The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-11 00:00:00

11, • 1862.

The prosecutor, ow being sworn, said ids name was not
Smith, but Hooper. He distinctly swore that the prisoner
was the man who seized him by the throat, nearly strangled
him, and flung him on the pavement. He had been robbed
of about 30a. or 2/.

Mr. Oorne—lt dote not matter whether they succeeded in
robbing you or not.
Mr. Hooper—l think it does, though. (A laugh.)
Mr. Corrie—Oh, of course. But I mean it doea not
matter with reference to the amount of his punishment if he
is convicted. 1 shall commit him for attempting to com-
mit a highway robbery with violence. And I wish it to
be well known that most effectual steps are being taken,
if not in all caws to prevent these offences, to apprehend
those who commit them. It should also be known that the
offei.ders are liable to penal servitude for life. It is true that
transportation has been discontinued, but it exists under
another name. Government has power to transport con-
victs under sentence of penal servitude.
The Prisoner—But I am not guilty.
Mr. Conie—Perhaps not. What I say applies to those
who are.
MARYLEBONP..

Three powerful and determined looking fellows, who gave
the names of Thomas Crisp and Joseph Crisp, brothers,
and George Pratt, and who gave their address in the neigh-
bourhood of Gospel Oak-helds, Kentish-town, and were
described u labourers, were brought up yesterday on
remand. The prisoners have, it is stated, been the
terror of Kentish-town for a long while past, com-
mitting all kinds of depredations and assaults. Two of the
prisoners have before been in the hands of the police.

The cases excited a good deal of interest, and the cow t
was crowded, many parties being present to see it
they could identify either of the prisoners as per-
sons who bad robbed or garotted them in the neighbourhood
of Kentish-town. Amongst other cases was that of a
foreign young gentleman who bad been on a visit
to Judge Bodkin, of the Middlesex Sessions ; and who, on
returning home along a very lonely part of Maiden-lane,
Highgate, and near the Smallpox Hospital, was set upon by
two fellows answering the prisoners' description, one of
whom, Joseph Crisp, be picked out from among several men
at the station, and charged him, and the charge was entered
on the sheet, and he (the gentleman) attended last week to
prosecute, but the case not being then taken, be did not
attend to-day. He was thrown down by the parties and a
pat upon his throat, after which the left side of
Le sure
rd
was ground mid rubbed with great violence in the
road, the mud filling his ear. One of the ruffians then knelt
upon him, whilst the second broke his watch from the chain.
Both Osman then jumped thehedge and ran across the fields
towards Kentish-town, and were out of sight before any
alarm could be given.
Mr. Edward Lewis, of Crest Marlborough-street, appeared
to Maud Thomas Crisp,

Meaty Kitchenaide a young man, now deposed—l re-
side at 18, Durnford:terrace, Kentish-town. On last Sa-
turday night week I was pasting the Gospel Oak public-
house and he..rd a disturbance down by the Gipsey Queen,
io the Mahlon-rood. I was going across the fields to go
home, at the same time being quite sober. Going among
the fie'ds I was just behind the three prisoners. I asked
Thomas Crisp whis row that was up at the Gipsey Queen,
when he turn( d round and said, " You can soon be in
the row too." One of them then knocked me down and
kicked me, and then they rolled me in the mud. After
this they kicked me in my ribs and my back. I re-
ceived a severe kick in my jaw, and they "basted"
me about in a frightful manner. I bad about 15s. in
my pocket previous to this, and when I could manage
to get up and ran away for about twenty yards, I found
my money gone. With great difficulty I managed toget home,
but bad no sooner got in than I fell senseless upon the
sofa. I was senseless when knlcked down the last time by
the men. There was no one with me. My bat was knocked
off and I have not seen it since. _ _

In reply to Mr. Yardley pram:cut°, said—l am quite sure
the prisoners are the three men who 'blacked me. It was
half-peat twelve at night. I knew the men by sight, and that
is all.

In answer to the prisoner Thom Crisp—l did not throw
my bat to fight. I took my part as well as! could when yon
knocked me down. I did not strike any of you when I got
up the fist time.
By Kr. Yardley—They knocked me down three or four
timed. When I got up the first time they were all there. I
was struck by two of them at once, and I struck at one, and
as soon u I did so I was again struck twice in the face.
There was a female with them when this occurred.

Crose•exarnined by Mr. Les:s—l am a brickmaker. I had
not been at work on the day, but had been getting what we
term our odd pence, collected ding the summer, which
amounted to over lg uis. Thome. Crisp struck me first. I
did not offer to fight him. I did not throw my hat on the
ground. My mousey wss in the inside pocket of my jacket.
I cannot say which took the mosey, as I was senseless.
They are the men, I swear. I waa not drunk. I milled out
for assistance.

In answer to questiocs from Mr. Yardley, witness said—
My jacket was buttoned up at the time, and the money was
in the inside pocket. I did not take my jacket off and
throw It on the field. . .

!rowan, 243 S, deposed—About three o'clock yester-
day (Sunday) week, from information I received, I
went in search of Pratt, and on meeting him
I said, " You are the men I want," and be said,
"What for ? " when I told him far robbing a
man named Kitchenside, and he said that I had
mode • mistake, when I took him to the station.
From prisoner I received two half-crowns, a two shilling
piece, • shilling, and eightpence in coppers, which he said
had been sent down by Joe Crisp's mother. There were also
four old coins sent down which bad belonged to the prisoner.
John Murray, landlord of 18, Duroford-terrace, said the
prosecutor came borne to his place wherein was lodging about
one in the morning, and fell senseless on the sofa as soon
as he got inside. He bore great made of violence about his
face, which was bleeding, and he had no hat on.
Rowland, 377 S, Gibbs, 487 S, and Avis, 115 S, proved'ap-
prehending the other prisoners, and admissions that they
made criminatory to themselves, after which prisoners were
sent for trial on this charge.
In a second case James Whitman said—l am • general
dealer. On the let of November I was proceeding
along the Maldoo-road to put my pony in the
field. Of • sudden I was stopped by • cart which was pro-
cc ding In front of me being brought to • standetilL
Joseph Crisp and Pratt had stopped it by holding the head
of the horse on each aide, and baked us about • dog, and
we both said we knew nothing about it. One of them
jumped into the cart, and after pulling over its contents,
said it could go. They then came to me and knocked me
down and served me fearfully. When I regained my senses
and got upon my feet again, Thomas Crisp walked to me
sod said, '' You bad better get away." I went up another
road to avoid them, when the three came up to me and
knocked me down and kicked me, and tried to get my
money, but my jacket was buttoned up. After this Thomas
Crisp kicked me heavily in my back, and said I had better
get out and go home scram the fields to Hampstead. I went
• short distance, where there were a couple of heaps of dirt or
rubbish, to a hollow, when the prisoner Thomas Crisp came
up and knocked me down again, and kicked me, and again
tried to get at my pockets. I bad about 14s. or 15s. I did
not lose any of it. I buttoned my clothes up closely. I
was left insensible, and when I was picked up I was bleed-
ing from my month and noes. Before I became sender I
called "Police" and "Murder." It was quite dark.
Cross-examined—They did not appear the worse for drink.
Christopher Wright, a greengrocer- I was going up the
Malden-road with my horse and cart, and the last witness
was coming behind me, when Pratt and Joseph Crisp
stopped us and asked me if I bad a dog in the cart. I
told him "No," when Pratt said "We will well
look before we go any further. He then @earthed and
rummaged my cart, and told me to go. I went on borne,
and as I was taking my horse from the cart I heard cries of
"Murder " aod " Police," and going to the direction from
whence they proceeded, I saw Thomas Crisp going away
from a spot where I found Whitman lying bleeding and in-
sensible. I assisted him up, and when he came to ha was
much exhausted.
• " • • •

The three prisoners were committed for trial on Ws caw
WE.STSUNSTFIL

John Angus, • respectably-attired young man, was
charged with attempting to pick pockets under the follow-
"3l;;Arcnnisatay:::;;:erhe keeps a general shop at 37, Camera-
square, Chelsea, said on Saturday afternoon at three o'clock,
the prisoner came into her shop with a large coat over his
arm and asked for a farthing ball, which was in the extreme
corner of the window next the door. In consequence of this
she had to come round the counter and reach right over to
where the toy was. In doing so she felt something touch
her pocket, and looking down saw the prisoner's hand
partly concealed by the coat over his arm on the
side of her dress, her apron preventing him put-
ting his hand into her pocket. She accused him
of attempting to rob her, upon which he said, "Do
you think I look like • pickpockets:" She replied it
was respectably dressed persons like him who took shop.
keepers off their guard, but if he would give his name and
address as • respectable man she would let him go. He re-
fused to do so, and she determined to give him into custody
on telling him so be tried to get out of the door, and pushed
! her very bard, when she seized him by the throat, and held
him till she procured asentatiee. There was a man with •
pack outside who said she bad better let him go, but she
would not, and gave him into custody.
Mr. Peyote, asked if the prisoner was known.
! Potter, 147 V, said he bad been watching prisoner and
the man with the pack for a length of time, as they were
hanging about the King's-road. At length they aspirated.
He was following the other man, when he saw a disturbance
in Camera-square. and going up, prisoner was given into
' his custody. He had given his address in the M division,
and witness had been there and ascertained that be went
' out from twelve to six every day, always differently
dressed, and that in the evening be went out with •
women he cohabited with, and remained out all night.
He had also been known for years as an associate of
thieves.
Denis Clerk, 108 M., aim said he had known the prisoner
as an associate of the most notorious thieves in Kent-
! street, Borough, but be dad not know that he had been
smovioted.
Prisoner, in reply to Mr. Barites., said be got his living
by hawking (a mode of living entirely at variance with his
dress).
Mr. Paynter said the eiromnstassom were extremely ma-
yhems against the accused, but no jury would convict his,
espectally if it did not appear be bad been in custody be-
fore. He must he discharged.
Prisoner left the dock in baste, evidently much gratified
in being let off in so easy • manner.