The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-23 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

Antes Watson, a lad IS years of age, was placed at the
bar, charged with having stolen a silver watch and chain,
value SI., the property of • person aamed Martin, in the
employ of Messrs. Swan and E lgar, silk mercers, Regent-
street. _

Sergeant Godfrey, an active officer of the C division,
stated that on the 9th inst., in oonsequence of information
he received that a silver watch and chain had been mden
from Bleasie. Swan and Edgar's, in whose employ the pri-
soner was at that time, he went this morning to his lodgings,
10, James-street, Limon grove, where he saw hiss, and told
him that he was charged with • robbery at Swan and
Edgar's. The prisoner direotly said, "If you won't hurt
me, I'll tell you what I've done with it." The prisoner then
said he had sold the watch to a man in Kell 1611-buildings,
sad that he had pledged the chain. Witness then took him
to the station.

Toe prisoner, who had nothing to say, was remanded till
Wednesday.
Walter Budd and George Taylor were brought before
Mr. Bingham, charged with having created a disturbance at
a coffs-house in Dean-street, Soho, and with having de-
stroyed a quantity of property in the hones.
From the evidence of tie waiter, William Foster, it
appeared that the coffee-hoes was the resort of a great
number of foreigners, principally Frenchmen. On Satur-
day night the defendants came into the coffee-room, and
were told they would not be served in consequence of having
been to the house previously and made a disturbance with
the foreigners. The defendants replied that they did not
want serving, they wanted a row with the Frenchmen, aad
they immediately began to insult some Frenchmen who
were in the coffee-room. One of the defendants commenced
the affray by striking a Frenchman. A general fight then
commenced, the Frenchmen using their sticks and knives,
and the Englishmen their fists. Cups, saucers, milk-pots,
and anger basins were the ammunition of 'loth sides, and in
this way dam ige was done to the crockery and the coffee-
room to the extent of 50 shillings. Witness was certain that
the two defendants were among the moat active in throwing
the crockery 'bust. The riot was subdued by the police,
and the defendants were lodged in the station-house.
Mr. Bingham remarked that of the belligerents, the
Frenchmen appeared to have had the best of it.
The waiter said he thought so too, but there were sixteen
Frenchmen to six Englishmen, and it was sticks against
fists.

The defendants averted that they received the first iasalt
from the Frenchmen.

Alfred Lloyd, a wiineu for the defence, said a French-
man struck one of the defendants first.

John Jones said the first blow was given by the French.
Thomas Lear said the same.
The waiter Foster was malted and questioned as to the
origin of the riot. He said he was certain the Frenchmen
were first insulted by the defendants, and that this led to
the fight afterwards.
Mr. Bingham was satisfied from the evidence that the
defendants had gone to the house for the purpose of creating
• disturbance. The defendants must, therefore, not only
pay the amount of the damage, 50s , but enter into their
own rthognisances to keep the peace for three months.