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 M r.
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
wentinto 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 two months' imprison-
ment, for the assault on Mr. Gibbons.
QUEEN-SQUA RE.

George Walker, the driver of the hackney cab
555, an 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. lle 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 constab;e'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.

George Smith, alias Samuel Beevington, was charged
with having on two occasions fraudulently obtained
the enlistment money as a recruit, he having con-
cealed the fact of his being a discharged soldier from
the 2d Life Guards.

Prisoner enlisted with Sergeant Greaton of the
Grenadier Guards, on Friday, and in answer to the
interrogatories of whether he had ever been a soldier,
or discharged on any prior enlistment, replied in the
negative. It was subsequently ascertained that he
had been dismissed for bad conduct from the 2d Life
Guards, and he was brought before the Magistrate at
this Court 'on Saturday. On reference to the 38th
section of the Mutiny Act, Mr. Burrell felt some
doubt upon the interpretation to be put upon the
words of the clause, and dismissed the man with a
caution. On Wednesday the prisoner again enlisted
with Sergeant Philips, of the East India Company's
service, and was brought to this Court yesterday to
be sworn in. He had answered the several questions
put to recruits in the outer office, and was taken in
before the Magistrate to be attested, when some of
the officers of the Court recognised him as the man
who had been charged on Saturday. The fellow at
first stoutly denied it, but finding that there were
three or four persons ready to swear to his identity he
admitted the fact, and added that he was now dis-
posed to make a good soldier.
Mr. BURRELL, on turning to the latter part of the
section in the Mutiny Act, before referred to, was of
opinion that the concealment of his having been a
soldier before the justice at ti e time of his coming
for attestation was clearly an offence, and committed
defendant for one month as a rogue and vagabond.