The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-15 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

GUILDHALL.—Mr Martin Coon, jun., an artist,
in the employ of his father, who carries on the business
of a lithographer, at 15, Cheapside, was summoned be-
fore Alderman Muggeridge, under the Aggravated
Assaults Act,
of Mr.
tstAct,forcaossoan n
assaulting Jane Lordan, a servant in
Mr. Wontner appeared for the complainant, and stated
that Mr. Coon had taken his family out of town lately,
and during his absence had left the defendant (his son)
in charge of the house, since which the complainant had
been subjected to great annoyance from the defendant,
who, on one occasion, about a fortnight ago, wa'c'ned
Lis opportunity, and when complainant was retiring to
bed he exposed himself on the stairs before her in a state
of perfect nudity. On Sunday night last defendant
came home with a Mr. Sharpe, with whom his father
had forbidden him to associate, and required complainant
to get them a hot supper. Haying been in bed some
time she refused to get up, and. told them as there was
only bread and cheese in the house they could get that
themselves. Defendant then put his head in at the
window to watch her undressing, after letting them in,
and she expostulated with him on the impropriety of his
conduct, but, notwithstanding her previous complaints
to Mrs. Coon, the defendant continued to annoy her,
and on Monday afternoon committed a violent assault
upon her, for which offence the present summons was
.abtained.
I.' The complainant, having been sworn, said she had
been nearly nine years in Mr. Coon's employ, and on
Friday last the family went to Brighton and did not re-
turn until yesterday morning. On Sunday night, about
half-past 11 o'clock, the defendant came home with Mr.
Sharpe, and she got up and let them in. They desired her
to get them something hot for supper ; but as there was
nothing but bread and cheese, she said perhaps they would
get that for themselves. She went to bed, and locked her
door ; and the defendant, hearing her do so, called out
to her not to double lock it. While she was undressing,
the defendant put his head through the window com-
municating with the kitchen and her room ; but, upon
her threatening to throw water over him, he left. She
complained in the morning to Mr. Coon's apprentice,
who said he would protect her from the prisoner's insult-
ing conduct. About 5 o'clock on Monday afternoon the
defendant came into the kitchen, and called her a
—. Some angry words ensued between them, and be
struck her on the eye. She pulled his hair in the struggle
that folloped, and the prisoner then flung her violently
against the dresser, and ran away. Her screams alarmed
the errand-boy, and he called in an officer.
Cross-examined by defendant—She had never had
strange men sleeping with her. She did not tear de-
fendant's hair before be atruclz her.
Re-examined by the Court—The defendant had often
taken liberties with her, and she had complained to his
mother ; but she never gave him any encouragement.
Robert Cousins, the errand-boy, said he heard a
heavy fall in the kitchen on Monday afternoon, and on
hearing the complainant's screams he brought in a
policeman. . .

The complainant said her back was very much hurt
in the fall, and her eye was swollen and black from the
blow the defendant gave her.

Mr. Wontner said this was the case for the corn.
plainant.

The defendant then called

Frederick Sharpe, who said he was clerk to his father,
at 49, Aldermanbury. He went home with the defend-
ant on Sunday night, and on their way home defendant
informed him of his suspicions that the complainant was
in the habit of admitting strange men to her bed of a
night. When they got in they heard whispering in com-
plainant's bedroom, and defendant's object in looking
through the window was to ascertain who was in tins
room besides the complainant, but it was so dark he could
see nothing, although he felt satisfied his suspicions
were correct.

Cross-examined by Mr. Wontner—He slept at defen-
dant's house that night. The defendant had not been
forbidden to associate with him ; but Mrs. Coon bad
told witness's sister that it was desirable the acquaint
anco should be broken off. Ho had not kept defendant
ont at night. The defendant and he had occasionally
stayed out all night, and witness considered himself jus-
tified in doing so if he liked.
Alderman Muggeridge asked witness if he was sure he
heard whispering in complainant's bedroom?
Witless said he heard a noise, which he believed was
a whispered conversation between two parties. .
Alderman Muggeridge said, if witness only believed
he heard whispering, and could not speak positively, his
evidence was of very little service.
The defendant said, as the house was left in his charge
by his father, he did not wish to have it used as a bad
lou,e, and therefore took the precaution -complsioed of
to ascertain the fact ; and, if his suspicions proved true,
to turn all the parties out. He had repeatedly known
the complainant to have men sleeping with her, and had
s•.en a young man in his father's employ, of the name of
Duff, in bed with her ; but having a great respect for
her on account of the number of years she had been in
the house, he said nothing about it to any one else ; but
on the day in question the complainant, Duff, and a per- .
son of the name of Fogg, in Mr. Coon's employ, behaved
towards him in such a manner as to make him feel in
danger, and when the quarrel in the kitchen took place
he merely pushed her away from hips, and that was all.
Mr. Wontner said it was fortunate that the defendant
had mentioned the name of Duff, as he was in
Aldermanatten-
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ad
sa nt
ocet. h
e
gsaati
ide
eh e a
ffwould g etxhaemi ne D
complain-
ant's character.
Charles, John Duff said he had been four
years in
hid Mr. Coo
beoonn s employ, and during the last three years ho
n tadkeede to
any marryli
keeping company with the complainant with
be complain-
ant, 'spl with
311.9. Coon's
satnheeetriof'O He intended
re, Hover
He never was in her bed, nor yet in her room ex-
cept in the day time, and then not for any immoral
her.ant , and had,
purpose.
ose When the family left town, Mrs. Coon directed
complainant to receive and pay all money, and witness
to keep the account of it. Witness saw defendant going
to strike complainant, and threatened to give him a
thrashing if he touched her, upon which defendant took