The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-11 00:00:00

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.—Michael Hyam, 21, Daniel
Cohen, 30, and Fiances his wife (who had an infant in
her arms) were charged before Alderman Wire, with an
assault and robbery, under the following circumstances :
It appeared from the evidence that Mrs. Bechnell,
who lives in Cock-hill, New•street, and keeps a brothel,
went last night between 12 and 1 o'clok to a public.
house close by for some ale, when she saw the prisoner
Hyams, who used very obecene language to her, and di-
rected her to fetch her husband that he might fight him.
She declined, when he struck her and knocked her
down. Cohen and his wife were there and a regular
scuffle ensued, but she was unable to say if they struck
her. In the melee she lost five gold rings from her fin-
gers, and her gold watch and chain, and her ear-rings.
She was very much bruised and injured. On getting
home she found her watch down the bosom of her dress.
Her ear-rings, which cost two guineas each and three of
her finger-rings, were afterwards found in the street
crushed to pieces.

Richard Mead, a costermonger, was disturbed by the
noise in the street, and on looking out of window he
saw the prisoners and several others kicking Mrs.
Bechnell ou the ground. He went to her assistance,
and was roughly bundled. In the souffle Cohen robbed
him of 375. Mrs. Cohen ran indoors for a poker, and
on coming out said to her husband, "Here Dan, knock
the - brains out."

After some further evidence, proving an assault on
the police,

The prisoners, in their defence, denied the robberies,
and said that they were all drunk together at the public.
house, and that they knew not how the row commenced,

The prisoners called witnessea in support of their
assertions, and their evidence went to prove that all the
parties were in a disgraceful state of drunkenness, and
that their conduct generally as well as that of Mrs.
Bechnell was most reprehensible.

1.1.4
Mr. Alderman Wire, after a lengthened and patient
investigation of the case, said that it was evident a most
disgraceful row took place last night, in which the
complainant and prisoner took part, but he did not think
the evidence sufficient to substantiate the charge of rob-
bery. Ile discharged Mrs. Cohen. Daniel Cohen he
fined 20s. or 14 days' imprisonment, for being drunk and
disorderly ; and Michael Hyam, 20s. or 14 days, for
being drunk and disorderly, and also 103. or 7 days, for
assaulting the police.
137 The prisoners were locked up.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

GARROTTING A CRIMEAN OFFICER. —Jane Walton and
James Welch, two notorious bad characters, were brought
before Mr. Beadon, charged with garrotting and robbing
Mr. William Maclise, surgeon of the 22d Regiment of
Foot, recently returned from the Crimea, and now re-
aiding at No. 1, Francis•street, University Hospital.
The prosecutor stated that, on the previous night,
about 12 o'clock, he was proceeding along Church-street,
Soho, when the female prisoner came up and accosted
him, and while be was walking and talking to her, the
male prisoner suddenly rushed upon him from behind,
and with his bands seized him by the throat, aad at-
tempted to strangle him. He then threw witness on his
back, and the woman, with another woman, not in cus-
tody, knelt upon hit breast, and took his watch, a silver
one worth 81., from his waistcoat pocket. They
then ran away, and as soon as prosecutor recovered
himself he went in pursuit, and came up with them
just as they were being stopped by two constables in
plain clothes. In reply to Mr. Beadon, the prosecutor
said he was convinced the prisoner was the man who
first attacked him.

Joy, 338 A, said about half-past twelve o'clock last
night he saw the prosecutor and the female prisoner
walking in Churzli-street, and he heard the prosecutor
exclaim, " For God's sake, where are you going to take
me ?" This circumstance aroused his suspicions, and
he followed them to Compton-street, where they were
joined by the male prisoner, who spoke to the woman,
and walked away. The woman then took the pro-
secutor to the dark side of the enclosure in Soho-
square, where they remained until the constable on that
beat had passed. The male prisoner then joined them
again, and went with the prosecutor into Falcon berg-
mews. Witness, who was still close to them, then saw
the male prisoner rush upon the prosecutor, and put his
arms round his neck, and fling him to the ground. The
woman, with another man, who made his escape, then
threw themselves upon the prosecutor. Witness, who
had in the meanwhile procured the assistance of another
constable, then made his appearance, and after a despe-
rate struggle succeeded in taking the prisoners into cus-
tody.

Police Constable 335 A. went to the assititanco of last
witness, and took charge of the female prisr,ner. He
subsequently searched the mews, and close by where he
had taken the woman he found the silver watoh pro•
duced.

The prosecutor identified the watch as his property.
The prisoners, who declined saying anything in do.
fence, were fully committed for trial.

THAMES.

MURDEROUS ASSAULT BY GUNMAKERS.—John Wicks,
a youth aged 16, and Samuel Cawsey, 25, were brought
before Mr. Selfe, charged with committing a savage
assault on John Meredith, who appeared in court with
terrible bruises on .his face, his eyes blackened and his
head cut.

It appeared that all the parties were gunmakers, in
the employ of Mr. Bond, of Cornhill, and who has a
factory for the manufacture of arms in Whitechapel.
Some quarrel had taken place in the factory between
Meredith, on one side, and the prisoners on the other.
Last night almost immediately after the complainant had
left the factory, he was attacked by the prisoners, who
were lying in ambush, and so very suddenly,
that the complainant had not time to defend him-
self. He received a great many blows from the
prisonerswb struck at hit right and left with
their clenched fists, knocked him down, kicked him, and
reduced him to a state of insensibility. Several bystinders
described the assault as one of the most cowardly and
atrocious nature. The prisoners seemed as if they would
him when down. It was also stated that
never leave off beating him with their clenched fiatscanAdwakeiyckwinags a
fighting
man, from Birmingham, and had
"double up " the complainant and dose
his eyes.
threatened to

oinuld' a solicitor,efence that his &lents had been
who appeared for the
the complainant. A gentleman
grosslyr
iMsorn .eCr
sih,nasurulrelgtseeYdd
by
calle&tipon Cawsey at the factory where ho was em-
ployed for a reference, end, after arrangements had been
made between them, Cawsey asked his friend, Mr. Dug.
n ai
department, avritemweet, t
the. foaok him
ctory2 and, after showing him his
own to that in which Meredith
was at work. Meredith immediately ordered Cawsey and
his friend off the premises, and threatened Cawsey that if
he did not go be would kick him out, and shoved
Cawsey, which was returned. Meredith having a shovel
in his hand, struck Cawsey a slight blow on the
shoulder. Meredith's son then rushed at Cawsey and
butted him in the mouth, cut his lip and nose, and
he fell down. At night, when they were all coming
out of the factory, Cawsey " pitched into" Meredith,
and the younger defendant, Wicks, " pitched into"
Meredith's son.

Several witnesses were called for the defence, who
partially made out what Mr. Young urged is defence