The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-31 00:00:00

FRACAS BETWBBY TWO PHYSICIANS.

At Bow-street yesterday, Dr. Thomas Sao w Beck,
a e,ovenior of the British Lying-in Hospital. was pla ad at
tar, before Mr. Vaughan, to sewer a charge ivainst
hint of basing vieently ita•aiilted Dr. Ede:muds, one ui the
physeans of the establishment.
lir. James Edmunds deposed-1 live at No. 4, Fitany-
'spare, and am a physician. Yesterday afternoon at one
o clock, I was in the board-room of the British Lyin4-in
Endell-street, making extracts from the inmate-
book. Dr. Beck, after knocking at the door, entered. and
ir. a myiter.ous manner raid to me, " I have au tie w tot
to tettie with you when we are alone." I made no reply,
but continued my writing. ILu approached me, and
touched my door, with the iiitention ot pulliug is but this
assault I evaded. I said, "It you do that is.taiu I shall
be übliei dto strike you." Ho then gave in • a inn vt
ship cn the face as he passed by me. A s.a ill
umbrella was lying on the table by my side.
a Inch I took up and struck him with. Ile closed
in wi•ti me and a struggle eneued, during which he
i.unelied me in the face ie:veral times. I said, -11.• is
very shameful for a man twice my site and strength,"
and I called for the secretery to fetch a constable. He
again attacked me' and alter another struggle *track ins
re I..egittd:y in the faoe with his band. I male towards
flea door, when he threw me across the table. awl I
believe I fell over a chair with him on me'. He had got
between myself and the door, knelt on my body, sensed
me by my arms, and again hit my face. He tore the hair
out of my whiskers, and I called .• Murder" until I was
so extremely faint I could not call any more. The
hell bete rang, and be got off me, telli•ig
me that if I did not hold my row he would
murder me. The next instant the secretary en-
tered with a policeman the latter lifted me iuto is chair,
and gave me a glass of water. I gave Dr. Beck into els-
tsely, and got into a cab and rode down to the pilice-
station.

By Yr. Vaughan—l struck him acrom the shoulders
lightly with the umbrella, which was a lady's one. I wos
• rival candidate of his for the anus of phs.sician. and
was elected. Ile has frequently been bringing charges
against me. Anonymous letters were issued to the go-
vernors by some person. I believe it was the prisoner.
An action has been commenced against the prisoner for
libel.

_don by Dr. Beck—l never said I would
put a bullet through you. He said, " You called me a
cowardly liar, and ought to have a bullet put through
me." 1 said, " I would if I had a pistol." Dr. met
me in tbaostreets, and said I had been the murderer of
one of the patients in the hospital
Joseph Taylor, the sect etary to the hospital, sai was
in the room when Dr. Beck came in. He said he had
an account to settle with Dr. Edmunds, and toach.sl
his face. Dr. Edmunds became excited, and said,
" If you do this again, I will put a bullet through you."
Dr. Beck rmacked the face of the complainant, who re-
turtid the assault by several blows with an umbrella.
They were struggling when I left the room for the police.
'When I returned, Dr. Beck wrkt standing with hi- hick to
the the, and the complainant was lymg faint on Cie door.
'Die fetus-constable a.sisted Dr. Edmunds to a rust, and
took the defendant in charge.
By Mr. Vaughan—l won't the rare that the complainant
raid tint, " I will put a bullet through you." /I.; nit;
have tint raid, " I shall be obliged to strike yoi." Ha
aid threaten with the bullet.

Edwin lllHips, another fecrctary. eqnoboratil.
rohie-constable F Itesrrre Si took the defendant into
charge. Delsudant said the complainant had first given
Lim a slap on the nose.
Tie prisoner said in defence - The Cal* has been con,i-
derab'y riaggetated. I went to the board-room, and saw
Dr. Edmunds examining the books. Told him I had an
account to settle with him some other time. He made
faces at me. He called me • cowardly liar, and other
insulting terms. prisoner wished to enter into • long
detail of the quarrel, when
Nr. Vaughan said he could not hear it. He had no
doubt that Dr. Beck had committed an assault on •
brother physician of • very serious character, and it was
much to be regretted that • man in the defendant's posi-
tion should have behaved in such a manner towards one
of his own profession. If it had been proved that Dr.
Beck had gone to the hospital for the sole purpose of the
assault he could have been committed to prison without
the option of a tine. As it was he must pay • tine of .5!.,
enter into Ilia own recognisance, in the suns of dIM., and
find one surety in MM. for good behaviour for six
months,