The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-16 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

TRYING TO ROAST A MAN ALIVE.—A tall, powerful
black man, who gave the name of Charles Davis, was
brought up in custody, charged with ill-treating a man and
putting him upon a fire, accompanied with a threat that he
would roast him alive.
William Smith, a poor man, naid—l live at 30, Old Pye-
street, Westminster, in a lodging-house there, and so does
the prisoner. At about 10 o'clock last night I was sittting
quietly in the kitchen, talking to the woman who had care
of the house, when the prisoner crossed over to me, seized
mo by tho throat, and much ill-treated me. He struck me
in the face, while he had got hold of my throat and tried
to roast me.
Mr. Arnold—Tried to roast you!

Prosecutor-- Yes. lie caught hold of me and put me on
the fire and said he would hold me there till he roasted me
alive.

Mr. Arnold—What had you done to him ?
Prosecutor— Nothing whatever.

Mr. Arnold—What injury has been done to you?
Prosecutor—l struggled and got away, but my hands
were burnt, and I was scalded by the largo boiler on the
side of the fire.

Prisoner said he had been drinking freely, and was first
insulted by the prosecutor making some illiberal remarks
about his colour.

Prosecutor—l never said a word to him, or a word about
him. I was not talking about colour, but about something
else. Hero is the woman who manages the house, who
can prove it.

Mary Anne Eastwood—l look after the house for Mr.
Haddon, the proprietor. The prisoner came into the
kitchen last night, where there were other lodgers. I
was talking to the prosecutor. The prisoner deliberately
came up to him, and asked him what he was talking about,
and then ho said he would put him on the fire till he was
roasted, which he did.

Mr. Arnold—He fortunately was not roasted at any rate.
What were you talking about at the time the prisoner
came up ? .

Witness—About domestic things— about the houso and
he landlord of it.

Mr. Arnold—Was anything said about tho prisoner or
his colour ?

Witness—Not a word whatever; we wore talking about
Mr. Haddon. When the prisoner asked us what we were
talking about we told him.
James Joyce, 261 B—l was on duty in Old Pye-street
last night, and was told that a man had put another on the
fire. I took him into custody.
Mr. Arnold—What condition was he in ?
Witness—Re had been drinking, but was not so drunk
but that he well knew what he was about.
Prisoner—l know I was drunk, but I was insulted.
Mrs. Eastwood-1 can bring all the others. There were
five of them present when we were talking, and they can
prove nothing was said about him.
Prisoner was remanded.

THAMES.
EFFECTS OF DELIRIUM TREMENS.—Robert Beattie, re-
siding at 23, Rowland's Ring-row, Bethnal-green, was
charged before Mr. Paget with threatening the lives of
several persons at 23, Rowland's-row.
The prisoner has been several times in custody charged
with being drunk, and it was stated that he had been
almost daily under the influence of liquor, the effects of
which was believed to have brought on paroxysms of
delirium tremens.
The landlord of the prisonee now stated that the pri-
soner came home about one o'clock this morning, when he
broke two panes of glass and threatened to take the life of
his children.
Mr. Paget—What did he say about your children ?
Landlord—He had a knife in his hand, with which he
gave her a slap across her shoulders, and said that if she
did not go down stairs he would take her by the hair of
her head and drag her down the stairs, and last night he
swore that he would have the life of his eldest daughter.
Mr. Paget—What is the cause of all this ?
Landlord—l cannot say. I believe he is labouring
ender delirium tremens. On Friday he was charged at
this court with an assault on a woman and child, and on
the next day he was charged with assaulting the captain
of a vessel in Stepney-green.
Mr. Paget—Do you swear that you are in fear of violence
from him? -
Landlord—l fear that if not restrained he will do me
and my children some mischief.
Mr Paget (to prisoner)—What do you say to the charge?
You must give security for your good behavour for one
month.
Prisoner—Oh, I can bring all Stepney-green as security.
Mr. Paget said that he should hold him to bail himself
in £lOO and two securities of £5O each, to keep the peace
for one month.
It was further stated that the prisoner's wife was burnt
to death about six months ago, and that he had been seen
almost daily intoxicated.

NARROW ESCAPE OF A GREAT WESTERN EXPRESS
TRAlN.—Yesterday a diabolical attempt to upset a
train on the South-Eastern Railway, between the Woking-
ham and Earley Stations, by placing a metal across the
line, was reported; and on Monday evening a similar act
placed in imminent danger the lives of the passengers by
the 4.50 p.m. express train from Paddington. When the
train reached the top of the incline near the Wootton
Bassett Station, and while it was proceeding at full speed,-
a shock was experienced, and, on the line being examined,
it was found that a piece of metal had been placed on the
line, but fortunately the wheels of the engine severed it,
and thus a frightful accident was averted. Within the
last few weeks several attempts of this kind have been
made on different Luce.