The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-06 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

COMMITTAL OF A CONSTABLE FOR ASSAULTING A
LADY.—Robert Wayman, 140 E, was charged before Mr.
Tyrwhitt with assaulting Mrs. Eliza Lambert, a widow
lady, residing at the house of Mr. Soden, 18, Langham-
street, vestryman of Marylebone.

Mr. Sleigh (instructed by Mr. Horsley, of Staples-inn)
appeared to prosecute; Mr. Edmund Lewis, of Great Marl-
borough-street, defended; and Mr. Garforth, inspector of
the E Division, attended to watch the case, the proceedings
being instituted by the Commissioners of Police.

Mr. Sleigh, in opening the case, said the charge against
the constable took the form of an aggravated assault on a
widow lady named Lambert, and he felt great regret to see
any member of the police charged with such an offence, but
if he was properly instructed, the constable had been guilty
of as gross an outrage as could well be conceived, and if con-
victed it was impossible he could any longer remain in the
police force. The lady resided at the house of a valued
friend, and who was much respected in Marylebone, Mr.
Soden. It might be said, perhaps, the constable was mis-
taken, but he (Mr. Sleigh) would ask, was conduct such as
he should prove against him to be tolerated even towards
the most unfortunate ? He would call before them wit-
nesses to show that she was a lady of temperate habits. So
grave did he consider the case, that he should ask that it
might be sent before another tribunal. In conclusion, he
would state that Mr. Lambert (complainant's son) was too
happy to bear witness to the good conduct of the police in
general.

Mrs. Eliza Lambert, a widow lady, said she resided at
her friend, Mr. Sedan's, 18, Langham-street, and had done
so for six years. On Monday night last she called at her
son's home in Poland-street, he having a private house, as
well as the Wheatsheaf tavern in Oxford-street. As there
were some friends there, she stayed till a quarter to four
next morning, and then left for the purpose of proceeding
to her residence. In Great Portland-street, within a few
doors of where she resided, the constable came and looked
under her bonnet, first on one side and then on the
other. She asked him what he was looking at her
for, and he replied, " I'll tell you—Pm looking to see
if you are the girl I saw a short time ago near All Soul'
Church." It was dark, but there was a gaslight behind
me, She said—" You are mistaken," when he replied—
"Am I ? Go on"—in a ferocious tone, and at that instant
she received a severe kick or blow at the lower part of her
back, which prostrated her on the pavement, and seriously
injured her head and face—(Mrs. Lambert's face bore testi-
mony to the force with which she had been used). He
did not offer to assist her up, and she had suffered severe
pains in the back ever since. She got up and proceeded to
her house, the constable continuing to follow her and call-
ing out "Go on, go on." She got to her home, and the
constable stood there till she opened the door, and he then
said, ". Mind I have warned you of this for three months,
go on, if you don't I'll take you to the station now." She
afterwards informed Mr. Soden and her son of what had
occurred.

Mr. Spencer Lambert, of the Wheatsheaf Tavern, Ox-
ford- street, and 35 Poland-street, said that when his mother
left his house there was no pretence whatever for saying
that she was in liquor.

Mr. Soden said Mrs. Lambert was a friend of his, and a
Lady of temperate habits.

Mr. Tucker, of 54, Great Marlborough-street, surgeon,
said he examined Mrs. Lambert on Wednesday, and found
she had contusions about the face, most probably caused by
a fall. Her face was much swollen, and she was nearly
blind on one side. To a lady of her age such a shock might
have been serious.

Mr. Lewis said he had been instructed to appear for the
constable, and he felt that he should best serve his interest
by reserving anything he might have to say.
Mr. Tyrwhitt committed the constable for trial, offer-
ing to take two bails in £2O each for his appearance at the
sessions.