The Sun. — 1838-10-22 (London, England)

BOW,STRELT,-(THIS DAY.)  -- A country-looking young man, named Thomas Perkins, was brought up by Carter, of the F divis'on, charged with attempting to commit suicide, by throwing himself over Waterloo-bridge. It appeared from the statement of George Dawson. a mason, that on his return from work on Saturday evening, at six o'clock, he picked up a hat which lay on the footway pavement, and hearing a groaning, as if from a person in distress, he looked through the balustrade, and f; and the defendant hanging by his hands from the cornice cf the bridge. He instantly seized him by the collar with one hand, while he clasped the railings with the other, and in that state held fast until another person who happened to pass by came to his assistance.  Sir F. Roe complimented the witness for the praiseworthy manner in which he had exerted himself in saving a fellowcreature from instant destruction.  In answer to questions put by the Magistrate, the defendant said he was quite destitute, and having been given a penny in the streets be paid the toll of the bridge to throw himself into the water. He bad no friends, his father, who was sailor, being dead, and his brothers being at sea. After coming from Chatham, and wandering for three weeks about the streets in a state of starvation, not being able to procure any employment, he was driven to despair, and attempted self. destruction, for which he was truly sorry. Sir F. ROE ordered him to be provided with some refreshment, and to be conveyed to the aufaorities of St. Giles's, in which parish he bad last slept. James Guy, 24. Duke-street, Lincoln's Inn- fields, was brought up in the custody of 12. F division, charged under the 7th clause of the new Hackney Carriage Act with wilfully and knowingly uttering a forged letter for a requsition to obtain the situation of omnibus conductor. Mr. D. W. Harvey being sworn, said the regular mode for persons applying for a license is to bring a letter either from the master or proprietor of an omnibus, or hackney carriage, stating his intention in favour of the person so applying. On Siturdsy last the prisoner applied at the office, and agreeable to the regulations tendered the letter produced front Mr. Bennett, a livery stable-keeper, in favour of the bearer, not mentioning the name. I told him the letter did not contain the name of the eppl:cant, and on that account was defective ; upon which he said be would take it back to have his name inserted. He then went away for an hour, taking the letter with him, and on bis return brought back the second letter, produced, signed by Mr.. Bennett, recommending him as a fit and proper person to obtain a license. Mr. William Bennett proved that the first letter bore the signature of his son, whose name was William, but the second letter was not in his (witness's) handwriting. The p-isoner had been conductor of 240 omnibus for some time, and on his making application to sign the first letter, witness objected to it, as he did not like the handwriting ; and he told the priso ncr, if he called again, he would sign a second one for him The prisoner did not deny the charge, and Sir F. Roe ordered him pay a fine of 51. Mr. Harvey added, that when the prisoner called a second time he cautioned him, as Mr. Bennett had been at the office during his absence, and he said he had taken an omnibus in order to make better haste.  The prisoner prayed for a mitigation of the penalty. Sir F. ROE said it was the first instance of attempting to impose upon the Registrar, and on that account it was absolutely necessary to make an example, in order that others might act with more caution. In default of paying the fine the prisoner must be crtmmitted to hard lalmur for two months. 

Article type: Incident