The Sun.
London, England, 1829-12-14 00:00:00

WORSIIIP-STREET.

ROBBERY ANI ASSAULT AT WHITE CONDUIT-
HOUSE.—Saturday 111 r. John Mont-house, the pro-
prietor of the While Conduit-house, at Pentonville,
was charged by Mr. Charles Sloman, with having
violently ass.tulted and beaten him.
Mr. Sloman, a few evenings ago, went to the
White Conduit-house, accompanied by a lady lately
arrived from America, his wife, and brother-in-law,
for the purpose of showing the American lady a spe-
cimen of English manners and customs, and afford-
ing her an evening's recreation, which he knew the
entertainments at this place of amusement were ca-
pable of affording, and had only been there a few
minutes when, to his surprise, he found several of
the company drunk.
Mr. BROUGHTON—I am sorry to say that is a
true specimen of English manners among a certain
class of people.
Mr. Sloman—Dancing had commenced, and the
lady was going down a country dauce, when a per-
son suddenly thrust his hand bun her bosom. I
immediately remonstrated upon the indelicacy of
such gross conduct, when I was assailed by eight
or ten persons and knocked down. 1 called out for
assistance, when Mr. Monkhouse came. into tJ3e
room, and upon inquiring the cause of the disturb-
ance several persons surrounded him, and said then
were good customers to him, and that one had spent
10.. in his house that evening, another 1/., a third
305., and so on, and told him that I and the lady I
had introduced into the room were a complete nui-
sance, and demanded our immediate expulsion ; upon
which, without further ceremony, Mr. Monkhouse
forced me out of the room, and struck me several
times. He then threw me down stairs, and ran
down after me; at the bottom of the stairs he kicked
me violently, and broke the crown of my hat in. In
the course of the scuffle, the American lady had a
gold chain stolen from her neck, which was attached
to a gold watch. I will not swear to the person
who insulted the lady or that stole her watch-chain;
but I see a person in Court who I think did both.
Mr. BROUGHTON—Point him out, and let him
stand forward.

A respectable-looking man stepped forward, and
gave his name Theodore Hicksman, a Custom-
house agent, but denied having any participation in
the affray.
An elegantly-attired female, possessing consider-
able beauty, was next sworn—She gave her name
Emma Nash, and was the wife of a respectable sur-
geon. She had been in England about six weeks,
end corroborated Mr. Sloman's statement. She
could swear that Mr. Hicksman knocked Mr. St°.
man down, and Mr. Monkhouse afterwards seized
Mr. Sloman by the throat.
Mr. Monkhouse, in his defence, said that Mr.
Stonien commenced the affray, and that the state-
ment of the gold chain having been stolen was en-
tirely a fabrication, as he had cautioned the lady on
going into the room to remove it from her neck, it
being too valuab4 to be safe among so many
strangers. She took his advice, and he saw her take
the chain from her neck and give it to Mr. Slorsan,
who put it in his pockets
This the lady positively denied upon her oath. It
wee also denied by Mr. Sloman, who called his wife
and brother-in-law to corroborate his. evidence.
Mr. Monkhouse then stated that Mrs. Nash was
dressed so very indelicate that she.disgusted every
respectable female in the room. Her neck was en-
tirely bare, and her language was of the lowest and
most blackguard description. She swore like a
trooper.—(A laueh.)
Mr. BROUGHT 3e ! I don't believe a word
you say unless you are supported by evidence.
Mr. Howell, a professional singer, was then called,
who swore that Mr. Sloman struck the first blow,
and that the lady's gross conduct and indelicate
manner of dressing attracted the attention of the
whole company, and occasioned general disgust.
Mr. D. W. Rae, the conductor of the ceremo-
nies, had been in company of every description and
in many countries, but he never beheld a female ap-
pear in a public room in such an indelicate and
indecent manner as the lady in- question, nor one
that occasioned such general disgust throughout the
company. (Here the witness, at the request of the
Magistrate, detailed a more minute description of
the dress, hut which was too indelicate for insertion.)
As for her language, he never heard such a round
hand; it could scarcely be equalled in St. Gilee's or
Billingsgate.
Mr. BHOUGHTON—I was never placed in such a
situation in my life one party or other must be
perjured.
Mrs. Nash did not think it possible that three
such respectable-looking men could be found in
England to vilify a respectable female by deliberate
and corrupt perjury. She had for some years inva-
riably worn flannel, which covered the whole of her
neck, and it would prove of serious consequence if
she omitted wearing it one evening. She had got
the flannel on now, and wished the Magistrate to
satisfy himself of the impossibility of any part of her
neck being seen. (She here showed the Magistrate
sufficient to satisfy him of the truth of the assertion.)
The flannel was the same now as it was on the
night in question. Her dress was also consistent
with the greatest propriety.
Mr. Woman and three other witnesses corro-
borated Mrs. Nash as to the propriety and delicacy
oilier dress, and referred to Mrs. Sloman'' dress, it
bring of the same make.
Mr. BROUGHTON, after consulting with his bro-
ther Magistrate (Mr. Wilson), said—We have taken
nearly three hours to investigate this most extraor-
dinary case. That one side is perjured there can be
no doubt. I shall, therefore, leave you to your re-
medy upon that head in another Court. It is our
.duty to come to a conclusion upon the assault.
which, we think, hasiseen clearly proved to be of
the grossest nature. As to the defence set up about
the indelicacy of the lady's dress, and her coarse lan-
guage, we do not think that a lady of her appearance
and manners, and the wife of a respectable surgeon,
could be guilty of an offence which the commonest
street-walker would refuse tc do if she was paid for
ir. Her uppearance indicates nothing but respect-
ability, though she did not go the way to maintain it
by mixing in such company. I don't mean to say
that your house is not respectable, but I think it is
not a fit place for respectable females to visit.
Mr. iNlonkhouse said, that the ball was got up by
the clerks of Messrs. Reid and Co.'s brewhouse,
which was a proof of its respectability.
Mr. BROUGHTON—I need not dwell on that sub-
ject. I thick you ought at least to have had some
females to speak to the indelicacy of the lady's dress.
It is not customary for gentlemen to be shocked at
such sights. I therefore convict you in the sum of
51., including- costs.
Mr. Monkhouse paid the fine and the parties
withdrew.
:UNION-HALL,

A man named Wolger was committed on a charge
of stealing two horses, the property of Mr. Taunton,
the barrister. Ths prisoner, who made a confession
of his guilt, was fully committed.

We are given to understand, that it is deter-
mined forthwith to abolish the Check Offices in the dif-
ferent Dock-yards, the mustering duty of which is trans-
ferred to the Master-Attendant's Office, and the money
transactions to the Navy Pay Office. A portion of the
detail of the Check Office will fall under the more imme-
diate cognizance of the beveral Commibsioners of the
Dock-yards. The gentlemen who fill the situations of
clerks of the check will be transferred to other appoint-
ments. The piece-work is to be done away with, awl
the men are to work six days instead of ere, for the same
wages....—Plyntouth Journal.