A DISTINGUISHED CROSSING SWERPER.

Thames Star, Volume III, Issue 1690, 3 June 1874, Page 2

A DISTINGUISHED CROSSING SWERPER.

At Westminster Police-court, William Thomas Johnson,, described as ja major unattached, wearing an undress'nniform decorated with a Crimean medal with four clasps, and also three other medals, was charged before Mr. Arnold under the following circumstances:— On a recent after, noon Mr. E. Penning, the Inspector of tno A Division at the House of Commons, found the defendant, with anew broom in his hancMweeping the crossing in fcridgestreet, Westminster. Several: members of Parliament were passingj rand, ai the prisoner's appearance. collected a crowd and caused an obstruction, the Inspector requested him to go awar. He refused to go, and Mr. Denning had to take him into-custody: At the station the defen- , dapt. handed him a pamphlet setting forth : that he complained of a serious grievance against the, authorities after, long and arduous "military services—first in India, next in the Crimea, and agatouin India. He had been invalided \home, but, hiring recovered his health, sought reappoint* inent, which the military authorities declined toprant. 1 He admitted that his ob« -jeet in: exhib/itiaghimself in the w*y des. cribed was toicafl public attention to his case. .. In ( a, conversation with the Inspector he, stated that he was .in receipt* of a pension* of 6s. pjeifday:''" The Inspector offered to liberate him if he.would promise not 'to "go; tact,to wherehe had,been found or "repeat* the offence; tut he declared he,, would, give.no such promise. -Mr Arnold now repeated the offer, observing that if he had any grievance to 'complain of this #as certainly" Hiot the proper course topursue. He had collected a crowd and; caused an obstruction. The 1, defendant said" he must decline to make' any -such promise. He was then ordered to find on» surety in £10 for hip reappearance,"and,.refusing to send for any friend, was. - committed to prison.—Home. JSews. *