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, for assaulting Jane Lordan, a servant in
the employ of Mr. Coon, sen.
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 ar, wa'ched
his 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 borne with a Mr. Sharpe, with whom his father
had forbidden him to associate, and required complainant
to get them a hot supper. Having 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
then selves. Defendant then put his head in zt the
window to watch her undressing, after letting them in,
and ,he 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
obtained.

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 bead 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 he
struck her on the eye. She pulled his hair in the straggle
that followed, 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—Sha bad never bad
strange men sleeping with her. She did not tear de-
fendant's hair before he struck 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 eyo was swollen and black from the
blow the defendant gave her.
Mr. Wontner said this was the case for the com-
plainant.
The defendant then called

Frederick Sharpe, who said he was clerk to his father,
at 49, Aldermanhury. 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 the
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 had
told witness's sister that it was desirable the acquaint
ante should be broken off. He had not kept defendant
out 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 !
Witness 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
house, and therefore took the precaution complained of
to ascertain the fact ; and, if his suspicions proved true,
to turn all th• parties out. He had repeatedly known
the complainant to have men sleeping with her, and had
seen 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 him, and that was all.
Mr. Wontner said it was fortunate that the defendant
had mentioned the name of Duff, as he was in atten-
dance.
Alderman Muggeridge said he would examine Duff,
as to the defendant's allegation affecting the complain-
ant's character.
Charles John Duff said he had been four years is
Mr. Coon's employ, and during the last three years he
had been keeping company with the complainant with
Mrs. Coon's sanction. He intended to marry complain.
ant, and had, therefore, never taken any liberties with
her. He never was in her bed, nor yet in her room ex-
cept in the day time, and then not for any immoral
purpose. 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, upo* which defendant took

lip a knife to witness, but ran into hits own room when
,Witness said he would call in a policeman.

The defendant repeated his former insinuations against
the complainant's character, but although he said his
brothers were cognisant of the improprieties the com-
plainant had been guilty of, he produced no witnesses to
substantiate his assertions.
Alderman Muggeridge said the defendant was a das-
tardly young man for several reasons. In the first in-
stance he behaved towards the complainant most insult-
ingly, and then, because his improper overtures were
repelled with indignation, he subjected her to other
annoyances, and ultimately assaulted her i❑ a most
cowardly manner. The accusations against complain.
ant's character were disreputable in the extreme, and
he felt very much disposed to commit the defendant to
prieon, and so put it out of the power of his friends to
assist him, but he would not do so this time. He should
therefore fine the defendant 101., or in default three
months' imprisonment with hard labour.
The fine was not paid, and the defendant was there-
fore locked up.
George Button, a private in the Royal London Militia,
was charged with enlisting in the above corps, and giv-
ing a false address.
Quarter►naster Serjeant Brett said the prisoner was
attested and received 10s., but on making inquiries he
' a►certained he had given a false address, so that if he
was not forthcoming at drill he could not be found.
Aldcramo Muggeridge reprehended the prisoner's con-
i duct, and committed him to prison fur two months.

CLERKENWELL.—\Vhen Mr. Tyrwhitt took his
seat on the bench, Mrs. Skinner, who charged Mr.
Soper, the secretary of the Working Man's Emigration
Society, with assault, was introduced to the witness-box,
when, addressing Mr. Tyrwhitt, she said that although
Mr. Soper had produced witnesses to swear that he was
not at home on the Friday, she could produce evidence
PA to his having violently assaulted her on the previous
Monday, and she requested to have a summons granted
against him for the assault on that day.
Mr. Tyrwhitt said he would not grant the sumtnons ;
the case had been heard and decided upon for the assault
on Friday, but she might indict him for both assaults at
the sessions.
She thanked the bench and left the court.

When applicant left the box, a poor young woman
succeeded her, to complain against the Working Man's
Emigration Society, for detaining her subscription
money under circumstances already and so often detailed
in the newspapers.
Applicant said she bad paid in her subscriptions for
the purpose of being sent out to Australia. She obeyed
the instructions in the 16th rule, by sending in a written
notice to have the money returned to her in a month.
T.ie month had expired, but Mr. Soper had refused to
return her the money, and she determined on applying
at this court for advice.
Mr. Tyrwhitt said they would never be done with such
applications with reference to this emigration society.
The fact was that the society had ousted the jurisdiction
of the magistrate by having in their rules an arbitration
clause. He (Mr. Tyrwhitt) would advise those parties
who had parted with their money to the society to meet
together and employ some respectable professional man
to call for the arbitration, and pursue the matter accord-
ing to law. I can only say, if the society do not pay
the money back to those members who have regularly
applied for it, nobody would be foolish enough in future
to deposit their money with them, and the society
would inevitably drop to the ground. (Smiling)—
What with kissing women, and these constant applica-
tions for not returning money to the members, the
magistrates would have nothing else to do but with
Mr. Soper and the Working Man's Emigration
Society.
Applicant thanked his worship, saying she would
adopt his advice.
A poor woman, in a state of great excitement, applied
to Mr. Tyrwhitt for advice and assistance under the fol-
lowing extraordinary circumstances :
She said that on Wednesday evening her little son,
eight years of age, was playing in Margaret-street,
Clerkenwell, when another boy, ten years of age, came
to him with a bottle of vitriol, and asked him to drink
some of it, saying it was gin. Her son drank some of
it, which burnt him severely, and the other boy threw
some of it over hire and injured his clothes, and his flesh
was shockingly burnt. He instantly ran home crying,
and in great pain, and she took him to a surgeon, who
advised his instant removal to St. Bartholomew's Hos-
pital. Applicant went in pursuit of the boy who admi-
nistered the poisonous liquid, and she traced him with
the quart bottle containing the vitriol now produced, and
giving it to other boys. She took the bottle from him,
and she ascertained that his master had sent bim for the
stuff. •
Mr. Tyrwhitt directed applicant to proceed to the
station-house and take an officer with her, and give the
boy into custody immediately. She did so, and he was
placed at the bar. He gave his name George Seamen.
errand-boy, 52, St. John-street, Clerkenwell.
Edward M‘Gee, the injured boy, said he resided with
his parents at 17, Berry-street, Clerkenwell. On Wed-
nesday evening he was carrying his mother's baby in his
arms when the prisoner came up to him with a quart
bottle. He said, "Do you want a drop of gin ?" He
opened my hand, and poured something into it, which
burnt it very much. He confirmed his mothers state-
ment.
Mrs. Elizabeth M'Gee, his mother, said her son's
hands, &c., were blistered, and his clothes were burnt.
She burnt her hands, which were blistered through
touching them.
Caroline Maskell, aged 10, of 7, Compton-place,
Clerk en well, proved that the prisoner offered her some
of the vitriol, saying it was gin.
The prisoner said his father was a water gilder, and
his master a jeweller. He knew what the bottle con-

tained.
Mr. Tyrwhitt said it was a ♦ery important matter, as
it was a felony. It was very much practised i►► the
north, and there was a special act of Parliament to pro.
vide against it. He remanded the prisoner, and he was
conveyed to prison.