The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-21 00:00:00

THAMES.

EXTRAORDINARY PERSECUTION.—Richard Ford, a tall,
powerful man, about 40 years of age, was brought before
Mr Paget, on a charge which will bo best explained by the
following evidence.
Mr henry Wickers, the landlord of a large and first.class
public• house, called the Prince of Wales, in Globe-fields,
Stepney, said, the prisoner came there intoxicated and
riotous at 6 o'clock yesterday afternoon and demanded re-
freshment. Ho refused to serve him and requested him to
withdraw. The prisoner refused to do so and remained in
the house some time. At last he persuaded him to leave.
At nine o'clock the prisoner came to the house a second
time, repeated the disturbance, and called him various
foul names. A policeman was called who threatened
to lock him up if he would not discontinue his violence.
With some trouble the prisoner was again ejected,
and departed swearing and cursing loudly and
promising to return to the house. The prisoner did return
at 11, and was again very riotous and abusive, and called
both him and his wife very bad names. The prisoner was
compelled to leave for the third time, and the house was
soon afterwards closed. At 1 o'clock this morning there
was a loud knocking at the door. It was the prisoner
knocking, and he was given into custody. The prisoner
only came out of prison yesterday morning.
Charles Aubrey, No. 620 K, said that when he took the
prisoner into custody he said he had done nine monthb in
prison for the landlady of the Prince of Wales, and he did
not care about 12 months more, or for life.

Tho prisoner, in defence, said ho was a little in liquor
when he went to the Prince of Wales. He only wanted to
speak to the landlady, not to annoy her or her husband.
He was very sorry.

Mr James Griffin, an inspector of the K division of
police, said the prisoner was formerly barman and potman
to the landlady of the Prince of Wales, and was continually
drunk for some time, and annoyed hor, committed assaults,
and threatened her. The prisoner had been is prison nine
months and a fortnight under two commitments. On the
3d of February last, the day the first imprisonment expired,
he went to the Prince of Wales and annoyed and insulted
his former mistress, and a lady, her hiend, who was pre-
sent. The prisoner was again committed, and was released
yesterday. Since the prisoner's last committal the landlady
got married to the complainant, Mr Wickers, who was a
very respectable man. The prisoner was formerly porter
at the Dartford ITaion Poor-house.
The prisoner said ho formerly cohabited with Mrs
Roche, now Mrs Wickers. it was true he had been a
porter at a workhouse. He had also been a warder at the
Model Prison, Pantonville, and filled other public situations.
Ire would not go near Mr and Mrs Wickers again.
Mr Paget said the prisoner was a noisy and ruffianly fel-
low, and he did not believe his statements relating to his
former mistress. It was a gross calumny upon her. He
sentenced the prisoner to pay a fine of 40s for unlawfully
knocking at the door of the Prince of Wales, and in default
One month's imprisonment.
Tho prisoner—Pray, release me, sir. I promise faithfully
never to go to the house again.
Mr Paget—No, 40s or one month.
Tho prisoner—Please to make it 20s, sir ; pray do,
Mr Paget—l will not reduce the fine.