The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-01 00:00:00

QUEEN-SQUARE.

James Clough, 98 B, William Prince, 183 13, George
Holed, 193 B, and Stephen Burr, 119 B, four of the
Metropol tan Police, were placed at the bar, charged
with having viidently assaulted John Tworney, 37 B.
Mr. Barefoot, an inspector of tie division to which
the men belonged, conducted the inquiry, which bad
been directed by the Commissioners of Pulice.
Complainant, whose head was bound up, aid whose
general appearance betokened a full balf-Wour's sharp
contest with such an artiste as Toni Spring, state.'
that he came off duty at seven o'clock on the morning
of Tuesday the 23d, and in a few minutes afterwards
went into the Stags public-house, in the Fulham-road,
with the defendants, who had also just been released
from night duty. At Burr's solicitation complainant
tossed him for a quartern of gin, which complainant
won, but beer was ordered in mistake. Burr then
challenged him to toss for another quartern, which he did
and won again,but Burr refused to pay, asserting that the
toss was not fair, and complaivant refused to toss any
more. Defendant Clough then challenged him to
toss, which he refused to do, when he (Clough) seized
the beer and swore that complainant should have none
of it, to which he replied that he did not care, as he
had not got to pay for it. Clough thee told him th.t
if he (lid not toss he would knock his - Irish head
off. Complainant told him that he had better let that
alone, when on a sudden he came up and struck him
on the eye, aid Prince and Burr immediet:ly " pitched
into him," and he was forced into a corner near tt.e
door. Howel also got hold of him, and called out,
" Give it to the d d Irish " Complainant
was compelled to hold his head down, and he imme-
diately received a violent blow on the side of t'ae head
with some hard substance, which he supposed to have
been a quart pot. A deep wound, about three inches
long, was inflicted, from which he bled profusely. John
Cottrell, 177 B, was present when the matter occurred.
Complainant made his escape and went to the watch-
house, where he reported what had occurred.
Mr. Shuter, jun , a solicitor, attended for the de-
fendants, and proceeded to cross-examine the com-
plainant at some length.
Complainant said he was sober at the time, and he
was sure he was not drunk. He admitted having re-
ported Clough and Burr that night for being in a pub.
lic-house while on duty. He denied having cut his
head, by falling against the bar at the public-house.
John Cuttcrel, 177 B, stated that he was in the
Stop public-house when the affray took place, the
whole of which originated in the complainant, who, on
entering the house, challenged to toss any of them for
beer, and having won a pot from Burr, seized it, and
said no one should have any of it. Words ensued, and
Clough interfering, the complainant made a " grab" at
him, and witness, fearing a row, left the bar, followed
by Burr, who, he could swear, never touched the com-
plainant, and who from the first appeared to be far
gone in liquor.
Sergeant Tringham, 18 B, stated that he released
the complainant from duty at ten minutes past six on
Tuesday morning, and he appeared then to be perfectly
sober. Comp' iinent had about two o'clock on that
morning reported Burr and Clough as having been
drinking at the Hope and Anchor whilst on duty. The
witness fe;it it his duty to make proper inquiries on this
subj2e, which he did, and found the. report of com-
p'aieant to he fl e. He then told complainant thel
he must report him for making a false charge, but he
begged him not, as it would bring him into disgrace with
his friends.

Sergeant Thatcher, 17 B, said that complainant
came to him bleeding profutely on Tuesday morning.
He certainly appeared to have been drinking a great
deal.

Defendants een'er.l having struck the complainant.
He came in and quarrelled with them, as had been
stated by the witnesses.
Mr. BuititELL said that although it was evident that
the complainant had been much injured, yet there was
no evidence to show by whom. The defendants must,
therefore, be discharged, as the testimony of the wit-
nesses did not agree with that of the compllinant, who
by their st aement was evidently under the influence
of liquor.