The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-10 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURT&

WANDf3WORTH.

A young man, named torr;llcm7l.er, was brought be-
fore Mr. Ingham on a charge of committing • murderous
attack upon Mr. Alexander Thom, collecting clerk to
Messrs. Young and Bainbridge, the brewers, of Wands.
worth, and with being concerned with another man not in
custody in robbing him.
The prisoner is one of two men who were tried at the
Central Criminal Court on Monday last for robberies in
Kensington Palace-gardens, and at Wimbledon, and ac-
quitted on both indictments.

The prosecutor, on being sworn, said—l reside in North-
street, NYandsworth. On the 9th of January last, while on
my way across Putney-heath from the Angel, at Roe-
hampton, to the Green Man, at Putney, about •
quarter past 5 o'clock, it being dark, I heart foot-
steps coming at a rapid pace behind me. I looked
behind me and saw two men approaching. Feeling that
I must be careful, I stood up near the lamp at
Ashburnton-house to view them as they passed
me. I bad a full view of the two men as
they came up and passed me. The prisoner is the man
who passed me on the near aide. I then went on, and
followed them. They proceeded nearly to the parish
lamp, a short distance, when they both turned round.
The prisoner, who had a bludgeon or a life-preserver by
his side, came rapidly towards me, and struck me with the
weapon over the aide of the head, cutting open my left
ear. He gave me a second blow on the right side of my
head, causing a wound two and a half inches long. My
bat was knocked off when I was first struck. The second
blow I received on my bare head. The other man came
behind me while I was using my umbrella. I simply
threw it out to keep the prisoner off. His companion
seized my arm from behind, and took the umbrella away.
I then pressed my arm against the cash which I had on
my left side. I had my paper money in my waistcoat
pocket, and the gold in my trousers pocket. I felt the
other man feeling for my cash when I was tripped up,
and I fell on the ground. I rolled to , the left side to
lie upon my cash. The prisoner then put one
foot on my neck, and the other on the lower part of my
bo. While in this position he struck me three blows
with the same weapon on the frost of my head, cutting it
in two places. During the time his companion stood upon
my legs, frequently moving his feet, and commenced tear-
rugi
on the pocket. in the skirt' of my coat. I said, "Take
but do not murder me," knowing there was not any
of value in those pockets. They succeeded in tear-
ing out the pockets, and feeling satisfied, they ran away
across the heath. They carried off • pocket ledger, and •
copy of Campbell's Poems. I next saw the prisoner in
Newgate, when I picked him out of a batch of prisoners.
I had been at the Angel, as I had business there, being
collecting clerk to Meyers. Young and Bainbridge.
I bad to receive money. I did not drink
anything at the house. I did not only mark his face, but
his gait and walk. When under punishment of that kind
time would appear very long ; to me it appeared half a
day, but I should judge the time while I was being ill-used
and robbed was between six and seven minutes. I did not
cry out. I should have been excited if I had. NT object
was to keep quiet, on account of my cash. I dehbented
two minutes before I pointed him out. He was in my eye
all the time. I could have picked him out out of ten
thousand men, I believe. I swear positively to the man.
I was laid up for two months in consequence of the in-
juries I received, and attended ,by two medical men. I
am not yet recovered.
. . . .

The Prisoner was remanded, strenuously protesting his
innocence.