The Express.
London, England, 1865-12-29 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

GUILDHALL.
James Smith, pelicee•oonstable 314, appeared in an-
ewer to • summer taken cut against him by M. n
Edward Kent, •reporter coenected with oh
Beil's Life,
for eommittingan smelt upon hire on the 11th of Decem-
ber inst., and r.M Kent also appeared to a summons at the
instance of James Smith, charging him with having resisted
the said James Smith in the execution of his duty.
Mr. Kent, in pawing over the temporary Blackfriare-
beidge on the 11th inst., with two friends, took the carriage
way, which pedestals:is, for their own safety, are prohibited
from wing. Smith endeavoured to prevent him and a souffle
arose. Hew* the charge and counter•charge. The whole
ewe was goes into at great length.
At the ccoolnaion, Sir James Duke said—This lea dif-
ficult and important case. My opinion is that the constable
has placed himself in • false poeition by not taking out the
summons at the proper time. But I have no hesitation in
disraisaing the else evilest Mr. Kent. Mr. Kent must have
been well aware that he had no right there, but he objected
to use the foot bridge. He should have gone quietly away
when be we, told, instead of persisting in going over the
bridge. It is admitted on the other side that he said he
would have gone away if he had been spoken to civilly, and
that induces me to believe that there has been some excess
of duty. But Mr. Kent admits that he did at one time
place himself in • fighting attitude, and did use language
which should not have been used. There is no doubt that
he was irritated by being delayed in taking his copy round
to the papers, but if he lied gone over the foot bridge that
delay would not hive occurred. Still, I think there has
been an excess of duty, but it is not one that calls for •
severe penalty, and I shall, therefore, fine the policeman one
shilling.
The title was paid.
SOUTHWARK.
JosepA Collins, • powerful-lsokiog fellow, was placed at
the bar before Mr. Woolrych charged with creating • die-
butanes at the doors of the Bermoodsey workhouse and
&malting William Fairbairn, the porter. He was also
charged with assaulting in a violent manner • respectable
female in the relieving officer's office.
Fairbaira said that the prisoner had been for many years
an inmate of the house, and one of the most disorderly
they had. He discharged himself from the house • few
days ago, but on the previous evening, about six o'clock,
he returned and demanded admission to the body of the
hones. Witness told him he could not admit him without
an order from the relieving
prisoner rushed
violent blow on the eye, and knocked him down. He then
forced his' way into the house and attacked every person
that he came near. They bad some difficulty io securing

him.
The prisoner here said that all he wanted was his rights.
The porter should bare admitted him.
Fairbeim informed his worship that the prisoner knew
the rube of the house. kfad he been ill witness would have
admitted him immediately, bat be wee able-bodied, and
should have gone to the relieving officer.
Mr. Barber, one of the relieving officers of Bermondsey,
corroborated last witnees's testimony, and added that he was
in his office talking to a respectable female, when the
prisoner rushed at her and threw liergclothes over her head,
and treated her is a ruffianly manner. Witness seized bold
of him and detained him until a constable mine up, when
he was given into custody.
The female alluded to informed hie worship that the
prisoner treated her shamefully, although she appealed to
him to desist.
Mr. Woolrycb asked the prisoner what he had to say in
answer to the charge !
lie replied that be knew nothing about it, as be bad been
drinking.
Mr. Woolrych told him he wee a lazy, cowardly, and
ruffianly fellow. Ho sentenced him to one month for the
assault upon Fairbaire, and three months for the assault
on the female.

THAMES.
Frederick Smith, a country youth, 17 years of age, was
brought before Mr. Partridge, charged with cruelty to a
keno
Mr. William Love, chief officer of the Royal Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, appeared for the
prosecution.
It appeared from the evidence of Police-sergeant Wm.
Burch, 59 K, that on Wednesday afternoon the prisoner was
driving a waggon and three horses along the Bow•road. The
lad was on the shaft and intoxiested, and with a long sod
stout wooden prop with iron about it was beating the Chill
(shaft) horse in a most furious manner. The people in the
road were highly exasperated at this odious and wanton
cruelty to the animal, and celled out "Shame, shame."
The sergeant at once stopped the horses end waggon end
took the prisoner into custody. The lad was drunk, and
made no excuse for his barbarous conduct. The hone wee
bleeding, and very much injured. The sergeant added, the
hone is in the yard behind the court, your worship, and
you no see how it has been treated.
Police-constable Stockiest!, No. 271 K, confirmed the
evidence of the sergeant. The prisoner struck the hone
with the prop 30 or 40 times. A piece was cut out of the
hip of the horse. The prisoner used both hands.
Mr. Partridge—Struck the horse 30 or 40 times with that
heavy prop!
Witness—Yea, sir, he did, indeed ; here are more wit-
CeMee.

Partridge—What have you to say to this, prisoner?
The prisoner—l was drunk.
Mr. Partridge—And is that your only excuse?
The prisoner (smiling)—That's all.
Mr. Partridge 000ld not find weeds to express his indig-
nation and disgust at such cruelty on the part of a youth
towards a hone. Drunkenness was no congest all, sod he
would never admit such a plea in extenuation of an offeeoe.
He was determined to protect dumb animals by inflicting
severe punishments on those who ill-used them. Be sen-
tenced the prisoner to six weeks' imprisonment and hard
labour in the House of Correction.
John Driscoll, a lad, was charged with stealing a purse
and money from the person of Francis Harrington.
The prisoner was at this court on Tuesday on a charge
of picking pockets. He was discharged. On the same
night be was seen plying his voostion on Tower-bill ; wee
chased by the police, and made his escape. On Wednesday
evening the prosecutor, who is a fireman on board the Aurora
steamship, lying at Brewer's Quay, was in company with
another fireman, named Gaffney, and bad just left a
butcher's shop, when the prisoner and another lad shoved
against them. The prisoner took Harrington's purse and
money out of his pocket and handed it to his companion,
who sin away. The prisoner was collared and secured.
Hugh Andrews, Once-constable, No. 62 H, raid the pri-
soner had been convicted five times in that court, sum-
marily. under the Vagrant Act.
Mr. Partridge—l shall convict him as a rogue and vagabond
again, and sentence him to three months' imprisonment and
hard labour.
The prisooer—Thanks.
Mr. Partridge—You have no oecesion to thank me for that
most inadequate punishment. The prosecutor and Gaffney
are going to sea this afternoon. If that were not so, I would
have committed you for trial.

WANDSWOIITII,,