The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-12 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

(Before the AssIsTXNWAirDGE and the usual Bench of
Aragistrates.)
ASSAULT BY A POLICEMAN.—CIiarIes Broadridge, a
constable of the G division, was indicted for assaulting
Mrs. Leah Welsh.

Mr. Clarkson appeared on the part of the prosecution;
and Mr. Payne for the defence.

It appeared from the statement of the prosecutrix that
her husband carries on the trade of a tobacconist in
Lower Whitecross-street, St. Luke's, and on the 6th of
August she went, accompanied by another married
woman, to get some beer for her husband's supper, and
that on her way to the public-house the defendant came
behind her and told her to move on, adding that she
was a common woman. He afterwards laid hold of her,
and threatened to take her to the station-house, upon
which she threatened to make a complaint of his con-
duct, and isked,him his number. He then took her by
the arm, and tvsated it about so as to cause her consi-
derable pain, and she was so exhausted that she was
compelled to cling to some railings for support. She
was at that time nearly eight months gone in the family
way, and she told the defendant she was faint, but he
said it was no use her shamming anything of that kind,
and pulled her away from the railings, and he held her
by the arm, and thrust his nails into her flesh so as to
cause it to bleed. He afterwards pushed her, tore her
shawl, and otherwise grossly ill treated her. When
they got to the station-house the defendant charged her
with having created a disturbance at the private door of
Whitbread's brewery. The constable of the night, how-
ever, ordered her to be discharged, and she then went
home ; on her arrival there she was taken very ill, and
vomited blood.

A gentleman from Winchester came forward, and con •
firmed part of the statement. He came to London on
purpose to give evidence on her behalf; having witnessed
the treatment which she received.

Mr. PAYNE addressed the jury for the defendant, and
complained of the severe remarks on the case that had
appeared in the public prints.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and the Court
sentenced the defendant to one month's imprisonment in
the House of Correction.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.

THE CITY POLICE.—A remarkable scene took place
yesterday. A labouring man named William Burke
was put to the bar, and a man named Lockwood, the
foreman of a gang of men who have been employed in
making repairs on the premises of Messrs. -Tegg, book-
sellers, in Cheapside, appeared upon bail to answer the
charge of Burke.
Inspector Waller, of the City police, stated that on
the 18th of August the house of Mr. Ledger, hat manu-
facturer, of Cheapside, was entered by thieves at the
back of the premises in Pancras-lane, and robbed of
cash to the amount of 2301. On Thursday night Burke
called in a state of intoxication at the station-house, and
alter expressing a desire to see the policeman who had
been near the premises on the night of the robbery, and
whom the Commissioner had discharged in consequence
of neglect of duty, declared that Lockwood was the
person who committed the robbery. Burke was de-
tained, and witness considered that under the circum-
stances the most proper course that could be pursued
was to submit the case for investigation before the
magistrate. _ _ _

Alderman WILSON having ascertained that Burke,
whose manner was rather eccentric, was perfectly sober
upon being brought up, desired him to say what he knew
upon the subject.
Burke said that he was one of the men employed upon
Mr. Tegg's premises to repair them, under the authority
of Lockwood, ,the foreman, and that on the morning of
the robbery he found a lamp rolled up in an old coat
belonging to the foreman in the warehouse, and handed
it to the foreman in the warehouse, who said, " Let it
be." That lamp was found upon the premises, when it
was discovered that the house of Mr. Ledger was plun-
dered, and he (witness) was sure it was the same. He
remembered it was covered with mortar at the time.

Alderman WILSON completely investigated the case,
and found there was not the slightest ground for the
charge of robbery against Lockwood, who, it appeared,
had dizcharged Burke and another of the men for
drunkenness two days before. The Alderman declared
that he did not believe one word that been uttered by
Burke, and said that the foreman would leave the Jus-
tice-room without a taint on his character.

Mr. Barnes, architect, of the Old Jewry, stated that
he had bailed Lockwood, who had at once consented to
have his lodgings searched, and showed in every possible
way that he knew nothing whatever of the robbery.
Mr. Ledger was satisfied that Lockwood knew no-
thing of the robbery. He then said he felt it necessary,
as an inhabitant of Cheapside, to make a serious com-
plaint against the management of the City Police. On
the night the robbery had taken place in his house, the
policeman, under order to watch the neighbourhood,
actually saw two men, who no doubt had just committed
the plunder, jump over the palings into Pancras-lane,
and run down the lane, and allowed them to escape,
-without having made any effort to check their flight.
If the policeman had only sprung his rattle, the thieves
must have been taken. He was given to understand that
one policeman in this district having been taken
ill his duty was divided between two others, who thus
had to attend to increased labour, and had a responsibi •
lity of a severe nature placed upon them, which ought
to have been filled by a reserved policeman. Why the
inhabitants of the City should be subjected to the con-
sequences of so meagre a system of protection he could
not see. It was quite absurd to suppose that a police •
man, who had such •an extensive round to take, could
effectively perform the duties required of him. The in-
habitants
paid heavily for the police, and it was really
a most serious affair that a robbery, such as had taken
place at his house, should have been perpetratial almost
within sight of one of the force. Certainly the Corn-
inissioner had most promptly and vigorously investigated
the case, and had discharged the negligent officer, but
what satisfaction was that for the serious loss sus-
tained ?

Inspector Waller, in answer to several questions
Alderman W the Commissioner
`Nilson, said thatput by
had dis-
xnissed the officer upon hearing the statement, and gave
an account of the number of policemen kept as a reserve
in the event of illness or other casualty, which was by
no means satisfactory to the Alderman.
Alderman Wt .sox, after having expressed great re-
gretfit the necessity which existed for complaint, said
the inhabitants must be aware that the Aldermen had
now no control whatever over the police. Instead of
having but a few men in reserve to meet any emergency,
the force ought always to have at least fifty to resort to.
On the old ward system there were always numbers of
men ready to fill up the places of those who were not
able to attend. lie was gratified at the conduct of Mr.
Ledger in coming forward to make the statement to
which he had up to that moment been a stranger, and he
trusted that the facts disclosed would lead to an inquiry
calculated to establish more completely the security of
property in the city.
Burke was then fined five shillings for drunkenness,
and not being able to pay was ordered to be imprisoned
for seven days, very much to the satisfaction of the
bystanders.