The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-17 00:00:00

CLERKEN WELL.

John Smith, alias "Looney," a notorious thief, and
Catherine Burns, an infamous woman, were placed at
the bar before Mr. Combe, charged by Mr. William
Newton, of 5, Church- terrace, Waterloo-road, Lambeth,
with having been concerned in the following daring out-
rage with intent to murder:—
The prosecutor, whose face was covered with adhesive
plaster, having been sworn, stated that on Monday night
last, about half-past six o'clock, he was passing through
Goswell-street, Clerkenwell, with his hands in the
pockets of his Taglioni coat, when he observed the pri-
soners and some other women larking and pulling each
other about, when suddenly and unexpectedly the male
prisoner rushed upon him and seized him round the
waist, and subsequently struck him several times, and
challenged him to fight. Witness was quite astonished
at such an extraordinary proceeding, and refused to
enter into a conflict, saying that he would not
demean himself by fighting with him, but that he
would give him into the custody of a policeman ;
and he accordingly followed the prisoner up
Bell-alley, when the female prisoner came up,
and, making use of a most horrid oath, exclaimed,
" You --, I'll do for you," and she took a knife from
her pocket, which she opened, and made several stabs at
him and knocked hint down insensible. He knew no
more of what happened until he recovered his senses,
when he found himself surrounded by a crowd of per-
sons and policemen, and was bleeding profusely from
wounds on his face, &c. One wound was on his temple,
near his eye, and another on his cheek; and it was
evident that the female prisoner intended the stabs for
his eye and his throat. He was supported to a surgeon's,
where his wounds were dressed. He positively identified
both prisoners.
Richard Jenkins, an intelligent boy 14 years of age,
deposed that at half-padt six o'clock on Monday evening
he was near Bell-alley, Goswell-street, when he saw the
male prisoner rush upon the prosecutor, and strike him.
The woman immediately afterwards came up, and using
a filthy expression said, " I'll do for you," and stabbed
him several tithea with a knife.
Mr. COMBE—Did you see distinctly the knife in her
hand when she stabbed the prosecutor? Witness—l
did; and when she leit the spot with the male prisoner
she closed the knife and put it into her pocket. I am
quite sure it was a knife.
George Pierce, another boy, residing with his parents
at 5, White-street, Bell-alley, Goswell-street, saw the
prisoner Burns stab the prosecutor with a knife, when
she swore she would " do for him."
Mr. Mould, the clerk, asked the prisoners if they
wished to ask these witnesses any questions? Burns—
It's no good to ask any questions here, because they
have been put up to what they are to say.
Wm. Davies and another boy gave confirmatory evi-
dence, and identified the prisoners.
Police-constable 441 A deposed, that on Monday
evening he received information that a man had been
stabbed in Goswell-street, near Bell-alley. He pro-
ceeded thither, and found the prosecutor bleeding pro-
fusely from his wounds. He received a description of
the prisoners, and at half-past eight o'clock the same
evening apprehended the female prisoner. He told her
the nature of the charge against her. She denied hav-
ing been in Goswell-street that night. He took her to
the station-house, where the boys identified her.
Sergeant Brennan, 320 G, saw the prosecutor bleed-
ing in Goswell-street. Witness apprehended the pri-
soner Smith yesterday morning at his lodgings in Wil-
liamson's-buildings, Bell-alley. He was in bed, and
when he told him he wanted him for having been con-
cerned in the outrage which had been committed in
Goswell-street , on Monday night, the prisoner said he
was not there; he was not out all night. Witness re.
plied, " That is not true, tor I searched heref or yen last
night and you were not here."
Sergeant Harvey, 11a G, said, that when the prisoner

Smith was at the-station•house he said, " I saw the row,
but took no part i❑ it."

Mr. CONBE asked the prisoners if they wished to
question the witnesses, or to say anything in their de,
fence? He intended to commit them both for trial. It
they did say anything, it would be taken down in writing.
The prisoners, who treated the matter with indiffer-
ence, declined putting any questions to the witnesses,
or sa)ing anything in their defence.
They were fully committed for trial.
LAMBETH.

Mary Ann Flood, a well-dressed and powerful woman,
was placed at the telon's bar before Mr. Norton, charged
with violently assaulting and robbing Mr. Edward Bates
on the Ilungerford Suspension-bridge.
The person of the prosecutor presented a very shock-
ing spectacle, both from the loss of blood, and from the
injuries he had sustained, and it was clear that he had
had a very narrow escape of his life. His forehead and
face showed several severe contusions. When sworn, he
stated that, about twenty-five minutes past twelve o'clock
on the previous night he was going over the Suspension-
bridge, and had not gone more than thirty or forty yards
when he was accosted by the prisoner, who walked
alongside him. On nearing the Surrey :ide the prisoner
gave him a violent blow, and snatched his watcri
tram leis waistcoat pocket. Previous to striking
him the prisoner got in front and stopped
him, and it was when he was pushing her out of
his way that she struck him. Immediately before he
was struck he saw a tall man a short distance off, who
accused him of taking indecent liberties with the pri•
saner; but this he denied, as such was not the case. Ile
thought the man had struck him as well as the prisoner,
for the force with which he fell against the opposite side
of the bridge was so great as to render him perfectly
insensible. In reply to a question from the Magistrate,
the prosecutor admitted he was not sober at the time.
Charles Battern, a waiter, residing in Henry-place,
Lower Marsh, Lambeth, deposed, that that morning,
at about one o'clock, he was on the Suspension-bridge,
and when he got near the Surrey side he saw the pro-
secutor and prisoner against the wall, and apparently
close together. After he had passed them he heard a
sort of rustle and a blow, which caused him to turn
round his head, when he saw the prosecutor in the act
of falling 011 his face against
.the opposite wall. The
prisoner then ran past him, but witness called out " Po-
lice" as loud as he could, and a constable having made
his appearance he pointed out the prisoner to him, and
desired him to stop her, as he was certain the had
been doing something wrong. On his doing this the
prisoner hit at him right and left, and gave him a black
eye.

Prisoner—Was there any other woman there at the
time?

Witness—Yes, there was another woman there, who,
when you struck me in the eye, kicked me.
Mr. NORTON—But you are quite sure the prisoner is
the person whom you saw standing close to the prose-
cutor, and who san away from him when he was knocked
down? Witness—l am, your Worship; the prisoner is
the person.

Mr. NORTON—Did you see any other person near the
prosecutor? Witness—Yes, Sir; o❑ his falling I saw a
man in the act of taking him up, but where he came from
I cannot say, as I had not noticed him before. Had he
been to the spot I must have seen him; my impression is,
that he must have been concealed.

Mr. NORTON—What became of this person? Witness
—He must have gone over the bridge i❑ a different di-
rection. The policeman, on securing the prisoner, desired
me to run over the bridge and cry out " Stop thief," but,
to say the truth, Sir, I did not fancy doing so, fearing
that I might be thrown over the bridge myself.
Mr. NORTON—WeII, I cannot say but that you have
acted very well in the matter; and I'm sorry you should
have been maltreated.

James Bradley, 42 L, stated that, hearing the cry of
"Stop thief!" on the bridge, and seeing the prisoner
running, he secured her and took her to the station-
house. On subsequently examining the place he found
the watch of the prosecutor near the side of the bridge.
The prisoner, who offered nothing in defence, was re-
manded.