The Westminster Review Volume 100-101 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 Excerpt: ...I have seen all that took place; you are quite right. Here is my card. I shall be most happy to give evidence.' Well, I had taken tho number of the police-constable, and next morning went to Marlborough Street to witness the end, and. if necessary, to give evidence. No charge was made, and it was stated that the woman had escaped. Being somewhat indignant at the whole affair, I wrote to Sir R. Mayne, stating the facts, and received the stereotyped reply that I could take out a summons. I merely answered that I should take my own course. I then got a message that the police-constable had been dismissed, which I believe to have been thoroughly untrue. Later than this event I was engaged in a case, in which, to my mind at all events, it was conclusively proved that the constables were in the habit of receiving bribes from the prostitutes frequenting Regent Street and its neighbourhood; and that those who did not or could not pay were sure to find their way into the station house. "In the Pelizzioni case, with which lam quite familiar, a knife was found by the police in a place which made it impossible that the accused could have committed the deed if done by that knife. All mention of it was suppressed by them. He was convicted, and might have been executed. It was only upon a second trial that the fact was dragged out of them. I believe all of the constables engaged on that trial have since been promoted. I could give other instances, and I will briefly allude to one. There had been many robberies committed in a particular neighbourhood. Tho police were blamed. Beyond all question they 'planted' upon two or three perfectly innocent people of bad character, and charged them with an attempt at burglary. Two of the police were convicted of perjury. There wo...