The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-04 00:00:00

UNION-lIALL.

In the list of night charges from the various watchhouses in the
district, appeared one attended with very considerable circum-
stances of aggravation against a Mr. Penny, who described him.
self as a coffee-dealer, residing in the city. The offence with
which he was charged was for inflicting a very severe kick upon the
person of a decent young female, named Neone Bacon, living in
the service of a respectable family at Newington,
The complainant, who is a modest and handsome-looking young
woman, stated that on the preceding night, between eight and nine
o'clock, as she was going towards home, the defendant, who was
proceeding in a contrary direction, met her in the London-road,
near the Obelisk, and extending his arms oat upon her approach,
endeavoured to Impede her, by catching her in his arms. She,
however, perceived his intention, and avoided contact by shrinking
back some paces. The defendant, notwithstanding her desire to
pass on quietly, followed her up, bat she evaded his grasp, saying.
Go about your business, Sir; you are mistaken in the person ;"
and adding, •' there are plenty of those in the street that won't
complain of your familiarities.' The complainant having said so,
proceeded forward at a smart rate, leaving the person who wanted
to insult her some distance In the rear. The girl, however, had not
gone far when on a sudden she received a desperate kick from some
one behind. She turned round, and at the instant observed the de-
fendant stepping off the pavement, with the view of crossing to the
other side of the road, and muttering out, " take that," or words
to a similar effect. On receiving the kick, although in consider-
able pain, from the violence with which it was given, she express-
ed herself in these words—" You are no man for taking such a base
advantage of a woman, and if a watchman was near I should give
you into custody." She had scarcely spoken the sentence when a
watchman, who heard the complaint, came up, saying he would
take the charge, and she accordingly pointed out the defendant as
the person who had so grossly assaulted her, and gave him into
custody. The complainant, in conclusion, stated that the place
upon which she had been kicked was now black and inflamed.
The Magistrate, upon hearing the nature of the assault, ex-
pressed, in strong language, his indignation at the cowardly and
brutal attack upon the complainant ; and addressing the defendant,
asked him what Ike had to urge in his defence for such disgraceful
conduct as that attributed to him ?
The defendant, who is a man of very gentlemanly exterior, had
very little to state in extenuation, merely ascribing it to accident,
saying that on the night in question he happened to slip while
passing the young woman, and in the act of endeavouring to break
the fall, by chance one of his arms struck against her.
The complainant, however, positively declared that the assault

tree committed precisely nada the circumstances she had eve° In
her statement.
Mr. CHAMBERS then asked the complainant whether it was her
wish that he should hold the defendant to bail to answer the charge
at the Sessions, or whether she should prefer baring compensation
from the individual by whom she had been assaulted, now before he
left the office, and by that means save herself the necessity of sp.
-fearing before the*purt and prosecuting ?
The complains* in reply Os the Magistrate, said that she had
no desire to prosecute, neither had she any inclination to accept of
the defendant's money l all she required was, that the person who
assaulted her in the manner described should be compelled to
make an apology for his conduct, and also pay a small, sum towards
some charity.
The defendant consented to these conditions, and a fine was in-
flicted upon him, which was deposited in a poor-box kept at the
office, out of which many miserable objects ate relieved in the
course of the year.