FRAUDS IN THE COAL TRADE.—An adjourned meeting of the Magistrates
of Surrey was held at Horsemonger-lane, on Monday, to consider a charge brought, by petition, from Messrs. Horne, coal-merchants, Falcon Wharf, against Charles Smith and George Wilcox, two labouring coal-meters, for breach of duty in giving a false ticket as to quantity. It appeared that the Messrs. Horne had received an order for one hundred and fifty hogsheads of coals, for exportation to Demerara ; and the merchants who provided the hogsheads directed that each of them should contain twenty-one bushels. It was afterwards found that each hogshead would contain twenty-two bushels ; and that quantity was accordingly directed to be put into them. It was the business of Wilcox and Smith to see that the quantity was fairly measured. They accordingly gave a certificate, stating that the quantity of coals put into the hogsheads amounted to eleven hundred sacks, which was at the rate of twenty-two bushels for each hogshead and for this quantity they paid metage to Mr. Turquand, one of the land-meters of the county of Surrey. Smith and Wilcox afterwards asked Mr. Archer, clerk to the Messrs. Horne, for an allowance of 1/.on the job—Smith pointing to the hogsheads at the same time, and observing, " You know those hogsheads are not all right." The bribe was refused; and they retired threatening, "If you do not give us the money, you may take the consequences." The Messrs. Horne were afterwards told by Mr. Turquand, that the hogsheads did not contain the quantity of coals mentioned in the certificate of Smith and Wilcox ; but Mr.
• Turquand, though requested by the merchants, declined to have any of the hogsheads opened and remeasured. Messrs. Horne, however, gave notice to the purchasers, and deducted the deficiency from the invoice. This was the substance of the complaint against the two meters ; and, if proved, it subjected them to a penalty of 101., and to be afterwards incapable of serving as meters. Part of the case was proved by Mr. Archer, the clerk. Mr. Joseph Hall proved that Wilcox had confessed the amount of the fraud to him and that he had told his principals, because the I/. for the hogsheads, which he alleged he and his companion had been promised by the "short Mr. Horne," had been refused. When told that the Messrs. Horne were to prosecute him, he replied, that " if they persevered they would have reason to repent : it would blast their characters for ever." Mr. Horne denied that he had offered 1/. to Wilcox and Smith in reference to the hogsheads. Mr. Turquand being examined for the defence, said, that having reason to believe that improper practices were going forward at Messrs. Home's wharf, he stationed Smith and Wilcox there, in order to detect what was wrong. They were instructed to submit to every irregularity that they should witness on the part of those belonging to the wharf, and also to receive any money, by way of bribe or gift, that was offered to them ; but to communicate every thing that did occur to witness. The witness went on to state, that subsequently to those directions having been given to Smith and Wilcox, they communicated to hint some irregularities relative to 150 hoosheads of coals intended for the West Indies. From all the circumstances disclosed, it appeared that the defendants had acted on the instructions of their principals, for the benefit of the public. The Bench deliberated for an hour ; and then decided, that as the defendants had not acted from a corrupt motive, the complaint should be dismissed.
On Thursday, Mr. Hone and Sir William de Cresspig-ny were engaged in hearing similar complaints at Union Hall. The first information was against Mr. Humphries, a coal-merchant residing in the parish of Christ Church, Surrey who was charged with giving one of time labouring coalmeters the sum of 12s., by way of a fee for yielding to certain irregularities in the measurement of coals. The Magistrates were about to convict, when an error was discovered which led them to quash the charge. Mr. Humphries was convicted on a second information, and fined 10/. and costs.
John Levewell and George Manning, coal-merchants, were convicted of similar frauds. The first was fined 15/. and costs, and the other 5/.
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