PLACE-JOBBING.--A man, aged eighty-four, was brought up to Bow Street,
a few days since, upon a charge of raising money under pretence of obtaining offices under Government. Many individuals, who had been duped by the prisoner, made their appearance. One of them had been practised upon thirteen years ago, and states that he understood the old. man had carried on his plan of roguery ever since. Miss Zouch, the pretended "relative to the Earl of Lohsdale, also made her charge ; but was speedily put to .shame by the bolder culprit, who expressed his sur- prise that she ventured to show herself there. The lady did not feel in- clined to make her charge, and left the office.
LEGAL DISTINCTIONS.—The new Beer Act requires the name of the licenser to be painted in white letters on a black ground, or black letters on a white ground : the penalty is 101., recoverable by a common, informer. A publican was cited on Thursday, at Worship Street, beCause he had his name in gold letters on a rosewood ground. The sign was so painted to make it handsome : it was perfectly legible ; but it appears that the publican will be fined for his handsome sign. Can there bea stronger satire on all law than these ridiculous distinc- tions ? If a man sell beer without a licence, fine him ; but what signifies it to the public, if the name be there, in what colour it is painted ! Munntn OF Mns. ua3r.—Notwithstanding the very distinct acquittal of the husband of this unfortunate woman, first by the Coro- ner's inquest, and next at the Police Office, the'good, charitable people of Lambeth, donot seem to have been content. The murder must, it is ob- vious, have been done by somebody • and as Witham was the least likely, and had'tbe smallest inducement, ;hey seem to have thought it impos. sible that he should not be the man. For three weeks the Magistrates, of Union Hall have been engaged in endeavouring to sift the evidence, and the poor man has actually been again in, custody on the false and un- founded charge. The consequence of the second examination has been his second acquittal, without the appearance of a stain on his character. The only new fact sworn to on this evidence, was the fact of some drops of blood on the tea-cups, which it was alleged had been placed on the mantel-piece after the murder ; and as Witham drank tea with his wife on the afternoon, ergo he must have committed the crime, and placed the cups on the mantel-piece. Unluckily for this hypothesis, a female neigh. hour came forward, who swore that she placed the cups On the mantel- piece after the murder was discovered. It was proved, in addition, that the 'deceased most have been alive so late as six o clock :- for her beer jug was found in the passage, and also three halfpence for the beer' which it was heec:onstant. habit to purchase at that hour. ' Now Witliarn, 'the husband, was 'at work a few minutes, after four, and he continued work- ing nntil.nearly-nine; when' he came home.: A' Clearer case of • provided- there had been-one circumstance of suspicion'that 'fa:kneed id establishment, could not possibly have been made out.
Previous page
