The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-06 00:00:00

CLERKENWELL.

Dominique Mansell, an Italian, framemaker, of
39, Charles-street, Hatton-garden, was charged by
Mr. George Oram, razor-strop manufacturer, of 25,
Hatton-garden, with having maliciously attempted to
stab him.

The prosecutor deposed, that on Tuesday night last,
about ten o'clock, he was passing through Leather-
lane, Holborn, where a mob of Italians were quarrel-
ling near the King's Head public-house. The prisoner
pushed against him violently, and on remonstrating
with him he seized him and attempted to pull him
down. He swore at him, and taking out a clasp
knife, made a stab at him. The point of the knife
came against his stomach, but by an effort he pushed
away the prisoner's arm and prevented the weapon
injuring him. He called out "Murder ! Police !"
when two constables arrived on the spot, and he gave
the prisoner into custody.
Edward Francis Adams, 146 G, said, that on his
arrival he found a large mob of Italians. The pri•
saner was conducting himself in a very violent man-
ner, and he took from him the knife (now produced)
with a spring at the back of it. He took him into
custody with the assistance of Miles, 45 G, and he
was locked up in the station•house.
Miles, 45 G, confirmed this testimony.
The prisoner, in his defence, said, he had been on
board a ship drinking, and he did not know what he
was doing at the time.
He was fully committed for trial.
SOU rHIVARK.

Mr. Edwin Lathin, described as a man living on his
property, was brought before Mr. Cottingham, charged
with threatening to murder Mrs. Elizabeth Moor, of
Montague-place, Southwark, and attempting to set
fire to her house.

The complainant attended at the opening of the
court this morning, and represented that the prisoner
had not only threatened to murder her, but had at•
tempted to set fire to her house, and that she went in
bodily fear of him; adding that he was then on the
premises, and that she sought the magistrate's protec-
tion, as she was afraid to return to her house.

The magistrate, upon hearing the statement, im-
mediately issued his warrant against the accused,
which was placed in the hands of Guest, one of the
summoning officers, who proceeded forthwith to exe-
cute it, and after encountering considerahle resistance
he brought the prisoner to the court, when he was
placed in the dock.

The prisoner is a man of gentlemanly appearance,
but he was evidently under the influence of liquor
even at that early hour of the morning.
The complainant, on being sworn, stated that the
priso;:er and his wife had occupied apartments in her
house for the last 11 munths, and that during that
period they were in the consta:A habit of quarrelling
and causing disturbances there. The complainant
said she was most anxious to get rid of such lodgers,
although they owed her a considerable sum for
arrears of rent, and had repeatedly warned them to
quit the house. In the course of that morning
she went up stairs to request that the prisoner
would leave the premises, but she had scarcely
opened her lips when he rose from his chair, and,
with an oath, swore he would murder her and set
the house in a blaze. She was alarmed at the threats
an.l hastened out of the place, but had not been down
stairs many minutes when she smelt fire, and on
running up perceived volumes of smoke issuing from
the prisoner's, apartment, and on entering with other
persons she saw a portion of the bedding on fire, and
also a table cloth which was spread on a table near
where the prisoner was standing. Means were im-
mediately taken for quenching the fire, while the
prisoner stood a silent spectator of what was going
forward.

The bedding which had been on fire was here pro-
duced for the magistrate's inspection.
Guest, the summoning officer, said, that when he
went to apprehend the prisoner, he found the apart-
ments he occupied in a state of the greatest possible
disorder—that the china, crockery, and ornaments,
were all smashed and strewed about in all directions;
that the prisoner threatened to use violence if any
attempt were made to remove him, and it was found
necessary to have further assistance in order to take
him into custody.
The prisoner here exclaimed that the facts were
grossly exaggerated; that he had been confined in
the Queen's Bench for a debt of 5,0001., every shil-
ling of which he paid before he was liberated ; and
that after leaving the prison he went to lodge at the
complainant's house, and intended to pay her every
farthing he owed her; but that he was disappointed
in receiving his rents, and that caused her to make
his situation disagreeable.
Mr. COTTINGLIAM —But what have you to say in
answer to the charge of threatening to murder her,
and to that of setting some of her property on fire—
the articles produced plainly evincing that they have
been burnt? _ _

Prisoner—l never intended to do one or the
other. These things I dare say accidentally caught
fire ; for if I had intended to burn the place it is not
probable that I should have remained in the room to
allow myself to perish in the flames. I shall make a
proposition now, and that is that I will pay Mrs.
Moor immediately every shilling I owe her and quit
her house.

Mr. COTTINGHAM said, that he could not listen to
any proposition of that kind, for he was too dan-
gerous a character to be admitted to go at large with-
out proper sureties to keep the peace; and that he
was bound to protect the woman who had made such
grave charges against him.
Prisoner—l can give bail if it is required ; and I
promise to cuit the complainant's house immediately.
The complainant said that she was afraid to return
to her house if the prisoner went there, as she had not
the slightest confidence in his promises, both himself
and his wife being continually under the inflpnce of
intoxication ; and that there was no knowrhg what
desperate act he might commit while in such a state.
As further proof of the prisoner's violent conduct, a
servant girl living in the house said, that on the pre-
vious morning he threw a poker at her, and she pro-
duced the broken parts of it to show the force with
which he flung it at her • that the weapon fortunately
missed her, otherwise she might have been maimed for
life.
The prisoner said that the witness told a falsehood,
and declared that he threw.the poker at a cat which
had scratched him on the side of the nose.
Mr. COTTINGHANL having severely censured the
violent conduct exhibited by a man in the prisoner's
situation of life, ordered him to be imprisoned in de-
fault of heavy sureties to keep the peace.