Police.
The Times, 1824-11-05T00:00:00

MIANsoN10-1s01TSE.-A few days ago an application was nmade ic I the LORD MIAYOR, upon the part of one of the churchwardens of' Cornhiil, to exercise his authoritv for the supprtession of a great and increasing nuisance. The vestry-clerk, who made this application, stated, that a nrmber ofnewsvenders were in the habit ol1assenibling in crowvds round the coaches which start frorm Gracechuich-strret, and pressing thc passengers to purchase tlitr various newspapers. They did not confine the practice to the week days, but worked in thesameirnproper manner on theLord'sday;and one oftlechurch- wardens had instructed hina to make the present applicarion, tO as- certain whether the practice could not be checked. ( Wle understood the applicant to mean a total stop to the sale of Sundav newepapers.) Ile submitted, that the cases of the persons so acting on the Lord's day were comprehended iN the act which Inflicted a penalty upon those whe exercised their worldly calling on the Sabbath. The rnen of wlhom he complained, not only surrounded the coaches, and thrust out their papers for sale, bitt called out the Ratnes of the several papers whicl tlhcy were endeavouring to dispose of, and notlhing was to be heard in the street but " The John Bull, the Observer, the Examiner, RXll'. Life iii London. H_ere they are; here's Mlr. Fauntleroy in fuill." This was an outr2ge against the peace anl sacred character of the day, and could not, it was to bc apprehended, receive any check except fromn thc interposition of the magistrate. The LoUD AIlAYos declared that he could not see that he was authorized to interfere in the case in the mnanner required. It was doubtless a great impropriety in any person to mwake a noise in the street daring the Sabbath, but he conceived that the street.keepers were perfectly well qualified to check that description of misconduct. If the parties complained of were the occasion of obstr,eetions in the streets, they certainly could be punished by a magistratc, but the law didl not, h conceived, give to a magistrate the power of suppress- ing thesale of Sunday newspapers. -Iis lordship then refused to interfere. BoW-sTRnET.-Yesterday the driver af the hackey-coach No. 498 was brought before Sir R. Bina.xE, charged with furiously driving, and with assaulting a professional gentleman of the name of Walker, and causing two of his ribs to be broken. It appeared from the statement of Mr. Nrialker, corroborated by other witnesses, that on last Saturday se'nnight, in the n'orning, he vas driving through Upper King-street, Bloomsbury, in a gig, at a moderate pace, and on the right side of the road. whtent he saw the defendant coming witlh his coach towards himn at a very furious rate, antI whipping his horses as hard as lhe was able. .l1r. Walker diew up to the near side pavement, in order, as lie thought. to prevent even the possibility of danger, but the defendant drevw over towards him, as if on purpose, and running against the gig, upset it. and Mr. Walker was precipitatedwith gieat.violence upon tle Pavement. and twoof his ribs were broken. Some passengers ansistedM r.Walker into a shop, while two men ran after the defrendant's coach in ortier to secure him, or at all events to obtain his nuimber. He went gal- loping on, but they were soon alongside of the coach: upon seeing which, he threw the reins oat of hii hand, andl whipped his horses with all his strength, holding the whip w ith both hands. The pur- suers were about to eldeavour to seize the horses, when the defen- dant aimed several blows at them with his whip- abtd finally, they contented thetuselves with taking his numnber. MIr. W1'alker, it was found, had two of his rib3 broken, anti wras otherwibe injured. He w'as conveyed home, and kept his bed for some days. On tite Tuesday following the transaction, the defendant called at Mllr. MWalker's liouse, wlhich he had found bv some meang or other, atnd inquired after his state of' health, at the same time offering an apology for lils off:nce; bit ilr.Walker considered the outrage of toO aggravated a nature to be passed over lightly. The defendant pleaded that it was eiutirely an accident, occasion- ed by his horses running away, and becoming quite unmanageable. Sir R. BltNtE observed, that the outrage was a imost gross one, and the defendant was a very fit object for punishment. He then fined him 10s. and 4s. costs (the highest penalty awarded under the Highiway Act), and ordered him to find blil ibr his appearatace at dle se8sions, to answer to the charge of assault.-_le paid the penalty, and found bail. lVilliam Kertns, and Anztouto Massr, were Lrought up for final examination, the former charged on suspicioti of robbing lis em. ployer, Mlr. Weiss, the surgical instrument-maker, in the Strand, the latter with receiving goods stoleti from the same gentleman. It was discovered, through the lnstramentallty of Mr. Hinton, a dealer, in MIay's-buildings, St. Alartin's-Jane, that a considerable quaiatity of cutlery, togetler with a silver snuff-box, and lancet-catse was found to be in the pos,ession of thc prisoner Mlassr, who keeps a shop for the sale and purchase of general goods, in 'l'hackamn's-court, Strand. He gave a contradictory accoutui of'the tisraner in which lie becatme possessed of thetn, and was taken up. Some suspicioni fell upon the prisoner Kerns, and uponF searchinghim, daplicates of knives beloagingtto Mr. Weiss were found, but no connexion could be traced between him aud Mlassr. They were both, however, remanded, and subsequently suspicion fell upon a boy of the name of John Wi/l.shire, whoma Mr. Weiss had about nine weeks ago taken into his servicc as groom, out of charity to his then very distressed conditon. Being taxed with having robbed his master lie fell upon his knees and commn fessed himself guilty. He was brougbt uF yesterday to be examined, but no additional evidence had been obtained against either of the prisoners; and Sir R. BCStnIE said, that one of two very bad alter. natives must be chosen-either to discharge all the prisoners, or to ad.it the boy as an evidence against Alassr. After some conlsideration, rie latter course was chosen, and Wilshire stat- ed, that shortly after he entered the service of MIr. Weiss, he received 21. from that gentleman to purchase some clothes for hitnself. He went to Mlonmouth-strcet, anm afterwards to .lassr's; fdr ihat purpose, and the latter asked him if he had not something to sell sdmetimes ? The witness said he had not, but he insight perhaps s9me day Or other; and Miassr then asked him where he lived, and he refused to tell. 'However," said Mbacsr, " you can get something, I dare say; and whatever you bring I will buy, my boy, anti give you a good prie;, but be suare it' you should be taken up, don't say anmy thing about me." Two or three days after wfitness took him a new silk waistcoat of his master's, for w hich the prisone gave him ls. 6'd. He subsequently took him four razors, for which he reseived 4s.; atid the prisoner then etutered into a regular bargsin to give witness 3s. 6.Ga for every four new razors lie should bring. Witness took him in all 1 razors, and a silver spoon, a snuffi-box, and a lancet-case, for which he received trifling sums. The razors were stated to be worth 12s. each. M*1asar being asked what he had to say, dieclared he never bought any thing of the boy in his life. Ie was fully comnmittedl; and the boy was ordered into confinement to give evidence upon his triaL crens was discharged for fhe want of evidence. M2AnLnostoteoH-sTRsEtr.Yesterday James Halv, a tnan who has for some tinme kept a fraiterer's and green-grocer's shop in Ar- gyll street, near Regenr.street was brought to this office, upon a warrant, by Valentine, the oficer, and charged upon suspicion with havirng'set fire to the house, paTt of which he occupied. Mr. Dandee, a respectable wine-merchant, stated, that the house in question belongs to him, the tipper part of which lie occupies, as well as the entire of the adjoining house, for the purpose of bis bu- biness, as well as the residence of his family. The lower part, con- sisting of the shop a parlour and cellar, was occupied by the pri- soner anti his daughter. On llooday mnorning last, between one and two o'clock, Mlr. Dundee and h-s family were awolse by a strong smell of fire, and a sensation of suffocation; and upon examining the pre?ises, the fire was found to proceed from a small recess off thelobby of the first floor, in whicli some old lumber was kept. This fire was, however, soon put out, without doing any miaterial damnage; and although no suspicion, at that instant, fell upon the prisoner, yet Mr. Danmlee thought it very strange hots any fire could find it way into that recess. Tile family retired again to rest, but, in about two hours after, were a second time alarmed by a. fire of a much more serious mature: the smoke burt ir, volumes through every past of the house, a-ti was of so sulphurous and suffocating a nature that it was with the ut. most difflculty Mr. Dtndee and his family made their escape with- out safiering severely. An alarm was instantly given, anld by this time the flanmes were seen to proceed rapidly from the cellar beneath the shop; folrtunately, hewever, rthe fire-etigimues were close at hand, and being called' upon the instant, Clbe flames were got under wuithout doir;g any furthem damage than consutming thc whole of the prisoner's atoth and par. lour, and the greater part of Mr. !Dundee's first floor. An l4vesti5ation nose took place by Mtr. Dundee as to the niature lAid origin of tli e ffre, antI trwas dscovered to wve originmilaei, a,; it irst ap eaxrn1. in the cell.r occupied by thie ltioner, and ou qucs- ioning the latter upon the subject, he appeared very confused, aisa psve.zueh- isatisfoetory answer6that ..lcr. Duniee imniediattly inapeecesidie t hc was1 not onii the originator of theEre,-- bszt also ef :he firsit sne wh1ich broke-out mn heareceso up stairs. b Mr Diindee further said, that he ad inctakensone pains to mnake more inquiry5 ant4 lie found that the prisoner had inaured-tlic tontenta of his shop and parlonr at an Insurance O)ffice for the stnl t' 45GOL, although in point of fiact he neverhad 10. worth ot. pin- plerty upon the prezf3iscs. This ircumstanCe very muc1 strengthten- ed ;r; Dandee in his suspicio;s, and be deter mnedfo have thecaite hoPy investigzated, by having the prtsoner apprehended. ln reply to this charge, he risOner said. that na to the fire spoktenr oD in the uppar part of the house, he coulid not say where it origi- nater, or if there WaS SUCI a fire at all; but as zothefire that-con- umred his shop and parlour, he acknowledged that it originated inL his cellar, bhit from what cause he could not possibly imnagine,un- less it was by s le axcident, arising from the circumstartce of hrs daughter srametimes going dov.n at night, to make up the accoa-a.s of the day in the cellar, by cand'e-light, and in that wsay a spark might have fall en upon something combustible; but the ract was, tiat liMr. Dundee and his fam-.-ly bad also access to this cellar as well as he had. and the fire might as well have been caused by their means. Mr. Dandee here positively denied thst any part of his familybrA access to the cellar. The pritoner pers:sted that they had; and as for the insurance spoken of, he only- insured for 300l. and not 450L, as stated by Air. Dundee; and he did that to cover the property he had ort the prenmises. Sir GEono FAMIANT, thie sitting Magistrate, askcedhi:sn woat property he had upon the premises ? He replied, that he had Pal. in bank-notes, in ahbox whirl bad icen c6nsuwed and lhe had, besides, about 15I. worth of plate, and le valuedthis business at ncarliV269L- Allr. Dundee said, that it to happk: rd that the boy. spoken of byr hle prisofier Wa. nDt consumed, but wai ,aved from the fire, and it. ould be iascertained whether or net it contain, Od the 95L innrotes ; buc iS for anv thing else of value on the premises, ItIr. Dundee dcclared liere was not 101. worth; and it was rther acurious% thing for a mar z insure his chance business. Sir (1o GE F,ARRANT said, that it was necessat" tills ease .hould undergo f'urther invsstigation; and the prisoner was re- mnaded. UNTION-aALL.-Yesterday Theormis Fickr, the auctioneo- andX appraiser, of King-street, Snow's-fields, was brought before R. J. CisAMBERS arnd K. KIVeG, Esqrs., for another exarinatio', charged on suspicion of. having torged three chlecks for 501. each, and one check for 701., purporting to be signed by Joseph Titiner, anid paid at the banking-house of Mcssrs. Vreston, Allon, Young, and Bostocl;, in High-stTeet, Boromib. The following evidetcee in addition to that already stated. was brought forward:-- Joseph Luggage, a clerk in ihe Bank of England, deposed, t'nat orn the 2Mph of Spteniherlst, the 50i. Banl of England .ote,'No.17,049, dated tlte 1 87h of ctob.T, 1823, was bremght to the office soid pre- sen ed; the nan7e of Simpson. 44 WVes-.s reet, PFmlico. wag wlit-, ten on the head of it. Witness paid the -amount of the note to the person who presented it in sovereigns. Thc Alagistrate desired the witness to look at the prisoncr. and state whetler he had any recGUection of having seen that person in.' the Teller's Offce on ;the day in question. 'The witnessreplied, that lie had nevcr seen the piisorer before to his knowledge. ln- deed, atlded the witness, owin to the variety of business tranmactad in tiat department in the ceurse of the day, it would be almotst iLo- possible to s peak to that fact. Charles Shepherd, anwother elerk in the Teller's Office, deposed, that on the 4th of October the 501 note. No. 4,595, now protluced5 dated September 1, 121. vwas brought to the offic, and witness paid the amoint in sovereigns to the nprsan ho nres ented it. This wltm ness also stated, that he had no recollection oftheindividiual to whons he paid the amount of the note in question. The witness added, that the note lid written upon it the natue of " Simpson, 44, West- street, Pitnlico." The Solicitor for the prosecution said, that shice the last exami- nation of the prisoner, he had ruade every inquiry relative to the address subscribet to each of the above notes; and although he had been nearly two days endeavouring to find out the individaal'snunae attached to the notes, ke could ticither discover that there was suctt a person residitig in Pimlico, nor was these a street called WVest- Street in the whole parish. The Magistrate observed,thatit w2 evidentfromi this cireumstanceq thewsameof Simpsonn,res;-,streeL Pimlico. endorsed on the notes,was afietitious address, The .Maistrate then asked the Bank of EngLidt: clerLs, was itnot the practice in the Teller's-office to ieve the reala:l- dresg of everv person who presented a Bank of England note written apon it befbire thev cashed it ? The reply was. that e ery Isdividual who presented a Bank of England note at the Teller's Ofice was tU subscribe his name to it previous to its being cashed, but in many instances persons were sent with notes to be casbed fer ctthers. Itn this case the name appeased upon e notes when presented. It will be recollected, that whrs the prisoner waS apprehended at ihe Spur Itn, in the Borough, by Hall, the Chief Constable, a purse, containing 68 sovereigns, was feund upon his person, which was taken possession of bv that officer. IUr. Harrmer now applieA to the magistrate to hbve that money restored to his client, in ordet that that individual might re-nit part thlcreof to his wife, who vait now in an advanced staee of pregnancv. Mlr. Weston, the banker, humanely said, that so far as he was concerned, he hlad not the sligthtest objection to have the money ap- propriated toi the use of the unfortunate man's wife. Mr. CHaMsBERS obscrved, that he could not think of allowing any sucl thing, as he was persuaded every slhilling found in the pos_ scsrion of the prisoner, when he .wes taken into custody, vasthe pro- perty of the firm of 1s)issrs. Weston and Co. "Beside6," added the Alagistrate, " I understand that the prisoner's wife cannot bc in any pe uniary distress. she havinig her own relatives about her, who are in good circurstances." Mr. Harmer. in consequence, did not press the subiect any further. All the witncsses nresent were then bound over to appear against the prisoner at the next Assize, and he was remanded for a few days8 in order to havc the evidence of a material witness. POI,CE.