The Express.
London, England, 1849-06-18 00:00:00

RICHMOND.

CHARGE OP ASSAULT UPON THE POLICE.—Mr. C. Lyon,
Mr. P. Sydney, and Mr. P. Beexford, were charged with
'moulting the police; and Mr. Sul, pro,r'e•or. of the Castle
t 1, Richmond, was ensiled wit, h eying obstructed the
officers in the proper execution of their duty. Mr. Ford,
eolicitor, appeared tor the three firgt-mentioned defendants.
On Thund.y night a party et gentlemen, amongst whom
were two of the defendants, hag been tithing together at the
Castle Hera and prior to starting for t-wn they amused
ti.oll3llllwes with *towing some oreeges and other missiles at
the two opposite houses. Mr. Abbott m.d Mr. Brewer (the
owners) took umbrage at this conduct, and walked across
the street to remonstrate with the gentlemen. The comer
queues was they were laughed at, and pulled about, but no
actual breach of the peace was ce mmitted until Mr.
Brewer returned from the station with police constable Purse, '
to whom he pointed out Mr. Lyon as being the person who
threw the mottles, and that gentlemen, who was hewed
with wine, immedirrely called Mr. Brewer a liar, and struck
him in the mouth, but the blow was sot a very severe one,
and Police-constable Purse then took Mr. Lyon into cue
tody, when he resisted, and the constable, scoording to his
own showing, was attacked by ten or twelve gentlemen.
They all struck him, and amongst those who assaulted him
was Mr. Sidney ; and be believed Mr. Beckford, the gentlei
man with a heavy riding whip, struck the constable Purse
on the bead, knocking his hat off, and he took out his staff
and struck that gent eman on the head. Pulse then let go
the defend sat Lyon, and seized tt,e gentleman who had
struck him with the riding whip. flze gentlemen declared
that the prthner should not go to the cation, and several
seized his right arm and forcibly tore the truncheon away
from him. Purse still continued to bold the second gentle.
man who had struck him, although he was knocked down
several times. The constable stated he was repeatedly asked
to let this gentl, man go, but he said he would not it he lost'
his lite. At this period Sergesnt Parker celled out for as-
sistance. Wortham let go his prisoner, and went to assist
Sergeant Parker, who was on tie hue, and a gentleman on
him. He dragged this gentleman off him, end ultimately
was forced into the Carle with him in his custody. Directly
the constable got in, the door, it was singed, was locked by
order of Mr. Bull, the proprietor, and he was at the mercy
of several of his previous assailants, one of whom took
up a chair to strike him, and, to defend himself, he let
go this prisoner also, who then escaped. The police
having been subsequently reinterctd, wishcd to search
the house for those who had assaulted them ; but Mr.
Bull said they should not go up into his rooms without
a warrant, or attended by their inspector; and it was
sworn he personally prevented them, and this was the offence
Mr. Bull was alleged to have committed. The constable
Purse seeing Lyon come into the hal of the Castle subse-
quently captured him, and he swore that whilst taking this
gentleman to the station-home Mr. Beck ford came up and
acessced Mr. Lyon, end urea so moving him gently from his
side he struck him. rcis was the charge against Mr. Sea-
ford.
Two other constables partly eorr borated Puree's state-
ment, and Sergeant Parker was examined at great length.
He proved he was much knocked about ; he proved that he
was struck on more than one occasi"n by Mr Sydney, whom
he took whilst fighting with a person named London; and
Police-constable Jakes, who went to Porker's assistance,
swore that he was struck and kit loci by Sydney, who used
very bad language.
Mr. Ford. on the part of his clients, said it was a very un-
fortunate affair, and had been brought about in a great mea-
sure by the officiousness of one of the complainants. He
could not deny that both Mr. Lyon and Mr. Sydney had
committed themselves, but it was not mail they had received
great provocation. With respect to Mr. Beckford he had
only endeavoured to exchange a word with Mr. Lyon, when
be was violently assaulted and could not refrain from re-
senting such indignity, as he had nothing to do with the
affair.
The court was cleared, and on being re-opened. Sir T.
R said : Meters. Lyon and Sydney were fined 61. each,
Mr. B ck ord 215., and Mr. Ball, the landlord of the Castle,
20t., for oostracting the police.