The Sun.
London, England, 1835-11-18 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

George Smith, an elderly man, of very eccentric appear-
ance, was yesterday brought before Mr. CONANT, Mr.
HALLS, and the Rev. Mr. THURSBY, charged with having
assaulted John Shepherd.
As soon as the defendant was brought to the office, he
called for a sheet of paper with an authoritative air, and
immediately wrote a letter to his particular friend, the
Home Secretary, which he desired might be instantly for-
warded and placed in the bands of Lord John Russell only.
When put to the bar he took a survey of the Bench, and
then called out loudly—

"Oh ! I see Mr. Conant is there. This case must be
put off until the advice of his Majesty's Ministers has been
taken, for I won't be tried by that Magistrate. If Mr. Co-
nant tries me, I'm sure I shan't get what I deserve."
Mr. CONANT—There are two other Magistrates, so the
case must proceed.
Defandant—Under protest with -my sign manual, I con-
sent that the case should go on.
The complainant had some slight knowledge of the de-
fendant, from his having occasionally visited a lodger in his
house, and that latterly be had conducted himself in such
an extraordinary way that it was impossible to remain in the
house unless it was put a stop to. The defendant came to
the house when he pleased, and conducted himself just as if
he was the sole master of the place, and Mrs. Shepherd be-
ing very " timbersome" was afraid to remonstrate, fearing he
would do her some miselfief. On one occasion, during com-
plainant's absence, he knocked her up at three o'clock in
the morning, walked into the best room, lit a fire, and, pull-
ing out a pipe and a bottle of rum, began smoking and drink-
ir.g quite at ease. When he had finished his grog he got up
to go away, and nearly frightened her out of her wits by
telling her that he was going to indict both her and her hus-
band for high treason, and he should live to have the plea-
sure of beheading both of them on Tower-hill. The last
of his visits was on Saturday night, when a double rat-tat
having been heard, complainant went to the door and peeped
about, but could discover nobody. A second and third
knock were attended with no better success, but on the
fourth knock complainant, who had been lying perdu in the
passage, bolted out time enough to lay hold of his nocturnal
disturber. The defendant finding he was caught set to
work with his fists and drubbed away until lie procured
his release. The warrant was obtained for this assault.

Mr. CONANT thought the complainant ought not to have
laid hold of the complainant's collar when he was outside of
his house.

The complainant did so detain him until a policeman
came by. The defendant had served him with a notice of
prosecution, but he really could not make it out.
A paper was put into Mr. Conant's hands, who on glanc-
ing at it said he could not take notice of such nonsense.
The paper was to this effect :
" THE XING V. SHEPHERD AND WIFE.
" Know all men by these presents, I, George Smith, being
of sound mind, memory, and understanding, maketh oath and
saith, he will proceed to the extremity of the law against John
Shepherd and Mary his wife, for divers felonies, perjuries,
and other high crimes, unless they will turn King's evidence,
and help to convict the traitors who have declared that the
aforesaid George Smith intends to blow up King, Lords, and
Commons to wit, he being now the only Guy Faux low extant.
Delivered in the presence of legal witnesses,

" GEORGE SMITH."
The complainant received back the paper, evidently half
disposed to be alarmed at its contents.
Defendant—Now, then, let me cross-examine. I 51.1211
go back for three years and no more.
Mr. CONANT—We must not hear any long stories.
Defendant—Hear him, hear him. His Majesty's Mir.'s-
ters would decide differently.
As it was quite evident the defendant was non compos, the
Bench ordered him to be discharged.
The defendant walked away, with the intention as he said
of going to the Home Office, to countermand the order for
the Hon. Secretary's attendance.