The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-30 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
RIOTOUS PROCEEDINGS IN KENSINGTON GARDENS.—John
Alfred Clay, a youg man, living at No. 4, Simester-street,
Harrow-road, decorator, and George Alfred German, a

young man, described as a draper, Of No. 89, Great Port•
land-street, were charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with throw.

ing snowballs in Kensington-gardens yesterday afternoon,
to the oommon danger of the passengers.

Henry Matthews, park constable, No. 24, said—Yester-
day I was called by several gentlemen who came from Ken-
sington-Gardens into Hyde-park, who said they had been
snow-balled by the Prisoners and others on going into the
gardens. The defendants, with a number of others-
-500 or 600—pelted hiin and another keeper. We cau-
tioned the prisoners to desist, but they still con-

tinned to throw on the persons from the bridge—

ladies and gentlemen being the persons principally selected.

At last wo got tho assistance of some gentlemen, and on

going after the persons throwing they all made off.
Lieutenant John G. Maleolmson, of the Bombay Cavalry
and the Junior United Service Club, said—Yesterday after-

noon I was by the Round Pond, and as I came towards the
Serpentine I found a large number of men snowballing. I
tried to get out of the way, when I was set upon and
pelted by a large number of fellows. My hat was
knocked off, I was knocked down, and then surrounded
by 300 or 400 fellows and pelted with snowballs.
A stick with which I tried to defend myself was broken to

pieces by one of the crowd, and I was knocked down re-
peatedly. When I first saw the snowballing going on I
thought it was only a game, but I soon found that it was
not. Why I come here is not so much to punish the lads,

who were not the ringleaders, and were two of the
smallest, but because I did riot notice a single park

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keeper or constable present to stop it or to drive
persons away. Some of the gentlemen at last formed
together with the assistance of the park constables, and

rushed down and drove the fellows off. I saw Clay dis-
tinctly throwing. I think the constables ought to have
done something, ladies being served in the same way. I
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was very badly treated and was wet through.

Mr. Tyrwhitt—Were there no park constable on duty
while the affair was going on ?
Lieutenant Mllcolmson—None, sir.
Mr. Tyrwhitt—We are much indebted to you, sir, for
coming forward.

Mr. Robert Whoble, of the Reform Club, said—l was in
he Park yesterday afternoon, and consider what took place

a disgrace to a civilised country. Whilst getting away
from the snowball throwers a lad came down to me and
said, " Don't go that way, for there is a fight between the
Park constables and the roughs." Ido not think half a
dozen constables enough at such times. I have not seen so
many in the Park since the Garibaldi affair—they were like
a swarm of bees. Some steps ought to be taken to prevent
the recurrence of such a scene as that of yesterday, as, if
there are not sufficient park constables, there ought to be
a staff of the police present. I consider I was fortunate in
escaping the treatment the first witness received.
Inspector Draper, C Division—TM police do not do duty
in Kensington-gardens.
Mr. Tyrwhitt—l should like to know what point of hon-
our or nonsense prevents them doing so.
Mr. Wheble—The park contables seemed to be paying
more attention to the ropes across the ice and to the water-
fowl.
Mr. George Shipton, 32, Great Marborough-street, said
—Yesterday afternoon I was going through Kensington-
gardens by the Round-pond, when a piece of ice—not
snow—was thrown at me and cut my face. I turned round
but could not discover who threw it ; but in the bushes
was concealed a number of persons who threw not only
snowballs but pieces of ice. I was completely smothered
with snow. I called the persons cowards, and made the
best of my way to the bridge. I saw the first witness's
hat knocked off, and when he went to use his stick for his
protection it was broken in pieces. Several ladies as well
as gentlemen were treated in a similar manner. A gentle-
man who had a child with him took it up in his arms and
ran under the bridge for protection, but there he was pelted
by a number of fellows. At last the gentleman made a
sortie and drove the fellows away. Clay was taken into
custody, and while on the way to the station, followed by
a large crowd, German threw a snowball at me, and he was
also taken into custody. Some of the persons in the mob
then cried out " Get up your sticks and stones." Some of
the constables did their dthy well, as the larger number of
the mob consisted of men, but the scene was a very dis-
graceful one.
Stephen Middleton, 623 A—At five o'clock yesterday
afternoon I was on duty in Hyde-park, and seeing a large
crowd coming from Kensington-gardens, I went towards it,
and saw the prisoner Clay in custody ; and on the way
German was given into my custody for throwing a snow-
ball at the last witness.
Clay—l had only just come off the ice.
Mr. Tyrwhitt—Nobody would care as long as you did
not interfere with decent persons. The only thing in your
favour is that you were not the worst. When the conduct
of persons assumes such dimensions as on the present oc-
casion, it is time to deal with them, and strongly too.
Kensington-gardens there formerly only used by the Royal
Family, but they are now devoted to the public. There
are no doubt park keepers enough on ordinary occasions,
but not for such a day as yesterday, and why the police
aro not admitted without it is to please the whim of one
person I cannot tell, nor why they do not go down in a
sufficient body to protect the public. What can half-r
dozen men do with such a body as has been describe
and with whom to be a gentleman is a very high offence
Some sharp remedy for such conduct must be adminis.
tered, and I shall fine Clay £3 or six weeks, and the
other prisoner 40 shillings or a month. It is a great
pity the other persons could not have been taken into cus-
tody also, those who were the worst—for I wouldhive sent
them all to the sessions.
Sergeant Cowdy, one of the Park constables, said—At the
time the disorderly conduct was going on the park con-
stables were called away from duty to go and close the