The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-19 00:00:00

CHARGE AGAMST A CLERGYMAN.

At the Hammersmith police-court, yesterday,
the Rev. Harry Christian Brown, of Eelbrook-terrace,
Sand's-end, Fulham , was placed in the dock before Mr.
Belie, charged with being drunk and assaulting his son, and
also with threatening to commit violence upon hie wife.
George Brown, a youth about 17 years of age, said the
prisoner was his father. For the last few evenings he had
followed him about using threats of personal violence. On
Wednesday night he challenged him to fight, and said he
would take the blood out of him. Of course he would not
fight, and his father then struck him on the forehead. The
blow was struck while they were inside the house close to
the front door. His father had taken off his ooat and
waistcoat. He was not sober.

In answer to questions put by the magistrate, the wit-
ness said his father was a clergyman of the church of Eng-
land, but he had no benefice. Unfortunately he was in
the habit of getting drunk.
On the prisoner being asked whether he wished to put
any questions to his son, he said he was unfortunately
afflicted with deafness, and be had not heard a word of the
evidence. The clerk then repeated the evidence to him in
a loud voice, when be said that his son knew perfectly well
that he would not hurt a hair of his head. He then pro-
ceeded in an excited manner to say that he loved him as
much as he did his own soul, and ne would shed his blood
for him. He also said that he neither received nor gave a
blow, and that he was astonished at his son bringing him
to that court to ruin his character.
Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, who appeared to be painfully
agitated, was next examined, and she stated that she was
the wife of the prisoner, and the mother of the last wit-
ness. Her husband was in the habit of getting intoxi-
cated, and had threatened her on several occa-
sions, and used personal violence. He struck her in the
face on Monday evening last. Ho said something impro-
per, and on putting her hand over his mouth he knocked
her down. Her son came and took her from him, and gave
his father a blow. Since then the prisoner said he would
wait for him. On the previous night he took off his coat
and waistcoat to fight him unless he fell upon his knees and
begged his pardon. The boy would not, and he struck
him. The prisoner was a very good husband when sober,
but when Intoxicated be vrasvery violent.
The prisoner said he was not aware he knocked his wife
down ; she had knocked him down, and his head went
through the panels of a door.
Mrs. Brown, in explanation of that statement, said a long
time ago he took hold of her in a violent manner,
when she pushed him' and he fell down ; his bead did
go through the cupboard door.
The prisoner said he loved his wife, and she knew that
he did. In consequence of his being too poor to keep a
servant he had not the command of his own house.

Police-constable Bowerman said he saw the prisoner
strike his son. lie also said the prisoner was drunk.
The prisoner said he was excited by the conduct of his
ROD.

William Wigginson, living in the same terrace, gave
similar evidence, and said he bad been called four times to
protect Mrs. Brown from the violence of her husband.
Mr. Selfe theii said he should require the prisoner to
f.nd one surety in the sum of f4)l. to keep the peace for one
month for the threats to his wife.
The prisoner was locked up in default.

MICHAELMAS TERM. —The two new "chiefs,"
Lord Justice Cairns and Chief Baron Kelly will take their
seats at Westminster for the first time on the 2nd Novem-
ber, the commencem.•nt of Michaelmas term, after receiv-
ing the congratulations of their brethren at tho Lord Chan-
cellor's breakfast. _ _

PRIZE FIGHTS IN nEERSTIOPS.—At the Lambeth
police-court yesterday, dames Gurr, the keeper of the
Sportsman beershop, South-street, appeared
before Mr. Elliott to answer to a summons charging him
with unlawfully and knowingly permitting fighting and
other disorderly conduct in his house. The summons was
taken out by order of the oommiasioners of police, and
Inspector Dunlop, of the P division, was present to watch
the case. Sergeant Walters, 2P, said that about 8 o'clock
on the night of the 9th inst., in consequence of in-
formation which had reached him, he went to the
house of the defendant, and on entering an outbuild-
ing on hie premises he found there from 140 to irk per-
sons, a ring formed with ropes, and two young men
stripped to the waist and their seconds in the ring. The
presence of the police created great confusion amongst
those present. Several of them called out that they bad
no right to interfere, as the parties were only
" boxing," and used most disgusting language. One
of the combatants jumped through a window, and
witness got the name of the other. The young
man had gloves on, but not boxing-gloves, and witness was
of opinion that they were only put on for a blind on hear-
ing that the police were coming. Mr. Elliott—Did yon
hear the parties present urge the young men to fight ?
Witness—l did, your lordship. I heard them say, "Go
in and give it him ;" and at every heavy fall there was
loud cheering and clapping of hands. I did not feel jnati-
fied in taking the parties into custody, but immediately
after leaving the place I spoke to the landlord at the bar.
and told him he was liable to a penalty for knowingly per-
mitting disorderly conduct and fighting in his house and
he said the parties were only " boxing," and he did not
think it was any harm. I told him that he must have
been well aware that the fight for 5/. a side was to come
off there that night, and that ho might have prevented it
if he thought proper, end this he admitted. Sergeant
Evans, 32 P, said that when one of the combatants had
jumped out of the window on the approach of the police,
the friends of the other man claimed the battle, but the
other man returned, and the fight was renewed. Witness
was present during three rounds, and on the parties going
down there was loud cheering and clapping of hands, and
he saw a man at the door who seemed to be taking
money for admission. The fight was continued for about
25 minutes, after which the police interfered. The defend-
ant, in reply to the charge, said he had merely let his
piece for a arming match with the gloves, and in doing
so he did not think he was doing anything wrong. He had
been himself, he said, to many places at spy= matches,
and his worship might daily see in thesporting papers
advertisements offering rooms for such purposes, and
others inviting persons to witness such exhibitions. He
called several witnesses, who swore the exhibition was a
mere boxing-match with the gloves. Mr. Elliott remarked
that the charge in the summons was fully made out, and
the conduct of the defendant in permitting such a sceneon
his premises was highly improper. He then convicted him
in a penalty of 40s. and expenses, and warned him of the
consequences of a repetition of the offence.
THE BIRMINGHAM AND SMITHFIELD CATTLE
Snows.—We are informed by the secretary, Mr. Lythall,
who has been in correspondence with the secretary of the
Smithfield Club, that • communication was received by
him yesterday, the result of which is that the arrange-
ment' for the forthcoming exhibition will proceed as usual,
sad that there will be no rule of the Smithfield Club ex-
cluding animals which have been exhibited here frombeing
sent to London afterwards, as was the case last year.
—Birmingham Peg.

POINT- DI GALLIC, OCT. 12.—The liesaegeries
Imperial's steamer Imperatrios left here on the 10th inst.,
with the homeward India, China, and Japan mails. She
has 100 passengers on hoard and 3,000 bales of silk. The
Eiymanthe left to-day with the outward