The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-15 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

UNPROVOKED ASSAULT. —Richard Hall, a respect-
able looking young man, was charged with au un-
provoked assault upon Robert Etherington.
Complainant said he was assistant to Mr. Pur-
chase, a grocer, King's road, Chelsea. lle went
last night with his employer into a tavern in their
neighbourhood to take some refreshment. The de-
fendant was there, and misconducted himself. '1 he
proprietor of the house called upon Mr. Purchase
to assist him in restraining-the defendant, when the
latter assaulted them both, after which he com-
menced an attack upon complainant, who wits a
mere bystander, and had given him no provocation
whatever. He struck him several blows, and hurt
him very much.

A policeman said that after complainant had told
him that he wished to give defendant into custody,
the latter rushed upon him and assaulted him again.
Witness then took him in charge, and the defend-
an':, not only dealt him several blows, but also
kicked him very dangerously. Defendant had been
drinking, but well knew what he was about.
_ _

Defendant said he merely took his own part, and
did not know anything about assaulting the con-
stable.

In reply to an inquiry from the magistrate it was
stated that the defendant had before been con-
victed of an assault.

Mr. Selfe committed him for a month to hard
labour in the House of Correction.

THAMES.

A BAD MOTHER...—. Em ma Clark, a wretched, half-
starved child, ten years of age, was brought before
Mr. Benson charged with an act of vagrancy.
Harvey, 181 K, stated that he saw the prisoner
throwing somersaults and tumbling alongside thel
omnibuses in the Commercial-road yesterday even-
ing.

Mr. Benson—Do you mean to say that little gir
was in the road throwing somersaults among the
boys ?

Harvey—She was, indeed, sir.
The prisoner's mother, a red-faced woman, of
unmistakably ,dissipated appearance, began whin-
ing, talked about her dear child, and said that she
sent her girl out to fetch her little brother home
to tea, and she joined the boys in the road.

Mr. Benson, in very indignant terms, commented
on the odious conduct of the mother in unsexing
her child, and sending her into the public road to
tumble for half-pence. He knew the woman and
her child well. The last time the girl was before
him she was charged with begging. The girl was
sent out by her mother to beg. He then promised
to deprive the woman of the custody of her own
offspring if she was brought before him again, and
he meant to keep his word.
The mother of the prisoner here commenced
whining loudly, and begged of the magistrate to
discharge her dear child.
Mr. Benson was afraid that the woman had no
affection for her child at all, and that she made use
of her to obtain money from those very foolish per-
sons who rode in and upon omnibuses, and who
gave money to children for tumbling. The mischief
done by omnibus passengers was lamentable, and
now he had the evidence of a public officer that a
girl was tumbling head over heels in the street.
lie never heard of anything so shocking as this.
Those who would encourage such things ought to
be ashamed of themselves.

The mother of the prisoner continued her whin-
ing. _ _ _

Bonsm—l know you are demoralising all
your children. I will take more care of your girl
than you will. Go out of the court directly, and
don't stand whining in that box. I shall send the
girl to the workhouse for a week, and then ascer-
tain what institution will take care of her.
The Mother—Don't send her away from me?
Mr. Bouson—Leave the court directly, woman ;
I'll hear no more from such an unnatural mother.
The prisoner was then formally remanded for a
week to the workhouse.

The Mother—Oh, my darling, my dear one,
my innocent, let me have her.

Mr. Benson—Your child will be taken gool care
of, better cared for than you have taken care of her.
'lle woman, who made considerable resistance,
was forced out of the court by the officers, and the
girl was sent to the workhouse.