The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1825-01-28 (London, England)

THE BRITISH PRESS.  POLICE. ROW-STREET. Yesterday a sprucely-dressed person, considerably under the middle size, who stated his name to he O'Halloran, and that he was a (master) tailor, was brought up from Covent-garden watchhouse, charged with having threatened to give a " good threshing" to no less a person than Sir Iticustab BIRXIE, the Chief Magistrate of Police. Porton, a constable of the office, stated that he was on night duty at the office on Wednesday night, and soon after ten o'clock there was a loud and continued knocking at the door. The ap. plicant for admission seemed to use all his strength in the use of the knocker, and witness hastened to answer the call, supposing that a murder, or some other dreadful crime requiring the intervention of the police, had been committed. He found the defendant at the door• and upon asking what he wanted, he received for answer— " What do I want, Sir? why I want to see Sir Richard Birnie, the Hovemor-in-Chiel of this Police-office—what did you think I could want ?" " You canna, see him to-night, Sir ;it is too late," said the witness. " Cannot see him, Sirrah, 'replied the prisoner; " but d—m--e I will see him. I have a matter to settle with him before I sleep, and see him I will—so show me up, show me tip, young man." The witness assured him that Sir Richard had left the office, and repeated that it was much too late to transact builness with a Magistrate. The defendant, however, was not to be appeased, and he repeatedly vociferated—," 1 will see Sir Richard Bimie—by the holy J-5 I will tee him, so show me up." The witness again asked him what his business was, and he at length said, " ll'hy, Sirrah, I intend to give him a good thrashing, d--n his eyes ; and I'll, do it too, so show me up, I tell you—show me up." The witness said he could not, at all events, • show him up" for any such purpose, and advised him to go about his business. " About my business !" said the defendant; "I am about my business nowt I came here to give your Chief Magistrate a whacking, and by my mother's chastity I won't budge an inch till I have done it." The witness finding he could not get rid of him, ordered a watchman to take him into custody. Sir R. Muslin laughed heartily at this narrative, and calling to the defendant, who liad re•reated behind some other persons, said, " Come forward, Sir, I am not afraid of you," and when the latter presented himself, Sir Richard, meauring his altitude with his eye, added—" Why, really, though I am somewhat your senior, I think / should not fare much the worse in a contest with half-a-dozen like you ; and now, Sir, pray what possessed you with an inclination to whack me. as you call it ?" The defendant, in an under tone, said, lie hardly knew. He had been dining out with some friends, and had drank freely, and somehow or other he had got a notion into his head that a Mr. David Latouche, a gentleman with whom he had seriously guar_ yelled—so seriously that the matter could be settled only in one Irv, had been dining that day with Sir R. Bimie, and— " Well, Sir," said Sir R. IllautE, interrupting him, " I want to know nothing shout Mr. David Latouche or you • if your threats had been directed against any other person I should. have held you to bail to keep the peace; but as it is, you are welcome to walk about your business, free as air,' and so, Sir, I wish you good morning, and our acquaintance may as well cease from this time." Mr. O'Halloran bowed very low and retired.