The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-12 00:00:00

THAMES.

THE MAGISTRATE AND THE SAILOR.—POLICE
REGULATIONS.— Charles Darling, a well-educated
seaman, whose clothes were covered with mud and
dirt, was brought before Mr. Paget charged with
being drunk and disorderly and assaulting Police-
constable Bell, 328 K.

At an early hour this morning the prisoner was
calling out police very loudly and repeatedly in the
Commercial-road, and Bell attended upon him and
asked him what was the matter. The prisoner,
who was very drunk, said be had been robbed in a
publichouse, but he did not know where it was or who
bad robbed him. The policeman said he could not
do anything for the prisoner, and advised him to go
home. The prisoner made use of a good deal of
bad language, told the policeman that he was of no
use when his services were required, and struck him
a smart blow on the chest. Bell then took the
prisoner into custody.

The prisoner, in defence, said he was very sorry
that he had struck the policeman. Ile was very
much intoxicated last night. lie was robbed of all
his money, and he was vexed about his loss and
did not know what he did.

Mr. Paget said that, in accor3auce with a rule he
had laid down, he could not allow the release of
the prisoner until he had suffered seven days' impri-
sonment and hard labour. Ile never overlooked
assaults on the police.

The prisoner implored of the magistrate not to
send him to prison. It would be his total ruin if he
was sent away. He was second officer of a ship,
anl expected promotion. All his prospects in life,
his good name, his reputation, and the good
opinion of his respectable friends would be at an
end if he was sent to the House of Correction. No
one could more regret striking the officer than him.
self, and he should ever feel the degrading positio❑
he was in.

Mr. Paget, after putting some questions to the
prisoner, which he answered satisfactorily, and after
a long pause, said he was going to do a thing which
he never did before, forgive a man who had com-
mitted an assault on a police officer. lie would
allow the prisoner to be discharged, and his princi-
pal reason for doing so was that the prisoner had
been robbed of his money.
Soon after the parties left the court, Mr. Paget
received a communication from Mr. Livingston, the
chief usher, which induced him to call the parties
into the court again, and the Magistrate said he was
informed the constable would have to make a report
to the Commissioners of the reasons which induced
him to take the prisoner into custody. lie wished
it to be understood most distinctly that the con-
stable was perfectly justified in what he had done,
and that there was no imputation whatever on his
conduct.

Police-sergeant Gamble, No. 49 K, said the con-
stable would not get into disgrace by the discharge
of the prisoner, and that he (Gamble) would have to
report on the case.
Police-sergeant 'Harvey, 276 A R, said he was
doing duty ou the II division, where every constable
had to report on his conduct when he preferred a
case of assault, and it wag dismissed.
Mr. Paget--I want to take care that not the
slightest imputation shall rest on the constable.
After sonic discussion, it was suggested to the
magistrate that the prisoner should be bound over to
keep the peace, and that would relieve the police
constable of the necessity of making a report, and
Mr. Paget adopted that course. Mr. Porson, the
junior clerk, then "bound over" the prisoner in the
following recognizance : You hereby acknowledge
yourself to be indebted to our Sovereign Lady the
Queen in the sum of £lO on condition that you keep
the peace and be of good behaviour to all her Ma-
jesty's subjects, and especially towards Daniel Bell,
for the space of six months. Are you content?
The Prisoner—Yes, sir.
Mr. Paget —I will allow you to be discharged.