The Express.
London, England, 1855-06-07 00:00:00

THE POLK'S COURT&

MANSION-HOUSE.
Robert M'Liffen, *journeyman tailor, was charged with
violently assaulting Matilda Ball.
The complainant, a decently attired woman, residing at
No. 4, Aldermanbary-charchyard, said—Last night be-
tween 11 and 12 o'clock I went to the Burton Coffee-house,
Cheapaide, to look for my husband. The door was shut,
and three men were standing outside, one a whom was the
defeadant, and another a policeman, who was not on duty.
One of the three said to me, " Are yon looking for me, my
dear ?" I replied, "No ; am looking for my husbaild."
I heard the policeman say to his conipsaione, who were
unable to get admission in the Barton Co as-house, that the
Blossoms lon, in Bt. Lawrenoe-lane was open, If they
wanted anything to drink. They proceeded in that direc-
tion. I following, thinking that I might there
find my husband. One of the throe asked me what
I wanted of them. I said I did not want them.
I wasted my husband, whom I suspected to be
at the Blossoms Inn. Just as I got to the end
of the gateway we of the three struck me, knocked me
backwards on my head, and I was nearly deprived of my
noses. They then ran away. I think it was the prisoner
who struck me. It was a dreadful blow. Mr. May, a
surgeon, was called up, who droned my head, sad who bra
charged me 7a. 6d. for medical treatment.
J. L. Johnson, City constable (446), said—l saw the com-
plainant fall. I did not se* her struck. The men entered
the Blossoms Inn, and I followed the complainant to the
door.
Defendant—l deny that I struck the oomplainant. I
wish to cell the policeman who was with me.
J. Buck, constable (620)—A little after 12 o'clock last
night, as I was coming along Chespaide, last the defendant
end another young man, neither of whom I knew, or had
ever seen before. The defendant said to met " Where
are you going ?" I replied, " I am goz to St.
Paul's-chsuehyud." The defendant then ," We
are going to the Strand, and will accompany you."
When we reached Ironmonger-1w" the delandeat
said to me, " Will you have a drop of ineadling
to drink ? Do you know where there's a bow
open ?" I replied that it was rather late, and that 1 did
not think there was say home open. We then went sep
Freeman's court, the prawcastria folio wiag. In the court I
asked her what she wanted. She said she wanted the same
as we did—a drop of something to drink. I said to her,
" My good woman we know nothing of you ; the best thin('
you can do is to go home." We then turned into St. Law
rence-lane, and I found her close at our heels. I told the
defendant sad his friend they had better stop and let the
woman go which way she would, when she said she would
go the way we did, and she told me to be —. I Men
• entered the Blossom" Inn, followed by the defendant and
• his friend, and we had not been there a minute when the
complainant wine, sad complained that she had been
I knocked down, bat by whoa she did not know. The
defendant and his friend had been drinking, but were
not drunk.

Alderman Finnic—A nice policeman you are—meeting
two strangers, and taking the trouble to Had a public-home
that was open, whereby they might got more drink, al-
though they were net then sober. -Yonr's is a etraage tale
altogether.
The complainant was recalled, and said—l dealers most
solemnly that I never used the impression which the officer
attributes to me, sad that every word which I stated in my
examisation is len*. When my husband case horns say
clothes were soaked through with blood.
The defendant wan fined 10J. for eke assault, and ordered
to pay 7s. Bd., the amount of the surgeon's bIU. He at once
paid these sums, and they were handed to the complainant,
es compensation for the injury she kad sustained.
Alderman Piaui' (to Inspector Soott)-Some inquiry
mast be made with respect to this publiolosse, where liquor
is sold after 12 o'clock at night. It is quite clear that year
men know where it is.
Inspector Scott—lt shall be seen to air.
BOW-STREET.
Mass Jews, 28,a returned combat an " thiust-of-
leave," erne with usiog indecent lanes. to ono of
the osostohios the F division (Attwood).
Tim Allem Mated that after himself and other aflame had
Waked atbilipturtmmopurpeme ottalOnary-lusing ri emehmeaamtbromi followed;
I Ma" ark", borne end is W WIWI strew im•his
fIWIII

Mr. Jardiae said the leogneee mast have bees bed in-
dent to *oak a }edema& It formed a striking soonest,
nierleabe, to tie sentiments expressed by the prisoner in
hi lealowiewe with the ilimplein of the prima from which
he W eillffilael his tielsei-otiseve. On these occasions,
it applieeed, the adoption eta hypocritical tone and a
coating empreasion of the Immanuel).* (which the
worse et them were espable of assuming beet when
le served their pompom to do so) sufficed to
Adds their Melberg, before the expiratioa of half
the Wm of the serignial SOOtsoM, with the further ad-
et "Men eberaerer, enabling them to impose
apesiM pnblie. Why, be had not presided there any day
for One time past without having to dispose of some charge
aphis. • ticket °thrive " men. TS, neighbourhood is
Motel vide them. They stand at the amen of streets at
midell pleasing suddenly upon the lonely pasesager
halt dingle and rob him before even on alarm can be
ON&
beepeeter Meelemuie said there were 40 tieket-ot leave men
I. the Immediate neighbourhood of the court who bad re-
tained to their old haunts sad to their former course of
life. In order, however, to avoid the pawed eousequeners
they usually employed boy. and women to assist them, and
these were constaatly apprehended while the principal de-
linquents escaped altogether.
Hr. Jardine said. be Lad a very strong feeling upon the
subject. Society. was not safe with the present system in
operation. It might be a desirable thing to clear the gaols
of these men, but it wee a bed thing for the public when
they returned to a life of crime, having moped more than
half the punishment which it lied been thought proper to
sward them for previous offences. The tapeless even of
reprosecuting these men, when they are detected, must
amount to a formidable sum.
His worship then committed the primer to seven days'
reprises:neut.
yr • ansonclaivra.

William Davis, • respostable looking elderly man, living
in Pre/Manse place, Hamisinsmith, wan charged with
Whig ehtelsod the sun of 10s. from William Paniphilon,
• eseifiseler, under false protein's.
Is Oseober, 1853, She complainant, on defendant's per-
suades, blame • somber of the Independent Land and
Bessfit Building gaiety, of No. 1, Manchester-buildings,
Westminster. Defestisst said he was one of the society's
onsisted spats, ask ea seek, momplathast pad him vari-
ous sone et matsay. The lest mot so paid mein March,
lift Wishiem, is seseedesse with one of the rules, to
dimmest the money be W_ paid ie, be gnu the defendant
%mu
aspired waist, but ad sot get his mosey, sad he had
sesseeeinad that the society was nothing more than
a sod that the defendant had not paid in his two
isse ts.
lic Peter Forbes, brother-In-law to the complainant, said
he went to the office about throe months ago, and found it
&nod. He wan told by the neighbours that it had been
dint up more than twelve months, and that there had been
• put many inquiries about the society. A respectable
printer in Cheeped*, whose name was in the book as one
of the trustees, told him that he had never anything to do
with it. He had also been to the office of a special pleader,
whose name was printed as the standing counsel, and the
clerk waa indignant at the idea of his master's nano being
associated with the society. He Ind also been to the Com-
merdel Bonk, which wee stated in the book u being the
society's bank, and was told that there had bean any
aooonnt kept there In the name of that society He was,
however, tad that a Mr. Nixon had kept an account there,
but he had overdrawn it some time ago.
Mr. Paynter said he saw by the book that Mr. J. B.
Nixon was the attorney to the society, and that Trevor
Nixon was the secretary. His worship then looked into
several law lists, but could not find the name of J. B.Nixon
as being a qualified solicitor.
The defendant said Mr.Nizon was the only person he
knew in connexion with the society, whom he formerly
' knew as a client to the firm of aolicitors in the Temple
when he was their clerk. He was always a very bad client
as to money matters, and he knew that he had been in diffi
added with the society. He had paid part of the money,
bat he admitted having received 11. 181 Id. which he had
not paid over. He was very sorry for what bad happened,
and he was willing to refund the money.
Mr. Paynter read the list of names as purporting to be-
long to the society, and said he had no doubt that many of
them knew nothing whatever of the society, and that, in
fact, the society consisted only of the Nixon.. It was very
doubtful whether the defendant could be convicted for ob-
taining money under fate pretences, but he should remand
the case to have some more inquiries made about than
society.
The defendant was then remanded for a week, but wan
liberated upon his own recognisance in the sum of 601. to
appear on the day mentioned.