The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-29 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY

7'HAMES.

Mamas Hillier, an excavator, better known by
the sobriquet of " Torn the Navvy," and William
Ford, two well-known and desperate thieves, who
have been for some time connected with the lawless
Poplar gang, many of whom have been convicted and
transported, were brought up on remand before Mr.
Yardley, charged with assaulting and wounding
Thomas Cottles, potman at the Harrow public-house,
in High-street, Poplar.
The wounded man, who was in a weakly condition
and very pale, and whose jaw was broken by a fellow
named Sotcher, who killed a man in a prize-fight two
years before, was now led into court to give evidence.
He has received most serious injuries and contusions.
He stated that a robbery took place in the tap-room
of the Harrow on the 18th inst., when a man of colour
named Fredericks was robbed and assaulted by two
ruffians, named Drew and Palmer, whom he caused
to be apprehended the same night. On the follow-
ing afternoon, which was Sunday, a man named
Sotcher attacked him in the same tap-room, and
after accusing him of causing the apprehension of
his companions, beat him severely and frac-
tured his jaw. For this offence Sotcher was fined
3/. by Mr. Ingham, on Monday, the 20th. On the
same day Drew and Palmer were committed for
trial for the robbery. He was standing outside the
court when Ford crossed over the road, used the
most horrible imprecations, and among other things
said, "If you give evidence against Drew and
Palmer, I'll jump your guts out." This was before
the prisoners were committed for trial. Similar
threats were used by Ford and others afterwards,
and he scught the protection of the magistrate and
the police. On Wednesday last he came to that court
to obtain a warrant against Ford and a woman named
Welch, who had used deadly threats towards him.
He was too late to see the magistrate, and fearing he
should be waylaid on the way home, he got into an
omnibus and was set down in the East India-road,
at the end of Newby-place, about a quarter of a mile
from the Harrow. He had not gone more than 30
yards when he saw the prisoners following close upon
his heels. Ford called out, "Now, you b—, I
have got you." He ran away, and was followed by
the prisoners. He reached Harrow, and to avoid a
blow aimed at him did not go in at the front door,
but ran into a yard by the lower gate, at the side of
the house, and rushed towards a shed or pot-house,
where he cleaned his pots. Before he reached it
the prisoners, who must have leaped the fence, rushed
upon him just as he was going up stairs, and Torn
the Navvy seized the sleeve of his coat and tore it off.
He struggled to getaway, and the same man gave him
a tremendous blow on the mouth, which caused him
to stagger, and at the same time called out, " Bill
Ford, give it the b— ; finish him Let's have his
life !" and struck him violently on the back and front
of his neck, and knocked him down. As he was fall-
ing Ford struck him a violent blow on the side with
a round piece of iron or wood, and struck him on the
belly. He became insensible after that, and when he
came to his senses many hours after he was in bed in
the Harrow with a surgeon attending him.
In answer to questions by the magistrates the wit-
ness said he was sure the prisoners were the men who
assaulted him, and that he knew them well. They
were in the Harrow when the robbery was committed
by Drew and Palmer, who had been since tried.
Drew was convicted and sentenced to six months'
imprisonment. Palmer was acquitted. He had left
his bed for the first time that day.
Hillier—All I can say is, I was not there. I was
at work at the time. That fellow will swear any-
thing. He has had twelve months himself for steal-
ing a coat.

Cottles admitted he had been in trouble. He took
away a coat and put it on his back, and the man to
whom it belonged hal made a recompense since.
On being asked to explain himself, he said the
owner of the coat had expressed his conviction that
he never meant to steal his coat. He had led a steady
and honest life ever since.

James Harris, police-sergeant, 21 K, stated that he
found Cottles groaning heavily in the pot-house, be-
hind the Harrow, about five o'clock on Wednesday
last. The wounded man was lying on his side and
weltering in his blood, and was quite insensible. He
procured assistance and carried him to bed. Harris
then deposed to the apprehension of Hillier the same
night, and the surrender of Ford at the station-house.
He took them both to the bedside of the wounded
man, and he identified them immediately, on which
Ford said, " Thank you, Tom, for that." On Thurs•
day afternoon, after leaving that court, he went to
the Harrow to ascertain what instrument Cottles had
been beaten with, and found in the pot-house a piece
of iron gas-pipe, about three or four inches in cir-
cumference, lying close to the place where he found
the prosecutor. It was two feet in length.
Cottles was recalled. The instrument with which
he was beaten resembled the piece of a gas-pipe
produced.
Several policemen and others were called, who
proved the dreadful threats made use of by Ford out-
side the court, and to the prisoners being seen near
and at the Harrow, about the time the outrage was
committed.

Ford said he would call his mother, who could
prove he was at home at the very time the assault was
committed.

Mr. YARDLEY—I Will hear her if you wish it, but
whatever her evidence may be, I shall commit you for
trial. Perhaps you had better reserve her testimony.
Ford—l will reserve it.
Mr. YARDLEY committed both prisoners for trial at
the Clerken well Sessions.