The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-30 00:00:00

MURDEROUS ASSAULT.

Mr. James Jack, a merchant, of No. 44, Bedford-street,
Bedford-square, Stepney, who is the proprietor of ale, spirit,
and provision stores in Glasshouse-yard, Upper East Smith-
field, appeared before Mr. Broderip, at the Thames Police-
court, to answer a charge of violently assaulting John Salisbury
and William Kelly, also for assaulting police-constable Thomas
Harris, 212 H, in the execution of his duty.
The prisoner is a strong, portly man, about forty-five years of
age, and was labouring under considerable excitement during
the proceedings which caused the most lively interest. Mr.
Pelham, the solicitor, was in attendance for Mr. Jack towards
the close of the proceedings.
Mr. John Salisbury stated that he is a sail-maker, and lived
at King James's-stairs, Wapping-wall. He had been
slightly acquainted with the prisoner. On. Thursday even-
ing he was passing along Glasshouse-yard, when the pri-
soner suddenly rushed upon him, and struck him a
heavy blow on the head which knocked him down, and be-
fore he could recover himself he was dragged into the pri-
soner's warehouse, the door of which was open, and as soon
as Mr. Jack had got him into the warehouse he banged the
door and fastened it, and then seized him by the collar with
his left hand and made a most savage attack upon him. The
prisoner fell upon him, and forced his knees upon his stomach,
and beat him with his right fist on the the face and head, and
said he would be the death of him. The prisoner kept him
down and continued beating him for some time, until his face
was contused, and the blood was streaming from his eyes, nose,
and mouth.

Mr. Broderip asked the witness, whose face was terribly dis-
figured, if the injuries were caused by the blows he received?
Mr. Salisbury replied in the affirmative. He was covered
with blood, and the floor of the warehouse was like that of a
slaughter-house. He thought the prisoner intended to kill
him, and he called out " Murder" as loud as he was able, and
very fortunately Mr. Kelly, a • neighbour, who was passing at
the time, looked through the window, and seeing him on the
ground with the prisoner over him, he called out " Mr. Jack,
you are murdering the man," and directed him to release him.
The prisoner paid no attention to Mr. Kelly, who ultimately
burst the door open, and with great exertion took the prisoner
away, and secured him till an officer came.
The prisoner cross-examined the witness in a very peremp-
tory and boisterous manner. Mr. Salisbury said he formerly
lived in Glasshouse-yard, and that he was taken to one of the
City station-houses on suspicion of being the person named in
a printed bill offering a reward for the discovery of a person
who had robbed Mr. Jack. The prisoner exhibited a copy of
the bill, and exclaimed loudly, " hat's it, Sir." Mr. Salis-
bury added, that the police discharged him after a few hours'
detention.

Mr. William Kelly, a carman, of 106, Upper East Smith-
field, said his stable adjoined Mr. Jack's premises. He heard
the cries of murder about six o'clock in the evening, and saw
Mr. Jack dragging the last witness into his warehouse. The
cries of murder were continued, and upon looking through the
window he saw the prisoner with his knees en Mr. adisbury's
stomach, and his hand under his stock, apparently snaking
an attempt to strangle him. He afterwards saw Air.
Jack strike Mr. Salisbury in a downward direction,
and he expostulated with him and asked him if
he was going to commit murder. Air. Jack continued ham-
mering at the man, and he then burst the door open and found
Mr. Salisbury quite insensible, and he thought he was dead.
There was half a pailful of blood on the floor. He pulled Mr.
Jack away, and was about to remove him from the warehouse,
when he seized witness by the throat and tore his shirt. Find-
ing that mild measures would be of no use with such a despe-
rate man, he threw him on the ground, and kept him down
until a policeman came. The prisoner kicked him most
severely, and would have served him as he did Mr. Salisbury
if he had not overpowered him. About two hours after the
prisoner was taken to the station-house he was bailed by his
friends, and about nine o'clock he came into witness's stables,
and said, " You old -, I want you ; now I'll do for you,"
and caught hold of him by the throat. He straggled with ie
prisoner, who made an attempt to drag him out of the stable,
and he was obliged to throw the prisoner again, and hold him
fast till a policeman came.
Thomas Harris, a policeman, who had been severely pu-
nished, said that he was sent for to Mr. Jack's premises.
On reaching the place he found Mr. Salisbury in a deplo-
rable condition, and bleeding profusely. Mr. Kelly and Mr.
Jack were both on the floor and struggling. He se-
parated them, and took Mr. Jack into custody. Mr.
Jack refused to go until some person was engaged to look
after his premises. He left a constable in charge of them,
and conveyed the prisoner towards the station-house. He
had not proceeded far before Mr. Jack made his escape, and
rushed into a beer-shop, and caught hold of the beer ma-
chine, and exclaimed, with an oath, that he would not go
any further. He told him he was his prisoner, and to the
station-house he must go, on which the landlord interfered,
and used the most opprobrious language. The prisoner
then struck him several times, and knocked one of the
buttons off his coat with his fist. Witness then drew his
staff in self-defence, and having procured assistance, he took
him to the station-house. After the prisoner had procured
bail, he came on witness's beat, and followed him and
annoyed him from eight till nine o'clock, and frequently
called him a thief. He put up with these insults without
notice, and get out of the prisoner's way. A few minutes
afterwards the prisoner brought the landlord of the beer-
shop to insult him, and stopped him on his beat. He de-
sired him to go away, but it was some time before he would do
so, and accused him of robbing him, and added that he would
have him taken into custody. He then left him again, and
after the lapse of a few minutes he was sent for to Mr. Kelly's
stables, and found the prisoner there conducting himself in a
most violent and disorderly manner, and he struck Mr. Kelly,
who threw him directly, and then gave him in charge. He
again conveyed him to the station-house, and the inspector ad-
vised Mr. Kelly to obtain an assault warrant from a magistrate,
as the prisoner was already bailed. Mr. Jack was then set at
liberty:
The prisoner, who alternately abused and cross-examined
the witness, asked him how he dared to take him out of his
house.

Mr. Broderip advised the prisoner to be more temperate,
and said the law gave the police-constable authority to take
him into custody. He then asked the prisoner if he had any
defence to make, and said he should send the case before a
jury.
The prisoner said, as he was to appear before another tri-
bunal, he should reserve his defence.

Several other persons who had been assaulted by the prisoner,
were stated to be in attendance, but it was not thought neces-
sary to examine them.

11r.
Broderip said the prisoner was charged with committing
a most unprovoked and murderous assault en Mr. Salisbury,
and he ordered him to find good bail, himself in 2001., and
two responsible housekeepers in 100/. each, to appear and take
his trial at the next Middlesex sessions. The prisoner also
stood accused of committing two other violent assaults, one
upon Mr. Kelly, and the other upon the police-constable in
the execution of his duty ; and he further directed that he
should put in bail to a similar amount in Mr. Kelly's case, and
to enter into sureties, himself in 1001., and two housekeepers
in 50/. each, to answer the charge of assaulting the constable.
The prisoner, who was unable to find the bail, was com-
mitted to Clerkenwell prison. He was formerly an inmate of
a lunatic asylum for several months, and it is supposed that a
return of his old malady caused him to make the attempt on
Mr. Salisbury's life.

THE LATE CAPTAIN DowLING.—We beg to
rectify a mistake of ours in the insertion of the sudden deatk of
Captain Dowling, late Barrack Master of St. James's—" That
he was brother of Mr. Dowlir.g, of Liverpool," being in no way
related to the family, the deceased gentleman being the only
sun of the late Rev. Dr. Dionysius Dowling, of Loughswilly,
County Derry, Ireland.
THE OLD CHURCH AT FULHAM.—The venerable
tower of Fulham church, adjoining the palace of the Bishop
of London, has long called for restoration : brickwork capped
with Yorkshire paving formed the battlements, the turret was
stunted, the belfry windows, strings, and plinth, were tumbling
to pieces, and the great west window had disappeared altoge-
ther, and was boarded up. Partly by a rate, and partly by
subscription, funds have been raised, and the work is now
rapidly proceeding, under the direction of Mr. Godwin, the
architect. His Lordship the Bishop, the Rev. Mr. Baker, the
rector, John Gunter, Esq., and several other of the principal
inhabitants of the parish, have exerted themselves to effect this
restoration. Mr. Samuel Cundy, of Pimlico, is the con-
tractor. Winn completed we shall give some account of the
church, which has several points of considerable interest.--
Builder.

LLYNIR IRON COMPANY.—The annual meeting of
this Company was held at their offices in Moorgate-street, on
Friday, the 29th inst., Dr. Bowring, M.P., in the chair. A
dividend of 10 per cent. on the capital was declared, arising out
of the profits, leaving an undivided rest of 2,400/. The present
condition and future prospects of the Company are of the most
satisfactory character.