The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-22 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE-Aug. 21.

MARL BOROUGH-STREET.—Algernon Gre-
ville, a cornet in the Ist Regiment of Life Guards,
stationed at the Albany Barracks, Regent's-park,
was summoned for an assault on Mr. John Samuel
Smith, surveyor, of 44, Bedford-row, and Mr.
Anthony Wellington Irvine, solicitor, of 5, Gray's-
inn-square, under the following circumstances

There were two summonses, but the hearing of
both was embodied in one.

Mr. Sleigh, the barrister, conducted the ease,
whilst Mr. Edward Lewis, of Marlborough-street,
appeared for the defence.
The defendant was accommodated with a seat at
the solicitors' table.

Mr. Sleigh informed the Court that this was a
case arising out of the return from Egham races,
and the assault complained of occurred in the Ux-
bridge-road. It would be proved that the two gen-
tlemen for whom he appeared were riding in a
Hansom cab, and the defendant, whose conduct in
a public thoroughfare was most unbecoming that
of a gentleman and an officer holding her Majesty's
commission, on the roof of a four-in-hand carriage
coming in a contrary direction, apparently return-
ing from the race-course. It might have been, he
had been amusing himself at the game of Aunt
Sally ; but whatever he had been at, certain it was
that, when -within a few yards of the cab, he was
seen to rise, and, poising himself, deliberately take
aim at his Clients. In an instant the long wooden
bodkin or pen-case, now produced, was propelled
pointways with great force towards them, and,
providentially missing an eye, struck the cab, but
so near a personal injury as to graze Mr. Smith's
hat. Directly alighting from their cab, the gen-
tlemen ran after the "four-in-hand," and demanded
at least an apology; but this was refused, and
then, smarting naturally under the very unprovoked
insult and assault committed, they asked defen-
dant for his card, resolved upon public grounds to
bring the matter before the Court, in order to
show that gentlemen and officers must not act
in this aggressive =inner with impunity. The
defendant said if the gentleman would hand
hini a pencil he would write his name for him.
Did so, and then with a laugh, and what is termed
"chaff," invited his clients, the complainants, to
settle the affair over a bottle of sherry, at his and
his friends' barracks, which they indignantly de-
clined. It was felt that a dangerous practical joke,
if it might be termed so, had been put in practice,
that the missile propelled, if it had struck the eye,
might have destroyed the sight, and it was resolved
to take out the present proceedings, and show the
defendant and other larking young gentlemen that
such conduct on public grounds should be punished.
Some conversation at the conclusion of the learned
gentleman's opening ensued between the respective
friends of the parties as to an amicable adjustment.
The complainants were agreeable to withdraw pro-
vided a reasonably handsome gratuity was paid into
the poor box. A sum of £2O was offered, and cheer-
fully consented to, with an apology, but the defen-
dant and his friends objected to tne reimbursement
of costs, and the evidence was therefore gone into,
Mr. Beadon observing that he would give no advice,
and that he was there to hear the case if the sum-
mons issued was put in.
Mr. Sleigh said to prove the outrage he would
first call Mr. Smith.

The facts given in Mr. Sleigh's opening address
having been fully deposed to and corroborated by
Mr. Irvine, who stated that the missile was hurled
with such force and violence that it broke in two
halves with the blow, and it was most providential
serious personal injury was not inflicted.
Mr. Lewis, for the defence, thought that much
had been imported into the case by his learned
friend not necessary to the charge. Divested of this
flowery rhetoric he submitted it was simply the
freak of an elated officer and a gentleman returning
from the races; and although he was not for one
moment attempting to justify the act of the defen-
dant in throwing such a missile, he considered it
would have been better to have accepted an apology
with the accompanying gift to the poor-box.
Mr. Smith was here asked if there were not other
vehicles passing at the time, and replied that there
were not ; and he was not aware the driver of the
defendant's carriage was Capt. Paton.
Mr. Lewis, in conclusion, said the defendant re-
gretted the act, and had instructed him to say that
many vehicles hal been passing, and their occu-
pants and the defendant had been pelting each
other ; that, too, he wouldn't attempt to justify, and
he trusted the case would be dealt with as a com-
mon assault, and a merely nominal fine inflicted.
Mr. Beadon observed that throwing missiles one
at another was not alone a silly but a dangerous
pastime, and certainly ought not to be indulged in.
In this case it might have been attended with very
serious consequences. When he was at the Ham-
mersmith Court many such cases came before him,
and he recollected on one occasion a boy's eye was
cut out. Much had been said about " public
grounds," and on public grounds he should go and
deal with this case as he had always done, by in-
flicting such a fine as he thought would meet the
justice of it. If injury had ensued he should have
sent it to the sessions ; as it was he should fine the
defendant £5, or two months' imprisonment.

WESTMINSTER.—Oz Monday two very re-
spectable-looking women, mother and daughter, en-
treated the magistrate's protection under the follow-
ing circumstances :
The elder woman, who appeared in a very deli-
cate state of health, said she had been compelled to
come there through fear of her life, which, with her
daughter's, was placed in great danger by her hus-
band's threats, which were of the most violent and
fearful character. He was constantly drunk, and
his continued brutality was having a serious effect
on her constitution. That morning, as he left the
house, he declared that he would come home blind
drunk, that he would commit another Walworth
murder, and that his should be the next public exe-
cution. So brutalised had he become through the
effects of intoxication, that he had stood over the
bed of a child eight years old, in the last stage of
consumption, and threatening its immediate de-
struction. Upon this representation, confirmed by
the daughter, who complained that her father threw
her down on the floor, tore all her clothes off ex-
cepting her under garment, and then threw her
into the street upon her head, hurting her very
much, Mr. Paynter issued a warrant against the
accused, Edward Knott, who was apprehended in
the course of the afternoon by Skaite, one of
the summoning officers, in so violent and filthy
a state of drunkenness that he was un fit to be brought
before the magistrate. Besides this he resisted the
officer, and conducted himself so outrageously while
in his cell that he nearly broke the door down, and
it was found necessary to restrain him.
On being brought before the magistrate his wife

The mother of the complainant here stepped for-
ward and corroborated her daughter's statement as
to the violence committed. She also admitted
having lived with the prisoner, by whom sho had
had two children, both of whom were dead.
Mr. Maude said it was truly shocking to witness
the disgraceful profligacy which had been exhibited.
With this, however, he had nothing to do, but the
assault he could punish • and as the case was one
which a recent Act of Parliament was intended to
meet, the prisoner would be imprisoned and kept to
hard labour for three months.