The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-02 00:00:00

3 POLICE INTELLIGENCE-Aug. 31.

SOUTHWARK.—EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF
HIGHWAY ROBBERY.—WaIter Byron Foreman, a
respectable•looking man, stated to have been up•
wards of 20 years warehouseman in the employ of
Messrs. Scovell and Co., wharfingers, Tooley-street,
and Ellen Painter, a young woman of decent ap-
pearance, described on the charge-sheet as a needle-
woman, were brought before Mr. Combe charged
with assaulting Mr. Lewis Evans and robbing him
of a valuable gold watch and chain.
The prosecutor, a fashionably-attired young man,
said he was in an independent position. On Thurs
day evening he went with a friend to attend the
meeting of a building society at Walworth, and
about one o'clock on Friday morning they got back
to the Borough, and were about to part at the corner
of Union-street, witness to proceed to his home in
Great Guildford-street, and his friend to King-street.
Just as they had parted, the female prisoner came
up to him and asked him to treat her. Ile pushed
her on one side and called her a prostitute. She
went into the middle of the road, and, after scream-
ing out, she rushed at him. His watch was then
safe in his waistcoat pocket, attached to a gold
Albert chain. While he was endeavouring to keep
her off the male prisoner came up and attempted to
rescue the female. He was compelled to let her go,
and, on looking down, he missed his watch. He
immediately called out to his friend that he had
been robbed, when he seized hold of the male pri-
soner until a constable came up, when he gave him
into custody.
Mr. Combe asked him when he saw his watch
safe.

Witness replied that it was safe when he was
struggling with the woman, and when the man
came up he missed it. The female then left, and he
saw nothing more of her until they arrived at the
station-house.

In cross-examination, witness said the building
society was held at a public-house. He had a little
drink there, and when they left they called at two
or three other public-houses, and had stout and
brandy and water. He also treated some ladies,
but he did not get drunk.
Mr. Combo asked him whether he was sober when
the female accosted him.
He replied that he was not drunk, and knew
what he was about. When he missed his watch the
man was in front of him, and he seized hold of him,
believing that he was connected with the female in
robbing him. He, however, did not see the watch
go.

Mr. George Alfred Doyle, scale manufacturer,
24, King-street, Borough, said he accompanied Mr.
Evans to Walworth, and they returned home toge-
ther. They had just parted at the corner of Union-
street, when he saw the female go up to his friend,
end a moment afterwards he heard the latter call
out, and then several persons surrounded his friend.
Witness went up to see what was the matter, when
Mr. Evans called out " I've been robbed of my
watch." The male prisoner was there, and he as-
sisted Mr. Evans in detaining him until a constable
cume up, when he was taken into custody.
Mr. Combe asked where the female prisoner was
then.

Witness replied that she stood on one side.
Mr. Combe here said that he did not think that
the man had anything to do with the robbery, con-
sequently he should order him to be discharged, He
was then called as a witness for the female prisoner,
when he said that he l-ad been 20 years in the em-
ploy of Messrs. Scovell, at Topping's-wharf, and on

Thursday night had seen a friend from his house in
Snow's-fields to Holborn. A little before one o'clock
on Friday morning he was returning home, and at
the corner of Union-street he saw the prosecutor
strike the female, and call her very filthy names.
Witness went up to him for the purpose of remon-
strating with him. The female stepped aside, and
then the prosecutor charged him with stealing his
watch. Witness saw his chain hanging down
loosely, but he never saw his watch.
Mr. Combe asked whether the witness was known ?
The inspector of police on duty informed his wor-
ship that he had known him many years at Top-
ping's-wharf, and believed him to be a respectable
man, and not likely to be concerned in such a rob-
bery.

kr. Combe inquired whether the female endea-
voured to get away when the prosecutor called out
that he was robbed of his watch ?
Mr. Doyle said that she did not, but stood on
one side ; and when the constable took the man
into custody she followed to the station house.
The female here said that she was a needlewoman,
and worked very hard. She had that night been
to the theatre, and was returning
home, when the
prosecutor stopped her and called her a prostitute,
She told him she was not, when he struck her, and
she called out for assistance. Mr. Foreman then
came up, and she stepped aside, and immediately-
after the prosecutor said he had been robbed of his
watch.

In answer to Mr. Combe, the constable said that
he understood the female was a respectable young
woman. She had never been in trouble before.
Mr. Combe said that he should discharge her
also, and in doing so added that she left the court
without the least stain upon her character. He
should advise the prosecutor to be more particular
in giving persons into custody for the future.

WESTMINSTER.—SINGULAR CHARGE OF VIO-
LATION.—Henry Hearn, a respectable looking man,
a hair-dresser, residing at 8, Upper Ebury-street,
Pimlico, was finally examined, charged with com-
mitting a criminal assault upon the person of
Susannah Johnson, the wife of a policeman.
Mr. Hutchinson appeared for the prosecution,
being retained by the force ; and Mr. E. Lewis, of
Marlborough-street, defended.
The evidence given on the previous occasion was
that the proseeutrix lodged in prisoner's house, and
a few nights since retired to bed, her husband being
on night duty. In an hour or so she awoke, and
found some one in her bed, and thinking it was her
husband, exclaimed, " Oh, William, haw early you
are home ;" when a voice replied, " It's not Wil-
liam—it's me, duckey," and she at once recog-
nised prisoner by his whiskers, voice, and by the
light of the moon. She said, " Oh, Mr. Hearn,
what do you mean ?" upon which he put his
hand over her mouth, and there kept it till he
had fully committed the offence with which he
stands charged, n otwithstanding her resistance. She
did not cry out after he left the rodru. She was too
agitated, and on getting out of bed fainted. When
she recovered she found it was 10 minutes to 12,
and then, putting on a few articles of wearing ap-
parel, went to the door, and there was seen by
Stewart, 39 B, much distressed and seemingly un-
well. In her half-naked state she then ran round
to her husband's beat, and crying met him, upon
which he returned to the house and told prisoner he
must go to the station. He went there willingly
by himself, and at the station, when charged, said
the prosecutrix was a liar, and must be mad.
The defence set up to this was that the prosecutrix
was not a fit and proper person to give evidence, as
being of unsound mind, and in support of this Dr.
Love, 11, Burton street, Eaton-square, was called,
and said his impression was she was labouring under
a delusion, as she had told him a foreigner was al-
ways following her about, and there was a woman
who had worked sueh spells about her that she was
afraid she would have to leave her husband and go
with the foreigner ; but the prosecutrix (recalled)
said a foreigner was following her about, but she
had said nothing to Dr. Love about " spells," and
the case at that stage was remanded.
On Saturday Mr. Hutchinson called Dr. E. L.
Webb, who gave evidence corroborating prosecutrix
in every way, in addition to which he said that he
had twice examined her, and found her of perfectly
sound mind, suffering under no delusion whatever.
Mr. J. Way, Bachelor of Medicine at the Univer-
sity College, London, also gave similar evidence.
Prosecutrix, a pretty young woman, was then
cross-examined by Mr. Lewis at great length, in the
course of which she said that an Italian had been
following her about, attempting to seduce her from
her husband, and that she had given a person into
custody for insulting her, the magistrate dismissing
the case because she made a mistake in the time.
In the course of the examination, she was asked if
a man had ever been in her room with her during her
husband's absence, when, bursting into tears, she
indignantly replied—" How dare you ask me such
a question ? How dare you insult me ? You are
not justified in asking it."
After a discussion between the legal gentlemen
as to whether the question could be put or not.
Mr. Arnold decided it could be, adding; all I can
say is, if there is not good ground for it, it is the;
most insulting thing I ever heard of.
Mr. Lewis then repeated the question, and the
prosecutrix, sobbing violently, at length positively
denied that she had ever had a man in her room,
and then sobbed herself quiet on her husband's arm.
Mr. Lewis (the case being closed for the prose-
cution) then called two witnesses to endeavour to
establish an alibi, but their evidence was not of
much purport, and
Mr. Arnold fully committed the prisoner for trial,
taking two sureties in £5O each for his appearance.