The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-20 00:00:00

LONDON SESSIONS.

On Saturday Michael Morris, Moses Morris,
James Davis, and Samuel Lawrence, were indicted
for assaulting George Petit, art officer of the City
police force, and John Johns, H 76, of the Metropo-
litan police, in the execution of their duty.
Mr. Ryland and Mr. Laurie appeared for the pro-
secution, which was at the instance of the Corpora-
tion ; Mr. Payne appeared for Michael Morris, Mr.
Parry for Davis, and Mr. O'Brien for Lawrence and
Moses Morris.

It appeared from the evidence that on the 6th of
September, in the evening, a fight took place in Pet-
ticoat-lane, between Lawrence and a man not in cus-
tody. Johns and another police-constable went to
separate them, when the mob, which consisted of 600
or 700 persons, told them that they had no right to
interfere, and they returned for Petit. On going
back Johns took Lawrence into custody, when the
defendants said that he should not be taken, as he was
the wrong man. A general rescue was attempted,
in the course of which several brickbats, glass bottles,
and other missiles were thrown, and the officers hit
and injured. Petit swore that he was kicked by
Moses Morris, and struck with a stick by Michael
Morris. Davis also struck him twice.
Police-constable Johns and Police-constable Gal.
liven, II 73, gave similar evidence.

The RECO' iDER said, the interference of the police
in the first instance was not with legal authority; but
they had a right as individuals to call a constable, and
to aid and assist him. It therefore appeared they had
not been assaulted in the execution of their duty. The
City police-constable was, however, fully justified in
interfering to prevent a further breach of the peace,
and Lawrence was in legal custody, but there was no
evidence that he had incited the mob to rescue him.
The jury found Michael Morris, Moses Morris, and
Davis guilty of the assault on Petit in the execution
of his duty, and of a common assault on Johns.
Moses Morris was fined 51., and the other defendants
101., and to enter into bail of 40/. to keep the peace
for twelve months.

SURREY SESSIONS.
Before J. W. FRESHFIELD, Esq., and a full Bench

lof Magistrates.)
On Saturday John Hall, who described himself as
an attorney's clerk, was indicted for unlawfully pre-
tending that he was an attorney, and entitled to
practise in her Majesty's courts of law, and by those
means falsely obtaining the sum of four half-crowns
from a poor woman, named Sarah Mannell, the moneys
of Joseph Mannell.
Mr. Tapping, assisted by Mr. 11. B. Roberts, the
solicitor, conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Robin-
son defended the prisoner.
The Learned COUNSEL, in opening the proceedings,
stated that on the 24th August last, John Mannell
was in custody at the Southwark Police-court,
charged with felony. His wife, being anxious about
him, went in search of a solicitor, and while running
about she encountered the prisoner, who represented
himself to her as an attorney, and offered to defend
her husband. He then said that he would see the
latter, and after an absence of a few minutes, he re-
turned, and said that he had spoken to her husband,
but he wanted 10s. to defend him. The poor
woman was in great distressat the time, and
with great difficulty she raised the money,
and handed four half-crowns to the prisoner.
A short time afterwards her husband was charged
bceleforkre
tilolrA.lCr
so.tuttianrgdhmeam, but no person was there to
given the lhoesd.
defend him. She, however, waited about, and on
seeing the prisoneri,h upbraided him with defrauding
her of the 10 pann,soanseorlictoitlodr,h her
dthat a he ehwe
any intimation about
enoietdhat person. She saw Mr. Hard-
ashada
receivingth the money or having
circumstancesm an and
being related e
cahsteo.
directed the prisoner to be
committedrou3,g
illThert.
bue wholeefot
trien
gh hi
mao
h:f ,
and theh
e
after hearing the evidence,
for trial. lie (the Learned Counsel)
shthe prisoner
should be able
to prove that the prisoner was not an attorney, and
unable to conduct any defence. It was of
great
im-
portance such matters should be brought before-
jury, on public grounds, inasmuch as poor people had
been robbed latterly to a great extent by persons
representing themselves to be solicitors.
Sarah Mannell was then sworn. She said she was
the wife of John Mannell.
Mr. ROBINSON applied to the Court for the acquittal
of the prisoner, as the indictment could not be sus-
tained, inasmuch as it stated that the husband's name
was Joseph Mannell. The prosecution, he said, was
a malicious one, and got up by an attorney to ruin
his client.

The CHAIRMAN directed a verdict of acquittal ; but
stated that the prisoner could be indicted again for
the same offence, as the merits of the case had not
been before the jury.
Michael Neale, fishmonger, Kent-street, was in-
dicted for assaulting Richard John Beaver, an officer
of the High Bailiff of Southwark, while in the execu-
tion of his duty.
It appeared that on Friday week the complainant
had a levy to make on the goods of the prisoner, by
virtue of a warrant issued by G. Clive, Esq., the
judge of the
Southwark County Court. The pri-