The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-06 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

These Sessions commenced yesterday, before Francis Const and a
bench of Magistrates.
George Briofh, a man of respectable appearance, was indicted for
assaulting Richard Groves and Handley, the former a watch-
man, and the latter an officer, belonging to the IVorship.street
Police establishment.
Richard Groves stated that his beat was in Paul.atreet, Shore-
ditch. On going his rounds, about half-past eleven o'clock on the
night in question, be saw the defendant in the act of committing a
nuisance and remonstrated with him, and finding him to be tray
much in liquor. offered to nee him home, but could not learn from
him where he lived. While he was endeavouring to ascertain this
fart Handley came up, sad made Inquiries to the same purport, till
at last, finding their efforts to be unavailing, Handley insisted on
haying him taken to the watchhouse, and took bold of him with
that view, but was immediately struck by him, as was also the wit-
nets. After this they took hint to the watchhouse.
Croas.examined by Mr. PHILLIPS—At the watchhouse Handley
searched the prisoner, and gave orders that he should be placed in the
blackhole, and not bailed on any account till the next day.
Handley confirmed the evidence of the former witness, and
assigned as a reason for searching the p:;soner that robberies were
sometimes committed among the prisoners, and he therefore thought
it best to take his money from him before locking him up. The
witness then proceeded to vindicate himself from the prejudice
which he felt the answers elicited by Mr. Phillips from the watch-
man had excited against him, and, in so doing, addressed himself
in a very disrespectful manner to the Chairman, and repeat.
edly interrupted the proceedings, to direct certain questions
to be put to the different witnesses, and at other times to
give explanations of his own conduct, all of which lie did in a man.
net fir from becoming, and which induced the Worthy Chairman
repeatedly to reprove him.
Mr. PHILLIPS, in addressing the Jury, observed that the present
was a moat extraordinary and unprovoked prosecution, and how-
ever much he might endeavour to restrain his feelings, he could
assure them that he never rose with greater indignation than at'
that time, for he found by the conduct of Handley that day, that the
question became whether they were to live under the law of the
land, or whether its fundamental principles were to be suspended
and contravened at the caprice of every one of the understrappers
employed in its ministration ? Pitiable would be the condition of
the people of this realm, if this man's conduct were to be passed
by unnoticed. lie had told them that be saw the defendant was a
respectable man, and therefore searched him to prevent his being
robbed. Was it therefore that he pinioned him ?—wa's it therefore
that he thrust him into the black hole to associate with a felon ?
and was it therefore that lie left express directions that no bail was
to be taken, and that, too, notwithstanding the next day was the
Sabbath ? They would see that this cunning excuse wholly failed
him, and he should call witnesses to show how grossly improper his
conduct had been.
Mr. W. Bandon, cabinet-maker, of I.eonard.street, Finsbury,
'stated that be was standing at the door of a tradesman's shop close
by, at the time that the watchman was endeavouring to learn from
the gentleman where he lived. Handley came up, and, without
saying who he was, caught hold of' the defendant and asked where
he lived. " What's that to you ?" was the reply. "Itis to me,"
rejoined Handley, " and you shall go to the watchhouse." "Who
arc you ?" asked the defendant. " That's nothing to you," was the
ensues ; "you shall go to the watchhouse." Accordingly, Handley
and the watchman commenced dragging him to the watchhouse ;
lie resisted, but witness did not ace him strike a blow. As they were
dragging him along, Handley said, " If I strike you I shall half
Itili yotf." Witness said, " Don't strike him, and I Ii help to carry
Lint for you," which witness did for the remainder of the distance.
On getting to the watchhouse, the defendant was placed on a bench;
and the watchman, by desire of Handley, held his hands, while
the latter searched him, and took from him his watch and other pro-
perty. Handley then insisted on the watchman giving charge of
him, and this having been done, he put him into the black hole,
and then, turning to the night constable, directed him not to take
bail, but to detain him till he called at four o'clock the following
afternoon. Witness, thinking the gentleman had been ill used,
went to the watchhouse the following morning, and found that be
hall bees admitted to bail about nine o'clock that morning.
The CHAIRMAN, in summing up, said there were two charges of
assault, of which they had to dispose, and which long before then
would probably, have been disposed of, but for the violent and un-
justifiable conduct of Handley, who he could not but suspect was
too much allowed to dictate haw causes should be conducted in his
own office, or he would not have insulted the Court in the manner
he had done that day. He was of opinion that tile watchman was
perfectly justified in interfering at first, and Van assault had been
committal, the subsequent bad conduct of the officer was no answer
thereto; but it would be for them to say, after weighing the evi-
dente, whether an assault had taken place as described. With re-
spect to the conduct of Handley in ordering bail not to be taken, it
was clearly illegal, and he felt himself bound so to say.
' The Jury, after consulting for about a minute, returned a verdict
of Net Cadre.
Mr. PHILLI es told Handley that an action would be brought
hint fur the false imprisonment.