The National Register.
London, England, 1818-11-16 00:00:00

WORSHIP STREET.

A Mr. William CO,oiorolo.;nitbooiiglltiothis office, for an
assault on the person of George Dale, a messenger under a
commission of bankruptcy.
It appeared let in the evidence, that Mr. Henry Gompertz,
late ut 'lrukenhouse Yi.rd, wooklealer, now a priso.er in the
Fleet Pt isun, had become a bankrupt, and a commission had
issued against him on the ash of October last. lie had also
a private residence at '29, Nelson Terrace, Kingsland Road,
which lie had, previous to his becoming a bankrupt, made
over to Mr. Gurney ; arid which the assignees under the
cominission di.covered to be in the occupation of the defer.
dant ; and on Wednesday the 4th inst. they vent a messenger
to take possession ; and on the following day the defendant,
with the assistance of another person, forcibly turned the
messenger out of the house. Mr. Reiley, a saddler, ill
bury Puce, one of the assignees, went on the 6th, with the
complainant (I)ale) with proper authority, and entered the
house by the back door,which then accidentally was lett open.
Upon the defendant's beating that possession was again ob-
tained, he immediately Calfle down stairs to tiie kitchen with
a pair of pistols iu his hand, and desired Dale to show his
authority, which Dale instantly did; 411 ieitioustrances on
the part ut the assignee wine inetfertnal, and after disputing
about lit minutes, defendant discharged one of the pistols at
Dale, and finding that had no effect, instantly tired the other,
Which slightly struck him on the wrist. Illefendalit then Hew
up stairs, and seized a cutlass, with which he made a blow at
Dale ; but by the timely interference of Mr. Reilly. they
succeeded in taking the cutlass from him ; snit they sent
immediately-for an ufficer, and had him iaken into custody.
Mr. Cooper, in his delence,stated, that he had poi chased
the house and premises, and paid the purchase money ; arid
that it was a bona fide purchase; yet, nutty itlistanding, the
assignees appeared to be determined to take possession, and
accutdinely on the 4th inst. sent a man to take possession
by stratagem, when he, by diteetions froin his solicitor, gently
put him out; and the assignees then resorted to the means 01
111ipuhillg 50111511iillg like terms to lull his suspicions, alibi
any future intentions of their retaking possession ; but on
the bib the assignees employ eel Dale to retake pussesaion, and
rioting the absence of ills female aervaiii, Dale got 0501 the
kitchen Willi ut an:adjoining house, and entered by the back
door into the kitchen; lie, heating a noise, went into the
kitchen, and saw Dale with a pistol in his hand 11:iif hod
moiler his coat; lie enquired Ins bie. nuia and a„;nooi-ooy,
wind' Dale t ciMoeil to answer, and took tins pistol tt ono wider
etia. He (defendant) then, and nut till then, retutoen
up stairs to Ins bed wow; and brought down a pair of

367

pistols, loaded only with powder; and being flirt a retied by
Dale, he fired the pistols of r. Itcile)• and his brother then came
to Dale's assistance, and they ill-treated in a mufti scan-
dalous manner, awl struck him a violent Wow on the temple ;
and when. being stunned, he became unable to make any tea
sistance they sent far an officer, who brought him here.
31r. Cmiant, tile sit tiny Ningisti ate, told him that he con-
sidereal it 4 most 42ge.isdleil and unjustifiable assault, for
,shish be should demand respectable bail for his personal ap-
pearance at the next Session, to answer the complaint of tile
assignees. The defendaiii immediately entered tutu recut'.
nivinee, and was dischmgcti.