The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-29 00:00:00

POLIC g INTELLIGENCE.—Nov. 28.

GUILDHALL.--CONFLICT BETWEEN AN ATTOR-
NEY AND THE POLICE.
—Mr Salomon Spyer, a soli-
citor, was summoned before Alderman Humphery,
for unlawfully resisting two officers, named Totting..
ham and Dyer, in the performance of their duty.
There was also cross summonses against the offi-
cers for assaulting Mr. Spyer.
Mr. Sleigh, instructed by Mr. Beard, conducted
the complaint for the police ; and Mr. Lewis on
behalf of Mr. Spyer.
John Tottingham, 173, said—l was on duty at
Willi dm-street, New Bridge-street, on Friday after-
noon last, to keep PeoPle from going to the scene of
the late fire at Sir Charles Price's premises, when
the defendant came across from Earl-street, and
wanted to pass down William-street, as he said,
for the purpose of going to the Temple on business.
I directed him to Tudor-street as the nearest way
while William-street was stopped, and told him
that our orders were to let no one pass, but he per-
sisted for some time in going through William-
street, and expressed such a strong determination
and was so violent that I was obliged to take him
to the police-station.
Cross-examined—The defendant said he was in a
hurry to get to the Temple, and I told him the way
by Tudor-street was equally near.
Alderman Humphery—lf he was so very urgent
to go to the Temple, why did he attempt to go
through William-street, when the other way would
not have made a minute's difference to him ?

Mr. Lewis—He bad a consultation with counsel
in the Temple, and to have gone round would have
been a loss of ten minutes in time. __

vv Alderman Humphery—Not by the way of Tudor-
street ; but I have no doubt Mr Spyer wanted to see
the fire.

Mr. Lewis—Nothing of the kind, sir. However,
sir, you have now heard one of the officers, and per-
haps you will say the case has proceeded far enough.
Mr. Sleigh—On behalf of my clients, I must ask
for a judicial decision.
Win. Dyer, 163, corroborated the first witness,
and added—We did not allow any one to pass un-
til after the property rescued from the fire had been
secured iu the yard where the fire occurred, except
the persons employed at the gas works and those
residing at the houses adjoining.
Jones, 169, gave similar evidence, and
. .

Sergeant Deadeye, 45, proved that the instruc-
tions issued to the police were to keep the public
from passing through William-street until further
orders, and that the constables were only acting in
obedience to those instructions in preventing the de-
fendant from forcing his way through.
Mr. Fogo was called to show that it was for the
protection of property and for facilitating the fire-
men's exertions in extinguishing the fire that the
thoroughfare in question was closed by the police.
Mr. Lewis—Surely, sir, if my client is willing to
withdraw his complaint against the police the whole
mat ter may be allowed to drop here.
Mr. Sleigh—l do not ask for any penalty, but I
must ask for a conviction, to show that the police
have not acted itoproperly.
Aiderman Humphery—The police must be pro-
tected in the performance of their duty. I have
no doubt the defendant felt it very annoying to be
taken to the police-station, but he brought it all
upon himself

Mr. Lewis—Mr. Spyer is a most respectable gen-
tleman, and I do think that, as he is Willing
mit that were in the strict performance
he police to ad-
of their duty, both complaints might very fairly
be withdrawn.

Mr. Sleigh--I have known Mr. Spyer for some
time es a most respectable gentleman, and I say