The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-09 00:00:00

POLICE INTEI.LIGENC —Sept. 7.

SOUTHWARK.—SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A
POLICE CONSTABLE.—Joseph Pratley, a police con-
stable, 291 M, was charged before Mr. Combe, at
the instance of the Commissioners of Police, with
indecently assaulting Mrs. Charlotte Ann Fawdon,
the wife of a leatherdresser, residing at 41, New-
street, Bermondsey.
Mr. W. Edwin appeared for the accused.
The complainant said that on Tuesday night, the
27th of last month, she expected two of her chil-
dren by railway from Leatherhead, and about ten
o'clock she was proceeding from her house to the
London-bridge terminus to meet them, when, in
passing down Bermondsey-street, she overtook the
prisoner, who was on duty. Having some know-
ledge of her he accosted her, and she told him she
was going to the railway station to meet her chil-
dren, but she was afraid she was too late. He then
said he would accompany her, and show her the
nearest way, and at the same time making inquiries
for her. She told him she did not wish to take him
from his duty, when he said it was all on his beat.
They then walked to the railway station, and found
that the Leatherhead train had come in near an hour
ago. They descended from the terminus into Joiner-
street, when she gave the prisoner asixpence to get
a glass of ale. He brought her the change back, and
asked her to come and look at the ruins of the fire
in Tooley-street. She walked with him a little way
down, when he assaulted her in an indecent man-
ner. She immediately ran to the police-office to
give information as to the assault, but was told the
inspector was not there, and was pushed away. On
her return home she told her husband, and the next
morning attended at the police station in Bermond-
sey-street, and made her charge against the officer.
A report of the circumstances were forwarded to
the Commissioners of Police, and the matter was
directed to be investigated in this court.
In cross-examination by Mr. Edwin, complainant
said that all she had known of the prisoner was his
being in the force for some years, and on duty near
her house at times. When she spoke to him on the
way to the railway she was perfectly sober. She
had had nothing to drink whatever, and was not in
the habit of drinking. When she accompanied
him to the ruins of the late fire, she had no idea of
his wicked intentions, as he knew that she was a
respectable married woman, and had a large family.
She did not fly at him, but she got away from him
as soon as he commenced his indecency, and went
to the station-house to complain of him.
The complainant's sister said she was at her
house on the night in question, when she left to
fetch her children from the railway station. She
was perfectly sober. She never saw her drink to
excess.
Mr. Edwin here said that he had evidence to
contradict the statement of the complainant. His
client denied ever attempting to commit any in-
decency. At her wish he accompanied her to the
ruins of the fire, and she was under the influence of
drink.

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Mr. Combo told Mr. Edwin that the prosecutrix
had given her evidence in a straightforward
manner, and it had not been shaken by the rigid
cross-examination ; therefore, unless he would allow
him to deal with the case, he must send it to the
sessions.
Mr. Edwin said his client pleaded not
guilty, therefore he must go to the sessions, when
r.e should be able to produce evidence to rebut the
charge.
Mr. Combo accordingly committed him for trial.

WE STMINSTER.-- THE MURDER IN WEST-
MINSTER.—WiIIiam Maloney was brought up for
re-examination before Mr. Arnold, charged with the
wilful murder of his wife.
Mr. Bury Hutchinson, solicitor, appeared on
behalf of the accused. The court was, as on the
previous examinations, densely crowded.
Mr. Hutchinson having expressed a wish to put
some further questions, Mr. Arnold assented, when
Sergeant Mason and Eliza Ducklow were placed
in the witness-box, the former to prove that the
accused had repeatedly, when first apprehended,
said that his wife had frequently declared her in-
tention of destroying herself, and the latter, to
show that if she had stabbed herself when stand.
ing by the table, she would not have fallen where
the last-named witness saw her. She must have
been standing near the door. Her face was towards
the tea-tray, behind which the knife was found, and
her feet behind the room door.
Joseph Saunders, the witness produced on the
former examination, who declared he saw the blow,
underwent a long and rigid cross-examination as
to his antecedents, and the events of the day in
question ; but his evidence was only a repetition of
what has been fully detailed already. The questions
put to him were multiplied so fast that,
Mr. Arnold suggested that more time should be
allowed the witness to reply ; and,
Upon Mr. Hutchinson observing that it was per-
haps better to have direct answers from a witness
first, and explanations afterwards,
The worthy magistrate replied that he thought
the witness had answered the questions very well
indeed.
In answer to questions from Mr. Arnold, witness
repeated that he told his wife what had happened
when ho got home that night, and he never saw
any newspaper containing an account of the trans-
action the next day, nor heard of it in his neigh-
bourhood. He next mentioned it to the friend who
brought him to this court.
Inspector Humphreys suggested a question
through the magistrates—Did witness meet and
speak to any one near Leg-court, Peter-street,
shortly before the occurrence he saw ?
Witness replied—Yes, William Bray, a police-
man of the A division.

Mr. Humphreys said he could call another per-
son who could prove seeing Saunders go up Leg-
court at the time in question.
Mr. Arnold replied,—l do not think the witness
requires confirmation.
Cornelius O'Connor was then called, and repeated
evidence already given.
Mr. Humphreys said he was competent to make
an important addition. Prisoner in his last ex-
amination had said his " wife was upon the drink"
all the previous day, and that it was through his
chiding her for it that she stabbed herself.
Witness proved that deceased, ner husband, and
some friends all spent the evening of the previous
day together.
Mr. Hutchinson having spoken of the possibility
of the knife having been thrown by the deceased,
after committing the act, where it was found,
Mr. Arnold observed that, if the evidence was to
be relied on, the knife was moved after the unfortu-
nate woman's decease.

Robert White, 100 B, was now called as a wit-
ness. He said—On Tuesday afternoon, after pri-
soner had been removed from the court, I was clean-
ing the cells out. Prisoner, who was in No. 6,
asked me for water, and I gave him some. Knowing
the man, I called him by name, when he said, " It
is a bad job, but I am sorry I did it."
Cross. examined—l did not come into court and
mention itabut I told Inspector Firman directly
afterwards. I did not mention it at the coroner's
inquest. I was not there. I knew the inquest was
to be held. I did not know that inspector Firman
might not have mentioned it in order that I should
be there. I did not go to the cell and ask prisoner
whether he should like some tobacco. He said he
was dying for a bit, and I gave him a quarter of an
ounce, which he put in his mouth.
Pris.mer was remanded till Saturday next for the
depositions to be completed.

GREENWICH. SHOCKING MURDER ON
BOARD AN AMERICAN SHIP.—John Speller, aged
19, of morose appearance, a seaman on board the
American ship Bosphorus, now lying in the Com-
mercial docks, Rotherhithe, was charged with
stabbing and causing the death of William Dixon,
and also with feloniously cutting and wounding
Thomas Porter.

Thomas Porter, the injured man, whose right arm
was bandaged,. said I am a seaman on board the
American ship Bosphorus, and the prisoner was also
a seaman on board the same vessel, which arrived
in the Commercial docks on Friday afternoon from
Quebec. The prisoner had been in the forecastle
nearly all the day, and as we entered the dock, the
mate called all hands on deck. I then went into
the forecastle, and told two seamen to come out.
The prisoner was there at that time, and I after-
wards told him to come on deck and work. The
prisoner replied that he would not go until I had
gone. I went to pull him by the collar, and he
" tackled" me. A scuffle took place, and in the
scuffle I was cut in the arm through the muscle. I
knocked the prisoner down, and called for a man
whom we call "Liverpool" to come and help me. A
seaman named Callaghan called out that I was
stabbed, and I then saw blood coming from my arm
through my shirt. I jumped on to a chest, and at
that time the deceased man Dixon came into the
forecastle as the prisoner was going out and tried to
get the knife from his hand. The prisoner was
standing near the door, and he and Dixon were face
to face with one another. The prisoner then lifted
his arm and stabbed Dixon in the neck. There were
no words spoken. The prisoner then rushed out of
the forecastle with the knife in his hand, and after
ran past me
running aft I went afetedrrohpipd the knife forward,m,
but he
e
and was secured. He
to the ship and a Custom-
and a boy belonging
house officer found it. I found Dixon lying in the
main hatch bleeding from a wound in the neck, and
he died about five minutes afterwards.
Mr. Trailt—ln what state were you and the pri-
soner and Dixon with regard to drink ?
Witness—The prisoner was sober, but had had
. somotlaing to drink. I had drunk two glosoof gin