The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-04 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET.

Mr. Samuel Alabaster, a beershop keeper or publi-
can in Tabernacle-walk, Finsbury, was brought up
on a warrant before Mr. Hatnmill, in the custody of
Hayward, the warrant-officer, charged with the fol-
lowing outrageous attack upon Joseph Rowlings,
assistant to Sloman, the Sheriff's officer, whilst in the
execution of his duty.
The complainant, whose bead was enveloped in
bandages, stated, that an execution having been
levied upon the defendant's goods under a writ of fieri
facia' on Tuesday last, he was left in possession to
take care of the furniture, and ever since he had been
subjected to the most opprobrious treatment from the
defendant himself, who had not only constantly as-
sailed him with the grossest abuse, but also violently
assaulted him on different occasions, with the evident
object of inducing him, from fear, to relinquish pos-
session. He, however, maintained his position until
twelve o'clock on Saturday night, when the defendant,
after closing the house, and directing a friend of his,
named Thackeray, to bolt and chain up the doors,
in a state apparently of great excitement, entered the
bar parlour, where witness was seated, and accused
him of having scandalously insulted his daughter
on the preceding afternoon. The accusation was
wholly without foundation, and having told him that
he had not interfered with the young woman any
further than was absolutely necessary to prevent the
forcible removal of part of the goods, which was being
carried on under her directions, and which they had
succeeded in effecting notwithstanding, and carrying
away from the premises, the defendant exclaimed
that all the sheriff's officers might go to --, and
that he was determined to take away whatever he
thought proper, and would do so in spite of them.
He then asked him whether he intended to be " civil "
or the reverse, and on witness replying that he could
not allow the things to be taken away, the defendant
called his friend Thackerny into the room, and or-
dered him at once to Wee down a full-length portrait
which was hanging over the mantelpiece. Thackerny
proceeded to do so, and was about to remove it from
the room, when witness endeavoured to stop him, but
was immediately attacked by the defendant, who
seiz.-cl him by the collar, and, forcing him back into a
corner, commenced beating him about the face and
head till the blood streamed from a deep
gash under one• of his eyes, and poured
on to his clothes. He called out loudly for assistance
and begged for mercy, but the defendant told him it
was perfectly useless for him to attempt resistance,
and at the same time renewed the attack and forced
him down upon a sofa, where he held him down by
his hair for about 20 minutes, during which several
articles were removed from the premises, including
the picture before mentioned, which was taken out at
the back and carried away. He then entreated the
defendant to allow him to sit up, which he at length
did, but placed himself in a chair in front of him to
prevent him from rising and opposing the removal of
the property, and he was detained in the house till
the following morning, when he succeeded in pri-
vately dispatching a message to the officer of the
sheriff (Sloman), who sent down two other men to
relieve him, and witness immediately male his way
to the station-house, with his face still bleeding, as it
had continued to do all night, where he was advised
to apply at this court for redress, and having had his
injuries dressed by a surgeon, he came here and ob-
tained a warrant for the defendant's apprehension.
Mr. Sloman, who was in attendance, said that the
conduct the defendant had pursued throughout these
proceedings had been characterized by such lawless
violence and determination to set the law at defiance
that he felt himself connpe!led, for the protection of
hie servaets in cases of a similar description, to press
the case against him with as much severity as he could.
Mr. Hutson, who appeared for the defendant re-
served the defence, and
Mr. Hammier. said that the charge was of far too
serious a nature to admit of his dealing with it in a
summary manner, and he should therefore direct the
depositions to be taken, and send it for the considera-
tion of a jury at the sessions ' • in the meantime, he
would accept substantial bail for the defendant's
future appearance to meet the charge, which he should
fix at the defendant himself in 50/, and two sureties
in 251. each. . .

The bail was shortly after produced, an i the de
fendant thereupon released from custody.