The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-05 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

A SCENE IN THE HATMARKET.—John Branet, a cab-
driver, badge 15,347, was charged before Mr Yardley with
being drunk and incapable of driving his cab, and also with
assaulting police-constables Yeo, 316 A, and Pratt, 311 A.
Yeo said—At five minutes to one this morning I saw a
cab standing in front of a public-house, no one attending to
it. Seeing the defendant some minutes after wards come out
of the public-house, I asked him if the cab belonged to him,
and he said, " What's that to you." Two gentlemen came
out of the house, and as they were about getting into the
cab I saw that the defendant was drunk. I, therefore, re-
fused to let the gentlemen get in, and the defendant then
struck ma a blow on the head which knocked me down, and
it took four of us to take him to the station.
Mr Yardley—Did the defendant hurt you P

Yeo— Yes. j
Defendant—l did not mean to do it. I had taken up two
"swells" in Princes-street, City, and they gave me some
ale. Oa coming out of the pubiichouse the constable said
I had left my cab unattended. I said I had not. My
" swells" then came out and asked me to go on, but the con-
stable would not let me, and my "swells" then said the cab-
man was nobody. What made the policeman savage was
because I called him a fair man, and said I did not like
fair man.

Mr. Yardley—Constable; did beingcalled a fair man irri-
tate you ?
Constable—Not at all, sir.
Defendant—All the contables—four of them—struck me.

Mr Yardley—l do not see aoy marks about you.
Thos. Pratt, 311 went to the assistance of Yeo. I
persuaded the defendant to go quietly, and he then struck
me a blow in the mouth, and then threw himself on the
ground, and while I was stooping to pick the defendant up
a man caught hold of my legs and threw me a regular
summersault. It took four of us to get the defendant to
the station.

Mr Yardley fined the defendant 20s, or 8 days.
Louis Muller, pastrycook at the Burlington, in Regent-
street, was next charged with assaulting the police.
Austin, 188 C—l was looking after the cab in the last
case, when I saw the defendant go up to Pratt, 311 A, who
was stooping to pick up the cabman, and seize him by the
legs and turn him heels over head. I then took him into
custody, and while on the way to the station, passing
through Jermyn-street, defendant put his leg between mine
and threw me, and then ran away, I pursued him, and ho
was taken into custody and to the station.
Pratt, 311 A—l was thrown heels over head, and my
back was hurt.

Mr Y ardley—Tho defendant might have done the con-
stable serious injury. He has been guilty of an imperti-
nent interference with the police while in the proper exe-
cution of their duty.

A witness from the Burlington gave the defendant a good
character as a quiet and decent man.
Mr Yardley—The defendant has got a degree of strength
which, if used or abused as it was last night, might become a
dangerous acquisition. But for the character the defend-
ant had received I should have sent him to the House of
Correction. I shall fine him 40s or 14 days.
Samuel Ilardcatle, of 53, Brunswick-terrace, Dover-road,
traveller to a wholesale cheesemonger, was charged with
being drunk and disorderly, and assaulting Thomas Pratt
311 A.

Pratt—About two this morning the defendant called at
the station and asked to see the inspector. He saw the in-
spector, and on coming out of the room the defendant said
to me, " Oh, you are the -- who locked up my cabman,"
and then struck me a violent blow in the face.
Yeo, 316 A, corroborated Pratt.

Inspector Walker—The defendant came into the inspec-
tor's room and demanded to know why the cabman was
locked up, and said the cabman was not drunk, and that
he would see the cabman before he left. He told the re-
serve man to see the defendant to the door, and shortly
after the defendant was brought in for assaulting the
constable.

Defendant—l did not make use of the expression. 1 did
not strike the constable, but I might have put my hand on
him.

Mr Yardley-1 think the defendant's conduct very bad,
it showed spite. I shall commit him for seven, days, with-
out a fine.

The defendant seemed much surprised at the result.

THAMES,

TRIMS or BENEFIT SOCIETIES.—A poor woman named
Madden, the wife of Henry Madden, made a complaint
against the Sons of Hope Benefit Society, held at the Bank
of Friendship public-house, in Bancroft-place, Mile-end-
road. Her husband joined the society on the 4th of April
last. He was then in good health. On the 12th of June
he was removed to Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum on a
medical certificate of his insanity. One of the rules of the
sccioty declared that members were to be free in six months,
and in sickness to ba allowed 12s per week. She had paid
up all the contributions, and they were received with the full
knowledge her husband was insane ; but when she applied
for the sick allowance it was refused. She was promised
the money she had already paid in to the society, and that
was refused. The last time she went to the club-house she
was insulted, and told there was nothing for her. She
respectfully submitted she was entitled to 12s. per week
while her husband was ill. She had three young children
to maintain, and was in great distress.
. .

Mr Pagot said the " Sons of Hope Benefit Society" was
not enrolled and registered, and he had no jurisdiction in
the case. Ho recommended the applicant to go to the
County Court of the district and ask for a summons.