The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-18 00:00:00

It was not asked why the prosecutrix did not attend,
nor was any other question put.

THAMES.

Joseph Heaviside, mate of the brig Nunez, Thomas
Flight, master, was charged with a series of assaults,
continued throughout a voyage to Alexandria and back
again, on a fatherless lad, 15 years of age, apprenticed
to the vessel.

Mr. Pelham prosecuted the case, and Mr. Huddlestone,
the barrister, in the absence of Mr. Clarkson, appeared
for the defence.

Mr. Pelham, who said the Nunez belonged to some
ladies named belle Cassez, at Sierra Leone, stated the
case, which he observed, if borne out in evidence, was
one of extreme cruelty and harshness. He then called
John Haggard, the complainant. a genteel-looking and
intelligent lad, who stated that he shipped on board
the Nunez as an apprentice on the 10th or 11th of
July, and proceeded from London to Shields to take in
a cargo of coals. Ile had no complaint to make up to
that time ; but when off Newcastle-on-Tyne, the de-
fendant commenced a series of cruelties, which were
continued throughout the voyage, by beating him with
a thick knotted stick about the shoulders, back, and
thighs. After leaving Gibraltar the mate sketched a
very indistinct compass, of which he was ordered to learn
the use ; and whilst he was scanning it over on one of
the water-casks in the forehold,e'ther the mate or the cap-
tain, he could not say which, said he wes asleep, cnd he
was sent to learn it in the after-g illey. The mato, on exa-
mining him, found he did not know it, and in ten minutes
afterwards came and rubbed a large wad of tarry oakum
over his mouth, face, and eyes. At Alexandria, he
was put over the ship's side in a bowline knot to beat
the rust off the chain plates, and was kept at it, with the
exception of breakfast-time, from seven o'clock in the
morning until seven or eight at night, without any din-
ner. During this time he heard the mate's voice, for he
was always scolding. On another occasion, being
ordered to get the end of the signal halyard off the
ironing, he jumped on the rail to try and do so, but
could not. That was the easiest way with his sore feet.
He then went up the topping-lifts of the boom, as at first
directed, and did as he was ordered. Because he did
not go up the topping-lifts of the boom in the first in-
stance, the mato gave him a dozen with the shoe
on the hand. Complainant cried with pain, and
the people of the Robert Ingram, which was lying
near, called out " shame !" on the mate. On ano-
ther occasion the defendant made him put his finger
in the mouth of a large turtle, which gave him a smart
bite and left two little black holes. After that the mate
pulled his ears until the skin was split. One of the sailors
told him the flesh was broken, and he himself felt the
blood trickling down. His cruelty was constant. Once
when complainant was handing him some beans a. lere
4etantiriftEtet die blood iFout out. At another time, com-
plainant being unable to haul in the slack of the fore-
top-sail clew line, the mate said, " There's a useless toad
of a b— s—, he can't do that yet," and rope's-ended him
on the shoulders till the left one was very much swollen.
After that he was sent to trim the lamps, which, owing
to the pain of his arm, took him more than the usual
time. The mate complained of this, and taking up a
marline spike punched him in the arms with the" thick
iron end of it. On another occasion he belaboured com-
plainant with the handle of the deck scrubbing brush,
giving him three severe blows on the ribs. His side
was very bad for a long time 'afterwards, and he still
telt pain if he breathed hard. The blows felled him,
and he could scarcely crawl along the deck for a pani-
km he wanted to fetch. The mate seeing this, said,
I'll make you move a little faster," took him up in
his arms, and then dashed him down upon the deck.
Mr. Iluddlestone, before going further into the case,
wished to know whether his Worship would send it for
trial, as in that case he should not cross-examine the
complainant or any other witness who might be called.
The magistrate at that court had a double duty—first,
to protect seamen from tyrannical abuse ; and next, to
see that those in authority on board should be duly sup-
ported. If the worthy magistrate thought the case was
one upon which he could not adjudicate summarily, he
(Mr. Huddlestone) would, on a fitting occasion, be pre-
pared to show that no more than due chastisement had
been inflicted on an idle and troublesome boy.

Mr. BRODERIP was desirous of avoiding-any expres-
sion of opinion on the case in its present stage, but from
what had as yet appeared, it was evidently one which
ought to be sent for the consideration of a jury. There
was on the one side allegations of several assaults and
complaints of excessive duty, and there were on the
other side assertions of exaggerated charges. It was,
therefore, due to both parties that these conflicting
charges should be thoroughly sifted.
MP. Iluddlestone said that masters and persons in
authority on ship-board had felt great inconvenience
from legal delay, and as the greatest reliance was
planed on his Worship's decision, it would be a matter
of great convenience if he would deal with the case
summarily.
Mr. BaODERIP was anxious to avoid anything like
an opinion ; but being thus pressed, he was compelled
to saw that there must, from what had already trans-
pired, be excessive cruelty on one side, or gross perjary
on the other.

liir. Huddlestone—Yes ;• or gross exaggeration, which
amounts to the same thing. I should like to ask com-
plainant one question. Did he ever ever make a com-
plaint to the captain ? The complainant answered in the
negative.
lhe defendant was then bound, himself in 1001.,
and two sureties in 501. each, to answer the charge at
the sessions.

Mr. Pelham—lt is possible the captain may be joined
in the indictment.

Mr. Huddlestone—We all understand the meaning of
that. It is the consequence of my last question.
Mr. BRODEMP—I cannot allow this discussion in a
case which is now oram non.

Bail was entered shortly after.

CONDUCT OF THE POLICE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sta,—ln your paper of yesterday I read the report of
an alleged assault made by a Mr. Griffith upon police-
constable 99 G, some of the proceedings in which case I
think demand the censure of the press_ and the public in
general.
It appears from the evidence taken that, upon Satur-
day evening last the policeman was upon his beat, and
observing a little boy with a muffin stall, he ordered him
to move on, but the boy not going quite so quickly as
I, might, the policeman must needs kick it over, after
which, being told by Mrs. Smith, a woman whe was
passing at the time, that he ought to be ashamed of him-
Edit he (the policeman) immediately seized her, and was
dragging her along. The cries of the woman attracted
the attention of several persons, amongst them Mr.
Griffith, who expostulated with the policeman, when it
appears a scuffs • took place, and they both fell to the
ground; the only policeman it appears that saw any-
thing of the affair (142 G) deposed that the defendant
walked quietly with them to the station-house.
Mrs. Smith, the woman alluded to, comes forward as
a witness, and was sworn. She deposed as follows:—I
saw the policeman kick the boy's stall, and made an ob-
servation to him, when he seized me and dragged me along
in a most brutal manner, and I thought he would have
broken my arm, he appeared to be in liquor. Eliza-
beth Simms gives her evidence to the same effect. The
defendant states the same in his defence. Immediately
starts up Inspector Penny, with half a dozen more
policemen, who all swear that ho had not the least ap-
pearance of being in liquor. Mr. Greenwood decides
upon sending the case for trial, to which the defendant
expresses his assent, observing he should then have an
opportunity of sifting the whole matter, and making an
example of the policeman. To this the Clerk replies,
" You had better mind you do not make an example of
yourself." Sir, is this justice ? What becomes of our
boasted freedom when a man cannot be brought before a
tribunal of his country without being threatened and
intimidated by the administrators thereof, which is too
much the case in our police-courts of late. I would
gladly believe that it is only that erring of human nature
which makes some men, when " dressed in a little brief
authority, play such fantastic tricks."
It seems to be quite forgotten that the police were
raised to protect the public (not tyranise over them).
Did these feelings pervade the force, they would be
thought one of the improvements of the age, instead of
one of its great evils. At present none dare expostulate
with them, let them be committing never so great in-
justice, but he is directly locked up. I have no private
feeling in the matter, I do not know any of the parties,
but merely noticed it, my conviction being that it is high
time the almost absolute power of the police should be
checked. F. J.
London, Dec. 17, 1843.
P.S. The woman who had been taken into custody
was placed at the bar and accused of causing an obstruc-
tion, but was immediately dismissed.

DARING ATTEMPT TO MURDER AT DUNMOW
On Tuesday afternoon, Charles Horsnell, jun., of Little Eas-
ton, son of the park-keeper to Viscount Maynard, whilst
watching the park grounds and preserves in the avenue lead-
ing from Dunmow and Stortford turnpike-road to Easton
Lodge mansion, observed a man about five feet eight inches
in height, having on a black hat and velveteen jacket,stand-
ing in a game preserve where the pheasants are fed ; he im-
mediately made towards him, and having advanced to within
twenty yards of the stranger, Horsnell, observed the man
point a gun at him and fire. The scattering shot riddled his
(1-borsnell's) coat, through two boxes and a book in his
pocket; but the principal part of the charge struck a tree,
kit/eking off the bark to the extent of six inches. Fortu-
nately not a shot entered ilorsnell's person, owing to the
pockets of his shooting- jacket being full, which caused them
to stick out from his side. As soon as he had recovered from
the alarm be natura,l,ly felt, he pursued the stranger, and after
running about twenty yards shot at him, but his gun missed
fire, and the fellow escaped. Horsnell raised an alarm, and,
immediately returned to his father, when search was c
,n-
-tinned in the woods for several -hours, but to no avail. No
clue to the offender has at present been discovered.—F,„,
Herald
The rumour of yesterdly, respecting the nomina-
tion of his Royal Highness Prince Albert to the post of
Commander-in- Chief, has obtained increased currency to-day
cat 'Chang-, and some have gone so far as to invent an addi-
tion, that it has assumed the shape of a command from a
very high quarter. Without attaching the least belief to a
statement so improbable in itself, it may not be without
utility to mention that, where believed at all, it was univer-
sally spoken of in terms of strong indignation.—Times City
Article.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING THE RELIEF OF THE
DESTITUTION IN TILE METROPOLIS.—The Worshipful in Com-
pany of Goldsmiths have sent the sum of 100 guineasfur-
therance of the views of the above society. The Archbishop
of Armagh has also sent 100 guineas for the same purpose.
Within the last month, the parish of Newington, Surrey,
comprising a population of t 50,000 souls, has, with the sanc-
tion of the Archbishop of Canterbury, been brought within
the range of the society's operations.
GRVYNA-GRERx.--The services of " mine host of
Gretna Hall" were again called into requisition on Tuesday
last. The parties to the happy contract appear to have been
the daughter of a celebrated disciple of Esculapius, residing
at the West-eud, and a gentleman well known on the Stock
Exchange.