The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-28 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

GUILDHALL.
Janes Tracey, a commercial traveller in the employ of
Mr. Robert Wild, of Hounsditob, was charged with a OM-
dalous outrage on • lady.
Mis. Wallis said she had been spending the previous
evening with some friends, in Stationers' Hall court, and
was returning home with her daughter at a late hour. Sne
stopped at the end of a court on Ludgate-hill, and directed
her daughter to hates her boot-lace, which had come un-
done ; .nd while she was so engaged, the defendant came
up to her and pulled up witness's dress. She immediately
pushed him from her, and told him to go away, upon
which he struck her a violent blow in the face, and she then
gave him into custody. He was nut tipsy, although he
bad evidently been drinking ; but there was a gentlemen
with him who was very drunk indeed, and used very bad
language to complainant. Her eye wee bloodshot, and she
was very ill during the night in consequence. Oa leaving
the witness-box, the complainant fainted away, and was
carried out of court.
The defendant said he never touched the lady's dress ; but
that he was very drunk, and when she slapped his face, he
certainly did strike, for which he had offered an apology.
The complainant said she offered at the station to accept
an apology, but the defendant refused to make any apology
for hi. insulting conduct.
Sir John Musgrove said this was a very serious case. The
defendant's being in a state of intoxication was no excuse,
and his refusal of an apology was an aggravation of the
offinice. It was not because ladies were sometimes com-
pelled to go home at a late hour and alone that they should
therefore be assaulted or interfered with. Under all the
circumstances he considered that a proper apology should
be made to the lady, against whose character there wu not
the slightest imputation, in addition to which the defendant
must be fined Ch., or in default sae month's imprisonment.
The fine was immediately paid.
LAMBETH.

John Burnett war charged with swindling.
The prosecutor (Mr. Pile) was playing at skittles with his
two brothers, when three men, of whom one was the pri-
soner, entered the ground and joined the party. After
playing for some time the prisoner prevailed on the prow-
eutor to borrow 61 from his brother, and bet his bather's
partner that he (the prosecutor) end his partner would
have the best of three games. Prosecutor's companion
played so wry badly that they immediately lost two of the
games, and having no doubt that the whole thieg was a
ruse, he (the prosecutor) charged them with being sharps
and swindlers." The prisoner, who wee the stakeholder,
' at once hooded the 101. to his companion, and with both his
confederates ran off in different directions. They were fol-
lowed, but the prisoner was the only one of the three cap-
tured. _ . . .

In his cros►examination the prosecutor admitted that his
brother was aware that he had borrowed the money for the
purpose of betting it against himself and his partner, and
therefore it was his (the brother's) object to play badly.
A solicitor, who attended for the defence, described the
affair as merely; t►e "biter bit," and contended that' his
client should be discharged.
Mr. Elliott thought differently and remanded the prisoner
to a future day.