The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-18 00:00:00

BO TV-STREET.

Two well-dressed young men, named _Frederick
How and Wm. Bosward, described in the police sheet
as clerks, were yesterday brought before Mr. Jardine,
charged with committing an indecent assault upon Mrs.
Emma Dempsey, the wife of a surgeon residing in Hot-
born, under the following circumstances :
Mrs. Dempsey being sworn, said that on Wednesday
evening she went to the house of a friend to supper,
where her husband promised to call for her, but he
could not, in consequence of his being unexpectedly
detained at borne on professional business. On leaving
her friends, and when within eight or ten doors of her
house, observing three men, one of whom was
sober, and the defendants, who appeared to be in.
ebriated, she stepped aside towards the kerb-stone to
avoid them, as they stood on the footway pavement.
when the defendant How attacked her in a most inde-
cent and improper manner, by taking hold of her person,
which caused her to strike him as severely as she was
able with the umbrella she held in her hand. He swung
he round two or three times before he would let her go,
and she continued striking him to extricate herself.
Mr. JARDINE asked if she made an alarm, or spoke
to him as to the improper manner in which he was acting ?
Witness said that she repeatedly desired he would let
her go, and upon his doing so, the other defendant took
her by the arms, and pinioned her till she nearly
fainted from exhaustion, while the third person stood
by laughing at his friends' conduct, and reminding her
that he took no part in the insult that was offered to
tier. The policeman then came up, and she gave the
defendants in charge.
Mr. JARDINE—Have you ever had any acquaintance
with either of the defendants? Witness—l never to my
knowledge saw them before.
The defendant How asked how it happened that he
was not the first person given into custody, if he com-
mitted the first offence ? Mrs. Dempsey replied that
when the constable arrived the other defendant was
nearest to her, and she instantly gave him in charge.
John Hood, a working man, proved that on his re-
turn home he saw the defendant Bowood holding up
the lady's arms, with both his hands, threatening at
the same time to give her in charge, while she conti-
nued striking him with her umbrella to extricate herself.

Mr. JARDINE—Did he appear to to be taking im-
proper liberties with her ? Witness--I did not see him
do so, but be was holding her very tghtly to prevent
her striking him.

Mr. JARDINE—Did you hear any words pass between
them ? Witness—None, except when the defendant
said he would give her in charge.
The defendant Bewood—You distinctly heard me
say so, when I held her by the arms ? Witness—Yes,
but I did not see the other defendant do anything.
crms!able Field, 126 F, said that about half-past
eleven o'clock, hearing the noise he went up, and the
complainant told him she had been assaulted by Bowoud.
The other defendant was standing by a door at the time,
and she gave him in charge also for assaulting her.
Mr. JARDINE—Were they sober? Witness—They
appeared sober ; and on being charged, they walked
quietly to the station-house.
The defendant How said he was intoxicated, and re-
collected nothine; of the occurrence except when the
complainant struck his friend with the umbrella. He
was sorry for what had happened, and had he been
aware of having committed such an offence, he might
have gone away before the constable came ur.
The other defendant declared that he never laid his
hands upon the complainant until he saw her striking
his friend, and on attempting to prevent her she as-
saulted him so violently, that be said he would give her
in charge.
Mr. Dempsey said that his wife's arms were seriously
injured from the ill-treatment she had received.
Mr. JARDINE said that any person
.could easily per-
ceive from the history of the traasactloh that the worst

part of the charge was the indecent manner the com-
plainant had been treated, and it was a very serious mat-
ter if a respectable female could not walk the streets
unprotected without meeting with such insults. The
defendants had certainly cond acted themselves in a very
improper manner, but the habits of town, and the immo-
rality that unfortunately prevails, might have led to the
occurrence, and it was his duty to impose such a fine as
would prevent a repetition of the offence. The defend-
ant How should therefore pay a fine of 3/., and as his
companion was only endeavouring to prevent further in.
stilt, and did not participate i❑ the indecency shown to
the complainant, he might be discharged.
The defendant having paid the fine went away.