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Northern Star (1837-1852), 2nd October 1852, Edition 2 of 2, Page 6

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    • lafoai^lolk
    • jrfitt Courts
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      118 The Stab Of Freedom. October 2, 1^

      118 THE STAB OF FREEDOM . October 2 , 1 ^

      Lafoai^Lolk

      lafoai ^ lolk

      " The People's Paper,"-Caution To Commit...

      " THE PEOPLE'S PAPER , " -CAUTION TO COMMITTEES . Mary-le-bone Cotjkty Court . —Petter and others versus Stright . On Saturday Sept . 25 th , this case came on for hearing , at the above court , when it appeared from the evidence of Mr . Petter , who stated that he was one of the firm of Petter , Duff , and Co ., carrying on business as Printers in Playhouse-yard , Blackfriars , and that they claimed from the defendant , Mr . Stright , the sum of £ 23 for composing and printing " The People ' s Paper . " He also stated , that a Mr . Alexander Grant , a person connected with the paper had applied to them for an estimate of charges

      for which they would perform a certain amount of work , which estimate was supplied , that subsequently the defendant called at their ofiice , and inquired relative thereto-a conversation took place , during which the defendant said , that he was one of a committee , who were doing all in their power to support Mr . Ernest Jones , the proprietor , and that he felt very desirous for the success of the paper , the defendant also intimated that he would give a guarantee to see plaintiff paid , and on taking leave gave us his card . Mr . Petter further stated , that the estimaie was accepted , they printed the paper for three weeks Messrs . Stright and Shute had paid two bills , and the £ 23 claimed was now due to them .

      ..-„ ,,,.,. „ Mr Petter on being cross-examined , admitted that their bills Were ' addressed to " The Proprietors of the People ' s Paper , " and not to Mr . Stright , and that he had never taken the trouble to inquire at the Inland Revenue Office as to who were the ^ Mr Galpin another of the firm , corroborated a portion of the previous evidence , but on being pressed relative to the conversation , appeared entirely confused , and said that he could not recollect the exact purport thereof .

      Mr . Stright on being sworn , said that the committee of which he had been elected chairman , consisted chiefly of workingmen , that they acted entirely voluntary , were called together by Mr . Jones himself , who being in want of support to carry on his paper , had solicited their aid , and they believing that he was honest in his intentions , had been doing their utmost by giving their subscriptions , circulating bills , and selling the paper to support him ; but that he had used the words which

      had been stated by one of the ppmtuTs or had given any guarrantee to see them paid , he most emphatically deuied ; infect the whole of the arrangements had been made by order of Mr . Jones , who was the sole proprietor of the paper . Mr . S . Shute fully confirmed what hsd been stated by Mr . Stright . and in relation to the latter portion thereof , held in his hand , the following documentary evidence from Mr . Ernest T / y *» pe . " Halifax , June 23 , 1852 .

      " Pray secure another printer , forthwith , there-will benojear about funds . Grant had an estimate fromPette and Duff , for £ 1515 s ., reading included . Pry , pray , pray ; let a printer be engaged for Monday , close at once with a new printer . "Erxest Jo : nes . " " Halifax , June 28 , 1852 .

      " My Dear Shute , " I have heard from Grant of your imparalleled kindness and exertions for the psper , how shall I thank you ! The arrangement with Petter and Duff is all that can be wished ; we will soon make up the difference . " Erkes Jones . "

      Messrs . Highley and Young gave evidence to the effect that they never considered Mr . Stright responsible for any debts Incurred on behalf of the paper ; on the contrary , they had always understood that Mr . Jones was proprietor , and consequently the only party who held any responsibility . the official document from Somerset House was then handed in , which stated that Ernest Jones was the sole proprietor , and Alexander Grant the registered piinter of " The People ' s Paper . " The Judge having briefly summed up , to the evident surprise of crowned court , gave a verdict for the plaintiff ' s for the fall amsunt claimed . Consequently Mr . Stright will have to pay the £ 23 besides expenses .

      Jrfitt Courts

      jrfitt Courts

      Worship Street. Attempted Suicide.—Cltar...

      WORSHIP STREET . Attempted Suicide . —Cltarles Martin , a middle-aged man , was charged with an attempt at self-destruction . Amelia 3 £ artin , an intelligent little girl twelve years of age , handed up to the magistrate a slip of paper , containing the following declaration , which she stated that her father had compelled her to write ' at his dictation just before he made the attempt to cut his throat : — " My father says that , so help him God , he is innocent of wilfully causing any injury to my mother . " It was stated , in explanation to this , that the prisoner ' s wife had expired

      somewhat suddenly about a twelvemonth ago , and that , a coroner ' s inquest having been held upon her body , an open verdict was returned of death from natural causes , or in similar terms , and that the prisoner had been frequently since at intervals in a desponding way , but none of the circumstances that led to the woman ' s death or tbe inquest were adverted to . The prisoner maintained a gloomy silence , declining to offer anything in answer to the charge , and was ordered to be committed until that day week , that the magistrate might have an opportunity of determining how to dispose of him .

      Attempted Suicide . —A wretched and attentuated young woman , named Mary AnnStopford , scarcely exceeding 18 years of age , was charged with this offence . In this case a constable of the G divison , named French , v ? as on duty in Shoreditch on the preceding day , when a person ran up to him in great alarm and entreated him to go instantly to a house in Brewer ' s court adjoining , where a woman was then supposed to be dying from having taken a large dose of poison . On entering the parlour he found the prisoner crouched down upon the floor in a state of the greatest agony , and manifestly in extreme danger . On being again apprised by the people of the house that she had just swallowed some kind of poison , he asked the prisoner what it

      was , and after repeating the question unavaiilngly she at length acknowledged that it was sugar of lead . The witness ran for medical assistance , with which he shortly returned , and after the use of the stomach pump and antidotes , by which the poison was dislodged , she at length recovered sufficiently to answer his questions , and on asking her the cause of committing such an act , she replied she could not help it , and was driven to it by the greatest distress and misery . She then stated that she had not tasted any food for three days , the last she had taken having been some coffee she had purchased with twopence she had borrowed of a policeman while wandering about , and that her life had lately been one of such misery that upon obtaining sufficient

      Worship Street. Attempted Suicide.—Cltar...

      money for the purpose , she had spent it on sugar of lead to destroy herself . Upon being called upon for her defence the wretched creature made no reply , further than an admission of the truth of the officer ' s statement , and , as she was obviously not in a state to be intrusted with her liberty , the magistrate ordered her to be committed until that day week , that he might determine how ultimately she should be disposed of .

      CLEKKENWELL . Working an Illicit Still . —George Beits , a determinedlooking young man , was placed at the bar , charged , at the instance of the officers of Excise , with having been concerned , in working a private still for the manufacture of illicit spirits . It appeared that , information having been communicated to the Excise authorities that some parties were in the habit of working a still at a house situate No . 22 , Lower Rosoman-street , Clerkenwell , on Saturday last Mr . Richard Oliver , an officer of the Inland Revenue , accompanied by Joseph Green , 90 G , and other active officers , proceeded to the place well armed , in order

      to meet any resistance . On their arrival they knocked at tho door , but were refused admission , although they mentioned that they were officers . They then burst open the door , when the prisoner ran down stairs , brought out a large bulldog , . which barked and looked ferociously at the officers . He threatened to set it upon them , when Mr . Oliver told him if he dared to do so they would dash its brains out , and if he resisted it would be the worse for him . Finding the officers determined , he said he would quietly surrender if they would allow him to do so . He was then secured with the dog and taken to the station-house ,

      where he was locked up . On searching the place , in the front kitchen the officers found an extensive still , capable of holding 40 gallons of spirits , at full work , and raw spirits running from the worm end of the still , which had a large furnace burning under it , 501 bs . of molasses in a bag , 80 gallons of molasses wash , 10 gallons of spirits , & c , and all the necessary apparatus for the manufacturing of illicit spirits . The prisoner was the only person in tho place , and was evidently employed working the still when the officers entered the house . Mr . Tykwjutt

      convicted him , and sentenced , him to pay £ 30 penalty , or , in default , three months' imprisonment , with hard labour , in the House of Correction .

      THAMES . Lodging House Dens . —Mr . Yaudley was occupied for a considerable portion of the day in hearing summonses against several keepers of lodging-houses in the neighbourhood of Rosemary lane , who had reglected to comply with the provisions of the new act for registration and regulation of such places . Many of the revelations of Inspector Reason , who had been appointed to carry out the provisions of act , were startling . Insufficient sleeping room , want of retiring places , filth and disease , and the grossest commingling of the sexes , were found to be the prevailing rule . The inspector visited one house in Slaler ' s-court , in the dead of night , and found in the lodging-room of one of the defendants four beds on the

      floor and no bedsteads . The first contained the defendant and his sister , a woman about 30 years of age , ' who said she had occupied it for some time . Another man was found with his cousin , in the absence of his wife , who was gone " hopping . " Mr . Yaudley explained the provisions of the act to the parties brought up , and remanded several cases to give the defendants time to comply with , the act . The magistrate observed that too much haste must be avoided in the application of the act . Many of the poor Irish did not understand the language of the law , and too literal or too sudden application of the statute might have the effect of turning some of them houseless into the street .

      SOUTHWARK . A Beastly Ruffian . — William Foster , a tin-plate worker , was charged with maliciously wounding Ann Drumony , with a knife , in the face . He was further charged with indecent conduct to a little girl nine years of age . The fellow , in the first instance made a disgusting proposition to the child , and afterwards committed the exposure laid . Several females came to the child ' s protection , when he turned upon one with a knife and nearly cut off her nose . —The prisoner , being cautioned , said that he was beset by several women , who would have torn

      him to pieces , and that on extricating himself from their violence he accidentally inflicted the injury on the complainant . — Mr . A'Becket said that the assault on the complainant was of too serious a nature for him to decide upon , and that he should commit him for trial ; and that for the indecent exposure of his person he should convict him and sentence him to three months' imprisonment . - ¥ - » . < M 7 _ 7 . „ . 1 „ . 7 _ by ServantJohn Andrews

      Robbery a . — , a young man recently in the employ of Mr . John Winkles , a tradesman , of High-street , Southwark , was charged with stealing £ 10 10 s ., the property of his employer . On the preceding night , between 11 and 12 o ' clock , a policeman in pissing through a stable yard in the vicinity of this court , where empty omnibuses are kept , observed the prisoner , without coat , waistcoat , or hat , asleep in one of the vehicles . On being aroused , and asked what he

      was doing there , he gave a very reasonable answer to the question , saying that he was destitute , having parted with all his clothes , except his shirt and trowsers , and that being now without money to procure a lodging that wet night , he had availed himself of the shelter of the omnibus . He went on to say that there was no use in disguising the fact any longer that he had been in the employ of the complainant , had robbed him of 10 guineas , absconded from his service , and soon squandered away the money in debauchery ; and he added that he now wished to ^ resign himself into the hands of justice and answer for the offence , rather than suffer the torture of

      mind he had undergone any longer . The policeman , on being made acquainted with the voluntary confession of the prisoner ) took him to the station-house , and afterwards communicated with the complainant , whose wife attended , and gave the following particulars of the robbery : —She stated that in last Julv the prisoner was in her husband ' s employ and lived in the house with the family , and that on the night of the 13 th , the prisoner got up when they were all asleep , and entered the room where she and her husband were in'bed . There was a

      purse containing £ 2 15 s . on the dressing-table , and in her husband ' s trousers' pocket , which was on a chair by the bedside , there were seven sovereigns and 15 s . The following rnornin ^ she and her husband were awakened by their son coming into their room for some change , and when desired to take what he required out of the purse on the table it was discovered that it was gone , as well as the bag containing the sovereigns and silver from her husband ' s trousers pockets . Although the prisoner retired to bed the-same hour as the family did on the night in question , yet , when he was sought after , upon the discovery of the robbery , it was found that he had absconded leaving the street door ajar , so as not to disturb any of the inmates , and these latter circumstances gave rise to the suspicion that he must have been the thief ; but ' he- had managed

      Worship Street. Attempted Suicide.—Cltar...

      to keep out of the way ever since Jul y , and nothing was u ^ of him until he was found by the policeman asleep in thG ! bus on the proceeding night , as above described , when hen i '" the confession which led to his apprehension on the ch —The prisoner , who said nothing in answer to the ehar ^ e ^ 0-committed , but he will be brought up again in ' ' b ' the depositions completed . A Debtor at Bay . —Mrs . Mary Elizabeth Sharp of R 9-eterborough-street , Bayswater , appeared to answer a smumf ° barging her with having assaulted Mrs . Mary Ami Tav The complainant stated that on Tuesday evening the qT " inst . she hired a cab and went with her servant to tke def * - ? ant ' s house , for the purpose of serving a bill upon her for a d Of of £ 19 . Th ere was a crowd of people round th e door , and so of the persons were asking for the payment of their bills'

      , n gate was locked , and the defendant and her husband was the other side in front of the house . Witness said , « Mrs JShJ ?* this is your bill , " and at the same time handed it over ?' gate to her . She ( defendant ) refused to accept the bill % i struck witness a violent blow upon the face across the < mto witl her fist . If it had not been for her bonnet , she certainty woul I have had a black eye , She gave the defendant into custod - but the constable refused to take the charge . The defendant '' husband called witness by a very offensive expression . Tho magistrate fined the defendant 10 s ., with 15 s . costs , to be m \\ immediately , with the alternative of 10 days' imprisonment

      MARYLEBONE . Giving , Gin to a Badges . —Two well-dressed young men John Gosney , 23 , William-street , Regent ' s-park , and Gear ™ Tayton , 30 , Bridgewater-street , Somers-town , were brou g ht before Mr . Brouohton , charged with drunkenness and disor . derly conduct in the Zoological-gardens , Regent ' s-park , ^ iid with wantonly injuring a badger , by administering to it ' some

      gin . —William Nixey , 19 , William-street , City-road , deposed that on the previous afternoon , about 4 o ' clock , he was in flu ' gardens , and there saw the prisoners , one of whom ( Gosney ) gave some gin from a bottle to a wolf , after which he gave the animal a biscuit , and then threw some gin info its mouth . He then gave some of the like spirit to an Esquimaux don- bv throwing it from a glass ; and in addition to these frealS ? C

      offered a piece of biscuit to a badger . Upon the animal opening its mouth to seize the morsel , he introduced therein the necfof the bottle , from which no donbt a quantity of gin had passed down the animal ' s throat ; it roiled and floundered about its cage , and he ( Gosney ) then struck a blow at it between tho wires , the consequence of which was that the bottle broke and a portion of the fragments went into the cage . The nrisoiicrs were both drunk . —Croome , 178 S , stated that he took * the mi i- » An ^ nJiA J w n v * r ~ i ^ U rt + ¦ ¦*• i- \ r \ w r-i „« . - J J _ T A into custodand that said

      . soners y , they they were not aware they had done any harm , Gosney was very abusive and aimed a blow at witness , but fortunatel y he avoided it —Mr Broughton , after reviewing carefully the whole of the evidence adduced , came to the conclusion that no real mischief was intended towards the animals , but that the conduct of the prisoners for going drunk into the gardens was reprehensible in the extreme . —Gosney was amerced in a penalty of 30 s ., or a month ' s imprisonment , for assaulting the officer ; and Tayton was fined 5 s . for being drunk .

      BOW STREET . Indecent Assaults . —Matthew Henry Simphin . aged 35 . who described himself as clerk to an attorney , was charged with having indecently assaulted Caroline Herbert , in St . James ' spark . —The prosecutrix , a child only 9 years of a ^ e living n Pleasant-row , was the daughter of an engine-driver , and had been sent by her mother on some errand , at about 3 o ' clock on Monday afternoon . The prisoner was seen to accost her near the fountains in Trafalgar-square , and , after taking indecent liberties with her , he took her to a stall and treated her to

      some milk and sweetmeats . He then invited her into the park with him , and , having been followed by a policeman and * another witness who had been watching him , was there seen to repeat the same disgraceful conduct . The little girl at length « 'ot away from him , and ran homewards , upon which the pnsoncr was ' taken into custody . —The prisoner said he was only nlayin * with the child . He was naturally fond of childre n , and that was what induced him to purchase milk and sweetm eats for her . He had sent for some of his friends , and would reier to them for a character .-The pr isoner ' s unclewho resides at

      KnMits-, I *^ *« ** 1 Ah A rtw « . ^ .. AHI ^ Arl 1-4 * ^ d l-vyi | - * S * l 4-. J * l ~~ . i-J . I-. 1 . fc a . KJ bridge , expressed his belief that tho conduct of the accused had been misinterpreted , though not wilfully , by the constable and witness ; for the prisoner was a very respectable youn * man , and had been brought up in the fear of God —Mr . Jaedikb reminded the uncle that sins like this were always committed in privacy , and only discovered by accident . He believed , however , that mischief sometimes resulted from sending these cases to Joe re-investigated at the sessions , and therefore he should dispose of it summarily . His worship then fined the prisoner £ o , and committed him for a month in default

      LAMBETH . Dastardly Assault . —Thomas Meghan , a ruffianly-looking cab-driver , was finally examined before Mr . Elliott on a charge of violently assaulting Emily Scott , and throwing over her person and that of another woman named Eliza Disney a quan- tity of corrosive fluid , which destroyed their dresses . —Erailv - Scott deposed , that on the night of Thursdav week , between 10 > and 11 o ' clock , she was standing close to the Royal Oak ; public house in Granby-street , Waterloo-road , when the pri- soner , who used to live with her at different times , and whom i she had supported by her prostitution for a length of time , came i up to her , and asked her where she was going . She replied ,, " over the water , " upon which he told her she had better not .

      She said she should , and he instantly struck her a violent blow * - with his right hand , and with his left poured something over r her from a bottle . A female friend of hers , Eliza Disney , came e up to her assistance , and the prisoner threw some of the stuffff over her shawl and destroyed it , as well at witness ' s dress . — Eliza Disney said she was present -ot the time , and saw him a strike and kick the last witness in a most brutal manner , and d also throw something over her , which destroyed her dress and d bonnet . The prisoner also threw some of the stuff over her ; r shawl , and completely destroyed it , burning a large piece right it out . —A cabman who had witnessed the outrage confirmed theic testimony of both the witnesses . —Mr . Elliott said it was vcryv

      rortunate for him that the fluid , which there could be no douWlit he had thrown over the women , had neither burnt , maimed , d , disfigured , nor done them any other grievous bodily harm , for , * , if so , his offence would have amounted to one of felony , foror which he might have been transported for the term of his na-atural life . His offence , however , was one of a most nnmanlyly and dastardly character , and for it he should sentence him , mn the first instance , to a penalty of £ 3 ., or one month ' s impr ison-nment , for the assault on the woman Scott ; in the next p lace , ie , he must pay a further sura of 10 s ., or 10 day ' s imprisonment . it ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 2, 1852, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_02101852/page/6/