The Statesman. — 1824-01-30 (London, England)

UNION HALL.—TUE VAGRANT ACT.—A w4tel.nian belonging to the St. Olave's trust was brought be/are J. D. ALLEN, Esq., npon a summons issued Out On th Telaiit of a respt.ctahle young man against whom ihe ' ,dproperly exercised the powers given to himby the' obr axious act for the punishment of vagrants. Perk A. is not yet well known that the common *etchings, ninny of whom are notoriously acquainted anti imitate/ids the most depraved characters, are rewarded wish the sem of ss. upon the conviction of every individual under the prctence of having violated the act. The gentleman stated, that a few evenings ago he accompanied a young lady to whom he was pay in his addresses, to the Coburg Theatre, from whence te. .y went to his lather's house and had supper. At about dock, he went to see her home to the residence of her la Tea I ley-street, and on reaching the door he lei's ( as was I usual with him, and he supposed with ever. young man under such circumstances. He, bde ever) jt with a check which be little expected, from tie defellant, wile approached him, and in a most i .soltnt winner said, " I see what you are about, you are indec..!ntly ezposaig ioniself, and I have a mind to take yot both off to the watchhouse.' The complainant, indignant at eJ atrocious a charge made in the presence of a virtuous vaunt woman, with whom lie looked forward to a cones-Kiwi for life, t.)1(1 the watchman be was a scoundrel fur !caking such an aCr cnsation, and defied him to put his t ii, eat inter exeriitioe. The young lady was in a state of vary great agitatim in consequence of the defendant's conduct, and besought the complainant to hare no further altercation with him. The watchman, whose dignity was hurt at this request, said, "'then I'll take you both off to the watchhouse." The fellow took them off accordingly, and charged them before the high constable, who, upon hearing the charge, immediately dismissed it. Mr. ALIEN observed, that he hail never beard of a more barefaced accusation, and that lie was convinced the watchman had not the slightest ground fur complaint of any kind. He had always made it a practice to assist watch• men in the execution of their duty; but when they exceeded that duty, as was thecase in the present instance, he would take care that their punishment should be as nearly as possible proportioned to their offence. The complainant said, that his object in bringing forward this charge, was to protect the public from the injuries which must inevitably arise from the abuse of the potters given by the Vagrant Act. Since the occurrence bad taken place, lie had been informed that up to this transaction the defendant had conducted I' self with propriety, and as that was the case, and a large family was dependent upon him for support, it was to be hoped the Magistrate would visit him with no heavier punishment than might be sufficient to operate as a warning to others in the same situation. Several persons came forward to give the defendant a good character, and Mr. ALLEN having, with his accustomed humanity, taken those recommendations into account, se.ntenced the watchman merely to a brief suspension of his situation.  nATESMAN  doubtful state. The further particulars are accurately detailed in the following report of the evidence on the Col'soner's Inquest, which was held on the body of the suicide the next day.