The Express.
London, England, 1855-11-08 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

.mesa sat. =MUM ADANA. AMON AW1,19101. AND • MINN or
14•111/1.10114, AT MI 011IIIMALI. WZMNIPTIM.
Charles Ging* Vinall,pl, sad Arthur John Visa% 19,
brethen,surreadered to take their trial on as indietaseat
in which they were charged with initiate, igrievous bodily
harm on Mr. W. J. Wilde, the treasurer of the Haymarket
Theatre. In other mats the charge wee varied, the last
being for a soma= assault.
Mr. Ballasting appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. Clark-
s= appeared for the elder &haunt, and Mr. Bingos for she
younger.
It appeared from the open*: statement of the loused
counsel, and the seldom afterwards given, that the pule.
eater, Mr. Wilde, as treasurer of the Haymarket Theatre
had the reseal espodutimisees Oaths sensate employer!
ea the selablisimenet sell of the easimpumate made or the
seathetel the paha. Oa the evade. of the 24th of October
the dahminta were are theatre, sad just as the priardpal
tssmeissespaszeas
free
timeata:hoolaebano'eteeloserk4dldt:;
elder is the et elf Iletiog a sitar at mu of the
gas NIL • Fed may May ladies, were
ONlPollsala sad Mr. Wilde
west nsf:telhellisa:=llll. end him politely that
that was not arises to stets L, sad the delsadast that
looked at him, Gad rad a =WM of smoke in his fees.
Mr. Wilde them mg* ploosi Ms bead as that in which the
ddeadanthalddlla dim seddepomned it, and as he did es
this cigar Mlle the messed. The defeadant this wrack
his a *done blew ea the temple. sad Mr. Wilde laid bold
K Ida le data his riff sa diem one, whim the
Lintareirtglits. /braids Mabee
sets
that shlaawffm
the slier disdas4sat pummelled him fa hiss. He atm*
king abut Me Mee sad bood, sad me be bad a thigh ring est
sae of his alms, Mr. Wales hie wee ant, gad the Weed
Wielded dowa freely. Aa ram was sena bung% ma he
Wok the defendants away, ULM& fellowlng to poshethe
sharp. Oa passing Ourge'eutart, on the way to the
station, the elder deft, who was walking es the
pollormaa's right, suddenly swung his right fist mum the
policeman's breast, gad stash Mr. Wilde, who wee walking
es the left, so tremendous a blow on the aces between the
eyes, that for the moment, be stated, he was completely
stunned, gad thought his fug was smashed in. At the
mutest he did this Mr. Wilde we wiping the blood off his
Ms with a haadkeeehief, whisk was completely saturated
la Wed (it was produed in the state it was then la), and
the younger defendant *NW limed spas hiss, Is the
same way as he bad dons at the theatre. The mutable
took the elder aa• Uo the Nation, and they Masud to where
Mr. Wilde was supplies with the other. Nest morstiag
they were taken before • segistrate, who thought it was
net a cue to be disposed of summarily, sad gest it for trial.
The prusat prosodies was directed by the maaagement of
the theatrale.
Mr. Dmatia* strongly deprecated the ended of the
elder defendant, and, with respect to the other, said he should
not press the rage, as he bad sot taken the 'ablative to the
affair; but, as it seemed to him, had takes up a brother's
quarrel as brothers would, whether right or wrest, and
had sot initiated say blows Ol Mr. Wilde. As for es the
other was concerned, he should mane the rase to one of
assault, and the result would no doabt teach hies that such
coednet Gould not be indulged in with 'impunity.
Mr. Wilde, having given his evidence, wee asked if, just
before he was struck is the street, he had not said that if
the polies had not interfered he would have pounded the
defendant to s jelly, and he denied that he said anything of
the kind. He said he was sow aware that the defendant!

were seas of clergyman. They wan quite sober at the
time.
The Assistaat-Judge intimated to Mr. Sisson that be did
not think then was say necomity for him to address the
jury on behalf of the younger defendant,.
Mr. Clarkson said be bad great pain in appearing for the
other defendast, or rather on *apart of his lather, to whom
of course this matter caused groat distress. He was glad
that the more serious part of the indictment bad bun with-
drawn, and se to the verdist he had never thought of
struggling for one in hie client's favour, for it would have
been impossible to have gained it. The defendant had been
betrayed into an act which was unjustifisble, and he (Mr.
Claims) did not justify smoking in the lobby of a theatre—
nor anywhere else, indeed. Bat under the otreametanoes se
they appeared before the wart, was there sot some pallia-
tion of his conduct ? The defendant Ut his cigar, not
in the theatre itself, but in the lobbly, very near to the door,
and was going out with hie brother, with the rest of the
people there. He knew not Mr. Wilde is the trea-
surer of the theatre, having control over the ser-
vants—he wee• stralger to him aid what did he
do ? why he took the defendant's cigar from his mouth,
though, as he himself said, he simply depressed his hand.
Re did not impute that Mr. Wilde committed the Ant
smolt, but the defendant, young blood, under the influence
of a feeling that he had been insulted by a streamer was
betrayed into an net for which he was very sorry, and that
was all he (Mr. Clarkson) was there to say for him. Mr.
Wilds had better, perhaps, have let him gone out, and if
be bad told him that he was the cater of the theatre, and
could not allow cigars to be Ut in the lobby, instead of
taking the cigar from his mouth, probably this would not
have happened.
TOG Assistant-Judge shortly summed up. He put it to
the jury that the younger defendant might have laid hold
of the prosecutor under the impression that he wee im-
properly, and without cause, holding his brother, and told
them that if they thought so, that defendant might be
acquitted or that ground.
The jury acquitted the younger; and found the elder ihor
of an assault, which they added, wee, in their opin, •
very gross one.
It was stated that the older defendant wee articled to so
architect.

The Assistant-Judge said be bad seldom passed soutanes
with feelings of greater pain then on this usaelos ; but the
court had its duty to perform. Justice should be tempered
with mercy, but when mercy went beyond that, it ceased to
be so. The defendant's position and the polo it mast give
to his friends no doubt was punishment severe la itself; but
this was a saes in which the court must peat • 'intones of
imprisonment, not for any lengthened period, for that was
not masonry. Not to make an example of him, but to
punish him, as is the opinion of the court he ought to be
punished for his offence. The let wee done in sudden
anger, and the defendant bad act saga the miserable excuse
of drunkenness to urge, and even if he bad, It would have
bees as aggravation. The sentesee under all the circum-
stances woe that the defendant be imprisoned fa the Noose
of Correction for six weeks.