The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-11 00:00:00

orderly .conduct in a place of public entertainment,
and assaulting the police in the execution of their
duty, and the last-named defendant was also
charged with rescuing a prisoner from custody.
Sergeant Townshend said he was on duty in the
pit of the Britannia Theatre at 9 on the preceding
evening, when a serious disturbance arose from some
of the audience obstinately persisting in standing
upon the seats. The two defendants were on 'Seats,
and so was a woman, whom witness touched and
asked to sit down, but a man behind her, who was
apparently intoxicated and claimed er as his wife,
ii
interfered, used most offensive lang age, and-con-
ducted himself so badly that the auditnce called on
the witness to turu him out, and it Was therefore,
imperative to remove him. The defendant Tee,
who was also intoxicated, declared that the man
should not be removed, and struck the witness with
his fist upon the arm, in consequence of which the
man 'escaped, others in the pit pressed upon witness,
kicks were dealt at him, and another officer was
likewise injured. The officers of the place at last
came to their assistance, and Tee was secured, to-
gether with Brown, who was perfectly sober.
Sergeant Heath went to the help of Townshend
on hearing of the disturbance, and saw him struck
by Tee. Witness at the same time received two
severe blows from a fist, one in the chest and the
other on the back of the head, and on turning
round to see who had dealt them found Brown
standing near him, and Brown was at once pointed
out by another officer as the person who had done
so. '

Sergeant Bowler deposed to its being a scene of
very great confusion, and seeing Brown deliberately
strike Heath. Tee was both intoxicated and violent.

Tee denied the whole of this. He was not in-
toxicated, unless tea, ham, and eggs, which were
all he had had, could make him so. is character
was well known to be totally different from violent,
and, though he might certainly have raised his
hand to the officer, it was done gently, and to de-
precate the violence of the latter, who was dragging
the other man away. The conduct of the officers
was brutal; they knocked the people about like
beasts.

Brown declared he had never raised his hand at
all ; the evidence of the police was the grossest per-
jury ; he had never heard anything like it.
Mr. D'Eyncourt thought, after allegations like
these, that the inspector on duty at the station had
better be examined.

Inspector Webster, therefore was so, and declared
that, though Brown was sober, Tee was so tipsy he
could not take bail for him until some hours after
he had been brought there.
Mr. D'Eyncourt, whatever the defendants might
assert, could only go by the evidence adduced before
him. He had known all three officers for a long period
as quiet, inoffensive, and forbearing men, and the
inspector, who deposed to Tee's inebriety, was wholly
disinterested, and could have no motive for speaking
falsely. The most serious assaults brought before
him arose from this thoughtless interference
with tke police while discharging very arduous
and trying duties ; and, though he regretted having
to inflict fines upon two persons of apparent respec-
tability for such conduct, it was imperative that he
should do so, and each defendant would therefore
pay a penalty of 505., or in default go to prison for
eight days.
Brown repeated that he had really never heard
such extraordinary misstatements and gross per-
jury in his life; and Tee asked whether he had no
appeal.
Mr. D'Eyncourt told him that he might lay the
whole facts before the Home Secretary if he thought
proper ; but both paid the penalties without saying
whether they would do so.

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