The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-28 00:00:00

GUILDHALL

John Clamfun, a shoemaker, carrying on business at 159,
Old-street, wu summoned before Mr. Alderman Lawrence,
M.P., charged with having violently assaulted Jonah Per-
kins on the 19th October. _ _

Mr. Daniels, who prosecuted, said the complainant
was a commercial traveller for a boot and shoe maker in
Northampton, and some days ago, when he and his prin-
cipal were in a public-house on Finsbury-pavement, the
defendant rushed in and violently assaulted the com-
plainant without a word of provocation. He could not
account for the defendant's conduct unless it was that he
had discounted a bill for the complainant for 12/. 6s. 7d.,
which had been dishonoured, and, as the defendant bad
not given the complainant notice of the dishonour, he was
not legally bound to pay it, and he declined to do so. The
parties had been intimate from boyhood.
Jonah Perkins said he lived in the Buckingham-road,
KinpLind, and had known the defendant since they were
boys. The assault was so severe that blood came frcm his
mouth, eyes, and ears.
Mr. Beard said he did not deny the assault, but the
cause was just as Mr. Daniels had stated it. The com-
plainant had dishonoured a bill, and because notice was not
given of the dishonour the complainant refused to pay the
bill. Legal proceedings bad been taken against the com-
plainant, and then he went round to the defendant's cre-
ditors and induced them to stop his credit, and thus he
had nearly ruined him.
The complainant denied that he bad done so.
Alderman Lawrence said the defendant bad taken the
law into his own hands, and be must put up with the con-
sequences. He must pay a line of 4/. and 18.. costs, and
be bound over in his own recognisance* to keep the peace
for twelve months in the suni of MY.

Mean! 17tostaa,ateciiii,7;brickmaker, of 3, Wharf-
road, was charged wit feloniously cutting and wounding
John Lynch on the right side of the head with a knife,
and also with assaulting police-constable Henry Johnson,
259 G, at Gray's-inn-road ; and Daniel Shields, aged 19,
brass finisher, of 17, Ely-court, Holborn, was charged with
being drunk, disorderly, and assaulting Frederick Lynch,
in Gray's-inn-mad.
John Lynch said-1 am a potman and barman at the
Ship public-house, Gray's-inn-road. On Friday, the 18th,
between 12 and 1 o'clock, I had occasion to go into the
Guy, Earl of Warwick. I saw there a man named Squires,
a solicitor. I saw both the prisoners there, and Shields
stooped, and put his hands into one of Squire's waistcoat
pockets. I then interfered, and Shields asked me what
right I had to interfere. 1 told him to mind hie own busi-
ness, and he made use of very bad language. I took
Squires out, and bad not proceeded far when I heard
cnes for " Help !" I went hack, and saw the prisoner
Shields kicking at my brother. I got in front of them,
and Thomas turned round to the side of me, and struck me
on the aide of the head, but what with I did not know. I
first knew that I was stabbed when I found the blood
trickling down my neck and back. I found that I had re-
ceived a wound about an inch end a half in length. I
turned round after I bad received the blow, and saw the
prisoner Thomas going away. After that I became insen-
sible, and I knew no more. I received a kick in the nose,
which was broken, hut I do not know who did that,

Mr. Arthur Ll4:;yd Owen said—l am house-surgeon at
the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's-inn.mad. On the 18th of
this month the complainant was brought to the hospital
covered with blood. He had a wound on the side of the
bead (a etc in cut wound) about an inch and a half in
length. The bones of his noee were also fractured. A
fail on a sharp kerb might have mond a similar wound to
that I found.
Other evidence was to the effect that at a late hour on
the night in question all the parties were in the public.
house, when they saw the prisoner, Daniel Shields, at-
tempt to pick a man's pocket. Frederick Lynoh inter-
fered, and was struck by Daniel Shields, kicked in a deli-
cute part of the body, and rendered insensible. The
whole of the parties were got outside, and a fight took
place. Police-constable Johnson then interfered, and took
Thomas into custody; on which he took out a knife, and
said he would rip him open. The complainant, John
Lynch, was standing near, and when he went to the
assistance of the complainant the prisoner stuck his knife
into the side of his head, and otherwise assaulted him.
There was a mob of about 100 thieves and prostitutes ;
and had it nut been for the assistance of some trades-
men the prisoner would have been rescued.
Mr. Barker discharged Shields, and committed the other
prisoner to the Middlesex Sessions for trial ; but, on the
application of Mr. Ricketts, consented to take bail, the
prisoner himself in 50/., and two sureties in the sum of
IV. each.