The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-02 00:00:00

WORSHIP-STREET.

Sarah Perry, Henry L ecende, James Swayne, and
James Lough were charged with assaulting and
wounding the husband of the first named prisoner, a
middle-aged man named Henry Perry, residing in
Boston-street, Hackney road.
The prosecutor, who, upon applying for the war-
rant, exhibited several woundsin his head, and whose
dress was completely saturated with the blood which
had poured from them, stated, that while in his bed-
room on the evening of the 26th ult., dressing for a
party to which he had been invited, he was alarmed
by a loud knocking at his street door, and before he
had time to reach it, it was forcibly burst open, and
his wife, from whom he had some time been separated
in consequence of the violence of her temper, rushed
into the passage, followed by the three male defendants
and a second woman. It was evident they had made
up their minds for some serious mischief, and observ-
ing that his wife was brandishing ashort heavy poker,
he endeavoured to avoid her, and tried to induce his
assailants to quit the house peaceably ; but the
female defendant instantly flew at him, and exclaim-
ing that she had got an instrument with her with
which she had determined to kill him if she could,
struck him a blow with it upon the forehead with all
her force. The prisoner Lecomte at the same time
commenced a furious attack upon him, beating him
about the head and face with his fists, and forced him
back into the kitchen, where his wife renewed the
attack, and struck him upon the head, arms, and body
with the poker till he was almost senseless, assisted by
Swayne and Lough, who likewise struck him, and
actively incited the others to ill-use him. They at
length left the house, and he contrived to get to the door
and secure it against them; but he had no sooner done so
than they all returned and made another attempt to
break in, exclaiming, " Give it the —," and
" Let's have another try at him ;" but, being foiled
in their efforts to burst in the door, they commenced
pelting showers of stones and other missiles at the
windows, until nearly the whole of the glass in the
front of the house was demolished, when they pro-
ceeded to the back through some adjoining premises,

Mr. Morgan, from the office of Mr. Humphreys,
severely cross-examined the prosecutor, with a view
to show that the misconduct attributed to the de-
fendants was nothing more than what, in their
estimation, was a just retaliation for his own miscon-
duct, in having, as they supposed, enticed a young
woman, the daughter of the defendant Lough, from
her father's house without his knowledge, for the
purpose of forming an immoral intimacy with her ;
but, notwithstanding that several of the defendants
energetically exclaimed that it was so, the prose-
cutor, after some prevarication, positively denied that
there was any foundation for the charge, further
than that the young woman referred to had volun-
tarily taken up her residence in his premises, and
that he had accepted her services in the capacity of
housekeeper.
Mr. ARNOLD said that nothing could justify such
an outrageous attack as had been undoubtedly esta-
blished, and, as he considered it of far too serious a
nature to be disposed of summarily, he should send
the case to the sessions as one of a.isault and riot, and
order each of the defendants to put in substantial bail
for their appearance there to answer it.
CLERKENWELL.
Henry Phillip Pierce, alias Phillips, was charged
with having committed two forgeries, also with
bigamy, and with desertion from the Grenadier
Guards.

The prisoner on Tuesday morning last accosted a
police-constable in St. John-street, Clerkenwell, and
informed him that he had forged a bank post bill for
271. on Mr. Samuel Gardiner, a gentleman residing
at Brentford ; that he had got cash for it, which
he had spent in profligacy, and that he was so mise-
rable in his mind he had determined on delivering
himself up to justice. He was taken to the station-
house in the Bagnigge-wells-road, where he adhered
to his statement, and he was locked up, and subse-
quently brought before Mr. Combe at this court and
remanded. He then said he picked up in the street
a letter containing the bank post bill for 271., which
he took to the Bank, [and, after receipting it, got it
cashed, From what he further stated, Inspector
Julian, G, instituted inquiries, and ascertained his
statement to be true, and a clerk from
the Issue-office in the Bank of England
attended and confirmed the statement. He
also discovered that the prisoner had formerly been a
corporal in the Grenadier Guards, from which he
had deserted. He further traced him to have formed
a connexion with the servant maid of Mr. Singer, a
gentleman residing at Wandsworth, to whom he paid
his addresses, and ultimately married her ; and that
he had also married two other women, who
were now living, and one •f whom was preg-
nant. He was in the habit of visiting at I\ir.
Singer's house, and regaling himself with the
servant, without that gentleman's sanction or know-
ledge, when he sought an opportunity to steal some
cheques from his cheque-book, which were missed.
Mr. Singer banked at Coutts and Co.'s, where the
prisoner obtained the bank post order, which he took
to the bank, and escaped, after committing the for-
gery, Ex. He was afterwards traced to have gone to
Portsmouth, where he was lodging at the Fountain
Hotel, and whilst there he wrote to Coutts's, and ob-
tained a bank post order for 151., through the medium
of another forgery, which, it was said, could be
brought home to him.
Inspector Julian said that he had two certificates
of the prisoner's marriages, and he was using efforts
to produce a third one, and he had no doubt of
success.

A sergeant and a corporal of the Grenadier Guards
identified the prisoner as being a deserter, and clerks
from Coutts and Co. were also in attendance, and
identified the prisoner.
He was remanded fora week.
Our reporter is requested to state that "R. E." has
sent the other half of a 101. note in aid of the poor-
box fund, with a request that its receipt might be ac-
knowledged in the newspapers.

SOD Tfi WARK.
Joseph Henry Kelleriy, a young man 21 years of
age, was placed at the bar before Mr. Cottingham,
charged with threatening the life of Miss Ward, who
keeps a ladies' seminary at Camberwell.
Previously to entering into the evidence adduced
against the prisoner, it may he necessary to advert to
some circumstances connected with the case, and
which occurred about two years ago. Upon that
occasion the prisoner was taken into custody for send-
ing threatening letters, some of them containing
poison, to Mrs. Humble, the wife of a hop merchant
in the Borough, to a Miss Clouter, and also to a:Miss
Spriggs, the latter of whom at the period in question
was a pupil of Miss Ward, the lady at whose instance
the prisoner was now taken into custody. The letters,
all of which were anonymous, were couched in lan-
guage of the most threatening description, and, as
the writer had expressed his intention to lay wait
for and assassinate some of the parttes, considerable
terror was inspired in their minds, until he was
at length apprehended and brought to justice.
On the first occasion that the prisoner was
committed for trial from this court he was sentenced
to twelve months' imprisonment. After the expira-
tion of his sentence, he bad not been long at large
when he again commenced writing anonymous letters
to Miss Spriggs, at Miss Ward's school, threatening
to murder her, and upon this charge he was appre-
hended, and, having been tried a second time at the
Old Bailey, he was again sentenced to twelve months'
imprisonment, and to be publicly whipped. In the
month of August last, having undergone his punish-
ment, the prisoner was liberated, and in the month of
November last he again commenced similar practices,
and continued them up to his apprehension on the
preceding night, when he was taken into custody
with a long and sharp pointed knife concealed on his
person, lurking about and watching at the residence
of the complainant in Trinity-square.
Sergeant Kendall, of the detective force, stated
that he was the officer who apprehended the prisoner
on the two former occasions, and that, having been
present on each of his trials at the Central Criminal
Court, be knew his handwriting well. Soon after
the prisoner's last sentence of imprisonment expired,
witness received information that anonymous letters
of a threatening nature had been transmitted to Miss
Ward, and those letters he (witness) having ex-
amined, he had no doubt they were in the prisoner's
handwriting.
The letters were put in and read by the magistrate,
one of which was to the following effect :
" London, Dec. 27,1848.
"In consequence of your refusal to give me the ad-
dress of Miss Spriggs or any information concerning
her, I shall recite to you what will very shortly be acted
in reality. It is about the hour of nine on a dark and
dismal night, when you may see a female form moving
rapidly along the streets, but she does not heed any-
thing, for she seems anxious to get home. Alas ! had
she but have known what would have befallen her during
her short journey, she would not have ventured out.
She still keeps gliding on her course towards home,
when suddenly you see her struck down by some (until
then) unseen enemy. Her foe is secreted, and as she
passes steals slid)/ behind her, palls out something
bright, lets it fall with full force against her ; and then
she, who was so full of life and animation but a few
short moments before, is now still as the grave. An
alarm is given, but it is useless.
"To Miss Ward."
Other letters of a similar tendency were also handed
to the magistrate, one of which described that on
Sunday night, the 31st ult., the writer would be on
the watch for Miss Ward.
The sergeant said that on the previous night he
went, accompanied by Wild and Burton, two con-
stables of the M division, to Trinity-square, and saw
the prisoner waiting about in the vicinity of No. 22,
apparently watching for the arrival of Miss Ward,
who, with another lady, was expected home from
chapel. Shortly afterwards the two ladies came up,
and on their approach the prisoner took his stand at
the entrance of the house, when he (the sergeant)
and the two constables took him into custody. The
prisoner, on being seized, attempted to draw some-
thing from underneath his coat, but he was prevented,
and it was then discovered that he had the knife pro-
duced hidden there. He was very violent, and made
strong and repeated effierts to get away, and in the
course of it kicked and fought in such a manner that
it was found necessary to place handcuffs upon him,
and he was then conveyed to the station-house.
Miss Ward, being sworn, stated that she was present
on the prisoner's trial at the Old Bailey. The let-
ters alluded to were exhibited to her, and she had no
doubt they were in his handwriting; that Miss
Spriggs was formerly her pupil, and that while that
young lady was at her school the prisoner was con-
stantly in the habit of writing anonymous letters to
her, some of them containing poison ; that Miss
Spriggs had since left her establishment, principally
owing to the dread inspired by the prisoner's conduct;
and that since then he had written the anonymous
letters produced that day to her (the witness); and
that she apprehended that her life was in danger
from his threats. She added, that some of the letters

and smashed eleven more panes, when, having satis- r were not sent through the post, but dropped into the
fled their vengeance, they left altogether. The pro- area of her house.
seeutor produced the poker, which was bent from the Mr. COTTING OA. M (to the prisoner)—i am ready to
force of the blows inflicted upon his person, and had listen to any explaimion you may think proper to
been hurled through one of the first-floor windows give in answer tJ so serious a charge.
after all the glass in it had been smashed, and added Prisoner—At present I shall decline saying any-
that such was the outrageous nature of the violence thing.
the defendants had exhibited, that the street in front Mr. COWING UAll—Then you stand remanded un•
of his house was completely blocked up by the crowd til Monday next.
of people their conduct had collected, and the whole
neighbourhood was kept in a state of extreme excite-
ment for nearly two hours, during which the attack
lasted.
To show the vindictiveness which actuated the de-
fendants, Mr. Heritage, who appeared for the prose-
cution, stated that Lecomte had come from Poplar,
Lough from Hoxton, and his client's wife from
Walworth to take part in the affray, and called
Holland, the warrant officer, who deposed to the
spectacle the prosecutor presented when he first saw
him ; and that upon going to his house he found that
his account of the destruction the assailants had there
committed had not been at all overrated.

FORGED BANK OF ENGLAND
NOTES.

GRAVESEND, DEC. 30.—Notwithstanding the
caution given to the public in the London journals
some days since, respecting the circulation of spurious
Bank of England 51. and 10/. notes, and the accurate
description given of those forgeries, it appears so far
as is yet ascertained, that at least three 101. notes of
that description were passed and detected in this town
last week, under the following circumstances :—On
Saturday, the 23d instant, Mr. Martin, proprietor of
the Queen's Arms Tavern, paid into the County
Branch Bank in this town a sum of money, of which
a 101. note, purporting to be of the Bank of England,
formed a part. Soon after Mr. Pittock, clerk of the
bank, examined the note more particularly, and,
comparing it with a Bank of England note of the
same amount, suspected that it was one of the forged
notes alluded to. Whilst deliberating on the subject,
his brother, a grocer in Windmill• street, came into the
bank and paid in some money, amongst which was a
10/. note, exactly similar to the other with the excep-
tion of the number. Both notes were then shown to Mr.
Ware, the manager, who, as we learn, immediately pro-
nounced them to be forgeries. Mr. Martin was sent for,
and he at once identified the note he paid in, having
endorsed on it both the name of the person to whom
he had given ten sovereigns in change for it and his
own private mark. This person was at once coin-
municattd with, and he stated that he got it on that
day from his brother-in-law, a publican in the town,
to procure change for it in gold. Mr. Pittock then
stated that he had changed the note he paid into the
bank on that morning for the same publican. Both
notes were, on the Tuesday following, transmitted to
London and presented at the Bank of England, where
they were branded as forgeries, and then brought
back to the Gravesend Bank where, on that very
day, another 10/. note of a similar kind was paid in
by Mr. Winnett, grocer, in High-street, who had
taken it in the course of business on the previous
Saturday from a poulterer in the town. On in-
quiry, the poulterer said that he had taken the note
from the identical person to whom the other
two notes had been traced. The superinten-
dent of police (Mr. North) was then applied
to, and he and the parties above alluded to pro-
ceeded to the publican's house. The latter, as it
seems, immediately admitted having sent out two
of the notes on Saturday to be changed, and having
paid over the other to the poulterer, who had given
him the difference in change between his demand and
the amount of the note. He accounted for having
the notes by stating that he had changed two of them
on Saturday morning for a gentleman who occa-
sionally came to his house, and whose name he sub-
sequently mentioned to the police officer. The County
Bank, as is stated, on receiving the amount of the
notes from each of the parties who paid them into it,
returned to each respectively his note. It was fur-
ther stated that the publican had arranged with the
parties by paying to each 51., and giving an I U
for the other Si.; but we have been assured that two
of the forged notes are at present impoanded at the
bank referred to, awaiting, as we were further
assured, the result of a communication made to the
solicitor of the Bank of England for the purpose of
ascertaining whether he would think it proper to
investigate this very singular case. Doubtless, if an
investigation does take place, the person or persons for
whom the publican changed the notes will be traced,
and be will be freed from any suspicion.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
SOUTH DEVON.

An adjourned meeting of the shareholders in this
line was held yesterday (Monday) at Bristol, for the
purpose of considering what measures should be
adopted with regard to the special general meeting,
to be held at Exeter on Saturday next, and es-
pecially with reference to the atmospheric system of
traction.

Mr. CIIILCOTT having been called to the chair, ob-
served that the manner in which the Bristol
shareholders had been treated was very inconsiderate,
to say the least of it, on the part of the directors.
How was it possible to enter into the merits of the
case if the report was not received till within two days
of the meeting ? They could form no opinion as to
the nature of its contents. He trusted, therefore,
that as that report had not been received,
some gentleman would move an adjournment of the
meeting. _ _ _

In pursuar.ce of this request, Mr. Ir. moved,
and Mr. CROSS seconded a resolution, that the meeting
be adjourned till Thursday, which was carrit-d
unanimously.

A correspondence was read which had taken place
between the Chairman and Mr. Gid, the latter gen-
tleman having stated that he was the only one who
was a dissentient to the atmospheric system, whereas
it appeared there were five or six dsssentients.

Mi. BUTTON said the directors Oiiiitte-;-ity hefore
the meeting the particulars of their liabilities. He
had heard there WfiS due to Mr. Bennett, the con-
tractor, the sum of 77,0001.—(11ear, hear.)

LONDON, BRIGIITON, &c.—Air. Peter Clarke, the
Supreme Manager of this line and its tributaries, re-
signed that post yesterday, the Ist instant, seceding to
the York and North Midland lines' management. On
Saturday Mr. Clarke received at his residence,
Brighton, in a most unostentatious manner, a magni-
ficent testimonial as a memento of the estimation in
which he was held by those over whom he has so
long presided in the Brighton company. It con-
sisted of a superb silver salver of elegant workman-
ship by Savory, and a silver claret cup, bearing this
inscription :—" Presented to Peter Clarke, Esq., by
the officers of the London, Brighton, and 4 South
Coast Railway Company, December, 1848."

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, JAN. 1.

STOCK EXCHANGE. —The business was rather brisk. The
sales are—Great Western, Quarters, 2% dis.—Midlantt Stock,
86—Caledonian, Preference, I/2 p.
YORK, Dec. 30.
STOCK ExcHaares.—The business transacted to-day was
as follows :—Great Northern, 9—North British, Thirds, 4/.
Bs. 6d.— Ditto, Quarters, 3w—York, Newcastle, and BQrwick
(Extension), No. 1, 14,/,r—Ditto (G. N. E. Purchase), 7*.t
ex int.