The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-05-31 00:00:00

ASSAULT.-A DELICATE CASE.

Yesterday, at the Police-court, before Messrs. Castel-
lain and Rathbone, a case came on for hearing that
teased much attention. It was a charge of assault
preferred by a young man named Arthur Wellington
Mills, a clerk in the employment of Messrs. Alfred
arber and Co., merchants, against Mr. William Wood,
a watchmaker, 69, Lord-street. Mr. Black appeared
for the complainant, and Mr. Dodd for the defence.
Mr. Bluck opened the case at some length, and said he
was only recently instructed in it, for had he been
previously consulted he would have advised another
course. He then went on to state the facts
of the case which were given in evidence by the
complainant, and it appeared that the complainant
met the daughter of Mr. Wood last summer at
the Gardens. He said he introduced himself to her,
but did not know who she was. They continued to meet
tip to about four months ago, when the acquaintance
Was broken off. On the 22nd instant the defendant
called at his office, said " My name is Wood," and
then beat him severely, and he has been ill nearly since
that time from the effects of it. The defendant wanted
to force him to marry his daughter, but he would not
be forced to do anything that way. The chief part of
the case, however, was elicited on the cross-examination
of the witness by Mr. Dodd as follows. Did you take
the young lady to any other place than the
gardens ? Yes, to the Theatre and Clayton-hall. Was
that a dancing-room ? No. Did you take her to a
dancing-room ? I met her at one. Did you know who
she was ? I knew her Christian name. Do you know
how old she is ? She told me she was 17, and 19,
and 20, so I don't know how old she is. How old are
You, sir ? I am 25. Did she ever say she was only
16 ? No. Did you ever give her your likeness ? I
had one and she kept it. Then you gave it to her ?
Yes, she kept it, and I did not ask it back. 'Was that
all that took place ? Yes, that's all. Have you been
in the shop in Lord-street ? Yes, I saw her at the
door, and she asked me to go into the shop.
Mr. Dodd—Then, sir, do you swear you did not
know who she was ? I only knew her Christian name.
Mr. Dodd : What are you, sir ? A clerk.—Where ? At
Alfred Barber and Co's.—What are they? Merchants.
—Mr. Dodd : Did you not know who Mr. Wood was
when he called on you ? I did not, but he said, " my
name is Wood," and he then struck me at once.--Mr.
Dodd : Without saying anything further ? After he
struck me, he asked me to go to his house to explain
something.—Mr. Dodd : Did he not say you had seduced
his daughter ? No ; but he called out as loud as he
could, "seducer." When I went out in the street,
he seized me by the collar, and brought me to the
house. Mr. Dodd : That was after he beat you ?
-Yee.—And what did he say then ? He wanted to
know what my intentions towards his daughter were.
lie did not accuse me of ruining her; but he wanted me
to marry her, and said I was a seducer.—What did you
say to that ? I told him he had better consult my friends
on the subject. —Mr. Dodd : What happened after the
beating you got ? I was ill after it ; and I was so
Much affected, that I did not know what I was
doing.—fir. Dodd : Had you a fit after the licking
You got ? I had.----Mr. Dodd : Was, it a love-fit ?
Not exactly ; for I lost my presence' of mind after
it.--Mr. Dodd : Did you deny that You had acted
improperly towards the young lady ? I did then.—
Mr. Dodd: Do you deny it now, sir, on your oath ? Be
cautious what you say.—Mr. Bluck : Remember you
come here to tell the whole truth, and you are sworn to
do so ; so tell the truth at all hazards. 'Witness : I do
not deny it now.—Mr. Castellain : Did you ever pro-
mise to marry the young lady ? Never.—Mr. Castellain
You swear that positively ? I do.—Mr. Dodd : Was
the young lady present at the interview ? Yes, .for about
a minute and a half. —Mr. Dodd : Not more ? No.—
Mr. Dodd : Did you not adjust your collars el the glass,
and draw yourself up in great style notwithstanding the
Yes—th t a wtis after I was beaten.—Mr. Castel-

lain : Do you deny the assault, Mr. Dodd ? Mr. Dodd :
Certainly not, sir;. but I want to show the provocation in
this case.—Mr. Castellain: We think the provocation was
extremely great. We regret Mr. Wood has taken the
law into his own hands, but we cannot forget the pro-
vocation he has received, and therefore we fine him the
lowest penalty is • our power—namely, one farthing,
and one farthing costs. The parties then left. Mr.
Bluck said in the course of his long and varied
experience in that court, he never knew so small a fine
being imposed. lie would have it for a precedent in
future cases.

LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY

(Before Mr. RATTLES.)
VIOLENT ASSAVLTS.

Agnes Simpson, described as d French polisher, was charged
for having committed a desperate assault on a mechanic,
named James Ryan. It appeared that the parties, with others
were drinking in a house in Poplar-lane, and that they got
intoxicated. They then quarrelled, when the prisoner struck
Ryap on the forehead with a half-gallon tin measure, inflicting
a terrible wound. She ,was .afterwards arrested in her bed,
where she was in al state of drunkenness. Surgeon M'Caul
said the wound was deep and serious.: It wouldmot at present,
endanger the man's life, but he could not tell what turn it
might take, as it was very severe. The prisoner said they
were all drunk, and the complainant was calling her bad
names, when she struck him in her own defence. She was
remanded for a week, in order to see how the wounded man
would get on. .
Anne Jane Parry and Eliza Cover, two decent-looking per-
sons, were brought up by officer 377, on a charge of being
disorderly and fighting in Low-hill-street, the previous after-
noon. The prisoner Parry had her arm broken ; and Mr.
Bluck appeared for Cover. The officer could not tell how the
fight commenced, as he got them " at it" when he came up ;
and although Parry's arm was broken, she tugged away like
Tom Sayers, without the aid of the limb. It appeared that
she was the aggressor, and that in the " ruckshin " the other
woman struck her on the arm with a sweepiug brush, and
broke it. Mr. Block contended that his client ought to be
discharged, as she was not in fault, but acted in self-defence.
Mr. Raffles said the other woman was the aggressor, but he
thought the injury to her arm was punishment enough. He
would therefore discharge both, which he did.
WATCH STEALING.

Catherine Stanton was charged by Thomas Bowers, of Hard-
wick-street, for having stolen his watch. The prosecutor took
the prisoner into a cook shop in Norman-street, to get some
refreshment, and whilst there, he stated he lost his watch, and
that no one except the prisoner could have taken it. The
watch, however, was not forthcoming, but the prisoner was
remanded.

MEETING OF THE A.M.C. OF ODD•
FELLOWS, MANCHESTER UNITY..

Tuesday *as the A;M:C. (or annual parliament) meet•

ing of the tiddfelloWs, Manchester Unity, at Shrews-
bury, When iipsVarils df 290 delegdtes met for the
general bUsiness of the' society. The morning was
ushered in by the firing of cannon, ringing of
bells, and other demonstrations of joy, and the
town generally presented a gay appearance. At
eleven o'clock the procession was formed in the
Market-place, preceded by the Mayor (William Burr,
Esq.) 'and the Corporation of the borough, and
proceeded to St. Chad's Church, where an excellent
sermon was preached by the Rev. John Yardley, after
which a collection was made in behalf of the Salop
Infirmary, and liberally responded to. At the close of
the service the procession (numbering upwards of 3,000
members) re-formed, and paraded the different parts of
the town, accompanied by thousands of admiring spec-
tators, notwithstanding the occasional showers that
fell. The members then dispersed to their various
lodges for dinner, the delegates and their friends
(amounting to nearly 500) repairing to the Music-
hall, to a banquet prepared by P.P.G.M. Cares-
well, whose arrangements gave every satisfaction.
The dinner was presided over by William Burr,
Esq., supported by the Corporation, and was well
attended. After the removal of the cloth the usual
loyal and appropriate toasts were given and responded
to ; also the toasts in connection with the order, and
the company separated highly delighted. The com-
mittee of management, with a view to add to the plea-
sure of the visitors, secured some excellent glee-singers,
who acquitted themselves in a masterly style. Also, at
the request of the committee, the use of the "Quarry,"
or Shrewsbury Park, was granted, where the bands
played during the evening.
The society now consists of about 310,000 members,
meeting in 3,400 lodges, which lodges are comprised in
441 districts at home and abroad.