The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-01 00:00:00

THE POLICE CO URTS

GUILDHALL.
Was. Great, a country traveller for Messrs. Gilbert and
Co., silversmiths, at Birmingham, was brought before Sir
James Duke charged with embezzling 851., a part of a sum
of 2,0001. which he had lately received on account of his
employers.
Mr. Humphreys read a few passages from a letter written
by the prisoner, in which he confessed the deficiency,
stain& that he was involved in difficulties, and that he was
, unable to uffer them the balance of 851. of the annexed Sc.

---..... _ .
count amounting to over 1,9001.
Sir James Duke said he had no doubt it would be his
duty to send the prisoner to Birmingham for further ex-
amination, and he accordingly remanded him fur that pur-

BOW-STREET:

George Bunyan, who was described in the charge-sheet
as a gentleman, residing in John-street, Adelphi, was
charged with assaulting Mr. It. 0. Potts, on Saturday even-
ing last.
Mr. Potts, the complainant, stated that he was residing
temporarily at 12, Chappell-street, Cavendish-square. At
about 7 o'clock on Saturday evening he was walking along
Pall-mall, accompanied by his wife, and when opposite the
Reform Club he left her for a few moments, desi.ing her to
walk quickly towards the end of the Mall and then return,
while he stepped into the Club to speak to a gentlemem. He
was detained a few minutes only, but while he was walking
down the steps to rejoin his wile he saw her at a short die-
twee evidently in distress from the rude conduct of a gentle-
mn who was molesting her. He (complainant) ran to-
wards her, and met the defendant, who was then
walking away from her, and from whom he de-
manded an explanation of his conduct—his wife,
whom he found leaning against the railing, and crying,
having exclaimed that he (the defendant) had grossly in-
sulted her. The defendant said, " I did not know the lady
was your wife ; I will go back and apologise to her." Com-
plainant replied, " Before I accept your apology I must
Learn the nature of the insult ;" and then they returned to
Mrs. Potts, who said that while she was walking from the
club the defendant came quickly behind her, and, putting
his hand into her muff, exclaimed, "My dear, where are
you going ?" at the same time pushing his hand up her
sleeve to the elbow. She forced his hand away, and told
him that she was a married lady, and that her husband
would be with her instantly. He replied, " Your husband I
Oh, no I I will protect you. Your way is mine, and
wherever you go I'll go." She then saw her husband run-
ning down the steps of the Reform Club, and said, "Thank
God, he is here." Complainant, on hearing this statement,
said, " You must be a coward to insult a lady in this
way, and if I had been with her I would have broken your
neek." He then took Mrs. Potts by the wrist for the pur-
pose of showing how it occurred. She withdrew from him
indignantly, and complainant, irritated by his conduct,
called him a snob. The defendant said, in a supercilious
manner, "I as sore for what has happened, and have
apologised to the lady ; and if you are not satisfied with
that here is my card." Complainant tore up the card in
his face, and, taking his wife's arm, was about to balk
away with her, when the defendant struck him a blow.
Complainant returned it, and a 'cattle ensued, during
which they both fall upon the pavement, the defendant
managing to get over him and striking him several blows in
the face while in that position. It was true that he was
detained in the club a minute or two mere than he expected.
The scuMe on the pavement having been spoken to by
two witnesses and policeman 99 C (who found both com-
plainant and defendant with their faces covered with
blond),
Mr. Huddlestone addressed the court for the defendant,
contending that his client hod done all that could be re-
quired of a gentleman, from the moment that be discovered
his error. It was not unnatural to mistake a lady, welk-
in in that locality, alone, at such a period of the evening,
for one of the class who ply for hire, and who do not object
to be saluted in the way which bad been described ; but
when he found that he had committed a mistake, he
adopted the only course open to a academia—either to
apologise or to offer satisfaction. Mr. Potts would accept
neither, but tore the card up and threw it in his client's
face,—conduct provoking enough to tempt if not to justify a
blow from any man. However, Mr. Buegass denied that
he struck any blow until after he was struck by the com-
plainant.
Mr. Hall—ls it wished that I should deal with this case
summarily ?
Roth parties having assented to this course.
Mr. Hall said, the late hour has been alluded to. It does
not appear to have been a very late hour. It would be too
much to say that no modest female is to be seen in the street
at 7 o'clock in the evening without being subject to insult.
Every man who ventures to address a woman in the street,
is not to take it for granted that because she is unprotected,
she is unchaste. It he does so, he does it at his own peril.
He runs the risk, and he take, the consequence. But it
would be a monstrous thing to allow that a lady, whew
husband has left her for a few minutes only, is liable to
molestation by any gentleman who may think to be excused
by making an apology. A man may make an apology from
the fear of being chastised, or from the dread of an action-
at-law, or from other reasons than a sense of impropriety.
I must say, that lam surprised, if the defendant meant
anything by his expression of regret, that he should again
place his hand upon the lady's wrist, even on the preteuce
of explanation, and thus add another insult to the injury
already inflicted. When the husband saw him handling
his wife again, it was enough to provoke a blow ; and even
if he had struck the defendant first, which would he very
excusable, the defendant ought to have said, " Well, this
is not exactly the, conduct or the language which one gen-
tleman ought tr, use towards &miller ; but I am in the
cannot resent it, and therefore I shall leave you."
But, instead of this, lie makes a fierce attack upon the hus-
band whora he had injured, just as he was about to walk
away wit n the wife whom he had insulted. I fine the de.
fondant 51.
The fine was imieediately paid.

Aim Fitzgerald, a carpenter, charged with stabbing his
wife with a gimlet, and indicting a serious wound, wiz re-
granded for further examination—the wife being in the
-hospital.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
.

John Hardtastie was chargedwiththe following offence!
John Steevens, ekeesemonger, No. 97, Tottenham-court-
road, said the prisoner had lived in his h nue as shopman,
but was discharged last December. Prosecutor was accus-
tomed to keep his cash-boa under his head in bis bed-room,
a circumstance that the prisoner was well acquainted with.
About three o'clock on Sunday morning while in bed, he
heard a rustling noise under the bed. There was a light in
the room, and on looking about he was enabled to see the
shadow of a man's hand on the wall, protruding from beneath
the bed in the direction of the cash-hoz, which was under
the pillow. A head soon followed the hand, and he then
called out who's there, at the same time jumping out of
bed and calling for a light. On the same floor there was
one of the ahopmen, who earns into the room,
and on looking under the bed they there found
the prisoner. As soon as the prisoner saw he
was discovered, and that he was likely to be secured, he
gaged out that he would not be taken, for he was well
armed. Prosecutor shut the door of the room, but telieving
the repeated salestione of the prisoner that he was armed,
be aimed the primer tom the door and to run down
obis% ma kola bin naps the hook (nay. Ilse haw
men almost up wady he went to bed, and it was
bin minim ON es prisoner mot bays found an aflame

before the house was Ant up, and secreted himself beneath
the bed.
In reply toe question, prosecutor said he was quite cer-
tain the hand he saw was directed towards the cashbox.
Police-constable Coffee said—On receiving information of
**attempted robbery, and a description of the prisoner,
she was recognised by the prosecutor, he went to the pri-
efiaer's lodgings, No. 2, Chatham-road, and found him
dim. He told the prisoner who he was, and what he
wanted him for. The prisoner said he knew nothing about
the matter. On being asked at what time be got home
that night, he said about four o'clock, and had been walk-
kg about the streets until that hour. The prisoner was
searched, but nothing found in his possession except a few
ers.
-The prisoner reserved his defence, and was fully com-
mitted.
SOUTHWARK.
Janos Barnard, a powerful looking man, was charged
with smelting and robbing Henry Green, Clerk in a mer-
cantile house in tie City.
The complainant stated that be resides in Union.square,
Swan-street, Southwark, and that on Saturday night, as
he was returning home from the City about 10 o'clock, he
was accosted by the prisoner near the Town-hall. The pri-
soner kept by his side as he proceeded along, talking on
different subjects, until they arrived at the Swan in the
Dover-road, into whisk house he (complainant) walked,
followed by the prisoner, and perceiving that he was re-
spectably dressed, and apparently • decent man, he invited
him to take a glass of wine at the bar. They afterwards
leR the house together, and walked up Swan-street, and
stopped at a stall where he treated the prisoner to some
oysters. On leaving the stall they walked in the direc-
tion of Union-square together, and when they got
to within a abort distance of complainant's house, the
prisoner seised him by the throat with such violence
as nearly to deprive him of breath. He then threw him
with force en the ground, thrust one of his hands into his
trousers pocket, and robbed him of • sovereign and seven
et eight shillings. Witness managed to call out, but before
assistance arrived his assailant made his escape, and com-
plainant was found by some of his neighbours lying on the
pavement near his house in • state of imensibility. In
consequence of the violence with which he was grasped he
bad suffered much pain about the throat, which was so
sore that he was prevented from taking any solid food
ever since.
An officer in court said that • similar robbery had been
reported to the police by another complaisant, and the
description of its perpetrator answered precisely to the
appearance of the prisoner.—Committed.