The Sun.
London, England, 1833-12-13 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, DEC. 12.

(Before, B. ROTCU, Esq., Al.P.,_and a full Bench o

Magistrates.)
THE RADICALS AT VAR.--Stephen Odom, Susan his
wife, and Rebecca his daughter, were indicted for assault-
ing William Benbow, of radical notoriety. The ease ex-
cited great mirth in C ,urt.
Mr. Prendergast conducted the prosecution, and Mr.
C. Phillips the defence.
The prosecutor proceeded to state, that he and the male
defendant had conjointly agreed to take the premises in
Theobald's-road, called the Institution of the Workirg

Classes, of Mr. Hinton, the owner, a gentleman residing
at Kensington, and that they were to pay rent and all
expenses between them, and divide the profits. They
agreed also to divide the house into separate portions for
the occupancy of each. On the llth of September he
went there, and understanding that some of his goods had
b,en ejected by the male defendant before his arrival, and
that Odoin wished to get rid of him, he went into the
committee-room, in which there was a desk belonging to
him, and determined to remain all night. lie sent home
fir a blanket, but the defendants would not admit his wife,
who brought it; he then lowered a string from the win-
dow, to which the blanket was attached, and he drew it
up. He then locked the door, immediately after which he
heard Odom outside trying to unhinge it with an axe.
Witness had jutted it with a piece of wood, but Odom
bloke out the upper pannels, and all the three defendants
got through the aperture into the room. The witness
described the assault in the following terms :—The
mother made use—oh !—of the most shocking language.
--(Laughter.) The daughter said " -- you," you shall
go out.—(Laughter.) The old lady and the daughter
both seized me by the collar : I had a " material" in my
hand—a piece of wood, with which I could have laid
them all low, but I did not use it. The father seized
me behind, and the three defendants dragged me over
the broken door, which broke the skin of my shin.—
(Laughter.) The females pulled me down stairs, Odom
pushing behind, and the weight of that young woman
(pointing to the daughter) brought me to the bottom on
the top of her.—(Laughter.) My lip was cut, my face
bruised, and it was a miracle that both our necks were
not broken.—(Laughter.) The most serious consequences
might have ensued if the old woman had not held the
skirts of my coat hehind,which came off in her bands and
broke my fall. My hat came off, and I wear a scalp,
which came off also.

Cross-examined by Mr. PHILLIPS—What are you ?
Witness—Do you want a particular and full account of me ?
What is your business?—l am a bookseller. I have often
sold the "Loves Celestial" and " St. Aubin." Have you ever
been in prison ?—Yes, I was confined by the Constitutional
Association, and never brought to trial. I was tried in
this court and employed you to defend me. I was con-
fined under the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in
1817. I was once brought up for judgment, when I
employed you. Was it not for selling an indecent publi-
cation ?—Why, the Society for the Suppression of Vice
called it so, but the jury acquitted me ; I was found
guilty in the Court of King's Bench. The building in
Tkeobald's-road was used as a lecture room. I have
lectured in it many times, and so has Robert Owen and
Robert Taylor. I agreed with Mr. Hinton to take
the premises, but I did not sign the agreement, because I
had not 20/, to pay as a deposit. I did not lodge a
complaint before a magistrate until a week after the affair.
I did ❑ot take a broker to the premises; but I took a
painter, named White, to be witness whether the de-
fendants would be as violent with my person as they had
been with my goods. I will not swear that White did
not break a lock. When the defendants came into the
room, I did not say, "Come on, I am ready for you."
Will you swear you did not ?—I should rather say no than
yes. Mind what you say, or we may indict y0u...-01),
you indict, ha! ha!
Jane Hutson, a gigantic woman, secretary of the " Fe-
male Radical Society," and an occasional orator at the
building in question, saw the three defendants push the
complainant out with great force, so that it was a miracle
he did not fall down.

Cross-examined—l was in the room with Mr. Ben-
bow from four until ten o'clock. Wbat business had you
there ? Every business if Mr. Benbow thought proper.
—(Laughter.) lam frequently absent front my home.
Joseph Cannon, of 87, Tottenham-court-road, gave
similar evidence. He had attended Benbow's lectures, but
could not recollect what they were about. Never heard
Taylor, but had heard other lecturers. They lectured on
politics, with a little touch of religion now and then.
Mr. PHILLIrs, fur the defendants, observed, that if
they traced the course pursued by the prosecutor during
his entire life, he would leave them to judge what credit
should be given to his statement. He should be able to
prove that Benbow introduced a pretended broker to
frighten the defendants, and that he behaved scandalously,
notwithstanding the evidence of that respectable woman,
who absented herself from her family ; and that of Can-
non, who was studying perhaps to be a lecturer himself.
They all three used the word miracle ; such little things
as that often discovered plots; it was a miracle if they had
not concerted together what to say. "It was a miracle
he (lid not break his neck !" Indeed it would be lucky
if his neck was not reserved to be broken in some other
way.—(Laughter.)
After Mr. PHILLIPS had adduced evidence the Jury
acquitted all the defendants.