto prevent the boats from comting in contact. Tile two younig Woumen who were withi the defendanats were called, and havinigIbeen swvorn, thev with coDsidcrable hesitation, and very- strong reluctance.. ndndrtted that the opr was not brokenl until after the accident hapoeneil. After as verv )ong examnination, Air. HALLS Said that, in bis opinion, the defendants had beem guilty, bf great misconduct, anta the consequences of their mnisconduct were yf-a most serions and melan- chioly niature. He should -therefore certaisnly take means to enforce their attendance at the n~irt Surrev Sessions, and in the interim thie prosecutors' legal advisers would 4etermine in what share to prroceed against thiem. 'I'he defendants were all held to bail in two sufeeties of 401. each, tco answer aill such things as may be objecte al3tinst them at thle sessions. Ie1 ARLaOP OJGJE-f.TJ?tFT_c. Yesterday Lewiv CAt,1crt, a pour. erftl-ouingfelow agrom n te ervceof Air. Willianm Wisonts Grey hieiy.tabe.keper in heperdJ-street, Cavendish-square, wasbvugh t th ofic, hared unerMr. Richard Martin's Act, wit watoncrelt toon ofhiamater's horses. The complain.t waspreerrd aaint te pisoer '- r.Grey himself, whoi stated., thaton he Itl int. e msse on ofhiscow whch had atrayed. awav: and being anxious about he-r rcer,hgaedirections to, the pirisoner to miount one of hi-s bes hrs,tdride round the neiehbouring country in, searcht of hier, whl Mr. Grev himself wet-i to Barnet Fair, which wan lield on the samne day. He heard nothit,g fuirtlher of the priesoner, utntil he received a cosmmunication from Air. Tuffinlr, a carver andl zilder, in Great Quteen-street, ,inroln'`s Itn- felds, ninf ing him that one of his servants wras at the Bald-facd Stagg inn, on Finchltv-cowmton., with a, valuable horse, whichr hle had treated in a mos)t savage and brutal manner, so as, JAMr. T ufleng had no doubt, to injure the animnal miaterially. It aippeared, fromn the testimony, of thie hostler at the Baldi- faced Stag, that thie fellow, after beatting the horse for a consider- able timne', withofut arny apparent cause whatever, got off' his back, c-alled for a glass of gin, whiich he drank, and then seizing a large stick (the hxndle of a broom).attacked the horse again, and beathMini about the heali andl loinsx with the stick until he broke it in pieces. Several peop le remionstrated with thie prisoner, but he seemed ,an furious an1d de'sprate that they did, not like to meddle withi himn, This witneastiaid he was a godiudge of hor-se; anid hie never swaw more gentle or qaiet one thant this of Air. Qrey's, and one also, of considerabile valuec. The prisoner haud not a word tooffer in his defence, except that he got drunk early on that morning, and he knew not what he dild all day after. Mvr. COteANrr Said, that he believedI this wr.s ont of the wvorst, if' not tihe most atrocioiis end wantonly brutal cases that hetd been puni.0ied since the passing o1t'his veryr salutarr act, and the prisoner should meet with the full pen-alty inflitted-narmtly. 51. Mr. Grey saLid, that he should[ not intercede nut ofranY compassion for theo prisoner h-imself, but he had a wifec and large'familyv; aind if the Maqgistrate would mitigate thie penalty, for their Sak-es, he (M.Grey) should feel oblizetcl. Mfr. CONrASeT Said, that the prisoner wras totsllv untdeserving or any lenity ;buit as it was the particular wish of Mlr. Grey, for the reasoiss he had Stated, the penalty s3hould be Teduced to) 31., but nO, lower, and in default 'of paying that sum, he ahould be inumedi_ atelh com-mitted for two mouths to hard labour in the H-ouue of Cotl- arerunn The prisoner said he coaldl nor pay it; and appealed to Ait. Grey to pay it for hiim. "Indeed. Lewis," said Mr. Grey "I shiall do no such thing I hlave been a good master to you, and you have reqaited rse most shanmelully." The prisoner was then committed, acecording to his s-entence. QUEEN-S5ULARE.-On Mlonday se'nnixht a prsoni of gentle,. m'anily exterior, who was said to be connected withefamwes of thes Ftrst respectability, tvas chargred at this office, before Mr. AIATta- LAteD, the Magistrate, with an assau lt Ifa nal n indelicate niature. The accus~ed does nor appea to be more tha 34) years of age. He was stated to have been an officer in the arrny, who hatd- sp)ent a considerable time in I taly. On being placed at the baT, a youtlt, wrho gamve his name - Fr'ancis, was s'worn. He stated that fite was a clerk to Mir. Simpson, of _; that on the pre-. ceding Friday evening, he was walking along Pall-mall, about seven o'cloc'k, and miet the prisoner, who accosted him, and asked himt whichi way lie was going ? He replied that he was returning home. Tltc priso'ner asked him in whiat direction his home lay ? Hie told him that the rond was over Westminsrer-bridge, and h'e resided ins Robertr.rrreet, Blacktfriara.roadl. The prisoner said the evening war remarkably fitue, antI he would take a walk that way with him if it were agreeable. The prisoner tEbn twok his arrm., and walked by his side along Ckaring-cross, towa'rds Parliament-street, dur- ing whichl period the prisoner asked him- imany quxestione of a peculiar tendency, the answers to whichi seemed to give h.ine areat satisfaction. On reaching WVestminster-bridge, the condluct of the prisoner becamne les equivocal ; and on &se yoath stating that he mut,t go home immediately, the prisoner Pro pued a meettng on the following AMonday evening, at half-past eigh't'o'cleek ; the Youth consented. The prisoner said he should be at the foot of Westminster-bridge precisely at that time, and he hoped he would be punctual. The youth repilied that he would be at the place at the time appointe& On the following morning he communicated to Air. Simpson the circumstance of hiis meeting wvith a very gen- tlemanlly man, whoste behaviour was so extraordinary that .he could not divine his motives or object. Air. Simp,son, on being made ac- qusintcertIO with tt prisoner's behaviour, sam)a he was a bad fellow, anid means ought to ~se adop'ed f'or his apprehension. The youth accompanied Mlr. Simipson to this office, where he maade a deposituon before Air. SIARKLAND of the above facts, and two officers, coerge Futle ndCoe,wroreebylemaitrate to arrange a plan fotakntiepsor inocsdyn nday night. Ir MAKAeDhr xpesd oesrprise at the apparent; simplict ftewtes ndlvrn at of the above narrative, aindl a dhmiheral entosar thnt he did noyt know that the intentions of the pirisoner, on hig raking the liberties~ he had. dlescribed, were bad? The witnesis refflied that he did not think e.o ; he couldI not accougt for siuchi conduct, and had never heard of suc-h a character as the prisoner, till it was explained to him subsequently to the first assault. Mlr. MARKLAtnD directed the witness; to state what took place ott the Mfonday night. Witness contrmneL&-At half-past eight o'clock he walked towards the fbot of Westminster-bridge ; thie prisoner was there waitingr for hirs, and crossed the road and shook hands with him very, iteartily. Mr. Sipo,and Cooper (an officer), were walking behind, while Pople an entleman, who is a friend of Mfr. Simpson's, were at a littl dsace, for the purpose of watching the prisoner's, conduct.. The prionrtook his arm and led him over the bridge, down Stan- gate-street, and into the Bishop'.-walk-, Lambeth. Having reached. a retired spot amnongst the trees, the prisoner at once itisnifested what were his intentions. The Youth immediately, gave a precon.. certed signal to the officers, who came up and rook the prisoner into custody. Mr. Simpson corroborated thze statement of the ylouth as to his in- fosiming hiim of thie prisoner on the Friday nighit. Pople hfndl Cooper (officers) stated,. that on their apprehending the prisonier he was much agiuated. anid avsked them what they intended to do withi himn? Thiey said they stare going to rake him to the watch-house of St. Mlargzaret's, Westminster.' The prisoner aske~d why lie couild not be taken to aL watch-house on the Suirrey aide of the Thamies ? The officers replied that they belonged to Queen- square, and most convey himi there for examination on the following inorning. On thieir arrival at the watch-houmse, they a,%ked the pri- soner his name and address?: He at first refused to give any, anid afterwards gale one that they suspected, and wltiih finially turned our to be fic'titious. They searched his person, and found a card- case, containing cards, on each of which vwas the inscription "M 15r. W1ebb, 26, Charles-street, St. Jamres's-square." They alsto found a. letter in one of his pockets, with the above address. on the envelope. The prisoner niow admitted that his name was Wiebb, and that itis address was on the letter and cards. Alr. MAItKLAND asked him who and what he wras? He replied thatt he wasi a gentleman of indepeadent fortune. Prior to the above -examination, an application. war made to Mlr. AIARrLAteD to hiear the ease in private, and this reqiuest was h acked by the solicitations of a nmagistrate; hut Mr.MAaRsLANDa was inflpxzi- ble, and observed he sat there to discharge a pubolic duty, and he- shoold act in this caste without regard to any distinction of rank. T'he prisoner was commiitted to Horsemionger-lane-gaol, and order.. edl to give 24 hours' notice of bail. On the Wednesday followinig he was brought again before the magistrates, and having given Vail, wras discharged. UsetOa-HtALL.-YVesrday, a man named Tom Smitbersi applied to the sitting Mlagistrate for hiis advice lhow he was to a_ct in getting bonie his wife, who, he said, had absconded with a black man. He stated, tbat a few months ag he 'vass apprehended ant a search night at one of the lodging-houses in Kent-street, brought before their WVoralnips, convicted as a rogue sod varabond, and sent to the tread- milfl. During his confinement, his wife never called tjo see him, al- though she knew hiis Sentence, anid could have assisted him ia his mnisfotrunes. Since his release fromn Brixton, lie went to his oldl quarters, in the hope of seeing her; but be was there told that s!aa wias living with a"gentleman 'i" and to this person'is lodging lie pro.. ceeded, and, true enough, saw- his spouse, who, instead of reeeivitng him with open arms, after au absence of three months " in the country, " actua!ly took up the bellows, flung them as his head, cod siwore if he did not vanish our of her sight, s-he would annihilate him. Il er paramour happening to corns injust attise time, tresteio more to do, but took uvp a broom, coveresl with mud, sand gave hinm a dab withi it between the nose and eyes. The Mlagistrate asked wh*o the prson was with whomn she n.ow lived ?-.The comiplainant Said, that his .lme was Black Tom- that he siwept the crossings at the-corner of Union-street. Black Tomn was immediately sert for. The officer had Dot rmuclz trouble in finding him, for he was at his post, with broom irs lIand, sweeping away. He did not like to leave his business; he told the oeficer, just then, for it was the most valuable time of the day to hIm, and he could not trust any one else to do the duties in his absence, as he had been " dons" before Black Tom, hair- ever, was obliged to appear: he had the features of a Hottentot, and upon being asked why he assaulted the coDmplainant, and harboured his lawful wife, replied, " Your Honour, I pick up the lady, not tinking she had another husband, and as me and she gree, I na like to part lIer, for she be a very good ttman to me." Here the com- plainamt's wife, a fine coppcr.rcoloured damsel, came breathleSS litO the office, and hearing Black Tom's declaration in her favrur, ran towards him, a-nd clasping hirn round the 2eck, imprinted about a dozen kisses on his lips, that resdurded through the ball. The oilicerof the day was ordered to niand between them to pre- vent a re-et%ton of these endearments. BaBdci Tom, in Continua- ton, satA, although it woud be a hard straggle fot In to giVe Up such a beautiful creature, yet, ax she seas married, he" suppose ft mnust he so. The iMagistrate told him le was in the right roadl for Brixton, if lie did not. Black 'rom.-Ob, yout Honour, me give her Lp now? Den tak-e her (to the compltinant.) I no want her ag-inl me gooft' to mv business in the road, fne no like Brixtons; GOA forbid me see de tread-milL. Tor was making s.hsty retreat, when the 11agistrate calling himn back cautioned-tnim nat to meddle with other rnen'a WIves in fiture- 'iom proraed to be a good bot henceforsord; and the complainant and his wife took each other lby the arm, and left tile office, tihe latter expresfsg,after all, IheTeywas none like aurba. POLICE.