The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-09 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

A young woman, of the name of Mara Ann Craig,
was placed at the bar before Alderman Lawrence,
charged with attempting to commit suicide by throw-
ing herself from the parapet of Blackfriars-bridge.
Mr. Percy Cole, of No. 42, Tottenham-street, said,
he was returning home from the Victoria Theatre
shortly after twelve o'clock at night, when he ob-
served the prisoner hanging partially over the parapet
of one of the recesses. A man had hold of her
clothes, and appeared to be pushing her over, and
when witness came up the fellow let go her clothes,
and witness, seeing her heels suddenly rise upper-
most, sprang forward and seized one of her legs just
above the ankle, that being the only part of her per-
son within reach, and drew her back with great diffi-
culty. The man stood by apparently unconcerned,
and when witness requested his assistance he merely
said, " Oh! she is only a drunken woman ; it is no
matter; let her go ;" and almost immediately after
whispered to the witness his intention of fetching a
policeman, but he never returned. He denied all
knowledge of the prisoner, but at the station she said
the man was her husband.
Alderman LAWRENCE said, he should like to know
a little more of the prisoner and the man who so un-
ceremoniously left her to her fate, and for that pur-
pose he would remand the case till to-morrow (this
day).
William Webster, cab-driver, 3,52, was sum-
moned for misbehaviour by demanding 41. for the
hire of a hackney carriage (No. 2,5G2) for a time not
exceeding two hours, by not wearing his badge con-
spicuously, and by using insulting and threatening
language and gestures to the complainant, in Fleet-
street.

Mr. Thomas Greenhill, of Temple House, East
Ham, stated that he engaged the defendant and his
cab from about two o'clock in the afternoon until
four o'clock. He asked the defendant what was his
fare, and he boldly demanded 43. Complainant then
asked him if ho charged by time or distance ? De-
fendant said "by time," and required 2s. per hour.
Complainant said the demand was extortionate, as
the correct fare was only ls. 44. per hour, at which
rate he paid him. Defendant then commenced
abusing complainant, upon which be desired him to
show his badge, as he intended to summon him. The
badge being concealed under his coat, he tried to get
a view of it, but was not successful. Defendant
threatened to strike complainant if he touched him,
and made use of various insulting gestures.
Alderman LAWRENCE said defendant had been
guilty of great impropriety, and he would therefore
fine him 103. for demanding more than his fare and
using abusive language, and 23. 6d. for not wearing
his badge conspicuously, which, in addition to the
costs, amounted to 155., which was paid.
BOW-STREET.
Yesterday John Rogers, conducter of a Blackwall
omnibus plying to and from the Exhibition, and
wearing badge 2,074, appeared before Mr. Henry
upon two distinct summonses, in which he was
charged with exacting more than his legal fare, and
using abusive and most disgusting language to a
female.

It appeared from the statement of Mrs. Margaret
Clifton, a lady residing with her family in Brompton,
that on the evening of Wednesday last she was wait-
ing with several others at the corner of Sloane-
street for an omnibus, and hearing the defendant call
out " 4d. to the Bank," ahe got into the vehicle, de-

siring- that he would let her down at the corner of
Southampton-street in the Strand. Shortly after
they proceeded on the journey, the vehicle containing
one passenger more than should be allowed inside, and
on arriving at her destination she handed him a four-
penny piece, which he declined to take, saying that
6d. was his fare, and on her declining to accede to his
terms he applied several disgusting epithets to
her. The circumstances having attracted the atten-
tion of 45 F, in accordance with his advice she con-
sented to pay the defendant 6d. and took his number.
The constable having corroborated the statement of
the complainant as to the overcharge, said that a
shopkeeper in the Strand, in whose hearing the scan-
dalous language was used opposite his door, informed
him that he would gladly attend to give evidence, but
that he was compelled to be present at that moment
in the City on bnsiness.
The defendant denied using the language imputed
to him ; and as regarded the fare, the amount was
legibly painted on the door.
A grocer's assistant, out of employ, said that,
although he was in the omnibus, he heard no abusive
language made use of by the defendant.
Mrs. Clifton assured the Court there was no male
passenger in the omnibus during her journey ; and
the young man being recalled, declared be had no re-
collection of the complainant, and the only reason he
could assign for coming forward to give such evidence
was, that he had given his address at the time in
question, and could not tell why the defendant made
such a request.
Mr. HENRY said a most flagrant case had been
made out against the defendant, for which a severe
punishment should be inflicted ; and in order to deter
other conductors from acting in such a disgraceful
manner in future, the defendant should be committed
for one month to hard labour, and, further, his licence
should be suspended for two months.