The Express. — 1863-05-29 (London, England)

THE POLICE COURTS. (THD3 DAY.)  SOUTHWARK. TAR ORANGE GIRLS AT LONDON•BRIDGE.  Mr. Borchelt% was occupied a keg time in inrest*atAng charges against nine women, natives of the Emerald Isle, who were summoned by direction of the commiriours of police for obstructing the pavement and thorough:47lZ selling or= near the entrance of the railway LoodonPolice-oonstable 473 A said he bad been oti special duty for some weeks in Wellington-street, Borough, and had had greet trouble in controlling the orange girls, who obstructed the pavement to the great annoyance of passengers going by railway. On Sunday morning last the conduct of these women was impudent in the extreme. Four of the defendsate more especially miacooducted themselves, so that be was compelled to report them to his superiors, who directed the present proceedings to be taken. Mr. Burcham asked what they were doing to break the law? _ _ .  The mutable replied that they had baskets coo oranges in front of them and were endeavouring= them. Two of the defendant, rushed among the pairere-by, and annoyed them very much, so that they complained to him.  Kr. Burnham--Now have you not taken these proceed. lugs became they were selling theme oranges on a Sunday? Witnese—No, sir, not exactly ; although complaints are Wag cestinually Made b 7 the authorities of St. Olave's parish of the Sunday troche( in the streete. Mr. Bur:ham—You say two of these women ware only selling their oranges by the kerb I don't see how you out construe that into an obstruction or a nuisance. It seems to me very like persecution to bring these poor creatures before me, because they were endeavouring to gain an boned livelihood in the street, I should say much to the Wean of the public. One of the defemlsnts has been fined by me before for Macooduct, end as eke hes really broken the law I mast bee her is. and meta, but as for the others they are discharged. . . .  Polioe.coOstable 475 A gave similar evidence against the other five young women. They bad bukets of oranges in front of them by the edge of the kerb, end by that means obstructed the footpath. Mr. Burnham-1 cannot punish these women unless there le a breach of the law committed. That is not proved to my satisfaction, therefore they are discharged ; I must, however, caution them to pay a little obedience to the police for the future, and not obstruct the public.  William Lancaster, who described himself as a waiter end in-door boots out of • situation, was again chested before Mr. D'Eyneourt with having ottempted to destroy himself by taking • quantity of poems at St. Luke's. Fyfe, who has taken some trouble in the matter, stated that he had writtea to Stork's Hotel, Birmiasham. and had received a letter from the proprietor of that establishment. That go/disco= dated that the prisoner wee a good servant when sober, but that instead of leering that hotel through having words with the other servants, he was discharged because he got the worse for liquor, end mad* a disturbance. He (Mr. Fyfe) had also understood that the prisoner had been in custody at Birmingham for threatening to destroy himself with oxalic acid. He had had other communications about the prisoner, and one was from Mr. Grove, ooffenhouse keeper, of the Harrow-road, who offered to take the prisoner iota his employ if he was found to be of good character. The prisoner sapwood contrition for what Le had dose, sad said he would take care that he never committed himself any more. Xr. D'Eynoturt stated that the prisoner had brought all his troubles on himself through giving way to habits of intoxication. He had received some mosey for the prisoner which be should not at present allow the prisoner to have, for if be did the punter portion of it would be spent. If it was ascertained that persona who were in distress had only to attempt to commit suicide to have subscriptions raised for their benefit, more than ball the time of the oourt would be taken up by the cases of self-murder. He should allow the prisoner to have 10a. of the money that had bees sent, but that he was sadly afraid was more than be deserved, foe the greater portion of it would be spent in a publichouse. He wished the benevolent poisons who bad sent the money for the prisoner to understand that they would have their money returned if they wished it, but if they did not express any wish in the matter, it would be placed in the poor-box. The prisoner would now be discharged, and if after the lapse of some months he could show that be bad been leading en honest, respectable, sober life, he might apply to hum, and be would then see what could be dome to assist him. The following donations have been received by the magistrate, with • request that they might be acknowledged-by the press: —T. IL, 10s. ; Oryffydd sp Cynan, • post-office order for lf. ; and M. S., postage stamps, ls. 6d.