The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-24 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

WESTMINSTER.

JoAm Collins, a tall, powerful man, was charged with
gross misconduct at the house of Mr. Humphreys, the Duke
of Clarence, Market-street, Westminster.
On Mr. Humphreys standing up in the witness-box the
magistrate requested him to state his complaint.
Mr. Humphreys—He is not the man.
Mr. Arnold—Who is not the man
Mr. Huinphreys—The man standing before you.
Mr. Arnold—What do you mean' You gave a man
named John Collins into custody last night. Is this John
Collins' . . _

The police—This is John Collins.
Mr. Humphreys—But he is not my man, whatever his
name is.
Mr. Arnold—Where is the constable who took the charge,
John Smith!

John Smith stood forward.
Mr. Arnold—ls this the man you had given into your
charge last night!
Smith—lt is the same.
Mr. Aniold—What do you say to that, Mr. Humphreys!
Mr. Humphreys—l say that this is not my man ;he was
much shorter. There is some mistake.
Mr. Arnold—This is very extraordinary.
Police-constable Aspinal—This is the man I helped to
take.
Mr. Arnold—Can anybody throw any light upon this
matter ?
Defendant (with a strong Milesian accent).—Sure

not the man at all.
Sergeant Buckley—There may by possibility be some
mistake, for this reason— after the man charged by
Mr. Humphreys had proceeded a little distance he was
rescued by sonic friends. The constables pursued, and
finding this man crouched behind another at the Two
Brewers, they no doubt took him, believing him to be the
man.
Police-constable Aspinal—This is the man.
Mr. Humphreys again stood in the witness-box, and
said, " He is not the man."
Mr. Arnold—Then he is discharged.
SOUTHWARK.

Thomas Lattimer, sergeant-major of the 48th Middlesex
(Havelock/Al Volunteer Rifles, appeared before Mr. Wool-
rych for final examination, charged with assaulting Mrs.
Phrebe Wearham in a first-class carriage on the North
Kent Railway, on Monday last.
Mr. Henry Allen, the prosecuting officer of the Associate
Institute for the Protection of Women and Children, was
again in attendance on behalf of that society, and Mr. W.
Edwin appeared for the prisoner.
The prosecutrix went on Monday with her daughter and
her husband to Charlton with the 48th Middlesex Rifles,
and in returning at night in a first-class carriage the priso-
ner got in, although it was full. Just 3.1 the train was
starting she and her daughter made room for him to sit
down, when he acted improperly towards her. She told
him he was a beast, and that she should require an apology,
when he again assaulted her, and made use of disgusting
language. On the arrival of the train at the ticket oollect-
ing station in the Spa-road she gaveinforruation to the rail-
way authorities, and ho was given into custody.
A daughter of the witness said she saw prisoner take
hold of her mother, but did not see exactly what he did.
Her crinoline was lifted up and she heard her mother call
him a beast for acting indecently towards her. He made
use of very disgusting and bad language.
Mr. Edwin said he did not wish to contradict the state-
ment of the prosecutrix, but he was instructed to say that
she must be mistaken as to the assault being intentionally
committed. It was a pure accident. His client was
drunk, owing to having to supply 500 men with refresh-
ments and drinking too much instead of eating. He fur-
ther contended that the prosecutrix's crinoline got di a.
arranged on making room for him, and as he was putting
his hand oat to steady himself he might have touched her,
as stated, but not purposely. Under these circumstances,
there was a doubt in the case, and he trusted his worship
would give the prisoner the benefit of it and discharge
him.
Mr. Woolrych observed that it was a case for a jmy
therefore he should commit him for trial, but would
accept bail for his appearance at the sessions.

New ACT ON PARISH 07FICER8.—Yesterday the
new act was issued to provide for superannuation allow-
ances to officers of vestries and other boards, and also the
Metropolitan Board of Works, including the chairman,
who become disabled, by infirmity or age, to discharge the
duties of their office. The superannuation is not to ex-
ceed two-thirds of the salary, and not to be assignable for
debts. No officer is to be entitled to superannuation on
the ground of " old age" who has not completed the full
age of " sixty." Gratuities on retirement may be granted
to aims when not entitled to ouperannustion.