The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-27 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

THE FIRE IN PORTLAND STRERT.—RESISTING THE
POLICE,—Wm. Henry Jenni❑gs, furniture dealer, of No.
2, Hollen-street, Soho, was charged before Mr. Knox, by
Inspector Draper, with re,isting Police Sergeant Allen, 20
C, at a house on fire in Portland-street, Soho, the previous
night.

Mr. Edward Lewis, of Great Marlborough-street, de-
fended, and Mr. Staples, foreman of the C district, attended
to watch the case on the part of the London fire establish-
ment.

Sergeant Allen, 20 C, said—Last night I was at a fire at
6, Portland-street, and saw prisoner trying to pull down the
shop shutters. I told him the danger he was likely to
cause. As he refused to go I threw him in the carriage
way, and then burst open the door with my foot. Seven or
eight of the inmates rushed out of the passage where there
was no fire. I then went up and brought down two per-
sons, and then entered the house again and from the first
floor brought down a second. While at the dodr with the
child the prisoner sprung the bar and two shutters fell, the
fire at that time being principally confined to the shop. I
seized the prisoner and handed him over to a constable. I
then went up to the landing, but could go no further. In
consequence of the draught caused the fire went right
through the house.
By Mr. Knox—Six lives were lost.

By Mr. Lewis—l don't know the prisoner, and that he
has rendered assistance at fires. I don't know it was a
friend of the prisoner's who saved some lives.

Mr. Lewis—All the sergeant has said is perfectly true,
sir.

Inspector Draper—Mr. Staples is present, your worship,
if you would like to hear him.
Mr. Knox—There is no necessity.
Mr. Lewis—l am sure every one must admit that great
credit is due to the sergeant for his conduct throughout.
On behalf of the prisoner all I can say is, that he has as-
sisted at a great many fires, and all he did was 'to attempt
to gain an entrance that he might be of assistance. All I can
say will not alter the unfortunate state of things ; and it is
much to be regretted under the truly painful circumstances,
when the police Wei. in Clio oaeuution of their artinous duty.
that the prisoner did not at once desist and go away. All
I can say is, that the prisoner did what he did with a good
intention, and with that remark I will leave the casein your
worship's hands.

Mr. Knox—l am prepared to take that view of
the case, and to believe that the prisoner was
actuated by good intentions, and that in acting
aft, he thought for the best. He has borne a lP,rge share
in causing the death of those unfortunate children last
night. Any person who opposed the authorities, whether
the police or the military in the execution of their (lath
does a most improper thing, however good their intentions
may be, and I should not be doing my duty if I did not
mark my sense of the prisoner's conduct. The real punish-
ment, however, to him must be the regret he will feel that
in what he did last night he was largely concerned in_thst
death of those unfortunate sufferers.

Mr. Knox then fined the prisoner £5 or one month for
obstructing the pollee in the execution of their duty, and
then said—Mr. Draper, I should very much like the ser-
gaant's conduct to be represented to the Commissioners of
Police. It is beyond all praise. It is more like the
heroism of a soldier on the field of battle. He risked Ili°
life for others, and no one who heard the feeling manner
in which he detailed his conduct could fail to admire it.

WESTMINSTER.
CHRIST/14.S BoxEs.—George Foster and Arthur Jervigt
two boys, were charged with being drunk and incapable of
taking care of themselves.

Mr. Paynter, on looking at the defendants, said, .(IVbatt
are these boys charged with being drunk P
Inspector Butler—Yes, sir, they are,
Mr. Paynter—What are their ages ?
Inspector Butler—Foster is 1G years of age, Jervis
only 11

Mr. Paynter—lt is really sheeaing. Were they rall°//
intoxicated?

Inspector Butler—They r ere found lying in the Sea'
sington-road, at eight o'clock last evening, so thoroughly
intoxicated that it waF!, necessary to carry them to the tat4'
tion-house on the stretcher.

Mr. Paynter--How came you boys to get in this shock"
ing state ?
Defendants—Christmas boxes.
Mr. Paynter—Christmas boxes ?
Defendants—Yes, the money we had given us.
Inspector Butler—Jervis was insensible for many hours
after he was brought to the station-house.
Mr. Paynter (to the boys)—Who made you drunk ?
Defendants—Nobody. We did it ourselves.
Both boys at this laughed.
Mr. Paynter—lt is notliing to laugh at, and I am verb
sorry to find that yo do not feel becoming regret at your,
misconduct. It is a most melancholy thing to find boys 01
such ages upon such a charge before me. It is a most an,
promising beginning in life, and it is difficult to say what
may be its end. I wish I had it in my power to punish
those who supplied you with liquor until you got into this
shocking state.

They- were fined ss. each. They were locked up
default.

THAMES.
BOXING-DAY ABLENTTIES.—JuIia Doyle a coarse and
masculine woman with a red face, and who' called herself
20, but appeared to be 40, was brought before Mr. &li,e'
charged with assaulting and biting John and Alin 1"11°
reedy.
It appeared there was an old grievance between the Par
ties, and when they met last night the prisoner, after Inltk:
ing use of foul language, attacked the complainants with
great fury. She bit John Kennedy's finger nearly off' sgs
then fastened her teeth in his eyebrow and lacerated it.
wife went to the assistance of her husband, and the prisoc..er
tore her cap off, seized her by the hair, and after dr3gFll3rt
sone of it out by the roots, seized her arm, and bit
,6
severely. The wounded man, not liking to lose n claYo
work, did not attend, but his wife and other witnesses 0';
evidence of all the facts, and was confirmed by other

nesseMrs.
. Solfe sentenced the prisoner to 14 days imprison'
ment and hard labour.

thief alici

Henry Roberts, aged 24, and described as a
ruffian of 24, Northey-street, Limehouse, was charged vll 35,
assaulting a young woman named Ann Parr, of Ne' w
Stanley-street, Paddington, and who stated that Elle I‘l,
on &visit to a friend at No. 99, Sussex-street, PO" to
She was returning home and called at a public-house
eo
obtain a glass of spirits. She was leaving the place wilcx
a infamous prostitute called out to the "1•“)-k
prisoner,frac—
the down, she has got plenty of money," and he 8 be
her a tremendous blow on the head which felled her to to
ground, and when she was down he kicked her on
head. She was senseless and was removed to a surgery

a police-sonstable, and her head was dressed. ibed
John Hodder, a police-constable, No. 390 IC, defiler
115
the assault as a most atrocious one, and said the rti
woman was senseless for some time. There wee a °eve
wound on her head.
Mr. Selfe sentenced the prisoner to six weeks' irePris°ll#
mutt and hard labour.