The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-11 00:00:00

COURT OF PROBATE.

The Judge Ordinary was occupied the whole of the
morning in hearing a case of Probate, the will propounded
being that of an elderly gentleman named Shipley, who,
during his life, resided at Nottingham, and the execution
of which it was now contended was
_made at a time when
the testator was incompetent.
The case will last the entire day.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF ASSAULT AT THE ALHAMBRA
PALACE.—John Barnett, a checktaker, in the employ of
Mr. Strange, at the Alhambra Palace, Leicester-square,
was charged before Mr. Knox with assaulting Mr. James
B. Payne, a gentleman residing at the Grange, Brompton.
Mr. Sayer, from the office of Mr. E. Lewis, Great Marl-
borough-street, appeared for the defendant.

Mr. Payne said—After dining with some friends yester-
day evening, amongst others Mr. Mortimer Collins, it was
suggested that we should go to the Alhambra Palace. Mr.
Collins presented himself to the doorkeeper at the stage
entrance. The doorkeeper asked Mr. Collins who he was,
and on his telling him he said that we could not be admitted•
I told Mr. Collins that he had better provide himself with a
proper ticket and come another night. A waiter came
behind me and seized me by the back of the neck. He
struck me three very severe blows. My elbow was
knocked against the wall. I received a kick on the
spine, and my eye was blackened. I had not said a word,
and was smoking a cigar at the time.

By Mr. Sayer—l am engaged in literary pursuits, and
am a commanding officer of volunteers. It was a quarter
to 12 when we got there. It was the stage entrance. I
don't know whether it was near the room where the
ladies of the ballet dress. I was not attempting to get
on the stage. There were stairs leading to the stage that
the ladies were dressing, and that we must leave. We did
not insist on passing. Mr. Collins wished to advance, but
in a most courteous way. I did not refuse to leave the
place. The doorkeeper told Mr. Collins that he could not
enter. I swear that the defendant struck me. I was put
out the back way, and then went to the front entrance,
and charged the prisoner.
Mr. Mortimer Collins—It was suggested that we should
go to the Alhambra, and through the stags entrance. Tho
doorkeeper said we could not go in—that it was too late.
I said my reason for going to that entrance was because
we did not care to go round to the front. I had scarcely
time to expostulate with the doorkeeper when wo were
seized by two follows like garotters, and one struck Mr.
Payne, and the other struck me. When I turned round
to remonstrate the man struck me full in the fees, and but
for the fact that my band has been hurt I should have been
able to give a better account of the man.
By Mr. Sayer—l went to the stage entrance because it
was the nearest, and being connected with the press I have
passed in that way before. I am not aware that there is
a notice that only persons connected with the Alhambra
are allowed to pass in that way. I have a note from Mr.
Strange in which he requests ins to go in that way. The
doorkeeper said we could not go in because it was too late.
We did not persist in trying to force ourselves on to the
stage. Ido not know whether anybody came to the door-
keeper's assistance, but I know that somebody gave me a
severe whack on the eye. (A. laugh.) We should have
left if we had not been prevented. I will swear the de-
fendant struck Mr. Payne. It was not dark at the time.
The persons attacked us in a brutal way.
After further evidence, the prisoner was discharged.

The body of Mr. West, a gentleman well known
in Radnorshire, has been found in the river at Presteigne.
He was last seen in a state of intoxication on the night of
December 1. When the body was found there was a slight
bluish red tinge round the neck, but the medical evidence
showed that he was not strangled, but had met his death
by drowning.