The Express. — 1853-07-23 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET. The Earl of Exmouth drove to this court to have a dispute about distance settled with John Brown, cabman. •  The noble Lord got into defendant's cab in Quebeo•etreet, and was first driven to Montegutequare,and afterwads to 66, Bond street. The cabman required lc, the noble lord tendered 6d. on the plea that the distance did not exceed the mile.  Bingham having satisfied himself by the map that the distance was considerably beyond the mile, adjudged the noble lord to pay le. far, and 6d. loss of time.  George Thomas, a cab driver, was charged with the following scandalous conduct.  Mr. Wm. Welby, a gentlemen, residing at Ironbridge, in Wiltshire, and at present stepping in Leadenhell-street, said ; Last Friday night, about 11 o'clock, on let.v.ng the house of a friend in the neighbourhood, I found the defendant asleep in his cab on the stand, near Brixton Church.I awoke him, and told him I wanted his cab, upon which he observed, " lam very glad of it, air ; I have been waitfog for a fare for a long time." He' then let me into hie cab, and asked me where he waste drive to, and on my saylog King William-street, City, he said something about my being a cheap something ; but what it was I am unable to state, as he spoke it rather indistinctly. He then got on the box and drove about half a mile towards town, when he stopped and got off his box. He came to the window and said he could not drive me any further, as he had a fare waiting for him at Brixton, and he should loos it if he did not go back. I said I could not help that, and that I should insist on his driving me to King William-street. He said he could not, and detained me for at least fire minutes. I again insisted on his driving me to nay destination, and after some time he got on the box, and drove off at a furious rate, flogging his horse meet unmercifully, and swearing moot lustily. After proceeding about half a mile he again got off the box, and said he had lost Ns badge, and hoped I would not be so unreasonable as to he 'Maid drive without his badge, as by doing :oiremeald get into trouble. I told him that was no busies of sloe ; that as he had driven some distance already without Ms badge, be must go on. Re then drove another half-mile, _when be for the third time, Gad said that as he amid net gad he should go no farther. I sointestiled aa hismhissg me to Slag William-street, and he pit an the has, but had not been long them when he braU emit of the windows, behind him with a jerk of his elbow, and sent the glees in my race, and this act I believe to haw beta 'Ufa. I then told him he was getting himself isle tomb* sal win directed hiss to take me to King Williswoliest. Zs replied, " You are only making • rod for per own bettisek" and drove on. On reaching the Kennington Turnpike-gate I asked the toll-collector where the police-stalism was, upon which the defendant said, " Oh, I know where it is, and I'll drive there." Instead of doing this, the defendant drove off to King Willimaireet, when he got off the box, opened the cab door, sad said he was at his destination, and requested me to get out. I told him that I should not, and desired him to take me to the nearest police station, but he said he did not know where there was one. I then told him he must find out, and that a policeman would inform him. Instead of calling to the policeman he went to some cab drivers on the King William street stand, and a number of them came about the sib, and begged of me not to take any notice of it. I insisted on the defendant's taking me to the station, and he ultimately did so, and I then gave him Is., which was not his fare. The officer on duty ordered the defendant to be at the Mansion-house on the following morning to meet the complaint apinst him, but, though he appeared there, the defendant had hot thought proper to do so. I next took out a summons against him, which was to have been heard at this court on Monday last, but the defendant did net appear, and I was in consequence granted a warrant, upon which he has been apprehended. He did not appear to be affected by liquor. Ile was upwards of an hour driving me from Brixton church to King William-street. Dixon, one of the summoning officers belonging to the court, said that he had left a copy of the summons granted at the defendant's residence, but instead of his attending en Yonder his wife came to the court and said that she had not seen her husband since the summons had been'served ; that he had kissed her and her children, and told her she should never see him again, and her fear was that he had committed suicide.  —The defendant declared he wee not aware that a summons had been served on him, and hoped the court would deal leniently with him on account of his wife and sic children, all of whom depended on him for support. Mr. Norton convicted him in the penalty of 401., including cam, which penalty was subsequently paid.