The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-13 00:00:00

CLF.RICENWELL.

Mr. William Arnold Lewis, a law student, of 10, Gray's-
inn-square, was summoned before Mr. Cooke, for un-
lawfully assaulting-seaLbeating Mr. William George Lock,
a compositor.
Mr. Wontner, sea, solicitor, appeared for the prosecu-
tion, and the court was crowded with law students and
volunteers to hear the case.
. . .

—The;;;Efari;;;C.;ai-iie wee a member of the 40th
ol Middlesex Vunteet Corps, which is drilled in Grayltinn-
square: The defendant resides at No. 10 in the square.
On two ocoesiona he had, from his wiadow, shouted and
countermanded the orders given by the volunteer officers,
thereby oansing much ausoyanem. Ou the 2nd instant two
squads of recruit. were being drilled in South-square. The
defendant and some other persona were standing on the
stops of Cray's•inn-hall, and they mimicked the officer*,
shouted, countermanded order', and made themselves very
offensive. Complainant expostulated with them, and was
immediately struck by the defendant with an umbrella
with snob force that the skin was tekea off his face for
more than half an inch, and the blood drawn copiously.
Confirmatory evidence was then given, the wittinesss
stating that the defendant sad hie fiends had been
drinking.
The defendant said it was a iguixotio idea to suppoee that
7 or 8 gentlemen were under the inane's.e of liquor, and
standing on the step of the ball shouting and hooting,
when the benches, would take summary steps in the mat-
ter. It was true that he and the gentlemen that were
with him began " chaffing " the squad of raw necrotic
He and his friends thoqght them fair gun. as the were
an awkward squad. ]heard that " fellow" (the com-
plainant) make some remarks while be was on the steps
of the hall and then he.(dolendant) descended and boxed
his ears. The complainankiben hit him. Thecomplainant
might to go about the inn hs a civil fellow, and not as a
brewed fellow because he weirs a ride uniform Re as-
sand
them that he was sober, and all that he
,gad his friendsl e
alitiiirrwas to mimic the volunteers.
Mr. James Ackworth Davis, of 3, Clement's-inn, said—l
am a member of the Society of Gray's-inn, and have been
so for two years. On the find of May I was on the of
the hall with other members. The volunteers were ;
in the equate. I should say that complainant
listening to our conversation for o or three minutes ;
we ware joking among ourselves. ' saw the complainant
hit the defendant in the assault. do not think that any
4 us were intoxicated ; nose of ne were intoxicated in the
senselax of the) word. After dinner a man is always jolly.
iditb.
Mr. uoote said it was very much indeed to be
rested
that there was any occasion for this sumincinaetht
been taken out, and he bad no doubt that the defendant
in hie calmer moments would be of opinion that it should
not have been taken out. He did think that there would

have been some kind of apology made but instead of that
the defendant had attempted to I:llrhat he had done.
The benchers of Gray's-inn ver7 y bad allowed the
volunteers to practise in the inn, and if the defendant or
his friends had any objection to make to that, it would
have been better to have reported their objections to the
benchers, who would have taken the proper steps to
remedy the evil. Instead of that the defendant had taken
the law into his own bands. The complainant seemed to
think that the conduct of the defendant towards the
volunteers called for some comment from him, and he
could not say that be was wrong. The assault on the
complainant was not justified in any way, and he (Mr.
Cooke) was bound to tell him so, and that be was in the
wrong. He should convict, and that in the highest
penalty, and should order him to pay a fine of td., or in
default to be imprisoned in the House of Correction for
one month.
The fine was at once paid.