The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-22 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

LIBELS UPON LADIES AND CONSEQUENT CHAS-
TISEMENT.—Yesterday Mr. John Dance, a gentle-
man most respectably connected, was charged before
Mr. HALLS, the presiding Magistrate,by Mr. Charles
Molloy Westmacott, the reputed editor of the Age
newspaper, with committing an assault upon his
(Westmacott's) person, on the precediug night, in
the box-lobby of the English Opera-house.
The Office was extremely crowded by gentlemen
of the histrionic art, and the friends of the accused.
Mr. Dance, a respectable solicitor, appeared on
behalf of his brother.
Mr. HALLS called upon Mr. Westmacott to state
the nature of his charge against the defendant.
Mr. Westmacott—My object is to have Mr.
Dance bound over to iceep the peace.
Mr. HALLS—But I must hear the evidence, and
ascertain if there are grounds for calling upon him
to find bail.

Mr. Westmacott—On Monday night I was at
the English Opera House, and on quitting one of
the boxes I was met by Mr. Dance, who was in the
company of two other persons in the lobby. He
accosted me, " Have you received a letter which I
addressed to you—my name is Dance ?" I replied,
on his mentioning his name, for I dill not know Mr.
Dance, that I had received a letter, and I presumed
that he was the individual who had sent it. He
said that he was the writer of the letter, and he
wished to know if I intended to reply to it or not ?
I told him that I had just returned from France,
and that I knew nothing of the article to which his
letter referred, as-it was inserted in the paper while
I was out of the country; and if I did reply by
letter, of course I should consider the subject yeJI
before I took upon myself any personal responsibi-
lity in an affair of the kind. He asked me if I in-

tended to give up the author of the article of which
he had complained in his letter ? I told him that
instead of my writing he might then take my reply,
I could not give up the name of the author. He
said that I was a " lying scoundrel," and
struck me with a thick stick, which lie had in his
hand, pier the head and shoulders. I defended
myself from the attack with that spirit which any
one who knows me will give me credit for.—
(Laughter.)—l resisted as well as I \vas able, but
before an officer came up he struck me again, and
the stick was broken.—(Here the witness produced
the instrument of his flagellation, and feelingly ob-
served that it was more like a bludgeon than a com-
mon walking stick.)
Mr. HALLS said the stick was of a pretty thick-
ness.—Westmacot t—Yes, Sir, the force of his blows
broke my hat. I only require him to be held to
bail, and I shall take such proceedings against him
in another Court as I may be advised.

Mr. Dance, on being called upon to reply to the
accusation, observed that Mr. Westmacott had des-
cribed it as a most aggravate,' assault. He (Mr.D.)
would assure the Magistrate that the circumstances
which produced the breach of the peace Were of the
most atrocious and aggravating description. He did
not deny having chastised him.
The defendant alluded to an rrtiele in the Age of
the 13th inst., headed " Mr. Horace Twiss's Din-
ner," in which the sisters of Mr. Dance (one of
them, a young lady, who, a few seasons ago, ap-
peared on the boards of the English Opera House),
were !mined, and described as visitors ut the dinner,
and insinuations were thrown out against their
chastity.

,Mr. HALLs-I am not to try the merits of the
case. Whatever aggravation you may have received,
Mr. Dance, although it may be a matter of conside-
ration hereafter, I have nothing to do with it; I have
merely tol satisfy my mind that an assault has been
committed, and that has been sworn to, and you
have also admitted it; and then I am bound to
order you to find bail to answer the charge at the
Sessions.

Alr. Dance, the solicitor, said that he appeared
on the part of his brother, and he wished to ask Mr.
Westmaeott a few questions.

Mr. HALLS—If they relate to the provocation, or
cause of the assault, I cannot allow the questions
to be put. Mr. Westmacott abstained from enter-
ing into the particulars of the circumstances that led
to the breach of the peace, except so far as referring
to some letter; and unless you wish to show that
your brother ought not to be held to bail, I cannot
permit you to interrogate Mr. Westmacott.
Mr. Dance, the solicitor, said, that his questions
would tend to show that Westmacott ought to be
held to hail as well as his brother.

Mr. HALTS—Then you may put your question.
Mr. Dance, the solicitor—Did you not threaten
my brother at the theatre, after the assault, that
you would " show him up"—(Laughter)—in your
paper? Mr. \Vestmacott—l never said so.

Mr. HALLS—If you did say so, I care not; I
have nothing to do with newspaper squabbles, or
with "showing up," though I must confess I don't
like the term.

Mr. Westmacott—l declare that I never in my
life gratified private feeling by " showing up" any
one in a newspaper.
Mr. Dance, the solicitor, hoped Mr. Halls would
bind over both parties to keep the peace.
Mr. HALLS-1 cannot accede to that, as Mr.
Westmacott has not attempted to break the peace.
If two parties went out to fight a duel, and were
taken with pistols in. their hands, I should feel it to
be, my duty to bind over both ; but as Mr. Westma-
cott had no stick in his possession, and offered, no
violence, I cannot call upon him to enter into sure-
ties. He has also denied being the Editor of the
paper in question.
Mr. Westmacott—l am not the Editor.
„ Solicitor—Any Editor having libelled another
may say as much.
Mr. Westmacott—l again assert, that I was in
France at the time the article was published.
Mr. Dance—Will you give up the author ?—No.
Mr. Dance—Perhaps you will change,your mind ?
Mr. Westmacott—You threatened to beat me
again wherever you might meet me; perhaps you
will change your mind.—(Laughter.)—lf you do

not, t think Mr. Halls willl eel it to he his duty to
call upon you to give heavy bait.
Mr. llALLS—Whatever may hare been the origin
Of the at.sottt iia,;llolhing to do with the question.
I have (1,4 to tinier Mr. D..nce to find two sureties
and to eater into own ret'agn;z owe to answer any
charge. Mr. lirestmaratt may prefer, anti to keep the
peace in the meantime.
Mr. Dance put in hail instantly, and left the Office
with his friends.—Morning Chronicle.