Star. — 1821-12-17 (London, England)

POLICE.  ITAITON-Gnawer.— Saturday. John Crooks was brought up from the House of Correction, in the custody of Wm. Read, the officer, for final examination, charged with inflicting several severe stabs with a knife, on the person of Mary Anne Nelson with intent to murder her, or do her some bodily harm. l'h; Magistrate asked the officer if toe parish intendedto bear the expense of the prosecution ? The officer said, they would not ; but that if he was acquitted of the present charge, the parish intended to prosecute him for bigamy, as there were then three out of the seven wive. living, and two more, of whom nothing was at present known. The prisoner had debauched one of his own daughters, who was then In the Penitentiary in St. Pancras; and, to aggravate his crimes. he had his daughter then present living with him in a state of incest ! Magistrate6. Horrible! horrible!—Young woman, you bear what you are accused with, what do you say to it "—She hesitated, and confessed it was so. He was then conveyed back to prison. Now -s .—Saturday evening, B. Burgess, lisq. of Highbury Park, Islington, was brought up in custody, accompanied by his daughter, charged with having struck Mr. Cole, the money-taker at e Pit-entrance of Covent-Garden Theatre.— Mr. Cole stated, that Mr. Burgess being very slow in pulling out his money, and there being a great presaure of company, be put his hand oa the defendant's breast very gently, and desired him to stand on one side; upon which the latter struck him a tremendous blow on the nose with his fist; and on his retreating to the back of his box, thrust his cane violently after him, and had nearly poked his eye out. 'Ms was Mr. Cole's account of the matter; lad though be had delivered it upon the usual oath, yet, to make assurance double-sure, he added, " This is the truth, I swear, by Goa!" for which he got an additional rap veer the knuckles from his Worship. In further confirmation of his statement, Mr. Cole called his attendant cheek-taker, and, according to his colouring, the whole affair was something like the scuffle between the devil and the baker, in the puppet shew t first, he saw the money-taker's hand and head pop out of the pigeon-hole, then he saw the Gentleman's hand and head pop in, and out and in, and in and out, they popped repeatedly, till at last the Gentleman popped his cane into the hole, when the money-taker got hold of it, and then it was " pull baker, pull devil," the Gentleman at one end of the cane, and the money-taker at the other, till the string, which Mr. Burgess had twisted round his wrist, gave way, and down tumbled Mr. Cale to the bottom of the hole, with the cane in his hand !  Mr. Burgess, in his defence, said, that finding he bad not silver enough to pay for the admission of his friend and daughter, he produced some gold, and requested change. The complainant then rudely told him to stand on one side • and on his refusing to do so, defendant certainly struck him; a palpable blow on the breast, which he of course resented. The complainant therefore committed the first assault, .and he now begged to prefer that charge. Mr. Brandon, of the Theatre, with his usual urbanity, recommended pacificatory measures, and the money-taker declared he was willing to withdraw his complaint, because the young Lady seemed so much distressed. The Gentleman, however, treated this commiseration with the mostprofound contempt, and urged the Magistrate to receive a charge of assault against Mr. Cole. Mr. bittisuutt, 'after repeated attempts to reconcile the parties, ordered each to enter into his personpl recogulasnce, in the sum of £2O.  The Rev. J. VARENNE, Rector of Staplehurst, in consequence of the very great depression of the agricultural interest, has taken nothing for the tithes of hops in his parish for the present year. Cannot; to