The Sun.
London, England, 1832-05-21 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

TRIAL OF THE REV. D. 1114TT.H1Ae
FOR ASSAULT.
The Rev. D. Matthias, Rector of St. Mary's,
Whitechapel, and a Magistrate of Middlesex,
occasionally officiating at Lambeth-street, was in-
dicted for assaulting Mr. William Roberts, a mer-
chant and drysalter,rosiding at 3, Old Fish-street-bill,
on the 13th March.
Mr. Roberts, after dining with some friends,
made a wager with one for a new hat, that he
would walk from the corner of the yard of the
Belle Sauvage Inn to Whitechapel Church, the fol-
lowing morning at six, in twenty-two minutes, and it
condition was, that he should touch the porch of the
church. On that evening he walked to the church,
in order to ascertain whether the church gates would
be opened at so early an hour. He was referred by
Mr. Chapman, the parish clerk, to the rector's
house, and there he was told that he had better go
to the burying-ground. He first threw same half-
pence over the wall, that he might have an excuse
for admission. While speaking to the watchman,
the rev. gentleman came from his house into the
church-yard, and asked witness what he did
there; he at first hesitated to answer, not
knowing who he was; but on being informed, he
told him he had (hopped some halfpence over the rail-
ing, but as it was a mere trifle, he would not trouble
himself further about it; Mr. Matthias said, " Never
mind whether it is a trite or nor, you shall find it
to-night," and told the watchman to go and fetch
his lantern; during the absence of the watchman
the defendant abthed him in unmeasured terms, and
witness told him the thing was of no consequence,
and he was sorry he had disturbed him ; when the
watchman came with his lantern, the defendant
said, " Now, Sir, find it ;" the watchman searched
and found a halfpenny; the deft ndatit was very boister-
ous, and a crowd collected outside ; a female brought
him a stick from the house ; witness seeing him in
a violent passion, said, " Now, Sir, that my pur-
pose is answered, I had better give you my
address," and he wrote his name and address
in full on paper, mid gave it to the defendant,
who immediately rapped with his stick at the win-
dow of the police station, which udjlins the church-
yard, and called out for a constable to be sent round.
Witness then said, " Detain me, Sir, at your peril;
I have given you my address." Appreh tiding
from the boisterous mariner of the defendant that he
would strike him, witness walked sideways along
the church-yard, in order to go away, when the de-
fendant followed and struck at him with his stick.
Witness said, "You must not strike me, Sir;" and
his answer was, " I will, Sir, and kick you, too;"
and, continued the witness, " he -- me twice."
On witness going away, the defendant called
" thief" after him several times. He waited on
him nett day, and he refused to make any apology.
The witness was quite sure the defendant was drunk
at the time.
John Wiggins, the watchman, fully corroborated
this evidence, and gave his opinion that the de.
fendant was drunk.
Miss Matthias, daughter of the defendant, said
the family were alarmed by a loud knocking, and
that her father was perfectly sober. She never saw
him otherwise.
Several other witnesses were called, who declared
the defendant was sober ; and two female domestics
in the family said they never saw him intoxicated.
Mr. ALLEY said it was a singular circumstance,
that although no insinuation had been even thrown
out by the prosecutor until this day that the Rev.
defendant was drunk at the time of the transaction,
the Counsel for the defendant had been instructed in
their briefs to call several witnesses to establish his
sobriety.
The CHAIRMAN summed up, and the Jury, after
a consultation of about three-quarters of an hour,
found the defendant Guilty.
SENTENCE.
On Saturday Mr. ARNOLD prayed the sentence
of the Court on the defendant.
The CHAIRMAN said he would not make any ob-
servations on the case, but at once deliver the judg-
ment of the Court, which was, that the defendant
pay a fine of five pounds to the King.

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