The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LO DON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY' 6, 1861

civilised, and Christian, what would then be our position on
earth ?

What then ought we to do ? The answer to that question
rests with statesmen, not writers in ma g., zines, but this at
least we may attempt. We may guard the treaty ports uLtil
order has been restored, outlaw every Englishman who takes
service in China without the written permission of the
Embassy, and negotiate with the Government for the one
bit of soil which would enable us to influence China without
being dragged into incessant extensions of territory—the
island of Chusan.

The Assault on Lathes in a Railway Carriage

William Whithead, aged 36, of Wexham Rectory, Bucks,
was brought up on remand before Mr, Knox at the Maryle-
bone Police-court yesterday, charged with indecently as-
saulting Mrs. Brices Charlotte Richardson in a carriage on
the Great Western Railway, between Langley and West
Drayton and Paddington, he being drunk at the time.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine, instructed by Messrs. Maples,
Maples, and Teesdale, solicitors to the Great Western Rail-
way Company, prosecuted; and Mr. Lewis, jun., appeared
on behalf of the prisoner.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine said----Before this case is any
further gone into, it will be, perhaps, as well to say in what
position I appear in respect of this matter. I appear to
prosecute, instructed by the solicitors of the Great Western
Railway Company, the directors of which feel very strongly
upon this subject. The facts of the case were that Mrs.
Richardson and other young ladies of position and refine-
ment were travelling in one of the company's carriages,
when they were all much frightened, and Mrs. Richardson
was most indecently assaulted, by the prisoner. Mrs.
Richardson has ascertained that the prisoner has a wife,
who is most respectable, and, although she has been moat
grossly insulted, still she has a very strong desire to with-
draw from the prosecution. The railway company, however,
feel that there is a duty incumbent upon them, and that
duty is to prosecute this matter to the full extremity of the
law. They feel that persons travelling upon their line must
be protected from outrage. They had, of late, become fre-
quent on several lines, and, unless put down, would, render
railway travelling unsafe. I shall call evidence before Sou
as regards the conduct of the prisoner towards this lady
(Mrs, Richardson), and I must say that it does seem to me
most fortunate that a Mr. Smith, a solicitor, who is now in
attendance, should have been in the same carriage. This
gentleman seems to have acted with great courage, and also
to have shown his humanity by endeavouring to put a stop
to the abominable and disgusting conduct of the prisoner.
Mr. Smith, at one time, was very much alarmed for the
safety of all persons in the carriage, for it appears that this
man produced a whistle similar to those used by guards,
and while the train was running blew it with great force.
Mr. Smith felt that if this was to be allowed to continue it
would cause destruction to the train. He remonstrated
with the prisoner upon the subject. The conduct of the
latter, however, did not appear to improve from this re-
monstrance, but rather the reverse, for he lifted a stick
he had with him, and flourished it about, and
knocked
ladies were
ockedit violenstiltytinagg,aionnedt the compartments
hadcomparttmoenptust
downwhere
the
their heads to avoid being struck. Indeed, it they had been
struck very serious consequences might have ensued from
such severe blows as would have been inflicted. When the
train stopped the lady and her two friends got out and com-
plained to the guard, and he placed them in another com-
partment. I think it only right to say, on behalf of the
guard, that the lady when lodging her complaint with him
did not go fully into the details of what had occurred,
which might be accounted for from their being very inde-
cent. He (the guard) on that occasion did not feel it neces-
sary to separate the men. The company having, however,
ordered a full inquiry to be made into all the circumstances,
they are determined that, so far as they are concerned, the
public travelling upon their line shall be fully protected.
On behalf of the company I must ask that the prisoner shall
be sent for trial. I have been told that he is a person of
good position, and that his habits are very strange and un
accountable while under the influence of liquor. If that is
correct, it is all the more reason why I should ask for the
prisoner being sent for trial. A person of this kind, it is
clear enough, ought to be confined for the general safety
of the public; and I am quite sure that that case will be
fully gone into before another Court. This outrage has been
a bad one, and it must not be said that in a civilised country
like this cuch proceedings can be allowed. I need not re-
peat any more what has already been clearly and correctly
reported in the newspapers, but will call Mrs. Richardson,
however unfortunate it is for her and unpleasant for me.

Mr. Knox, addressing Mrs. Richardson, said that, how-
ever painful it might be for her to appear in such a case,
he had made up his mind upon the last occasion to send the
case for trial, and that, whatever her feelings might have
been, she would have had no option of retiring from the
proceeding. This was a case of that class which must be
prosecuted, and one of those in which he felt that the public
'Lust be protected.
Sergeant Ballantine—The company have shown every
anxiety that the matter should be fully investigated, and
their solicitors feel very strongly in the matter.

Mrs. Richard Eon's evidence was then read over as re-
ported upon the last occasion.
Sergeant Ballantine—When was it that he touched you?
Mrs. Richardson—When I was getting out of the train.
Sergeant Ballantine—You say that he touched you on
the leg ; was it under or above your dress ?
Mrs. Riche! dson—l mean upon my person, under my
dress.

Mr. Knox—lt is very unpleasant and disagreeable to
you to have those questions put to you, but still my duty
compels me to ascertain distinctly what took place. Now,
am I to understand that his hand was under or above your
dress ? _ _

Mrs. Richardson—Under my clothes.
Mr. Lewis—When the prisoner got into the train how
did he get in ?
Mrs. Richardson—On his hands and knees.
Mr. Lewis—Did you observe whether the railway people
put him into the railway carriage ?

Mrs. Richardson—No, they did not.
Mr. Lewis—And you perceived he was drunk ?
Mrs. Richardson—Yes.

Mr. Lewis—Madly drunk ?

Mrs. Richardson—No, not madly drunk. He was very
drunk. I was in such a hurry to get out that I did not
know whether the train had stopped or not. The man with
the prisoner tried to unfasten the door, and it was while I
was waiting to get out that the prisoner committed the as-
sault. I complained to the guard, and I know nothing more.
I was placed in another compartment with the other ladies.
Fanny Richardson, the sister-in-law of last witness, and
who was in the train at the time, was recalled and had her
evidence read over.

Benjamin Denning, the guard, was then recalled and
cross-examined upon his evidence. He said—At Langley
the prisoner and the other man got into the train. The
complaint was made to me at West Drayton. The ladies
got out and met ma on the platform. I did not take care to
lock the carriage, so that no one else should not get in. The
complaint of the ladies was not sufficient for me to do so.
I did not hear the word " drunk" used to me by the ladies.
The complaint made to me by Mrs. Richardson was that
she had been insulted, and also her two friends by the men
who got in at Langley. I did not care to lock.them in after
the complaint. After I had placed the three ladies in ano-
ther compartment I wont back to the carriage in which the
prisoner and the other man were. The other ladies that
wore in there I did not ask to leave. There were three or

four ladies and a gentleman left in the carriage then.
Mr. Knox—Then, do I understand that you heard this
complaint, and then allowed other ladies to get in and these
men to go on ?
Denning—lt was a very heavy train on the night, and
the other passengers got into the train before the ladies got
out. They asked me to place them somewhere else, and I
did so. I then went and spoke to the prisoner and his corn-
painion. I said they had been grossly insulting some ladies,
and that if they did not desist I should take other' means
to make them.
Mr. Knox—That was the substance of your evidence
before.
Sergeant Ballantine—You have been an officer in the
police, I believe, before you got a situation upon the rail-
way ?
Denning—l was four years in the metropolitan police,and
I left that w go to a private asylum, whore I remained for
3 years and a half. I had good characters from both to get
into the company's service.

Mr. William Akers Smith, 00, Denbigh-street, Pimlico,
solicitor, said—l got into the train at 'West Drayton. The
prisoner and another matt were already in the carriage. I
did not see the ladies get out of the compartment that I
got into. When I got into the train the guard was at a
little distance up from the door. There were four ladies
who got in, and the prisoner and another man were already
there. That made six, and two gentlemen who came in
after made in all nine passengers. I sat next the door, and
the prisoner by my side,
Mr. Lewis—Pardon me, but I thought the charge that
wa were going upon was one of assaulting Mrs. Richardson.
Mr. Knox—You are quite right, Mr. Lewis. When the
case was before me last week I thought, or was given to
understand, that there was something that transpired in
another compartment of the carriage, where the ladies had
gone, but now it occurs that this of which Mr. Smith
speaks took place in the same compartment. This can be
made another charge of if the company think fit. Mr.
Smith, you must sit down, and we will go on with the first
case, and make yours a separate one.
George Henry Mad erell, inspector of the D division,
said,—About half-past 8 on the night of the 2Sth I was on
duty at the Paddington-green station when the prisoner
and another man were brought in. They were both very
drunk. ➢lrs. Richardson told 1113 that the prisoner had
most grossly insulted her, and that he had made use of
most abominable language. She also said that he had in-
decently assaulted her batween Langley and West Drayton.
While she was telling me this the prisoner kept laughing at
her and shouting. Every time I asked a question, and she
was about to answer me, he burst out into a loud laugh, and
it was inaposeible to hear what was said. He treated the
matter with the greatest contempt. After I had entered
the charge I read it over to the prisoner, and he made no
reply to it further than saying it was not so. This witness
was about to explain why the other man was not in custody,
when he was stopped.

Mr, Knox—l can only say that if this case is not