The Sun.
London, England, 1836-10-28 00:00:00

MAR YLEB ONE.

Yesterday Mr. Philip Haselton, a plumber and glazier in
an extensive way of business, at No. 3, South-street, Man-
chester-square, appeared before Messrs. HOSKINs and
SHUTT, charged with assaulting police-constable Heming-
ton, 140 D, under the circumstances below stated.
Mr. HOSKINS (to the constable)—What have you to say
against this man, the defendant ? Constable—Last night
at a quarter before ten o'clock, as I was on duty in High-
street, I saw the defendant coming along very drunk. He
was singing and disturbing the neighbourhood, and on my
remonstrating with him upon the impropriety of his conduct,
he exclaimed, " You --, I live at No. 3, close by," and
immediately struck me a violsnt blow on the ribs. He then
threatened to knock my -- head off, and laid down at
full length in the road. He was much intoxicated, and,
with the assistance of other constables, he was lifted up and
conveyed to the station-house.
Mr. HOSKINS—Have you ever seen him in that state
before? Constable—Yes, Sir, and have more than once
cautioned him.
Defendant—l consider, Sir, that I've been most shame-
fully ill-treated by this man, the constable, to whom I never
used the language imputed to me, and I am quite incapa-
ble of committing myself in so gross a manner. The fact
is I had been spending the evening with a few friends, and
was perhaps a little worse for liquor ; at the corner of
South-street I happened accidentally to push against the
constable, who seized me by the collar, when, considering
that he was exceeding his duty, I in the heat of the mo-
ment struck him a blow. I was at the time within three
doors of my dwelling, but he refused to let me go home
quietly, and dragged me to the station-house.
The defendant then called two respectable witnesses,
who stated that he (defendant) was going towards his
home, merely singing to himself, in so low a tone as not to
annoy any one, when the constable collared him, and in-
sisted upon it that he should not go any farther in that
direction. He was then, although close to his own door,
marched off to Marylebone-lane, and there given in charge.
Mr. HosKiNs (to the defendant)—You ought to have
known better than to have acted in the manner you did,
and we shall inflict on you a higher penalty than we should
on a person in a more humble walk of life. You are fined
50s. for the assault.

Defendant (emphatically)—My witnesses have sworn

that I was walking orderly along, and that I was collared
without any provocation by this constable. Ido hope, Sir,
that you will give orders to him not to molest me in the
same way in future.
Mr. HOSKINS (loudly)—And I hope, Sir, that you'll
conduct yourself better, so that there may be no more rea-
son for his interference.
Mr. Wilson, a highly respectable upholder in South-
street, here stepped into the witness box, and addressing
the Magistrates said, " I beg your worship's pardon for in-
terfering, but I hope you'll mitigate the penalty, which un-
der the circumstances, seems a very severe one.
Mr. HOSKINS (sharply)— We want none of your opinions
here, Sir, stand down.
Mr. Wilson—Excuse me, Sir, for speaking ; but if I have

done wrong I beg pardon.
Mr. HOSKINS (angrily)—Don't talk about begging par-
don, Sir ; you had no right to stand up there, and presume
to give your opinion upon the matter. We have disposed
of the case.
The penalty was paid, and the parties then left the office,
exclaiming loudly against the decision of the magistrates,
upon the unsupported testimony of the policeman.