The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-25 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

GUILDHALL.

.r. Ir. Pride'le, the money-taker of the City and Iron
Steamboat Company, at Dinekfriars-bridge me; was sum-
moned on the following charge :
Mr. 11. Ituinsey Foster, of 5, Tillotson's-place Waterloo-
bridge, said that on Monday last, in the afiernoou he
went on to the pier in question for the purpose of proceed-
ing to Waterloo-bridge. Ho paid 2d. fur • ticket, and
waited about 20 minutes, during which time he noticed
three boats pass down the river and none up. At length
the boat came and touched at the pier to put some pas-
senger down, but without waiting to take on board a single
passenger, although there were about 60 people waiting on
the pier, it proceeded on its journey. Complainant then
went to the money-taker and demanded his money back, as
he could not wait any longer, and the ticket was only
available for the day issued, and from that particular pier.
Defendant said there was another boat coming through
Southwark-bridge at the time, and refused to give the
money. Complainant told him he could not wait fur it,and
defendant said " Oh, your the only person left behind."
Complainant pointed to the crowded state of the pier, and
told him that there were at least 60 others who were also

disappointed.
The defence sot up was that the boat in question was an
extra boat despatched to clear all the piers, because the
traffic on the river that day was greater than usual. On its
arrival at Blackfriars-bridge it was too crowded to admit of
taking on board any more passengers, and it accordingly
passed on, as there was another boat immediately behind
that would have accommodated every one on the pier.
They did not believe complainant could have waited the
time he had stated without having the opportunity of going
by ono of the company's boats, as they ran every seven
minutes. . . .

Sir Chapman Marshall was surprised that the company
should have defended such a case. If their regulations
would not allow them to run their boats more frequent they
should not inconvenience the public by misleading them.
The complainant had acted with very great propriety, and
it was only reasonable that after waiting 20 minutes
without being allowed to proceed by the boat when it ar-
rived, he should expect his money back. Under the cir-
cumstances he would order the defendant to return the
money and pay the coats.
2s. costs were then paid and 2d. fare returned.

Mr. Sanders, a horse dealer in Cromer-street, Bruns-
wick-square, was finally examined on the charge of having
indecently assaulted two children'under the age of ten. the
daughters of a gentleman resident in the neighbourhood.
The magistrate committed the prisoner for trial, consenting
to take responsible bail for his appearance at the next
Middlesex bessions.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
Thomas Gray, a private in the Foot Guards, was charged
with the following atrocious conduct towards Elizabeth Fry,
a young married woman.
'I he complainant said her husband was an engineer, liv-
ing at 5, St. Andrew's-terrace. It was her husband's cus-
tom to meet her on his return home through the park from
his daily occupation. On Wednesday night, about half-
past 7 o cluck, she was crossing Hyde-park, when the pri-
soner came up to her and seising her hand said, " Come
with me." Complainant : Ido not wish to do so, here is
my husband. The prisoner cursed her husband, and throw-
ing her down on the ground he placed his hand over her
mirth to stifle her cries, and then attempted to commit a
capital offence. Her struggles and cries for help attracted
attention, and the prisoner finding someone was approach-
ing got up and said, " You —, I'll smother you," at the
same time giving her a violent kick at the bottom of her
hack, and then running off. Complainant was nearly choked
by the prisoner's violence when he was holding his hand
over her mouth.
•

Police Si.rgeant Pritchard, 610, said he heard cries of
police, and seeing the st.ite of the complainant, and the
prisoner attempting to nuke his escape, he pursued and
stopped him.
The prisoner denied Living touched the complainant.
Ha had been drinking —Committed.

ICANIMERSMITII,

Henry Thomas, deseril;:d---rts---a-Kbourer, residing at
Drayton, was charged with having indecently exposed
himself to a respectable married female, named Hannah
Gee, living at Acton.
The offence was fully proved, and the prisoner was sen-
tenced to be imprisoned fur three months with hard labour.