The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-26 00:00:00

THAMES.

John Driscoll, a powerful young man, aged 22
years, was charged with assaulting police-constable
Watts, 351 K. _ .

•
It appeared from the statement of Watts that the
prisoner and others were making a disturbance in
Shadwell at a late hour on Monday night, and when
required to be more orderly the prisoner left his corn -
panions, and without speaking a word struck the
policeman a violent blow on the side of the ear and
knocked him down. The prisoner immediately
ran into his house and was followed by Watts, on
which, the prisoner finding himself closely pursued,
got through the opening of a trap door on to the roof
of the house, and was making his way over the tiles
to the next house when some of them gave way. He
rolled over and was precipitated into the street. He
was stunned by the fall, but soon recovered himself,
and was taken to the station-house.
The prisoner said, he had been holiday making
and got intoxicated, and that he was very sorry for
what he had done. He had sustained a serious in-
jury by the fall, and he exhibited his knee, which
was severely cut ; and Roche, the gaoler, said it was
a bad case indeed.
Mr. YARDLEY—I am only astonished you did not
break your neck. What is the height of the house F
Prisoner.—Three stories high, sir. I, am in great
pain.
Mr. YARDLEY—I dare say you are. If you get
into this excited state again, you will jeopardize your
neck in more ways than one. I won't suffer the
police to be knocked about by any ruffian in this
manner, but in consideration of the severe injury you
have met with I will discharge you this time.
THAMES. _

William Brett, proprietor of the Globe and Friends'
public-house, Morgan-street, Commercial-road, was
charged with assaulting Maria Ruble, a woman
residing at No. 9, London-terrace, Commercial-road.
Some singular disclosures were made in the course of
the proceedings. The complainant stated that at an
early hour that morning she was in the Globe and
Friends, when she saw the prisoner call in a police
constable, to whom he gave a pint of liquor, composed
half of beer and half of gin. The constable drank it
off, and it produced an immediate effect upon him.
The prisoner then went out and locked the door,
leaving the constable inside, and returned shortly
after with another constable, to whom he gave the
first in charge for being drunk. The complainant
accompanied the party, and on the way to the station-
house said to the prisoner, " 'Tis a shame for you to
hocus the man and then give him in charge." Upon
which the prisoner shoved her three or four times,
and threw her against the wall.
Sergeant Eve, who took charge of the constable
(Younger, 100 H) at the prisoner's house, made a
statement which was calculated to throw some light
upon the matter It seems the Globe and Friends is
• house at which the Chartists are in the habit of
assembling nightly. On the previous night, when
the Chartists were leaving, one of them created a dis-
turbance, for which he was locked up. Younger
reported the affair to Sergeant Eve, who remon-
strated with Brett on the impropriety of having
persons come out of his house who caused a disturb-
ance, and the subsequent result he presumed was in
consequence. On the way to the station-house to
prefer the charge, Brett, who was accompanied by
a Chartist delegate, did push the woman with some
violence.
The prisoner said the constable, Younger, entered
his house drunk at six o'clock that morning, and when
ordered to leave he became noisy and troublesome,
upon which he ((Brett) called in Sergeant Eve, and
gave him into custody. On the way to the station-
house the complainant said to him, " You b-- old
h--, 'tis you made him drunk."
Eve denied that such words could have been used
without his hearing them.
Inspector Scott, who took the charge of assaul

against the prisoner, said the latter was drunk at the
time, and so violent that it was with difficulty the
complainant could make herself heard.
Mr. YARDLEY—Is the constable who was charged
here? Sergeant Eve—No, sir; he is in an unfit
state—almost in a state of insanity. When fit to
appear, he will be taken before the Commissioners.
J. Taylor, a shoemaker, residing at Palmer's Folly,
who was in Brett's house at the time, and went with
the party to the station-house, swore positively that
the complainant used the offensive phrase described
by Brett.
Mr. YARDLEY said he would not then observe upon
the grave charge of drugging the constable, as it was
not then before him; but, in a moral view, a much
graver offence than the assault with which the prisoner
was charged, and which appeared so slight that it
would have been better not to take the charge, but
refer it to the magistrates. As, however, instant bail
had been taken, the prisoner suffered no inconveni-
ence. There was no reason to disbelieve the witness
Taylor, for Sergeant Eve might have been so engaged
with the constable as not to have heard the offensive
words alleged as a provocation. The assault was so
slight a one that he (Mr. Yardley) would dismiss the
charge, but without pronouncing any opinion on the
other parts of the prisoner's conduct. It is expected
that the affair will undergo a further and fuller
scrutiny-

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