The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-21 00:00:00

THAMES.

SAVAGE ASSAULT ON THE POLICE.—Peter Con-
roy, a seaman, was brought before Mr. Paget,
charged with violently assaulting two police con-
stables named Hart and Loker.

Last night the prisoner met Hart in New Gravel-
Jane, Shadwell, and, without any provocation,
said to him, " You are alone now, and I can pay
you out." He struck the constable and knocked him
down, and when he was down kicked him several

times. A violent struggle took place between
them, in the course of which the prisoner pulled
off his coast and waistcoat, and beat the police-
constable furiously. Another constable named
Loker came to the assistance of Hart, and he
was also knocked down and kicked. The prisoner
was ultimately secured.

In defence the prisoner said that he came from
Cardiff yesterday and drank heavily, and the police
took advantage of him. Ile was a»ked if he had
any witnesses, and he said he was a poor man and
that if he had plenty of money he would produce
witnesses.

Mr. Paget said that any witnesses the prisoner
wanted should be summoned without any cost or
trouble to the prisoner. Ile could not permit any
prisoner to suggest he c)o I not have witnesses.
There was the same law for the poor as for the rich.
The prisoner then called two witnesses from the
back of the court. The first, his brother, Patrick
Conroy, said the prisoner was a peaceab!e, quiet
man, and that the police had " prevaric ,tecl," and
would say anything
against a man in liquor. The
other witness, George tiodges, said the prisoner
was a well-conducted man on board ship and a good
sailor.

Mr. Paget said he had seen the prisoner before
him on a former occasion, and it was stated by
Roche, the gaoler of the court, and by police-
constables, that the prisoner had been three times
in custody for assaults on police constables and
convicted.

Mr. Paget said he had heard at great length, and
had heard all that the prisoner and his friends could
advance in his favour. There were no grounds for
the imputation on the police. They had not pre-
varicated, nor had they given their evidence in an
exaggerated manner. He would be the last man
in the 'world to encourage prevarication or exag-
gerated testimony on the part of the police, but
when they did their duty firmly and temperately
he would protect them. He had no doubt that on
board ship, under discipline, the prisoner was a wel
conducted quiet man, but ho was certainly the very
reverse of that on shore. The prisoner was a strong
powerful young fellow and very intemperate. The
prisoner without the slightest provocation made a
very savage attack on a police constable, and kicked
him in a cowardly manner, and when a second
officer came to the aid of a brother constable he
was ill-used in a similar manner.

The prisoner--My coat was taken off.
Mr. Paget—You took your own coat off.
The prisoner—l lost my waistcoat, and all the
money that was in it.

Mr. Paget—You took off your own waistcoat,
and you have wantonly and savagely beaten these
two constables. Your case has been fully heard,
and if I was to shrink from my duty the public
would be left without protection. You are sen-
tenced to two months' imprisonment and hard
labour.