The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-31 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

MANSION-11017SE.

Mr. if Cunning'', int, owner of the steam-vessel called I
the Suns of the TiLAMVS, and Mr. H. Walter, master of that I
vessel, were charged upon an information by William
Newnhane a public officer, under the direction of the Lords
of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, for, on the
29th of August last, unlawfully proceeding on a voyage in
the Th lines with the Ne6Sl, hiving passengers on board,
without hiving a river certificate put up in some coespicu-
one part of the vessel so as to be visible to all persons on
board.
The defendants pleaded guilty.
Mr. Nix+ pleaded in mitigation that the vessel bad never
since the day stated in the information been used.
Mr. Cuousugham said the case was part and parcel of a
system of persecution against him, concocted and carried
into effect by certain steam companies, who were jealous of
his endeavours to accommodate the public.
After two several adjournments. the City Solicitor again
attended and said—My Lord Mayer, this case having been
delayed for the purpose of receiving information with res-
pect to any mitigating or aggravating circumstances that
might be brought forward, 1 have telt it my duty to sec
Mr. Nies, who appear+ protesrionally for his clients, and
who, I suppose, has thought it discreet to advise one of
Dom to absent himself. No attempt hes been made to
adduce any aggravating eircumstenees, nor has anything
transpired tending to change the face of things since the
nutter was originally brought under your lordship's
wince. I therefore, Laving made all necessary inquiries,
Mink it right not to press anything in aggravation, but am
perfectly content to leave the case entirely in your lord-
=hands, only trusting that you will feel it necessary to
and maintain the authority of the law, and that
=in the position of the defendants may be taught
hay are not to be permitted to violate the law with
Impunity.
' Mr. Nias made an appeal to the Lord Mayor on behalf of
his clients, and urged, in mitigation of punishment, that
they had no intention of endangering the lives of her
Majesty's subjects, or doing anything contrary to the law.
The Lord Mayor-1 very much regret that a most useful
act of parliament, passed fur the regulation of steam ves-
sels, should bare been deemed of so little importance by the
defendants that they fancied they could iutringe it+ provi-
ncials with impunity. The penalties to which the owner
and mate are respectively liable ere 100/. and 201., but
under all the circumstances of the case, and entertaining the
deer conviction that the present prosecution will have the
effect of preventing any future infringement of the law, 1
feel it my duty to impose mitigated penalties. The owner
mast be tined 201., and the master SL, together with the
OWL
The money, amounting to 251. 45., was immediately paid.
WORSHIP-STREET.
Mr. John Ifation, a gentleman of property, residing in
itz
Matson's-cottages, Kingsland, Mr. Janus Tilka, of Albion-
&ston, and Mr. E. Duke, a surgeon, in Acton-place
-road, who were described as directors of thi
UNeasy and Scientific Institution, at Dalston, appeared to
a someone before Mr. Harnmill, in which they were
with an unprovoked and aggravated assault upon
Mr. ichard Cross, a retired publican living in the same
neighbourhood.
The complainant stated that, on the evening of Tuesdays
c
the 11th inst., he proceeded to the Dalston Literary
tation, fur the purpose of hearing a lecture, which was ant
'bounced to be delivered by a gentleman named Webster,
"On the Oratory of the Senate." Witness took his net
about the centre of the room, and listened attentively to the
'peeing part of the lecture, which was so little in mom&
saes with his sentiments, that he expressed his dissent
11/ a slight hissing, in which he was joined by a few
Qin ntlemen. Finding, however, that his dine-
prebttlion was instantly drowned in a burst of applause from
the majority of the audience, witness remarkei, that
he considered that their approbation was very ill bestowed,
as it was " all humbug," sad was about to leave the room,
when a sudden cry was raised of " Turn him out ; ha's
drank," and lie immediately resumed his seat. He had
no
sooner dune so than the three defendants advanced to
him, and, eimultaneously seising him by the collar
of his coat, one of them addressed him by name, with the
observation, " Cross, you must go out." Witness replied
that he was about to do so, and proceeded to the door, sur-
rounded by the defendants, who still retained their hold of
him until they reached the entrance hall, when he turned
towards them and intimated that he shoull hold them
liable for an assault. The instant he had uttered the im-
pression, the defendants again seised him, and, after push-
ing him down two steps to the outer landing, flung him
backwards down a flight of six or seven stairs with all their
force into the street. He remained fur some time in a state
of insensibility, the lower part of his back having
fallen against the sharp edge of a raised stone, and,
co recovering his consciousness, he was supported
in the arms of a young man, who raised him
cep, and found his spine so dreadfully injured
by the fall that he was scarcely able to stand, and
that the blood was oozing out from both of hie eyes. The
IMAMS then observed the defendant, Matson, standing at
the bottem of the steps, and, on demanding sis name and
address, he refused to furnish them, butcharged him with
being drunk and disorderly, and threatened to give him
into custody. A policeman soon after made his appearance,
to whom Matson applied to take him into custody, but he
nfnued to receive the charge. Witness then proceeded in
a cab to the station house, in order to obtain the advice of
the inspector on duty, who recommended him to apply for
redress at this court. Witness added that he had since
been confined to his bed under the care of a surgeon, and
that a considerable time might elapse before he recovered
from the effects of the injuries he had received.
Richard Baker, an attendant at the baths attached to
the institution, stated that, at the time in question his
attention was attracted to a sort of scuffling noise proceed-
ing from the lecture-room, and, on hastening to the main
entrance of the building, he saw the complainant lying with
his back across the step of the carriagextene, and his head
hanging down over the edge of the pavement. Finding
that he was perfectly senseless, witness raised him from the
ground, and, immi.ately after he had done so, the de-
fendant, Matson, came forward, and, addressing a police-
man, who had arrived in the interim, seized hold of the
complainant's coat, and gave him in charge. alleging that
he was drunk, but the constable refused to take him, as he
wee perfectly sober.
A certificate from Mr. Towne, a surgeon, was handed to
the magistrate, which stated that the complainant was
suffering from a severe contusion on the back, about twelve
inches in diameter, accompanied by an effusion of blood
ander the muscles for which he had found it necessary to
apply two dozen leeches, together with free fomentation
and subsequent cuppings, and that such a contusion was
likely to result in an affection of the spinal marrow of a
very serious description.
In answer to the charge, the defendants generally denied
Lunn committed any assault on the occasion, and called
Mr. ond Grant, &lithographic artist, who stated that
be had presided as chairman at the lecture, and, in con-
somme of the offensive conduct of the complainant, who
nmetedly interrupted the proceedings with the most
matatialy and contemptuous observations, he was at
nesa compelled to order his expulsion, in effecting which
he personally interfered, with the assistance of Mr. Tillett ;
bat not the slightest violence was used towards him, and,
se witness believed, his ultimate fall down the outer stain
was purely accidental.
Mr. thiamin said, that it was far too serious a matter to
be enenamili disposed et, end he had, therefore, made up
Ms wad le end Mrs ems bean a jury; but, as the testi-
ng", India swami gesnwsma who had attended the cotn-
pithent was neemeny to complete the evidence, he should
entaire the defeatists to put in substantial bail for their
lig es Tbsesdey next.
rhinalls esslesl seseiss were immediately produced.
WESTMINSTER.
Thomas Hosthison, Polies constable, 24 B, was brought
up for final examination, charged with being upon the
of Mr. Lyon, Crescent-place, Millbank,with intent
=
it felony.
At about a quarter to 12 on Wednesday night Mrs.
Lyon's servant informed him that a man was getting over
mate railings upon his outhouse, and, upon proceeding to
the ipse, he found the prisoner lying across the railings so
flied by the leg that he was unable to extricate
He bad only his trousers, boots, and stock on,
end the eireemetanee of his being in the situation described
essend assidesene alarm, especially to Mrs. Lyon; but
Mesa bit wandsti to the spot with two gentlemen,
11111811411110 penis. i the street at the time, prisoner was
answered to be the policeman on duty in his neighbour-
hood, in a state of intoxication, and his clothing, rattle, trun-
nion, and lantern, were found in a yard adjoining Mr.
' Lyon's. Prisoner was taken off the railings, when he made
use of very abusive language, collected • number
of persons, and assaulted another constable into whose
charge he was given. The accused had been remanded,
us order to afford the complainant an opportunity of carry-
ing the charge of being there fur an unlawful purpose any
further; but as he new stated that he was unable to do so
Mr. Broderip repeated his former remark, that he did
ant consider there was any evidence to sustain that charge,
and inquired whether the charge of assault was to be pro-
ceeded with.
The police intimated that the constable had no desire to
exhibit any complaint, as he was of opinion that the ac-
cused had merely struck him by accident, in throwing his
arms about.
Mr. /3roderip observed that the accused's conduct was
most disgracefulpi,
aiannadritcalmcuuslattfeeedl
ttohatctrheaetcehacrgonesiedneterarbelde
alarm ; ut b Dom
against hint for being there for an unlawful purpose could
not be sustained.
It' been intimated by Mr: Gihb, the superintendent