The Express. — 1853-07-26 (London, England)

THE POLICE COURTS.  MARLBOROUGH-STREET.  Fonfano Barrottetti, an organ plaer, was charged with annoying Mr. Elkins, solicitor, 59, Newman-street. Mr. Elkins said the defendant began to play an organ close to his house, about 10 o'clock that morning. As he found it impossible to continue his professional duties while the din was kept up, he went out and requested the defendant to move away. The defendant took no notice of his request, but kept on playing for a quarter of an hour, until in fact complainant could find a police constable. Some foreigners lived in the same street, and they encouraged the defendant by throwing out halfpence. Mr. Elkins intimated that he used to be constantly subject to this kind of street organ annoyance, and by taking the proper steps pointed out by the law, he had succeeded in enjoying an interval of three months' peace, hut the nuisance had commenced again, and he was determined to atop it. Mr. Bingham remarked that some people were fond of the noise from barrel organs—he was not one of that sort, although very fond of music. It the defendant's countrymen liked organ grinding so well that they could not do without it, they must have the organ player in their dining-rooms or cellars, where he might grind if he pleased until his arm dropped off, but they must not have the nuisance in the public street, so as to disturb people who liked to live in peace. He should fine the defendant 205., or ten days' imprisonment, as there was no doubt he was there purposely to annoy complainant. Martin Cangeo2ll was charged with beating his wife and assaulting the police with a pair of tongs. Police-constable Hawes said he found a crowd about 12 o'clock on Saturday before the door of 4, Grafton-street. Reheard dreadful screams inside, and the door was suddenly opened by a female, who was bleeding and screaminf. The woman told him that her husband had been Wooing her and threatening to murder her. He went into the house and knocked at the door where the prisoner :was, intending to take the prisoner into custody. The prisoner called out that he would fetch down to the ground the first person who entered the room. With the assistance of another constable witness broke open the door, and found the prisoner in the room armed with a pair oetongs. Witness went forward to take the prisoner in.° custody. The prisoner aimed a violent blow at him with the tongs, but witness evaded it, and the blow fell on the thoulden of his brother constable. Witness seised the prisoner, and a struggle ensued which ended in the prisoner being overpowered and lodged in the station-house. The wife was net in attendance to prefer the charge. The landlord of the hens. said these scenes of violence with the prisoner were very common. The prisoner, in reply to the charge, said he was a Dublin man. Hs was jesting with his wife, whea the jest got to earnest, and he gave her a clout or two. Mr: Bingham, after commenting on the brutality of the prisoner, sent him to prison for 21 days. Thomas Asher, driver of the cab No. 1,782, attended before Mr. Bingham, to answer the complaint of Mr. Johnson da Silva, Of Percy Cross House, Fulham, for demanding more than his legal fare. Mr. da Silva stated that that morning he engaged the defendant's cab on the London aide of the Hospital for Congumption, Brampton, to drive him to No. 128, New Bond• street, where he got out and pave defendant a shilling. ' The defendant refused the shilling and said the distance was more than two miles. Complainant, who doubted it was over two miles, then directed the cabman to drive him I to this court.  Mr. Bingham told Mr. da Silva be might base the ground measured if he thought St. He had carefully looked over the map, and considered the distance to exceed the two miles by some furlongs. He therefore thought complainant be would in the wrong. Mr. da Silva said he should like to have the distance measured for his own satisfaction, and paid the usual deposit of ss. for that purpose. The cabman said he had not ss. with him, but would bring it in a few hours. Mr. Bingham—Very well; that will L. The ground shall be measured as soon as possible.