The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-26 00:00:00

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

John Atkins, a well-known thief, was charged with
having, in company with a number of other thieves,
assaulted police-constable Crowning, C 158, and Mr.
J. Gibbons, a gentleman well known for his adroit-
ness in the detection and apprehension of pickpockets.
Mr. Gibbons said about five o'clock on Friday he
saw two thieves, one of whom put his hand into a
lady's pocket, and apparently obtained a booty. The
two men then went into the Coach and Horses, in
St. Martin's-lane, and Mr. Gibbons waited until he
saw a policeman. The police-constable C 158 came
up, and he told him what he had seen. The constable
went into the house, and, after great trouble and risk,
succeeded in getting the thief into the street. While
taking him towards the Vine-street station-house,
through St. Martin's-court, the constable was sur•
rounded by a gang of thieves, who knocked him
down, and shamefully ill-treated him. The prisoner,
who was handcuffed, was rescued and got off. Wit-
ness was struck by Atkins, who was one of the fore-
most in the attack on the constable. The result was
that Atkins was secured and lodged in the station-
house.

Mr. HARDWICK sent Atkins to the tread-mill for
one month for the assault on the constable, and fur-
ther inflicted the fine of 51., or tw•o months' Imprison-
ment, for the assault on Mr. Gibbons.
UEEN-SQUARE.

George Walker, the driver of the hackney cab
555, and William Worley, the driver of 877, were
charged on a summons with wanton and furious
driving, whereby the safety of the public was en-
dangered.
The case was proved by a police-constable of the
B division, named Friendship. He stated that at
half-past twelve on the forenoon of the 29th ult. he
was on duty in Knightsbridge, and saw the two de-
fendants driving at a furious rate from the direction
of Kensington. Both horses were galloping, and the
drivers were whipping them at the time. The cab
555 was driven up against the other, and at that mo-
ment 877 caught some projection, and defendant
Worley was thrown off the driving-box with great
violence. The other cab was then driven off at the
same speed as before, and the policeman followed on
another vehicle, but was unable to overtake it.

Stevens, a waterman, who had seen part of the oc-
currence, confirmed the constable's statement.
It was here represented to the magistrate that the
two drivers had been fined 40s. each at another police-
court, at the instance of one of the Societies for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, for ill-treating the
horses on this occasion.

The men, in defence, expressed their regret, and
said that they had already undergone punishment for
this offence. Walker said he was only just out of
prison.
Mr. BURRELL said that this was a distinct charge.
It was most fortunate that life had not been sacrificed
by defendants' conduct. The public safety must be
protected, and he should, therefore, commit defendants
for two months each.
LAMBETH-STREET.

Thomas Charlton Cowley was brought up before
the Hon. C. Norton, on his remand, for levying libe-
ral contributions, in the shape of board, lodging, and
necessaries, on several tavern-keepers at the East-end
Mrs. Howard, landlady of the Red Lion, Penning-
ton-street, London Docks, stated that he had not only
introduced himself, but one of his friencli, to her pub-
lic-house, and, by his plausible story and address, had
got in her debt to the amount of 8/.
The parties now said they would not be at the
trouble to prosecute, and would not press the case.
The prisoner still persisted in saying that he was
one of the most wealthy landed proprietors at Port
Lincoln, as Judge Cooper well knew and could prove,
and would give a mortgage on his estate to Mrs.
Howard, or any other of his prosecutors.
As none of the parties pressed the case, the prisoner
was discharged..
He assured the magistrate that the estate was well
able to pay, and he would import some of the 200
bullocks he had upon it, for the purpose of satisfying
the complaints. _ _