The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-25 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

DASTARDLY mum 011111.•01.
A strong, powerful-looking fellow, with • morose-looking
ceentenenice, about 18 years of age, who gave the name of
Ake Sinners/, and described himself as a costermonger
residisa at 15, Holywell-lane, Shoreditich, was charged with
being drunk and committing • violent moult on Miss
Emma Clarke, at St. Luke's.
The comaplainent, wbo gave her evidence with great pro-
priety, said that she resided with her parents at 54, Feather-
ethos-street, St. Luke's, and that her parents supported her
as she took are of the younger children. On the previous
night she was standing outdid* the home at which her elder
sister was employed, speaking to her elder and her younger
sister,wlien the &fondant came up behind her, and without
=Wag any obliterates, lifted her clothes over her head,
and ewiee behaved in a very indecent and improper
way. She and her sisters screamed for assistance,
and she ran away, the defendant following her making use
of bad language and threats, and desiring her to stop. She
paid no attention to his calls, but ran into the fore-court of
• public-house, and wm in the act of concealing herself,
when the defendant caught bold of her, twisted her round,
sad streak her • heavy blow in the face and blackened one
of be eyes. The defendant then attempted to make his
escape, bat was prevented, and was given into custody. She
was sot aware whether the defendant had been drinking or
not, bat when he was taken into custody he pretended to
be drunk.
The defendant, who seemed to treat the matter as a
good joke, laughing and twisting his cap the whole of the
time, mid be did not with to ask the witness any ques-
tions. He was paring her all right and quiet enough when
some one touched him as the cap, and be, supposing it was
her, might bus touched her for a lark. but he really was
not aware whether he did so or not. He supposed it was
pretty nearly all right what she bad said.
The magistrate inquired of the complainant if the pri-
soner had been toothed by either her or her sisters in the
manner he had dimeribed.
The complainant answered in the negative. She was
standing is front of her sisters, and was not aware of hie
presence until she felt him touch her. She wan readmit
that no one had touched the defendant, as there was no use
near but her eaten and herself.
The two sisters of the complainant gave confirmatory evi-
dence, sad said if the defendant was drunk he ran after
their dater eery welL They described the assault as one of
aysry cowardly character, and said that neither their sister
nor vss bad spoken to the defendant.
The polismooostable in charge of the case said that the
defendant had been drinking, bat well knew what he was
about. The complainant sod her aster were very respecta-
ble girls, sad their parents were hardworking people.
The defendant, in reply to the charge, said he was drunk,
and being first assaulted, did what be did in self defence.
The magistrate said that this was cue of the worst mess
that bad ever come before him, for it was perfectly mon-
strew that • young girl could not be in the public streets
without ben limited in the indecent and cowardly way
that she bad been by • low drunken ruffian like the defied.
ant. Drunkenness was no excuse, but made the matter
worm, for then the defendant was guilty of two offences
thread of one, and if that plea were to be allowed, there
would be no end to the °Unwed that would be committed.
He should mark his mess of the defendant's disgraceful con.
duet by seeding him to the House of Correction for rix
mouths with hard labour, under the Aggravated Amanita
Act.
The primate (with apparent surprise)—What, six months
for suck • little affair es this
The Negletrate—Yes ; and the only difficulty I have in
my mind is whether I ought not to mod you to the sessions
for kith Your eserinct was perfectly monstrous.
The prisoner, who seemed surprised at the decision, was
them removed, remarking that his was • hard lot to do
for nothing.