The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-31 00:00:00

THAMES,

UNMANLY AND SAVAGE ASSAULT ON A FEMALE.—
John Lewis, a man about 30 years of age, a hawker, was
brought before Mr Partridge, chargod with assaulting Ann
Spicer, a girl about 17 years old.

The complainant stated that she was living with her
parents at No. 4, Clayhall.place, Red Ford, Bow. On
Saturday night she was in the Bow road with another girl,
and the prisoner came towards them and gave each
of them a printed tract. They thanked him and passed
on. He demanded a penny for his tracts from each of
them. Her companion returned her tract to him, and
she was about to do the same when he aware
at her, and said he would have a penny. She was
frightened, ran away from him, and threw the tract on the
ground. He soon overtook her and gave her a "punch"
with his fist on the eye and knocked her down. He then
kicked her three times on the side and hurt her very much
indeed. She screamed, and called out " Murder," and he
said if she made the least noise he would pull her heart out.
She did continue to make a noise, and her companion
fetched a police-constable, and gave the prisoner into
custody.

Charlotte Bannister, a girl of 13, confirmed her friend's
statement.

James Prescott, police sergeant, No. 1 K, stated that on
Saturday evening he was called by the last witness and saw
the girl Spicer crying, surrounded by 20 or 30 respectable
persons, who were indignant with,the prisoner, and said he
had shamefully ill-used the complainant. Several persons
in the crowd said the prisoner had pushed tracts in their
laces, and because they would not buy them loaded them
with abuse. They were four blackguards all acting in a
similar disgraceful manner on Saturday evening.
The prisoner made a lame defence, and said he had a
" drop taken" on Saturday night.

Mr Partridge said the prisoner was a most unmanly
scoundrel, and sentenced hinejor an " aggravated assault'•
to three months' imprisonment and hard labour.

SHAM ANTIQUITIES AT THE EMBANKMENT.—
Mr Chubb writes :—A. friend has just called in to show
me three bronze keys of Roman manufacture which he
purchased from a navvy who had dug them out at
the Thames Embankment. On examination I found them
to be recent castings, with the moulding sand in the inter-
stices. I understand that a number of these and similar
antiquities are on sale by the industrious navvies at the
embankment.—. Builder.

MURDEROUS OUTRAGE UPON A SIIERIFF'S
OFFICER. -A sheriff's officer entered the house of a Mrs.
Robinson and her son, living at Edge-lane, Liverpool,
yesterday moining„ in order to servo a writ of execution,
The son rushed down stairs, and with a cavalry sword cut
open the officer's head and wounded him in the legs, while
the mother attacked him with a poker and dealt him some
dreadful blows on the head. The officer's hat only saved
his life. The Robinsons have been committed for trial.

NOVEL SALE BY AUCTION.—On Tuesday, at the
sale of the premises at the corner of Newcastle-street,
Strand, known as Sams' Hotel, and which is to be cleared
away to make room fur the site of the Strand Hotel, the
auctioneer put up to auction the hoarding which is to be
erected round the premises, and which is to be used as an
advertisement board by the purchaser. There were several
competitors for the property, which, after an active com-
petition was knocked down for £2O.

THE HALSTEAD MIJRDER.—Emma Howard, alias
Padney, who was tried at the last Essex assizes for
the murder of her child at Halstead by drowning it in the
river at that town, but who was acquitted on the ground
of insanity, has been removed from Springfield gaol, near
Chelmsford, by ardor of the Secretary of State, to Broad
Moor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Berkshire, At this estab.
lishment the unhappy prisoner will be detained during her
Majesty's pleasure.