The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-14 00:00:00

POLICE.

111AITIII0X-1101.78r, SEPT. 13.—A man trained Jrfekerann watt '
'brought before the Loan al AY4)R, charged with having committed
a furious and cowardly assault upon a sugar-bilker, named Ozer-
bah.
The complainant and several of his companions, it appeared, liaa
been drinking a few evening' ago at a publie.house in ]lute's.
place, where the prisoner and a number of his friends were also.
regaling themselves, but in a distinct party, With whom the coin.
pi:anent had nothing to do and held no communication. The corm
pis Mint went out to go home soon afterwards, but upon turning
round a corner lie was suddenly beet by five men, of whom the
prisoner was one, who all set upon hint at once, knocked him
down, and beat him dreadfully. They kicked and flung stones at
him, and they had it was clear laid in ambush for him, and ga-
thered brick-bats and stones to fling at him. His head was se-
verely cut, and but for the assistance of his companion, whom they
also best dreadfully, he must have been murdered.
The Loan MAYOR asked the complainant what could possibly
have been the cause of this desperate assault ?
The complainant said, he was conscious of no °Fierce except that
of not having been born in the place where the defendant and his
compassion were born.
111r..Hablet, who, from the description given of the row, as well
as the savage half-starved appearance of the defendant, concluded
that this desperate assault was committed by a native of the sister
country, was a good deal surprised to hear the Beadle of the Ward
, declare that there was not ad Irishman belonging to either party,
and that they were all Germans. "Germans!" said the Chief
' Clerk, "I am borprised 1 Why, I always understood that. the
Germans were a very peaceably disposed set of men, and that
when they do fight it is only upon stronger provocation than
la
other people usuall take, and that they" never bad recourse to such
disgraceful mode yof warfare as this.
The complainant—" Sonic of as are Upper, .and others of us are
Lower Germans ; that's all the ground of dispute."
The Beadle stated. that a number of Germans had settled about
Duke's-place, and that lights took place between them almost
every night. The prisoner and his party, who are sugar-baktrs,
came from the Black Forest, in the dominions of the King of
Wirternbing, and the otherl„who came from Hanover, considered
themselves the King of England's natural-born tabjects, and the
next thing to Englishmen, sidle they ridiculed those of the 111.ack
Forest, as a mere contemptible set of foreigners, who wets, only
permitted to live here as a matter of indulgence. Besides-those
extraordinary grounds of mortal animosity, the Hanoverkammilest
of trades different from those pursued by the Black Forestees.-1 •
The Lotto Afar ort said, that this inhuman system must berit
an end to. He then ordered the defendant to find bail to answer for
the outrage at the Sessions, and batted a warrant fur the appre-
hension of the ringleader of the assailaets.
AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.
Our SEPT. 13.—A gentleman of very reaprelable ap-
pearanee, who described himself as Mr. Jokn Fenton Goddor, clerk
with Messrs. Holmes, Frampton, and Loftus, of New Inn..Solich.
tors, appeared on summone before the sitting Magistrate, Mr.... 41,
derman Thorp, on a charge of assaulting a young matt of app..
rent] y equal respectability, who gave his name Daniel Smith,
warehouseman with Messrs. Urling, British lace manufacturers,,
Strand. • ,

The complainant stated, that on Thursday evening last he had
been to wait on a lady at Walker's.llotel, New Bridge-street, and
was returning up Fleet-street, when in passing two gentlemen, one
of whom was the defendant, his (Mr. S.'s) hand brushed slightly
against Mr. Godden's arm, on which the lattet immedistelt turned
round and accused him Its the foulest language of having attempted
to pick his pocket. He made no other reply to this accusation than
by assoriug him that he was quite mistaken in his character, and
begging his pardon for having brushed against him, was crossing
the way to avoid further altercation, when the defendant (who is a
very powerful man in comparison with 111 r. Smith) instantly col-
lared him, and shook him with such excessive violence as nearly to
prevent his breathing. He begged him not to be so outrageous,
that he was as respectable as himself, and could give satisfactory
reference who he was. Mr. Gotiden, however, continued his vie,-
knee, and dragged bins (Mr. S.) into a baker's shop in Fleet.
street, which happened to be open. Here he stated to Mr. Godden
that he resided at Messrs. Utling's, and said he would give him
his card. At this proposition 141 r. Godden wu somewhat mote
cool, but as he (Mr. Smith), on searching, happened to have no
card about him, Mr. Golden renewed his accusations, and although
he desired him to walk home with him to the Strand, he again
seized him, and redoubled his violence. Just at this moment a
watchman, attracted by the crowd, came up, and having heard Mr.
Godden's charge, told him he was not justified in behaving with
that violence, but should take hint (Mr. S.) to the watchhouse ;
and accordingly they all went to St. Dunstan's watchhouse toge-
ther. Before the constable of the night Mr. Godden charged him
with riding his }pocket, but it appearing by his own account that
there was nothing in his pocket, and as he (31r. 8.) stated who and
what he was, and the defendant conducted himself with consider-
able violence, threatening at one time to knock his teeth down his
throat, the constable, at the suggestion of March, the ward beadle,
told Mr. Godden that if he persisted in his charge he should send
then: both to the Compter together, and to avoid this disagreeable
alternative, Mr. sodden relinquished his charge, and he (Mr. S.)
was permitted to go at liberty. This was the nature of the assault
with which he now charged him.
Woods, the watchman alluded to, corroborated 111 r. Smith's
statement, and spoke as to the violence with which Mr. Godden
shook him and drged him along.
March, the beadle, and Mr. Thomas, the constable of the night,
confirmed Mr. Smith's account as to what had passed in the watch.
house, as well as to the abusive and violent conduct of Mr. God.
den while there. They both accompanied Mr. Smith home, and
found that he was the person that he described himself to be. The
two gentlemen at the tune were equally respectable ih appearance.
Mr. Godden, without attempting to deny or apologize fullthe
violent conduct with which be was charged, renewed his accusation
~gainst Mr. Smith. He was, he said, passing up Fleet-street, arm.
in-arm with a friend, when be felt something at his pocket, and on
putting his hand to it, instantly found the complaicaner hand
actually in his pocket. He recollected, however, that there was
nothing in his pocket, his handkerchief being in the crown of his
hat ; nevertheless, he was desirous of giving bin into custody,
and seized blot accordingly; but as the watch was not then
set, no officer was to be round, and to secure him.: he pushed
hint into the first shop that was open. He was not, he said,
bound to judge. by appearances, the thieves it was notorious
were frequently well drtaised and the fact of the prisoner's not
being able to give his card of address, confirmed him in hit
opinion that he was not mistaken in the character of the man. At
the watchhouse he protecd the constable to take the charge, 'but as
he refused so to do, without at the same time detaieg him, he pre.
ferret, as he had lost nothing, relinquishing the charge to being
locked up all night. Kith regard to the charge itself, he still per.
sisted that he found Mr. Smith's hand in his pocket. If, however,
Mr. Smith chose to drop all proceedings with regard to the assault,
he was content to say nothing more on that subject. ()n the con.
trary, if Mr. Smith meant to persist in his presentcharge, he should
certainly apply for a warrant, and have him taken up for attempting
to pick his pocket.
Mr. Alderman Those said he should consider that it would
be quite impossible for Mr. Smith to relinquish his charge for the
assault upop such a proposition, which would, in fact, be little leas
than an acknowledgment of the truth of the accusation against him.
Mr. Smith said, no, certainly t be should persist in his charge;
and if Mr. Godden thought proper to proceed as be threatened, he
should rely with confidence upon his general character to bring him
triumphantly through any such accusation.
Mr. Alderman l'no e said, in that case he must call upon Mr.
Godden to find bail.

M. Gadder said, that he could speedily do y and he a) cold cer.,
tairly proceed as he had stated al; beet limit:.
Mr. Hwnsford (the clerk) askew did Mr. Golden mean to say thee
he actually felt Mr. Smith's hard in his pocket?
Mr. Golden-1 es, I certainly found it th my rocket.
Uere this strange affair rested; and Mr. Haddon subsequently
found bail tor his sßitesrauce.to anatzer the charge of assault.