The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-27 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

SUBSTANTIAL JUSTICE.—John Williams, a stout-looking
man, was charged with violently assaulting Hannah Webb.
The complainant said she lived at 15, Smith's-rents, in the
defendant's house. On Saturday she had her brother and
brother-in-law to see her, and while they were talking the
defendant came up and told her to leave the house. She
had got nearly all her furniture away, but did not take the
remainder because she could not pay her rent until Monday.
Defendant broke open the door, and, saying she should
leave his house, kicked her several times.

In reply to an inquiry from Mr. Self°, the complainant
admitted that sho was not a married woman, but was
eobabitating with a man. •

Defendant, in a very quiet, but earnest manner, said ho
had the most right to complain. The woman, who repre-
sented herself to b 3 a single woman, came to live at
his house. Soon after she introduced a man as her hus-
band, next there was a sister-in-law produced about the
scene, then a brother-in-law, and at last he found there
were six persons living in the crowded room. He was
sure he should get into trouble for having so many people
there, and disease would break out, so he gave her notice
to quit, and finding a lot of beer brought in for a debauch
last Saturday he offered to forgive her rent if she would go,
but she would not. He never kicked her, but certainly
defended himself from attack.

Mr. Selfe—Are you ready to forgive the rent now ?
Defendant—That I will, if she'll go.
Complainant—l have got a place.
Mr. Selfe—Policeman, see her things out of the pri
soner's house. He is discharged.

A SATURDAY NIGHT THAMES.ROW.—SAVAGE ASSAULT.—George
English, a tall well-dressed man, who has been employed
by the firm of Fletcher Brothers, ship-builders, at Poplar,
,r
sf from
r. the
Ito
was brought before Mr. Paget, charged with assaulting
Fanny Hall, of No. 45, Oxford-street, Stepney, and John
Bridges, a Patent Improved Wire Rope Manufacturer, of
Irr.Gerratheanp
Rope Makers' Fields, Limehouse.
defended solicitor,
.o
Hodgson,th the complainant's
evidence that on Saturday night, a few minutes before 12
office of
appeared
o'clock, they went into the White Horse public-house to
have some refreshment. The prisoner, his brother William
English, and two other men, were there. As the com-
plainants were leaving the house part of a pot of
beer was thrown by the prisoner over the woman.
Bridges said that it was a most unmanly trick
to throw beer over a woman. The complainants went
away quietly, and were followed by the prisoner and his
companions. The prisoner used bad language and struck
Bridges, who was knocked down, and while he was down
was kicked by all four of the assailants. He got up and
resented the attack on him by striking the prisoner. The
row became general and the police interfered. The com-
plainants walked on, by the advice of a police-constable,
and the prisoner came behind Bridges and struck him. He
was very much ill-used and covered with blood, which
issued from his nose and mouth. The female interfered,
and was struck by the prisoner and knocked down. She
was beaten dreadfully, according to her account, and her
nose bled copiously.
In cross-examination by Mr. Gomm, it turned out that
Hill was a prostitute, and that during the affray a large and
formidable brass " knuckle-duster" (an American weapon of
offence and defence) dropped from Bridges. He swore that
he did not wear it or attempt to use it. He was in the
habit of collecting large sums of money daily, and thought
he had a right to carry any weapon to defend himself.
A police-constable, named Charles Fuller, 506 K, saw
Bridges on the ground and the prisoner standing over him.
Bridges got up and began -fighting the prisoner. The
woman interfered, and the prisoner struck her.
Mr. Paget had no doubt of the merits of the case. There
was a disgraceful row and fight, the woman interfered, and
she was struck. Her statement was greatly exaggerated.
He condemned in strong terms the conduct of Bridges,
who carried a deadly and dangerous instrument about him.
The prisoner had committed an unjustifiable though not a
severe assault on the woman, for which he fined him 20s.
The money was paid.