The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-08 00:00:00

CLERKENWELL.

Mr. John Brookes, builder, of Great Warner-
street, Clerkenwell, and William Purchas, his brother-
in-law, residing in the same house, were placed at the
bar, before Mr. Combe, charged under the following
circumstances :

Mr. Robinson attended on the part of the prisoners.
Cooper, police-constable, 112 G, deposed that on
Saturday night, between eleven and twelve &clock,
he, in company of Fisher, another officer, 127 G, was
taking two prisoners to the station-house in Bag-
nigge Wells-road, on a charge of attempting to pick
pockets, and as they were proceeding through Great
Warner-street, the prisoner Purchas pushed against
witness, and said " What did you do that for ?"
Witness had hold of one of the prisoners, when be
(Purchas) collared and struck witness. He imme-
diately seized the prisoner, who threw him up and
be escaped into a kitchen in the prisoner Brookes's
house, where he lodged. Witness pursued him,
leaving the prisoners with Fisher; as he was run-
ning down the steps he exclaimed " here is a police-
man coming, keep him out !" and on getting into the
kitchen he shut the door. He was attacked by
Brookes and several women who were in the kitchen,
and they rescued Purchas ; Brookes struck him,
and the whole of them pushed him through a
window, by which Purchas made his escape.
His (witness's) arm was severely wounded by
the glass, and he was taken to the hospital bleeding
profusely. He was disabled from duty. With the
assistance of other officers he took Brookes into cus-
)tody. Purchas came to the station in about a quarter
of an hour afterwards, and he was taken into custody
and locked up on the charge of assault and attempted
rescue. Brookes was charged with an assault and
resetting Purchas.

Mr. Robinson—Pray did you not say they were no
better than a gang of thieves ; and did you not beat
the women with your handcuffs ? Witness—l did
not. I tried to defend myself. I did not take the
women, because I chose to take the man. I did not
threaten to handcuff an Italian who came there.
William Fisher, 127 G, said he was assisting
Cooper to take two prisoners to the station-house.
In Great Warner-street Purchas pushed and struck
Cooper on the side of the head, saying they were not
policemen, and they should not take the prisoners.
Police-constables 125 and 164 G gave confirmatory

evidence.
Mr. Robinson said that, according to his instruc-
tions, this must be a case of great perjury on one side
or the other. His client, Mr. Brookes, was an elderly
respectable man, who had resided in his present house
for 57 years. His family, with some friends, were
sitting down to supper, and he was quietly reading the
newspaper, when Cooper rushed into the kitchen,
dressed in private clothes. Mr. Brookes felt surprised
at the intrusion, end said he had no right in his place,
and he did threaten to defend himself in his own
house, it any violence was resorted to. He attributed
violence on the part of the officer Cooper towards
Mrs. Brookes, and the females who were present, and
that the wound on his arm was through forcing his
arm against the window.

' Sarah Langley, a relation to Mr. Brookes, gave
evidence that Cooper did not , say he was an officer.
They were at supper, and Mr. Brookes was reading
the newspaper. He beat Mrs. Brookes with his hand-
cuffs and knocked over the table and supper things.
Her lip, was cut, which she, said was done by Cooper
striking her, with the handcuffs.
Sarah Furchas, daughter of the prisoner Purchas,
said that her uncle, Mr. Brookes, was reading the
newspaper when her father passed through the kit-
chen. Cooper entered. He did not say he was a
policeman. He seized Mr. Brookes, and his wife got
up to save him.

By Mr. Robinson—My father went to his bed-
room, and Cooper went aftpr him and thrust his arm
through the window. I did not know that he was a
policeman in disguise. He came back and beat me
on the,hands with the handcuffs, and they are now
quite sore. Mr. Costello came to our assistance, sand
he threatened to handcuff him.
Mr. ComnE—This young woman has given her
evidence in a fair way, but I cannot depend upon the
first woman's evidence, and I shall send the case to the
sessions. If Cooper's evidence is true, that Purchas
ran against him and struck him, he had a right to go
after him.

Mr. Robinson said he had five other witnesses to
confirm Miss Purchas's evidence ; but if it was the de •
termination of the bench to send the case before a jury,
he would reserve the defence for the trial.
Cooper produced a certificate to show that his hand
Was shockingly injured.
Mr. COWIE said he would commit the prisoners for
trial, but he would receive bail for their appearance on
a future day, in order that the officer might be properly
attended to, and the case would stand over until the
next session.
The required bail was produced,' and the prisoners
liberated.