The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-03 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

GUILDHALL.

Charles Cracknell, the driver of an Oxford coach, was
brought before Sir John Key, charged with assaulting Mary
Ann Williams, a simple country girl, aged 16 years, who had
been put under his care by her friends in the country to be set
down at the end of ,Oxford-street, and directed towards the re-
sidence of her friends in Tottenham-court-road.

Mary Ann Williams deposed, that she had been living at
Gloucester, but was now residing with her aunt in Chapel-
street, Tottenham-court-road. She came from Oxford on
Tuesday by the coach the prisoner drives, and did not know
him before. He treated her with some ale on the road, and
asked whether she was going to take a situation in London.
She said she was He said he wanted a servant, if she
should like the place. She said no, she was not going into
service directly. She was to stay with her friends. When
she alighted from the coach, he said he would take her to her
friends. She had a wrong address. Her friends had moved.
He took her to the end of the street, but could not find
Mr. Lally, to whom she was to go. He then took her into
some place, gave her some tea, and on going into the street
again, bought her a pair of stockings as her feet were wet. He
took her into two or three public houses and treated her with
cold gin and water. She objected, but he made her drink.
He then asked her to go the play, and said he was in town
three nights a week, and if she lived with him she should go
every night. He said she could have a bed to herself at his
lodgings, and took her there. She saw a female ser-
vant there, and then they went to the play. After that
was over they returned to his lodgings. He took her to a
bedroom where she sat down, and he began to smoke a
pipe and drink some ale. After a short time he insisted that
she should undress herself entirely and get into bed. She did
so, because she was afraid. He sat smoking for some time, and
then undressed himself, and came to bed. The servant had
told him to put out the candle, but he forgot to do so, and wit-
ness told him of it, and he got out of bed to extinguish it.
When he returned he began taking liberties with her directly,
but she effectually resisted him. She got out of bed at half-
past five in the morning, but he pullel her in again. She
called out, and the servant came. She then dressed herself,
left him early in the morning, and by inquiry succeeded in
finding her friends.
Mr. Wontner, who attended for the prisoner, asked if she
did not see him go out with his coach the next morning? She
admitted that she did, and she spoke to a policeman, who took
the prisoner's name.
Mr. Wontner urged that a Jury would not convict a per-
son of assault where the complainant gave so much encourage-
ment, or at least made so little resistance, and behaved so in-
discreetly.
Sir Join; KEY thought differently. She was of very tender
age, had been supplied with drink, and was at a loss how to act.
She had been placed in his care, and this made his conduct al-
together inexcusable. He thought there was sufficient ground
for committing for the assault, but as she was a stranger, and
could not describe places, he should like inquiries to be made
before he proceeded with the case.
Inspector Brake then received some directions from the Ma-
gistrate, and the prisoner was remanded.