The Express. — 1853-08-10 (London, England)

THE POLICE COURI'S.  BOW-STREET. Mr. Shaw, of Duchess-street, Portland-place, appeared to a summons charging him with having paid • cabman, named Hall, sixpence less than his legal fare. The fare paid was a shilling, and the distance was not in dispute ; but the complainant claimed an additional sixpence for waiting a quarter of an hour at the door of No. 9, Hart-street. The defendant stated that the stoppage did not exceed ten minutes, and called a livery servant to confirm his opinion, at the saw, time admitting that he did not look at his watch, and only guessed at the time. The complainant swore that ho looked at the clock in front of St. George's Church, Bloomsbury, directly after he stopped, and again when he started, as he had occasion to get off his box and feed his horse during the interim. In answer to this the defendant declared that the cabman had uttered a falsehood, far it was impossible for him to have seen the clock of St. George's within a hundred yards of the spot where he alighted. Upon this point the summons was adjourned for the ocular satisfaction of the magistrate. Mr. Jardine now saidthat he had since had an opportunity off testing the assertion of the cabman, for, happening to be in Hart-street, he found that he could Fee the clock perfectly well from No. 11, which was the next house but one ; and it was quite reasonable to suppose that the complainant, while engaged in attending upon his horse, should step a little one on side to ascertain the time. He (Mr. Jardine) WAS afraid that the new act would give rise to a great many complaints of this kind for people who, like the defendant, did not look at their watches, were apt to forget how quick was the Hight of time, whereas the cabman was sure to take means to inform himself of the fact. As the cabman in the present instance swore that he took cognisance of the time, while Mr. Shaw admitted that he only spoke from his belief upon the subject, he (Mr. Jardine) must direct the defend. ant to pay the extra 6d., as well as the costs. Mr. Shaw said it was quite clear if gentlemen were to be 4reated in this way it would become quite unsafe to take a cab at all. The servant, who was now with his carriage at the door of the court, would swear, with him, that the cabman could not have seen the clock within more than 50 yards of the house, and he (Mr. Shaw) was certain that the man n looked at it at all, but merely employed it as • subterfuge to prop up his false statement. Was not his (Mr. Shaw's) word as good as the cabman's ? and yet he had been compelled to attend two or three times at a filthy court, wasting his valuable time upon • paltry matter of this kind. Of course he was willing to pay the man what be was entitled to.  The defendant then paid the 6d., with 41., the costs of two summonses (the first not having been attended to), and 6s. for the cabman's time (three attendances); the total amount being 10s. 6d.  Thomas Thompson, alias Browning, alias Spoor, was brought before Mr. Jardine for further examination, on the charge of attempting to obtain money by false pretences from Lord Palmerston. _  It will be remembered that the case was proved by Mr. Ralph Grey, the private secretary of the noble lord, who was himself a victim of a similar fraud, by the same prisoner, in 1847, when the latter was convicted at Bow-street and committed for throe months.  The postmaster at Woodford, Mr. Liddell, now attended to prove that the prisoner had constantly received letters addressed to him in various names, and containing moccy or post.office orders. Mr. Jardine, availing himself of an official return of the prisoner's last conviction, at the Thames Police Court, re• solved on sending the prisoner, as an incorrigible rogue and vagabond, to the Surrey Sessions, where he will be liable to a greater term of imprisonment, with additional punishment of being whipped, if ordered by the court. The prisoner, who treated the matter with the most perfect sang froid, occasionally even assisting the clerk, while taking down the depositions, was committed for trial accordingly. Ti11712.1.1/11116.1,3TVOIr•  Thomas Rourke, a man covered with filth and rags, was charged under the following circumstances. He was observed on Monday afternoon on Millbank taking off his shoes, after which he suddenly plunged int the Thames. It was the opinion of a gentleman who had watched his movements however that he did not intend to commit suicide, but rather to exete sympathy, and by his wretched appearance to collect alms, for finding himself alone in the water, and that no noble hearted individual was at band to rescue him, ho held fast hold of a post until a boatman extricated him. He was remanded.