The Express.
London, England, 1860-07-19 00:00:00

THE POLICE COURTS.

GUILDHALL.

Pietro Martini and iiinuoiforsini, Savoyard brothers,
were charged with unlawfully cutting and wounding two
men named John Geary and John Mullins, with intent to
do them grievous bodily harm.
John Mullins, a labourer, who was supported into court
between a couple of friends and accommodated with a seat
in front of the magistrates' table, said -My mate, John
Geary, and I, were coming towards home kit night, and
when we arrived in Philip-lane, London-wall, a quarrel
ensued between him and the two prisoners. I scarcely
remember what took place, but one of them. Tome°,
struck me on the nose, but with what I could not say. I
turned round and saw Geary lying on his back and Pietro
standing over him. I ran across to pick him up, and while
in the act of stooping I felt myself struck behind, end I then
turned round and saw this man's hand (Tomaso) behind
me. He then ran away, and I ran after him and he was
stopped by some persons who saw what occur;ed.
Alderman Halo—Where is Geary?
Witness—He is in the hospital, sir.
Alderman Hale—Did you say or do nothing to provoke
them in any way'
Witnees—Nothing at all, sir. Ido not know if Geary did
anything. I was struck with some hard substance, and re-
collect very little afterwards of what took place.
Tte evidence of this witness having been interpreted to
the prisoner by Mr. Malinari,
Tomaso Marini said the witness struck him on the eye
first, and Pietro said he Lad not done anything to anybody,
and nobody had done anything to him.
Alderman Hale (to witness)—Did you see a knife in either
of the prisoners' hands ?
Witness—No, sir. John Geary was stabbed in the beck.
Alderman Hale—Was there any other person near you
and Geary except the prisoners at the time you received
your wounds ?
Witness—No, sir.
Police-constable 176 said—l was on duty in London-wall
about 10 o'clock last' when I heard the cries of
"Murder" and " Polies, and when I reached the spot I
maw Tomaso lying on the ground and John Mullins standing
over him. I asked Lim what was tho matter, and he said
the prisoner had stabbed him twice. I took the prisoner
into custody, and Mullins then told me Geary was dead,
and on going in search of him I met him being led by two
men to the station, and I then called in Mr. Simpson, a
surgeon, of Fore-street. The other prisoner was appre-
hended by police.constable 143.
Mr. Molinari having communicated the policeman's evi-
dence to the prisoners, TOMS° said he was at work with
his monkey and his brother with his harp, when Mullins
and Geary came up, and one slapped Lis face on one side
and then on the other side, while the other pulled the
monkey's ears, and be could not tell what to make of it.
James Davis, a sweep, who appeared with a face and
dress in a filthy state of soot, said—l was going through
Wood-street last night with my fellow-servant, Prender-
gast, when I saw the two prisoners, and another Dalian.
One was playing a harp, one a flageolet, and the third one
was attending to the monkey and putting bin, through his
exercises. A policemen told them to move on, as there
was some one ill in the street, and they then went into
Philip-lane. While there, Geary wanted to shake hands
with the monkey. He did so once, and was attempting to do
so again, when the monkey fell from the top of the
harp; but whether it was done purposely or not
I cannot say. Pietro immediately shoved him away, and
Tomaso struck Lim with a cane, and, in aiming a second
time, lie struck the wrong man, Mullins, in the eye, who
had aken no part previously in the matter. He (Geary)
returned the blow, and ran across the road. Tommie ran
after this man, and overtook him, and a fight took place,
and 1 saw them both on the ground together. On looking
round I saw Pietro and Mullin' on the ground, and I heard
Loth men, Mullion and Geary, say they bad been stabbed.
The struggle between them continued from one end of
Philip-lane to the other. I heard one of the wounded men
coniplain of being stabbed in two places. The night was
too dark for me to observe any knife. As soon as the men
exclaimed that they were stabbed, and that the foreigners
had knives in their halals, all the bystanders turned and
fled, calling for help. They were too much afraid to render
assistance. The third Italian looked after the monkey and
the musical Matrilineal', and eventually got away altogether.
James I'reudergaut, Another unwashed sweep, said Pietro
was playing the harp, and TOMO° with the monkey, when
two bricklayers, Mullins and Geary, came up and began
shaking halide with the monkey. The two bricklayers were
both drunk, and Geary, who is now in the hospital, in
shaking hands again with the monkey made the latter drop
his pipe, and caused the monkey to fall off the hasp. When
I beard the men say they were stabbed, 1 ran away with the
net of the mob. _ _

Mr. &lonian, a surgeon, of Fore•street,aahl—l was called
to the Moor-laue station last night, and examined Geary
find Mullins. The former had a wound on the back of tho
left side, which penetrated to the lung, and another wound
on the back of the left thigh. They were both clean cut
wounds, and appeared to have been inflicted with some
very sharp instrument.
Alderman Halo—ls there any danger to be apprehended
from those wounds?

Mr. Simpson—Very considerable danger, sir,' particularly
from the wound petietrating the lung. I then examined
Mullins, and found he had received a punctured wound on
the left buttock, which appeared to have been inflicted with
such a knife us that .reduced. There was also a contused
wound on the right side of the nose, which was evidently
the result of a blow from a stick.

Aldeman Hale—Should the state of the wounds of the
matt iu the Invmital take • favourable turn, when do you
'twee he will he able to attend!
Mr. Simpson—lt is impossible to say at present, sir, as
the wounds are of that nature that in two or three days
they may terminate fatally.
Aldermen Hale (to the ollicer)—Make inquiries, and if
necessary 1 will attend there and take the wounded man's
deposition.
The prisoners were then remanded till Thursday week.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN SOUTHWARK. Irecterday
morning the metropolis wan visited by n serious fire, which
took place about half. asst five o'clock n.m., on a large range
of premises beletn,irig to Mesas. Alfred Hooper, Neville,
aml known nn the "Surrey Steam Flour Mills," Valen-
tine-Nees, Webber-street, Blackfriars-rtsul. The building
was nearly 100 feet long by 50 wide. When the fire was
discovered it had gained entire poseemitin of the mill.,
which were gored with linseed flour, and other valuable
stock. Severs' engines pruniptity r.ttentlesl, and were set to
work with a plentiful supply tiwater, under the direction
of Mr. Plreitlwood, hut in spite of the most strenuous exer-
tions of the firemen the flames continued to progress,. Mr.
Hemlerson, the district fireman, was severely injured ou
the heal by the fall of ono of the flors, but he wan rescued
by the firemen. At ten o'clock the lire was subdued,
but not until the mill was burnt down, and the adjoining
houses considerably damaged. The cause of the disaster m
unknown.
HOMEOPATHIC COMA. —11.4 deliaiour
aroma, grateful IMMOMlliteel, and incl.:orating power have pro
owed Its oraaeral ...Mottos as a hreakfatt beverage. flb.
41r... sal 111.. packets, at Ir. 4. per lb., by the principal grocers.
Labelled ”Jams. 14" Has arepathie ettesulat, Izandou."—Ld-
lertlimate.