Police.
The Times, 1824-11-23T00:00:00

MANsIasox n.OsrsE....Yeeterdny Lovez?o and his wife were brought up for nnother examination on :a charge of having attc:ptcd to obtain mnoney by means of a forged petition. The female prison..r on the first examination declared, that the forgedi petition waa writen for her from mere charity, by a gentleman who gavc her two s,overeigns, and in whose house she remained five hours. A public notary now came forward, and stated, thatt both of the prisoners requested at his office to have a petition, wbich was written in French, and much worn, translated. Hi. clerk did translate it, and wrote the translation on parchment. It was the saane that was presented to MIr. Cotton, vwith the forged names of Smith, Payne, and Smith attached to it. It appeared that the prisoners were stopped in the commencement of their career. The lORD MAYO2t, after having consulted with hlr. Hobler, said, he was of opinion that, no money having been obtained upon the strength of the petition, the prisonerit were not amgaable further than as rogues and vagabonds. They might be sent to the tread. mill, but he saw no reason why the Alien Act should not be put in force in this description of cases, and the parties eant out of the coun- try, according to its process. We had, indeed. too many rogues of our own to stand in nced of an importation. His Lordehipnthen sent the prisoners back to gaol, and directed that application should be made at the Alien Offlce,on the propriety of tsending them out of the country. STATE OF BLACXFRI s-lnrtDGXE._A gentleman attended publicly to complain to the LoRn AMAYOR of the state of Black- friars-bridge. Hi ILordship might .e a ware, that in consequence of the recent work of Mlacadamizingand reducing the acclivity of the bridge, the carriage-road had been greatlvlowered ii the centre. The foot-pavement, however, remained as it was, and was now upwards of a yard higher than the road, so that a fall into the road was ex- tremely dangerous. lIe was going over the bridge on Saturday atternoon, when he witnessed a tragical accident, which led him to make the present application. A carman, who was driving a cart, while in the act of stretching from the pathway to whip his horses overbalanced limself, and in stepping fromt tile carb-stone fell down. The cart, which was loaded, and had great weight of goods, passed over his body. The unfortunate man was immediately taken up and conveyed to the hospital. The complainant entertained but little loubt of his death. He thought It his duty to state thist cir- cumstatce to the Lord Mayor, that his Lordship might be apprised of the danger ineurred by the public in crossing the bridge, and take steps of prevention. In the crowded foot-way, the slightest motion might thrust aperson iongtthe gSar a40CQ sanA, provo fataL The LonD MAYO requtested the aptioint would make this statement before the Committee of the Corporation, wbo had the bridge under their control. There had been two plans proposed- the one for the erection of two steps from the curb-stone, and the otlier for an iron railing for the protection of the passengers ; but it must be obvious that neither of these coid immedliately be executed. The gen.tleman expressed his intentionof making the comnunica- tion to the Committee. Jo.seph Ady, of lioundsditch, who gives the checks in tilc un- claimned.dividendtoffice, appeared before the LonD AMAYOR to answer a charge of having obtained money under false pretenees. Alr. W. L. Bicknell, a solicitor, of Un coln's-inn, said that a client of his rteeived a letter from the defehidant, mentioning that he coull give profitable inforrmation, upon bring paid for his trouble. The letter was referred to witness, who made inquiries of thc de- fendant. One fourth of the produce obtained by the information was demanded. WItncss proposed a sovereign, but first asked (hav- ing conjectured that it related to some unclaimed balance of stock) whether it was in the Mtillion Bank,(a bank long since exLinct, and the funds of which were transferred to the 3 per Cents.), for if it werc, the information would be of no use. Ady vrote on a piece of paper, " Not in the lillion Bank." The sorereign was taken by him, and the follewiog receipt given :_" Received, the 8th day ot Nov., 1824, of Air. Ljawvrence Wright, for information annexed 11.. Joseph Atdr._.No. 18. Ijoundaditch.' If no benefit results, thc fee to he returned. 'I will stand for my rights: do you stand for. your'g.'-Judge Garrow. The latter sentence is printed as a quotation or motto. The in. formation annexed stated that the nmoney due to Mfr. Wright was in the M1illion Bank. This being, in fact, of no use whatever, witness sent his clerk to demand the sovereign, and it was refused. Mfr. Brodrick, as counsel for Ady, said that his client was ready to return the money provided he was zatisfled that no advantage aias derived from his information, but that satisfaction was to be given by the party himself He vas now ready to Teturn the money. It was most improper that crirninallaw should be made asseoftofrighten meney out of people's pockets. AIr. Bicknell denied that his object was the mere recovery of the sovereign; to prove which, he would leave It to be applied to the be- nefit of Captain Venegas and his comrade. Mr. Brodrick immediately closed with this nronosal before. the Lord AMayor pronounced any deciaion on the case-. The Loan AlAoYk said, that perhaps the danger Ady bad run would prove a suflicient warning, without aprosecutioni, to deter hin from obtaining money, or refusing to return it, when obtained in so speculative a manner. The case was dismissed, on the understanding that the sovereign would be applied to Captain Venegas's relief; and Ady quitted the office. Air. Bicknell soon after presented himself, and said Ady had re. fused to pay the costs, and neglected to comply with the conditlons of his discharge, by giving the sovereign in charity. He wished to know whether he could revive the charge. The LoanD MAYOR said the compromi6e woould affect the case if brought into another court. Mr. Bicknell asked whether the CouTt could snot cnforce the pay-. ment of the money. Mr. Ilobler said he feaTed not. The Lord slavor had been sur. prised into acquiescence in a comproinise, which could not belegaUva recognized. lia his (Ar. Hobler a) opinion there had been a clear case upon which to hold thedefendant to bail to answer before ajury. BONV-STREET.-Yesterday, John Clarke, the person charged on suspicion of having: et tire to a house lately occuped b7 him In iMlount-pleasant, Coldbath-fields, with intent to defraud the County Fire-office, was brought up and underweut a final examination. The prisoner was genteelly dressed in black, and preserved the same calmness and self-possession obaervable IR him on the first heaning. Dir. Laver, of the firm of i4aver and Vickery, Essex. street, attended as the prisoner's solicitor, and Mr Alley also ap. peared as counsel in his behalf. Theie vetc iso *0or 12 personsin atteindance to give evidence in his behalf, if it akould.be deemed fit to examinethem. The evidence taken before having been read over, Mir. Alley asked .-r. Beaumornt, the Al!enaging Director of! the Fire-office, whether that establislment had not, even after inquiry had been made into the circuns2ta2ice conmected with the fire, paid a portion of the in. surance ? Mr. Beaument replied in the affirmative. -The policy on the house of 2501. waw effected in the joint hames of the prisoner and his landlord, and the office,whatever might be their opinion of the cause of tbe fire, thought that it ought not to affbctthat part of the claim in which the landlordi, who was entirely free fron suspicion, was concernesd.refrmspionwa Mlr. Charleg Acland, the clerk to thd County Fira Office, whlo was examined on the last occasion,was again called. le stated that he went the day after the fire to examine tbe premises, and bp tbund the bouse completcly gutted, only a portion of the back and front walls remainea standing. About fost- or fire o'clock in the zfternoon, he saw thc prisoncr-on the ruins, and had a convereatien *ith him. Witness asked him if he cousld give any account as to how the fire happened, and he said he conld not account for it. He had perceived a smell of fire or turpentine-some time before, aPd had mebtioned it to a tallow-chandler's man whoa brougpttsomne candles that evening: -and he said he supposid it was the gas forit was a dull, heavynight, apd he durst say his neighboars had the same smell. The prisoner added that he was in the shop when the fire burst out. Sliortlyafter the tallow.chandler's man quitte4 the shop, smoke and fire issued fromn the cellar. Htejumpedover thecounter, hurt hiruself very severely, and lost hisaenseu. He had no recol. lection of any thing that passed afterwardc By Mr. Alley HEIe was nsot aware thai any survey ras made ef the preruises when the insurance was effbcted. MUr. Braumzont said that it was not t}he praetcv to cause a saovey to benase, except where there was any particular risk, It was never done mn ordinary Insu.;wnnes. IThomas Eekburti of N'o. 2X Molmet.wleusaut, worksingjweJIer9 Stated that he lived next door to the prisoner at the time of the fire. He.saw the prisoner on the ruins the following mnorning. He said, " This is a bad bu.siness, Air. Clarke." X Yes," replied the pr:- 30ner, "It is, indeed, a most melanclholy one." Witness askedl him if be could tell vthere he wai, and what he, was about at the time the fire happened, and he said that he was behind the counter, cotunting isp copper. Witness asked hisr where he first saw the tite. and he Faild on the opposite side of the sbop next the stairs. " For G06d's sake, MlIr. Clarke," said the witneSS, "w why did you not kesock at my door when vsou came out, and also alarm your lodgers?" To this the prisoner made rto reply. The witness next asked him wlieie he went when lie left his shop, and he said over to Under- wood's (the Cheshire Cheese opposite), ar.d that he vas so frightened that they kept him there. Witness said it was a very distressing affkir, especially to his ledgers, who, he understood, had lost every thing and there wvas one poor man in the hospital, who, he under- s3tood, was in a bad gstate ronm the burns he had received. He at the same time expressed a hops that the prisoner would do all he could for them and the latter said no man could lament their dis- tress more than he (lid, and he would do all in his power in thei; behalf. Anne, the wife of John Pearson, of No. 20, Mount-pleasant, saddler, was next sworn and stated that she for a long time dealt with Clarke, but she did not know any thing about the extent of his stock. Sle had, however, sent ofien for things which he hsd not got. About 10 days before the fire she sent her daugiter for some bee'-wsax, and Afrs. Clarke said shie was sorry she had none, but would proctre it, which she did in the course of the day. The day after the lire Clarke camce into her house, and shaking hands witlh her, got into conversation upon that subject. Ife said he was standing behind the counter tying up halfpcnce when it happened. lie supposed that a spark flew from the gas (this iS impossible), and conimunicated with some saltpetre, for all at once it exploded and hit hiim a dreadful blow on the side, and how he got out he could hardly say. In further conversa- tion he said, that about a month aeo (before the fire) his stock was very low, but since that lie had hadt in in.mense quantities. In the course of last summer he said several timoes to the witness that he feared lie should be obliged to leave the kouse on account of ill health. At tho usual time last year. and before, she had used to see Mlr. Clarke prepare for making pickles, but this year she had seen no preparations of that kind. She remarked it to the prisoner, but he said nothingX. Upson, the constable, deposed that lhe apprehended the prisoner, and found upon hisn a pocketbook, containting sonme measoranda, which lhe produced. Thrtee papers found in this pocket-book were produced to tbe ma. gistrate, and entered in the depositions, bar their contents were not racld aloud. Afr. Alley had, in the early part of the examination, expressetd a wish to cross-examine Mlrs. Burt, who gave such important tes'i- mony on Thursday last, and shle was called ; but the learned gentle. man said, that upon consideration lie should abstain for the present. Sir R. SlutNtE waked Air. Alley if he had any observation to make upon the case? Mlr. Alley.-I think not, Sir, at this stage of the proceeding. I am instructed that there are wtinessce in abxundance, who can give a complete answer to the case against the prisoner ; but as the sessions are so nearly approaching, and I know that it ia not your province to tlrythe Olcacse7 I would rather postpone the defence until we come to Sir lt Bxtswrx.-..You will exercise yoHr own discretion, Mfr. Alle; but of coarse Iarst hound to hear any thing you might have dlr. Alley_. thank you; but after a witness has sworn psi. tively before&you, that she saw the prlsoner set the house on fire, it cannot be expected that you would discharge him, whatever evi- dence I might be able to prorduce here. I merely wish to observe, that I believe a complete answer will be given to the cse; anti withl respect to what has been saiti about the stock, we shall be able to prove that it Wast at the very least equal in value to the sum clailmed upon it. Sir R. Bsaxia could not help observing, that it appeared to him next to impossible that so small a house coald contain so large it stock as the prisoner had represented himself to be possessed ot: Mr. Alley said, that it would be found that the stock was ex- tremely wellstowed. Mr. Butler (51r. Harvner's clerk) said lie should be sorry to press bard upon the prisoner, but he must observe, that he was prepared with proof tiat the house could not hold the stock cl;.imed for by the prisoner. The prisoner was then fully committed for trial, and the witncsses were all bound over to prosecute. MIr. Burt, the husb:nd of the principal witness, here stepped for- ward, and complained that he and his wife had been grossly calim- niated. It had beetn reported in the neighbourhood, that lie was in debt, and in w,ant of money, and that Air. B. Beaumont had offer- ed to relieve him froni his difficalties by a slipplY of' moncy, if his wife came forward to criminate the prisoner. A baser calumny was never uttered, and to prove its total want of foundation, he had brought with him a mortgage deed, upon which he had ad- vanced money, and other documents, by which it vould be seen that he could not be in want of monev. He did not owe a fartlitng in the neighbourhood. Mr. Alley disclaimed any knowledge of such an insinuation having been'thrown oet. Mr. Butler said, lhat suck an insinuation had certainly been levelled at Mr. Burt. Sir R. Bir.NyE said, he would not insult ilir. Beaumont by asl- ing him a question upon the subject, but lie felt quite sure, fronm his own knowledge, that thatgentleman was incapable of any thingdis. honotirable. Af r. Beaum ont said, that the testimony of Mirs. Burt was disco- vered by mere accident. lNere the conversation ended. AlARLBOROUGII-ST1tEET.-A poor woman, of the name of Simpson, applied tO the Ma3gistrate for his advice under the fol- lowing case o\f great hardship:-..She stated, that in the rnontli ot October, 1823, she pledged a gown worth 20s., at the shop of a pawnbroker, named Pcrry)nta, No. 42, Ooioiptun-street, Soho. In the nionth of August followitig she applied to redeem the gowo, but Mir. Perryman said tnit it was not then con- venientto find the gown, but told herto Ntll again; she accordingl), did call several times afterwards, but she was put off with the samie excuse, and thus she was deferred fron time to time until the twelvc months had expiredl. She chIled the day after-namely, on tite 219t of October-btt still she could not get lier gonn; and at Ilenth,lw!ien sIte called for the last time, on the 12th of November, Mir. Perry- man told ber that the gown was ovat of time and !had been sold, and refusedI her any further satisfaetion or redress. On hearing this statement, Sir GxoRGE FAURANT sent for Per- rymno, to wh)om:, upon his coming to the officL, Sir (eorrge related the poor waoman's complaint, and said that it was a hardship upon her to lose her gown under such circumstances. Perryman, wvhg conducted himself in the office in the mast inso- lent manner, said that the gow7n had been sold, and lie should give no further satisfaction about it. He knew the law, he said, as well as any man in England, and unless campelled by the law io give up the sown or its value, he should not do so. Siir GEORGE FARBANT said, that perhaps the laiq, strictly spealk- ing, migiht be with him (Perrytnan), but it was an act of gross in- justice to keep the poor woman's property, because, if the regular tine had even been expired, thQ fault rested with Perryman himself. Perryinan said, he did not care how that might be, lie would tlo nothing bit what the law comipelled him. Sir G. FARRA-TT said, that he hoped in the next session of Par. liament some law would be made, or alteration in tlie present, to meet so great an evil and injustice as this. Sir GEonIW then strongly urged Perrymnan, even on the score of humanity, to make the poor woman some compensation, as the loss of her gowvn was to her the lors of 20s. Pcrryman said, he would speak to her outside the office upon the subject, and tha poor womnan accordingly retired with him far that purpose;* but in a few, minutesshe returned, saying that when they got outside, Perryn,man set up a loud iaugh at her, and told her she might go to law as soon as she liked, and walked away. Sfir Gxoxog FAIIRtAhT then ordered a summions to be issised for Pertrmaoon tsnpear again upon the sub ject. M5~ henbaa rry?a wavs leaving the office, he said, that he supposed his name would appear in the isewapapers-that if it did, lie would take care that those persons wvhom he knew to have been often paid for suppressing eases, should get no more money from the trade to which he belonged.* Perryman and the trade Oaght to point oit those to whom ,ao- nay has been paid in this way, if there ba atiy truth in that assertlot. POLICE.