The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-13 00:00:00

MARYLEBONE.

Yesterday George Edwards, alias George Johnson, a
notorious " cracksman," was brought to this Court hand-
cuffed, and placed at the bar before Mr. Rawliinson,
charged with having burgiariously entered the premises
of Mr. Gilbart, a tailor, in an extensive way of business,
at 86, Oxford-street, with intent to commit a robbery,
and also with having desperately
,assaulted Police-con-
stable Reed, 30 E.
Reed stabed, that in consequence of a communication
made at the ittation by Mr. Gilbart, who suspected that
he had been ibbbed by some one in his house, he (wit-
ness) went-to the shop at nine o'clock on the previous
night for the' purpose of keeping watch, and secreted
himself behind a screen or horse, upon which were hung
some clothes ; at a quarter-past ten prisoner and an-
other man came to some folding doors at the back of the
shop, one of them having with him a light ; they en-
deavoured to pick the lock, and, after trying for a (por-
ter of an hour, but without success, to effect their object
they burst the door open, and came in. They must have
effected an entrance by a side door in Turk's Head-yard.
Mr. RalmbrsoN—When they got into the shop, as
you have stated, what happened ? Witness—The pri-
soner said, " It's all right ; there's nobody here;" and
they went towards the front door, which opens into
Oxford-street. The prisoner's companion then suddenly
turned round and saw me, when I instantly jumped up
and seized both of them by the collars of their coats ;
they blew out the light, when the prisoner laid hold of me
in a private part of my person, whilo his companion

struck and kicked me violently. I was compelled, owing ,
to the pain I endured, to let go my hold of him (the latter)
who, on finding himself at liberty, rushed out through
the folding doors ; the prisoner then called out to him,
" Come back, there's only one of them here ;" he in-
stantly returned, when I received a severe blow on the
head, and also felt something sharp drawn across the
back of my hand, which I afterwards found had been
cut. lat last succeeded in opening the shop door, and
the prisoner's companion then made off into Oxford-
street. I called loudly for assistance, and a police-con-
stable, 136 E, coming to the shop, we conveyed the pri-
soner to the station-house ; close to the folding doors I
picked up a knife, which was no doubt the instrument I
was cut with ; the wound is, fortunately, but a slight
one. Witness produced, in addition to the knife alluded
to, eleven skeleton keys, two latch keys, a box of lucifer
matches, a pencil case, a sovereign, and is. 10d. in silver,
which were taken from the person of the prisoner ory
his being searched at the station.
Charles Right, foreman to Mr. Gilbart, identified the
knife. He had placed it on Saturday night in a cupboard
by the folding doors.
The prisoner who, by the advice of his solicitor, re-
served his defence for a future occasion, was fully com-
mitted to Newgate for trial.
James Johnson was charged with the following assault
on Rhoda Dunn, aged 17, nursemaid in the service of
Captain Beare, Porchester-place, Edgeware-road.
It appeared from the evidence, that in the afternoon
of Thursday week last, the prisoner drove Mrs. Beare
and her children to the railway station at the Brick-
layer's Arms, they went off by the train into the coun-
try, and the prisoner was desired to convey complainant,
who had accompanied them, home. She got inside of
the vehicle, when the prisoner, after going a roundabout
way, and stopping at a public-house, entered &e car-
riage and took his seat beside her, while another man to
whom he had spoken led the horses along • he pulled
down the blinds, and putting his arms round her neck
kissed her; when finding that a strong resistance was
made he at length alighted, and resumed his seat on the
box. He pulled up at another public-house, which he
went into, and she then took the opportunity of jump-
ing out, when, by inquiring of several persons as to
which was the proper road for her to take for Porchester-
place, she at length reached her master's house.
The prisoner's answer to the charge was, that he was
somewhat the worse for drink, and that he had merely

placed his haad on the girl's knee. After she jumped out
he drove up to her, and offered to drive her home, but
she refused to let him do so.
Mr. RAWLINSON had no doubt whatever with regard to
the infamous intentions of the prisoner; and, as Captain
Beare was desirous that the case should be summarily
dealt with, convicted him (prisoner) in the full penalty
of 5/., or two months' imprisonment.