The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-15 00:00:00

MAHLBOROUGH-STREET
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Mr. Curtis Fishes appeared before Mr. Maltby. to answer
a charge of violent assault last Sunday evening, in the Qua-
drant, preferred against him by Mr. James Clark Pray.
Some rather curious disclosures were expected, as it was
generally known that an actress of some reputation was inti-
mately mixed up with the affair. It was, however' mutu- •
ally agreed between the parties to confice the proceedings as
closely as possible to the charge of assault.
Mr. Bagley appeared for the complainant ; and Mr. Pren-
dergast for the defendant.
Mr. James Clark Pray examined.—Had known Mr. Curtis
Pinkus, the defendant, for about two years. On Sunday
last was at an hotel in St. Martin's-street, where Mr.
Pinkus also was. Mr. Pinkus walked past complainant
once or twice, but did not say anything. Complainant left
the hotel in a phaeton, and the defendant also quitted at the
same time in a cab. When in the Quadrant an accident
occurred to the complainant's vehicle, and he stopped to
look into the matter. The defendant, who had at that time
nothing in his hand. went into the house No. 70, Quadrant,
and came out armed with a club or heavy walking-stick.
The defendant came up to a friend who was in complainant's
company, and asked him for his card. The party thus ac-
costed, replied jocularly, and the defendant then came to-
wards him (complainant), and almost immediately after-
wards complainant felt a blow on his back. Complainant
took the whip to defend himself, but he was unable to do so
effectually in consequence of the severity of the blows in-
flicted by the defendant with his stick. One of the blows

fell on his head, cut it severely, and rendered him nearly
insensible. In consequence of the injuries received from
the defendant, complainant was unable to attend to make a
complaint on the following day. Complainant's head had
been dressed by a surgeon. The injury was severe; it was
inflicted on the crown of the head. One reason why com-
plainant could not defend himself against the defendant was,
because he had been thrown out of a gig a few days pre-
viously, 'and had injured his hand. Mr. Pinkus had threat-
ened complainant on a former occasion. Complainant
would swear that he had nothing in his hand when he re-
ceived the the first blow.
Cross-examined by Mr. Prendergast—Was an author.
The author of two or perhaps three hundred octavo volumes.
Had written in favour of the atmospheric railway. The de-
fendant considered lie had some claim on Messrs. Clegg and
Samuda, but complainant did not think those claims well
founded, though that was a question for a jury to decide.
Complainant refused to call certain parties swindlers and
scoundrels, and in consequence of this refusal a quarrel en •
sued, and complainant would not write a word in favour of
the atmospheric system afterward. His reason for believing
that the defendant's claim on Messrs. Clegg and Samuda was
not well founded was partly because he did not think Mr.
Pinkus was a scientific man. He conceived that a scientific
man ought to know something of logarithms, the rule of
three, and other of the higher branches of mathematics.
Mr. Prendergast—Now about these two or three hundred
Bvo. volumes. Do you still live on them? Complainant—l
never ate an Bvo. volume in my liih.•
Mr. Prendergast—You know what I mean • people in this
town live in a variety of ways. Pray how do you get your
living? Complainant—l write for my bread. I write for
the books3llers. I write for the principal magazines. I have
edited the Monthly Review; I have written articles for Black-
wood, and on one occasion my article was the only article
coruplimented by the editor. On Sunday last I went to the
hottl in St. Martin's-street to dine, and I did dine there.
There was a lady in the cab belonging to Mr. Pinkus. The
lady did not tell me to quit the room, and not to insult her.
The lady only told me not to interfere. When I left the
F hotel, I was not certain that the defendant lived in the Qua-
drant, though I knew that he did live at one time in the
Quadrant.
Mr. Prendergast—Have you a wife and children living at
Amherst in America? Complainant—l have no wife or
children in America. I have heard of a report to the effect
that I had a wife in America, but I intend to have the matter
sifted. It is immaterial to me whether the matter is sifted
here or elsewhere.
Mr. Prendergast—Be careful what you say on that head.
Mr. Bagley—Have you been married more than once?
Corot ei•sant—l have been advised to say that I have not
been n.arried more than once.