At Bow Street, on Thursday, Mrs. Mountain, of the Saracen's
Head, was fined ten shillings and costs for neglecting to deliver a coach-parcel, within six hours after its arrival, as the law directs. This decision may act as a warning to coach-office people ; and the com- plainant, a Mr. Finney, deserves the thanks of the public for the trouble he took in the matter.
The wife of a picture-frame maker was charged at the Guildhall on Monday, before Sir Peter Laurie, with " obstropolous behaviour" in Aldgate Workhouse it was also mentioned that her husband was an idle fellow, and all his children were born in the Workhouse. The husband was present, and declared that his wife was given over to in- toxication, and that he could not support his family ; whereupon Sir Peter let himself loose against the Parish-officers atter the following fashion- " Why do yore support strong and idle people of this description, and refuse to give the value of a farthing to the aged and infirm ? Can any thing be more gross and scandalous than that? Such is the consequence of giving power into hands in which it is not exercised judiciously.
Overseer—" In our parish there is no refusal to assist the aged and infirm."
Sir Peter Laurie—" .1 do not say that your parish acts in that way; [what did he say, then?] but I have seen many cases in the city of Loudon in which poor and infirm old people have been, to the disgrace of human nature, cast out to take their chance upon private benevolence. The claims upon private charity, I regret to say, daily increase, and surely that is not a change for the better. I know that relief is constantly refused to those whose miseries ought to cemmand it ; and I cannot restrain my indignation when I see it dealt out abundantly to such persons as these. Let them be locked sip for a week, and then we shall see whether they will not try to support their family."
The husband put in the plea, that he was charged with no offence_ that he merely came to look after his wife. Sir Peter declared that there was this charge against him—that he would not support his family : and "go to prison you shall," said the knight. The man pro- mised to reform his habits, and do his best to maintain his family ; and said that he was then actually on his road to get work. But Sir Peter declared that he would not be "humbugged ;" that both man and wife should go to prison ; for a week's confinement would "whet their inch- nation to do their duty !" So they were packed off to gaol ; the woman for being " obstropolous ;" the man, in the eye of the law, being at that time as innocent as his judge himself.
The body of Elizabeth Davies, the person lost when the Medway steamer took fire, was picked up on Monday, at Northfleet, not far from the bandk on which the captain ran the vessel. A Coroner's Jury found a verdict "that Elizabeth Davies was drowned, but how and by what cause, theie is no evidence to prove." L There was abundant evidence to prove that the death of the deceased was owing to a fire in the Medway steam-boat, caused by the bad construction of the vessel, or the carelessness of those who had charge of it.]
An inquest was held on Monday, on the body of the boatswain of the Maltese brig, killed by the explosion of gunpowder in Mr. Corsan's lighter ; and a verdict of "accidental death" returned.
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