The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-09 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

William Ward, a publican at Greenwich, and also •
pugilist, was chargad with cutting and wounding, with in-
tent to do sours FWVOOI bodily harm, Benjamin Butler
Crust, son of the late ex-champion.

The court was crowded with the friends of both parties.
Mr. Sleigh, instructed by Mr. Edward Lewis, was for the
prosecution ; and Mr. Pearce, instructed by Mr. Abrahams,
for the prisoner.
The complainant, who had his head bandaged all over, and
who appeared to have suffered serious injury, on being
sworn, aid--I keep the Coach and Horses public.house, St.
Martin's-lane. On the 29th of August. about 8 o'clock, I
returned home from the country, and I found a pugilist
named Patsy Reardon at the bar conducting
himself in a disorderly manner. I went into my
and after a short time the prisoner came in arid aarammre.
what I struck Reardon for. I said," That is my busi-
ness." The prisoner replied, "If you struck him with-
out cause, I'll murder you." A person who was present
told roe that the prisoner was Ward, the fighting man. I
told the prisoner to leave my home. We jawed ono
another, and the prisoner went out of the parlour. I
heard • noise at the bar, and going out, I found the pri-
soner swearing about Reardon being struck. I said I
would have struck him had he made use of similar lan-
guage to my mother. The prisoner swore a tremendous
oath, and seized me by the collar. I hit and pushed him to
get away, and ran off fearing violence. The prisoner
broke a pint tumbler on the counter, and came after me,
saying, " I'm a tiger when I begin." The
prisoner struck and cut me over the head three times.
The prisoner was dragged away by some person, and
I was dragged away into the bar-parlour by another person.
The prisoner seized bold of two glasses and threw them at
me. The glasses were smashed against the wall. The
prisoner then laid hold of • quart pot, bat it was taken from
him. The prisoner was quite sober. I had done nothing to
provoke this savage attack. When I hit and pushed pad
the prisoner, it was in my own defence. I was sober, but I
had had something to drink. I was taken to Charing-cross
Hospital smothered in blood. lam an out-patient of the
hospital at this time.

enuriputsmiund by Mr. Pearce—Did not know the pri
soner's name. Had not known the prisoner for the last
dozen years. Recollected the fight between Reardon and
the black. Had not backed Reardon. Had Dot backed
either of the pugilist. Had seen Reardon in the house.
Had fought with him in front of the bar. The primmer was
not present at the time. Was is the habit of being in his
own parlour of an evening. Did not have a glass of ale with
the prisoner in front of the bar. Did not fight that
night a men named Mick the Grecian. He ordered
Mick out of the house. Had not struck Mick,
and given him a black eye. after the convenatioe.
Did not recollect the prisoner asking him why he struck
Mick the Grecian. Might have been asked the question,
but did not strike Mick. Did not strike the prisoner on the
nose for asking why he had struck Mick the Grecian.
Would swear that he had not hold of the prisoner, striking
him, and that the injuries be had received were occasioned
by the prisoner having a glass of gin and water in his hand.
There were about Ave or six persons present at the time of
the assault. His wife and sister were serving in the bar at
the time of the affray. Was not • pugilist. Had chal-
lenged a man called the Australian to fight for a hundred
pounds. Had not challenged &anion to fight.
Re-examined—The reason why he was fighting with
Reardon was because, when be returned home from Alder-
shott that evening, he found him creating& disturbance and
pushing people about in the house.
Mr. George Delamotte, home surgeon at Charing-cress
I Hospital, recollected when the complainant Caunt was
brought to the hospital. He had several wounds on the
head which were such as might have been inflicted by the
vaned edges of a broken drinking glass. There was a great
deal of hemorrhage. Two of the wounds on the head were
an inch and a half long, penetrating to the bone.
The complainant was not in danger now, but at one time
symptoms of erysipelas set in. The complainant was still
in a very weak state. Thought the complainant when
brought to the hospital was perfectly sober.
Mr. Sleigh said he had now put before the bench such a
prima fame case as would perhaps induce the magistrate to
send the case for trial. . .

_
Mr. Pearce said he was prepared with witmewes to prose
that the assault was nothing more than a matter of self-
defence. . .

Mr. Selfe having declined to say whether he would commit
for trial until all the evidence was before him,
Mr. Sleigh then proceeded to call his witnesses.
Rom Bryan, sister-is-law of the complainant, said she saw
the prisoner strike the complainant. The prisoner took up
a pint tumbler, broke it on the counter deliberately, and
then attacked the complainant with it. The prisoner
struck the complainant three times with the broken tum-
bler. The prisoner bad not been drinking out of the
tumbler. The prisoner then threw two other tumblers at
the complainant. The prisoner bad previously been sup-
plied with a glass of ginger beer. Did not see the com-
plainant strike the defendant on the nose.
Mr. Selfs said be considered that on this corroborative
evidence it would be his duty to send the case for trial.
Mr. Pearce said he was prepared with witnesses to rebut
the evidence given, and to give a different complexion to
the caae, but on the intimation that had been given, he
should reserve his defence for the trial. lie presumed that
bell would be accepted.
The prisoner was then committed to the Central Criminal
Court for trial.
Bail was then given, the prisoner in 2001., and two sure-
ties in 1001. each.