The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-31 00:00:00

LONDON SPORTING HOUSES.

Maniteiaoutin-srzer.r.—John Thompson, otherwise
Gill, of 20. Everett-An:et, itusaell•square, a betting
iisn was Cil.rged is Thursday last with assaulting Mr.
Albert Oarrod, a gentleman of fortune, residing at 11,
Upper Belgrave-place, Belgrave-square.
'Die case was coeilucted by Mr. Humphreys, and Mr.
E. Lewis appeared for the defendant.
Mr. Humphreys said, in his outline of the case, that
Isis client, Mr. Garrott, who had, he inns; forgive hie)
for saying, re looney than wit, went on the 16th ult.
to the Coach and Horses publichouse, St. Martin's-lane,
kept by the well•known Ben Cauut, whom he had
known several years, though he had not wen him for a
considerable time before. Apparently delighted to see
Mr.Caunt, in introducing him, " stood" champagne,
which, however, his client hail to pay for. Among the
rest the defendant was introduced as • large cab pro-
' prietor, &Hamm after cards weie proposed and played at
—first at ss. per genie, but at length for much higher
stakes, and eventually at 1:10, an•l the last game at
when the complainant found lie had been cleared out of
1:51 10s. But the offence now complained of was a very
serious assault committed on Ida client by the defendant
on his discovery that he had been cheated out of his
money by a system of packing the cards, and had been
in his firm opinion drugged its that which was given him
to drink, and which had produced sudden and excessive
diarrlima. The complainant, who hail lied an arm, on
the earliest opportunity taking up • position at the door
to prevent the egress of those who had got his money,
was assailed in a cowardly manner by the defendant,
who, seizing him by the throat, and striking him
violently aeveral times, succeeded in making his escape
before the arrival of the police, w lio, When they did
come, did not for WILK' reason /icent inclined to act in the
aff.iir. On subsequently •ppeuling personally to in-
spector Webb, of the r division, that otticer lent every
assistance to trace out the defendant, but it wax not till
• few days back he wits discovered, when he was served
with the preseut autimuitis to attend the court upon this
charge.
The complainant in evidence confirmed the statement
of lain solicitor, and said that the game played with the
defendant was cribbage, and that well-known frequenters
of the house, Page and Paddock, were present with the
landlord, Mr. Caunt. During many games for higher
and higher hazards champagne was drunk, but towards
the last some thing was given him from a tankard
which iummiliately produced the symptoms alluded to,
which necessitated ritsienoe, previous to which he had
observed the defendant packing the cards, upon which
he remomitrated, demanding back his money, but Page,
who held the stakes, threatened if lie did not play out to
hand over all to the defendant. Feeling certain of the
tricks practised on hini, he placed himself at the door
and declared he would charge the lot with conspiracy,
• and would not allow any one to cluit the room until •
• constable cause, whom he but la vain, called upon
I young Quint to fetch or send for. The defendant, who

had his money, trying to forte himself ont,made uss of
exceedingly threatening language, used rile and filthy
epithet., grappled him tightly by the threat, struck
him two or three severe blows, then grasped hold of box.
by the thigh, and so injured him that at the time he
vu rendered almost senseless, and afterwards found Mt
was bruised in all the parte the defendant had struck or
laid bold of, his throat, also, being very much scratched
—all which was the assault now complained of, for
which he had on Um first opportunity obtained a
luminous, the defendanta having on the night in ques-
tion mewed.
Crose-examined.—Went to the house at between 1
and 2 o'clock in the day, and played till Deer* mid-
night. All his money WY Met at one sitting. Only
won one game for lie. at starting. Wm, towards the
Apish, a little excited with drink and play, bet not
drunk. It was only in the last game he found be was
being cheated.
Inspector Charles Webb said tbe complainant came
at midnight on the 15th ult, to the station with • ser-
geant of the F division from Bow-street, complaining of
being swindled out of his money at cards at Bea Caunt's
and assaulted. His face on one side was swollen, and
there were recent scratches and marks—one of two
inches in lesigth--on hie neck. He also complained of
having had his drink drugged.
The assault being the only charge gone into,
Mr. Lewis submitted that • great deal had been said
to prejudice his worship's mind by introducing aus-
picious without proofs, and trusted that • small line
would be inflicted if the assault was considered as satis-
factorily made out, without sending the case for trial.
Mr. Bingham mid he would not give utterance to his
opinion on the case, however strong his temptation to
do so, because his mind was fully made up to leave •
higher tribunal to decide on it by sending it for trial.