The Press. — 1854-01-14 (London, England)

THE MAGISTRATES OF MARLBOROUOR.STREF.T POME COURT have made some judicious arrangements with the parochial authorities and the police, with a view of relieving as far as possible those privations to which the poorer classes in the district are exposed, in consequence of the severity of the season and the high price of fuel and food. Aided by the contributions entrusted to their hands, or placed in the" poorbox" at the court, the magistrates have placed at the disposal of the parishes a large quantity of coke, to be distributed among poor families in the various localities, and have also consented to receive recommendations from the relieving officers, as these parties are more likely to know who are the honest necessitous, and who the mere lazy pauper and impostor. The police have also had instructions to search out for proper cases of relief, and the result is that much uncomplaining and undoubted privation has been brought to light and suitably relieved. Tim LONDON GAS COMPANY charged a hairdresser in York-street, Camden-town, named Strutt, with stealing some gas. The nature and the object of the alleged felony were considered novel, and the case, which was tried at the Middlesex Sessions, excited much interest. Strutt, it appeared, hal contracted with the company for gas enough to supply one burner. Their inspectors fancied that he was using more than he paid for, and examined his shop, where, in a corner, they discovered that a small pipe had been inserted in the main, whence gas enough was extracted to keep his shaving-pot boiling. When found out Mr. Strutt declared that he had fully in • tended to pay for the surplus gas. One of that had been in use for more than a twelvemonth, as he had seen it often when going to the shop to get shaved before he entered his present employment. At the trial some difficulty arose as to the proof of proprietorship in the gas, it being pleaded and admitted that the several gas companies who supplied the district occasionally tapped mains in mistake belonging to one another. That doubt being ultimately cleared up, the jury returned a verdict of " Guilty of stealing, without felonious intention ": The AastaTAN r Jenoc : Gentlemen, that's nonsense. That is a verdict of not guilty, though you say guilty. It is the felonious intent that makes the guilt, and that verdict is like a jury finding a man guilty of murder without wilful design. The jury were then locked up for some time, but presently returned into court with a verdict of Guilty. The prisoner was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. THE NIGHT Or WEDNESDAY WEEK will be memo rable in the annals of London traffic from the many interruptions and inconveniences which the weather occasioned, but in no respect were the elemental influences more seriously felt than in the supply and price of cab accommodation. It was a time when all the accustomed regulations were overset, and when, if ever, Mr. Fitzroy's Cab Act might be considered temporarily dormant. Nevertheless, the provisions of this act were invoked against an unlucky cabdriver by Mr. I'anizzi, whose name has acquired so much notoriety in connection with the unfinished catalogue of books at the British Museum, and as the plaintiff in divers actions for penalties against publishers in London and the country. The present charge was heard on Monday at Bow-street Office, when Mr. l'anizzi made the following statement of his grievances:— On Wednesday afternoon, the 4th init., h eelt a porter from the Museum to get him a cab, but lie rwtiirl it it the answer, " No one will come." Witness then walked to the Maud in South=punt-row, it being then between seven and eight o'clock, and LW/ four or Ave calm, but no drivers. Supposing they had gone into public-houses, he continued for some (tine to bawl out for the cabmen, but the waterman and two or three other Melt Way laughed at him. Eventually, on seeing defendant with his cab, witness desired him to come to the pavement to take hint up. lie did se vary 'broke, and witness went behind the cab to look at its Punter, upon which defendant exclaimed, " be In e pas