The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-30 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

Benjamin Lambert was charged with obstructing the
police in the execution of their duty.:
Sergeant Arnold stated that about a quarter past 12 on
Sunday night, he met the prisoner and a person named
Hadley in Long-lane. They informed him that they had
Ift a horse and cart at the door of the Portland Arms
for a few minutes, and that some one had taken it away.
He accompanied them in search of the policeman on
the beat to make the necessary inquiries, and they
ultimately met with that policeman (Creaton) with
the horse and cart under his charge. Creaton said that
finding the horse and cart without a driver, he had taken
it off to the station-house, and that the inspector (Wood-
mile) had ordered him to impound it in the Green-
yard. On this, Hadley, the owner of the horse and cart,
said something about making it all right to the police-
man for his trouble, but Creaton said he must obey the
inspector's order, and proceed to the green-yard. Had-
ley swore that the horse and cart should not go to the
green-yard, and seized the reins. He (the Sergeant)
suspecting that a rescue might be attempted, had pre-
viously called another policeman (Davis) to his assist-
ance, and on Hadley seizing the reins he himself seized
Hadley, and immediately received a severe blow on the
left temple from him. Hadley then in turn seized him,
and Davis drew his truncheon and plied Hadley with it
to make him lose his hold, and Davis received several
heavy blows in return. He (the Sergeant) ordered
Davis to spring his rattle, which brought a fourth po-
liceman (Heygate) to the spot, who, with Davis, took
Hadley off to the station-house, while Creaton proceeded
to the green-yard with the horse and cart. He then him-
self looked after Lambert, and took him to the station-
house, where he found Hadley bleeding profusely, and,
by the order of the inspector, he at once removed him to
St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
ALDERMAN—What did the surgeon at the hospital say
to the man's wounds ? The serjeant said that the sur-
geon did not seem to think much of them, but he had re-
ported the man as unable to appear for some days to come.
Thomas Creaton, 31, corroborated the evidence of
the serjeant as to the horse and cart being found in the
street, and Hadley seizing the reins when he told him
of the inspector's orders that the horse and cart should
be taken to the green-yard. Hadley struck both the
serjeaut and Davis, and they both beat him with their
truncheons.

Mr. PAYNE—When you found the horse and cart
standing against the door of the Portland Arms, did
you inquire at the house whether the owner was there ?
Creston said he did not think his duty required him
to do so.

Mr. PAYNE—But if you had a grain of common sense
you would have done so.
The ALDERMAN asked if there was any certificate
from the hospital as to Hadley's condition ? Inspector
Woodruffe said that he had received a report from the
surgeon that the man was not in a fit state to be removed.
. _

liadley's wife asked the Alderman if she might be
permitted to speak, and on the Alderman desiring her to
do so, she said that she had seen her husband in the hos-
pital, and lie was in a desperate state. She did not ex-
pect that lie would leave the hospital alive:

The ALDERMAN said it would be a serious matter for
the policemen if such should be the result.
Mr. PAYNE.—It is quite shocking that out of such a
trifling case so much mischief should occur, and all for
the want of a little discretion in the policemen. When
they found the owner of the horse and cart, they should
have gone back and informed the inspector so, and he
would no doubt have ordered the horse and cart to be
given up.

The ALDERMAN-I do not blame the sergeant so much
as the policeman Creaton, for he is the author of all the
mischief. He is not fit to be an offiear at all. There
is no case against the man at the bar ; indeed, the case
at present is more against the policemen than any other
party. Lambert must therefore be discharged, and we
will see to-morrow what further steps are to be taken in
the business when we have learned more of the condition
of the man in the hospital.