The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-14 00:00:00

CLERKENWEL L.

Thomas Fitzgerald, an Irish labourer, and Catherine,
his wife, were charged with s series of assaults of a vio-
lent character oa the person of George Moody, a broker,
and his assistants.

The prisoners live in Clarke's-buildings, St. Giles's,
which are being pulled down, under the direction of the
Commissioners of Woods and Forests, in order to carry
out the extensive plan of improvement so much wanted
in that neighbourhood. Not long since legal proceedings
were instituted against the prisoners and many others of
their class, residing in the same neighbourhood, in order
to compel them to leave, but they were abandoned upon
their solemn promise to give possession peaceably at a
certain period, and a large sum of rent due by them was
humanely remitted. Fitzgerald, however, broke his
promise, and obstinately persevered in keeping possession.
Police-constable Bryson, 76 E, deposed, that in order
to serve the warrant on Fitzgerald he was obliged to
break open his door, and when he did so he saw the pri-
soner standing in a recess behind, with a long-handed
shovel raised in his hand, and ready to fell him to the
ground. He, however, succeeded in wresting the shovel
from his hand and effecting the service of the warrant.
Edward Shea, in the service of Moody, the broker,
deposed, that having a warrant of distraint for 51. 6s. Bd.
rent, due by Fitzgerald, he went to his dwelling on
Thursday last. The door was, however, closed, and he
was obliged to enter the house through the window. The
female prisoner was sitting in the middle of the flour,
and declared she would never leave unless she were
permitted to remove some wearing apparel. Leave was
given her to do so, but when they removed the goods she
became more violent than ever, and they were obliged to
use force in ejecting her. She returned in two hours after
and whilst witness was unheedingly standing in the
street, she attacked him in the most furious manner,
flinging a brick at his abdomen, and kicked him so that
there were several swellings and contusions on his legs
and body. She was, however, torn away from him, and
the door of the house was locked and fastened, so that
they might not again enter.
George Moody, the broker, deposed that he went to
the hou-se the same evening, at nine o'clock, and was
surprised at finding the prisoners and their children in it.
They had crept into it through the window. He knocked
at the door ; it was at once opened ; but he had not ad-
vanced beyond the threshold, when he received a tre-
mendous blow on the head, which felled him to the
ground. The blow was struck by the prisoner, with a
piece of timber five feet long, and as thick as a man's
leg ; it was struck with such violence that the stave was
broken on his head. He still felt great pain and giddi-
ness from the blow, and was not at all well. He re-
treated as soon as he could, but a hatchet was flung at
him in departing, which, had it struck him on the head,
would have killed him. (The hatchet and pieces of
timber were produced.)
Mr. GREENWOOD said that the conduct of the pri-
soners resembled that of savages more than civilized
beings. He was sorry to observed that persons in the
prisoners' condition looked upon their landlord as their
greatest enemy, and the broker as a fit object to wreak
their vengeance upon. They had been treated with
great clemency, and they had shown themselves utterly
unworthy of it. If the law of landlord and tenant was
to be upheld any longer such conduct must be
punished. He would fine the prisoners it. each, or a
month's imprisonment.—They were committed.
John O'Brien, a dweller in the same place, was held
to bail, for threatening to stab Moody, the broker, with
a knife, when he exhibited his warrant of distress.
QUEEN-SQUARE.
- - -

Joseph Bowers, ajourneyman chimney-sweeper, was charged i
with disorderly conduct n the streets, and with assaulting
the police.
Policeman 157 B saw the defendant and some other sweeps
in Queen's-buildings, Knightsbridge. He was jumping,
shouting, and making other discordant noises, and throwing
his coat, which was, as may be imagined, none of the clean-
est, at persons who passed. Witness cautioned him, and de-
sired him to desist, but, instead of doing so, lie made use of
threatening and obscene language. Knowing the defendant•
to be a dangerous character, and as he was in the habit of
boasting that whenever taken into custody, six policemen
were invariably required to do so, he obtained the assistance
of other constables, who assisted him in taking the defendant
into custody. Six policemen were, as usual, required for the
purpose, some of whom were severely struck and kicked•
by the defendant, who refused to walk, and they experienced
the utmost difficulty in getting hins to the station-house, in
the way to which he swore that when he was at liberty he
would prevent them from taking any other persons into cus-
tody.
The defendant said he had been drinking, and had no re-
collection of having been guilty of so much violence.
He was fined 405., and in default to be committed for a
month.