The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-29 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

DESPERATE CHARGE OF WOUNDlNG.—Benjamin Powel
and Thomas Muckford, the former of whom is a very power-
ful man, were charged with feloniously assaulting and
wounding James Jordan and David Jordan with a poker
and fire tongs.

James Jordan, who presented a frightful appearance from
the blood about his face and person, said—l went with
my brother to 68, Arthur-street, Chelsea, last evening to
see my sister and her husband, Maddegan, who lodge there.

We left their room, and were coming down-stairs to go out,
when Powel came into the passage and stood before us. He
came out of the landlady's room. My brother thought he
was a policeman, and asked him if he was not. Powel said
nothing, but struck him on the head with a pair of tongs,
and he fell on the ground. I went to my brother's assist-
ance, and held myself o'er his body to protect him. While
I was doing so Muckford struck me three blows on the head,
across the crown of the head, one after another with a poker.
William Muckford, brother of Thomas, who was also there,
then said "let me have the poker, you don't know how to
use it," and he then took the poker and knocked me across
the head until I was insensible.

Mr. Selfe—Did you strike either of them ?
Prosecutor—Not a blow.
Mr. Selfe—What was the cause of this ?
Prosecutor—There was no cause at all.
Mr. Selfe—Were you and your brother sober.
Prosecutor—Perfectly.
Mr. Selfe—Do you know the defendants ?
Prosecutor—l never saw them before. lam very much
injured, I am bruised all over.

Some further questions were being put to prosecutor, when
he became very faint, and could not proceed until he was
seated, and some water was procured. Nothing material
was elicited.

It was now explained that the probable cause of the dis-
turbance was, that David Jordan and his brother-in-law,
Maddegan, were summoned to the court yesterday by
William Muckford, the prisoner's brother, for using threat-
ening language, when they were required to enter into
their own recognizances to keep the peace.
David Jordan, who was wounded on the head, Patrick
Maddegan, Ellen Street, and another witness, were called,
whose evidence supported the account given by the prose-
cutor.

Two police-constables were called and proved that they
were fetched by Muckford's brother, and when they got
into the house they found a struggle going on, and had the
defendants given in charge. The Jordans were both
bleeding copiously from their wounds.
In defence it was stated that Powel knew nothing of
either of the parties, but hearing cries of " murder" went
into the house to interfere, when he found himself charged
with an assault, although he had never had any poker or
instrument of any kind in his hand. The other prisoner it
was stated went to see his brother, who lodged at 68,
Arthur-street, and finding the Jordans and Mad-
degan fighting with one another, one brandishing
an iron bar, in the passage, he went into the parlour for
safety and fastened it, when an attack was made upon the
door, and Jordan and Maddegan fell upon Muckford. The
wounds borne by the Jordans were inflicted by their own
friends.

The landlady of the house confirmed this account in part,
clearly exonerating Powel. She said Maddegan struck the
prisoner Muckford with the iron bar, and one of the others
had something in his hand. On their way from this court
yesterday the Jordans and Maddegan insulted the other
parties who had appeared against them. The landlady
declared the prosecutors were under the influence of liquor,
but the police proved that they were not.
Another witness said Mrs. Maddegan, who is far advanced
in pregnancy and very ill, broke the parlour door open and
throw water upon her.
The case was proceeding, without any probability of
coming to an early close, when our account left.