The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-12 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

George Johyseora,736,TaelliCe;ii=street, Pimlico, plumber,
was charged with assaulting a polioe-constable in the exe-
cution of his duty, and doing damage to his helmet to the
amount of 15..
Jonathan Rickard!, 70 B, said—l was on duty at half-
past one in the morning in Rochester-row, and saw four
persons, the prisoner one of them, at the corner of
Wil-
tor-street. They were making a noise, and I ordered
them on. The prisoner poked up a quart pot
and threw it at me, striking me on the coat
tail. I took no notice of it, and still ordered them on.
The prisoner then struck me violently on the eye, and one
of his companions hit me in the back. My helmet was
knocked off by the prisoner. I was knocked down, kicked
about the body by all of them, the prisoner being ringleader.
I held him on the ground, another constable and two
gentlemen came up, and we got him to the station. Hy
helmet, value 154., v per:ectly
Grant, 289 B, proved assisting. One of the prisoner's
, companions was smashing the helmet.
Prisoner declared that Rickards was drunk and assaulted
him first, and that the others attacked him. He was
severely beaten.
William Nicholls, 86 B, reserve man at the station, was
present when the charge was taken. Prisoner was drunk
—the constable quite sober. A gentlemen said if he had
not interfered the constable would have been killed.
Prisoner had no witnesses to call.
Mr. Hayman said the question was, who should he credit,
these witnesses on oath, or the prisoner, who acknow-
ledged he was drunk. He put no faith in what the pri-
soner said.
The prisoner was fined 40s. for the assault, 15a. damage,
or one month's bard labour.
MARYLEBONE.

Horatio William draeimell and Robert Walker were i
charged with attempting to extort 401. from Henry Cull-
dell Jule', of 5, James-street Hyde-park-square, phyai-
Clan, by accusing him of an indecent assault.
Mr. Woollett prosecuted, and Mr. Johnson defended
the prisoner Cracknell.
The particulars of this ease have already appeared,
from which it may be remembered that the prisoners
went to prosecuto house and threatened to expose
him if he did not pay over to them the sum named.
At his request they drew up a paper to which they ap-
pended their names. The paper said they would not
divulge what had taken place at the time alleged and
in prosecutor's house. Prosecutor's son, who sou behird
the curtain, then stepped forward, and the prisorers were
given into custody. It was now attempted to be shown
that the alleged offence took place after a soiree which
had been given to the Young Men's Christian Associa-
tion, of which Cracknell was a member, and prosecutor
one of the heads, at his house.
Mr. Johnson cross-examined prosecutor with a view to
I show that Cracknell slept with him on the !debt alluded
to, but prosecutor strenuously denied it. He also denied
that Cracknell when at the police•statiot charged him
with having slept with him, and that he was asked if such
was the case by the officers on duty.
Mr. Johnson said he would be able to substantiate that
Cracknell did say so by calling the officers at the trial.
Mr. Mansfield committed them for trial.
Cracknell, with uplifted hands, said, "The doctor emit
face me and God and may it is not true. As I stand before
God I am innocent."