Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-04-28 00:00:00

RPOOL POLICE INTELLIGENCE—YEsTzRner

BEFORE MESSES. RATHBONE AND CASTELLAINE,

STRANGE CASE.—Police-officer Eccleston (242) summoned
Mary Mliritle, who lives in Jenkinson-street, Everton, on
two charges—one for being drunk, and the other for having
used obscene language —both offences said to have been
committed at half-past twelve on the night of the 18th inst.
Mr. Cobb appeared for the defendant. The case was as
follows :—On the night of the 13th the defendant had a
..;small party at her house, and it seemed that the officer
took the defendant into custody on a charge of having
assaulted him. She was brought before Mr. Preston the
next day, when she, through her attorney (Mr. Cobb),
produced several witnesses, who disproved the charge, and
the woman was discharged. The officer was much censured
in the court by Mr. Clough for his conduct ; and the woman
subsequently complained to Major Greig of the policeman's
conduct, and the latter was removed from the beat. This
was the origin of the case. The officer said (now), on the
night of the 18th, at half-past twelve, a man came
to me in William Henry-street, and said I was
wanted directly at a beer-house in Jenkinson-street
Mr. Cobb objected to this. The witness went on to say
that he went to the beer-house of a Mrs. Palmer in the
street. I saw the defendant on the steps of her own door.
She called me Mrs. Palmer's " bully," and used other and
abusive language to me. Mr. Cobb : Was she drunk ?
She was. I swear that, and that she used the language.
lam not on the beat now. I was removed from it. Mr.
Cobb : By whom ? I don't know. Mr. Cobb : Sir, do
you tell me you were removed off a beat and don't know by
whose order or authority ? I suppose it was by order of
the superintendent. Mr. Cobb : Don't you know you
were removed in consequence of that case ? What case ?
Mr. Cobb : The case in the next court, where you had her
charged for an assault, where she was discharged, and when
you were reprimanded by Mr. Clough for your
conduct ? She was discharged because I could not
get any witnesses, and Mr. Clough said I had
no right to charge her, but to have summoned her. Mr.
Cobb : On your oath, sir, is not this case brought by you
out of pure spite for that case ? o ; and on this occasion,
I took an officer with me, so that no one could say I did
this out of spite. What did she say to you ? She said I
was the bully of Mrs. Palmer, the beer-house keeper, and
other bad language; she was on her own steps, and created
a great disturbance. Mr. Cobb : Did you read the report
of the former case in the NORTHERN TIMES No, sir.
Did any one read it for you ? I heard of it. Did you not
come Ohi of Palmer's beer-house ? No, I swear I did not.
You know Mrs. Palmer ? Yes. Do you ever take a drop
there ? No. Police-officers 738 and 177, together with
Mrs. Palmer, the beerhouse-keeper, were examined, and
proved that defendant was drunk, and used the
language. On cross-examination by Mr. Cobb, the
witnesses varied considerably in their statements.
A " large " Welshman, named Owens, was examined,
and caused an immense amount of laughter on cross-
examination by Mr. Cobb. He said he was in the
beer-house at half-past twelve at night. Mr. Cobb : What
were you doing there at that hour ? That's my affair ;
am a Welshman. (Laughter.) Mr. Cobb : And do you
think because you are a Welshman that you are privileged
to be in a beer-house at illegal hours ? I don't know

Mr. Cobb : What were you 'doing there, sir ? Owens :
Mrs. Palmer is single, and so am I, sir. (Roars of
laughter.) Mr. Cobb : Oh ! I see it all now. Were you
in the bedroom ? The brow of the witness fell like the
countenance of Cain, as he replied, " No." Mr. Cobb :
Do you expect to be the owner of the beer-house,
and the proprietor of Mrs. Palmer also. (General laughter.)
That's my affair, sir. The evidence of this witness was
quite different from that of the others. Mr. Cobb called
some witnesses for the defence, and, after a long investiga-
tion, the magistrates dismissed the charge of drunkenness,
but fined her ss. and costs for using the bad language.
VIOLENT ASSAULT. —Thos. Hill, a person in the employ-
ment of Messrs. Forrest, Lime-street, glass manufacturers,
charged 'Thomas Skinner, a person in the same employ-
ment for having violently assaulted him. Mr. Cobb
was for the complainant, and Mr. Block for the defence.
-It appeared from the evidence of the complainant,
that, on the 18th instant, the parties were in the
shop, when the complainant was going to a particular
part of the house ; the defendant asked him what

he was " grinning at, like a Cheshire cat ?

" This caused

some words, and at last the defendant struck
him seven or eight blows on the head, and
two under the left eye, inflicting a severe wound. The
complainant lost his employment, in consequence, he said,
of proceeding against the defendant. On cross-examination
by Mr. Bluck, he said the case was investigated by his

einployers, and they thought it better to ha;,-e the afi'air

sealed privately, but as he refused, they dismissed him

On this, Mr. Muck founded an argument, to the effect
that the complainant was in the fault, but the magistrates
were of opinion that the assault was savage and unpro-
voked, and fined the defendant and costs.