The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-09 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

(Before the Assistant Judge.)
THE CASE OF JOHN I:MOVEN._

The prisoner, who was described as a clerk, aged
was indicted for assaulting Samuel Buser, and causing
►im actual bodily harm.
Mr. Cooper (instructed by the Treasury) prosecuted;
Mr. Warner Sleigh appeared for the prisoner.
Mr. Inspector Thomson, of the detective department of
Scotland-yard, and Mr. Inspector Garford, of the E
division, were in attendance to watch the case.

The prisoner pleaded not guilty to the indictment.
John King said—l am • labourer, residing at No. 3,
Crown-court, Great Pulteney-street. I recollect the 29th
of September. Between 12 and 1 o'clock on Sunday morn-
ing I was in Endell-street, passing home. I was going
home towards Crown-court with a bird in • cage, tied up
in a handkerchief. I saw six or seven men standing at the
corner of St. Andrew-street. I noticed one or two of them
particularly. The prisoner was one of them. lam sure
he was one of them. At that time • van came down
&Well-street with threelarge vats in it. On coming down
Endell-street I heard some of the men in the van calling
out " Heigh, heigh." There was • driver and two men
sitting in the van. After the van had passed one of the
men ran after it and said he had been kicked in the face
by one of the men sitting on the aide of the van. AU the
men ran after the van. The prisoner did so. One of
them got hold of the horse's head, and dragged it from one
aide of the street to the other. One or two of them got
up into the cart. One of them took the whip from the
man who was driving and beat him. The prisoner then
got up into the van. lam quite sure of that. They then
got down &grin, when the man who wee driving said if
they had done anything wrong, why did they not fetch
the police, and not beat them in such • way.
The driver told one of them to let go the
horee's head. Theis was then • crowd of people
around, who road that it was • shame to
beat the man in that way. I was standing near to the
place at the time. I saw the prisoner get into the van,
but I did riot see him strike any one. I was standing with
the rest of the crowd. One of the men knocked me down.
He was • tall man. I got up and tried to get away, but I
was knocked down again by the tall man by • blow with
his tist. Before he knocked me down he gave Groves •
cane. It bent air be held it in his hand. By the way in
which be held it I thought it bad lead, iron, or something
heavy at the end of it. At that time Buser (the prosecu-
tor) said it was a shame, like the rest of the people who
were assembled. When Groves raised the cane Buzer
said it was • shame, and Groves hit him on the head with
the cane. lam sure that Groves was the man. After
Buser had been struck some of the men ran otf, and some
walked towards Bloomsbury. Borer and several other
people then followed them. One of the men was • tall
man, and when Buser got to the drinking fountain near
Moses end Sons', the tall man struck Ducar again. A
constable afterwards came up, and Buzer gave Groves into
custody.
Cross-examined by Mr. Warner Sleigh—lt was the tall
man who turned round and knocked me down. I had done
nothing for which he should have knocked me down. I had
cried " Shame" and the tall man knocked me down.
Groves got up into the van. lam quite sure of that. It
was dark at the time, but the lamp was lighted at the
corner of the street. I had no conversation or words with
any one. but only had blows. I am quire sere of that.
When I saw the driver being whipped a gentleman did
not turn round and tell me to mind my own business. He
did strike me, but I did not strike any blows at all. What
was the use of my trying to strike a big man like the tall
man who was striking me? lam a peaceably disposed
MILD.

The Assistant-Judge—This witness ought not to be
Galled upon to give himseg a character.
Mr. W. Sleigh—Have you ever been charged
Witness—l'es.
Mr. W. 81(4;11—How many times?
Witness—Once.
Mr. W. Sle4h—Not move?
Wit:less-les ; once before. About four months ago.

Kr. W. SleighLHow woe that sharp disposed of?
Witness—l was fined& If.
Mr. W. Sleigh—Were you ever charged with assaulting
the police. Have you been in prison?
Witness—Yes.
Mr. W. Slemh—Whas was that for?
Witness—l hod fourteen days because I could not pay
the fins of If.

ifTif:ii;igh—Was this charge of au assault the only
charge that yam ever made against you ?
Witmer—Yea ; I have been charged with anything
aloe. _ . _

Mr. W. Sleigh—Are you sure of that
Witness—Yes, I am quits sure of that.
Mr. W. Sleigh—Now I ask you, and I ask you to be
careful bow you answer, bare you not been in custody as
many as three times?
Witness—Yes, I was taken with otherople.
By Mr. Sleigh—What were you taken for this time?
Witness—That was it • watch. I was taken in
Bererisk•etreet

iir:ii.ll;il2—Wluit was the third time for!
Witaesa—l sot ksow what the third thee was ter.