The Sun.
London, England, 1811-10-17 00:00:00

StißßtY.SE,§Sloil.4.

TL: ESDA Y, OCTOBER 15.

THE KING V. JAMES FOED.

The defendant, a gardener in the neighticurbood
of Botherhithe, was indicted for a violent assault en
Ann Bass, a poor wont in residing- near him. It
appeared that the prosecutrix. occupied a cottage
situate in a- toad leading to soukpremises decoled
„ - e the
r 1g ,
bring
i ndge fiendnan t.
extremerl r Tire
dfoobitdpeart,lishlee aidlai nd 4i to
n jelltuer. 4.,,0
.:),,ist purchased about two loads of rubbish to
mend it with. This rubbish was shot in the road
near her door, preparatory to its being spread on
the- footpath. Dnriog the time it: was lying there
the defendant had occasion to catty some hay to his
?premises at the upper end of the road, and on per-
ceiving this rubbish, under pretence that there was
not room for him to pass, he with his son proceed-
ed to spread it about the middle of the road. Whilst
they were doing. this, the prosecntrix disccaering
what - was going forward, came out ni her house,
and telling the defendant for what pu..vose the rub-
bish was collect d, requested he would desist from
spreading it about. instead of complying with her
request, however, he abused her very grossly, and
struck her several violent blows with a shovel whith

he had in his. hand. This. statement of the prosl•
cutrix was corroborated by several witnesses. The
defendant attempted to prove, that the prosecutrix
had committed the first assault by striking him._

The Jury, however, found the defendant guilty,
and

The Court, atter animadverting with consider-
,able severity on his offence, sentenCed.hith to pay a
flue of 1201.

,WEDNESbAY, OCT. 16.

Henry Houston; Catherine Houston, and John
&vies, were ithficled for an assault on the person.;
of E,ther. and Sophia,- the wife and daughter of
Daniel Mendoza, of pugilistic notoriety, on the Ist
of %July last. It appeared that the parties reside op-
posite each other in Tower-sired, St. George's-
fields, and on the evening of tie dry mentioned
in the indictment, about ten o'clock, Miss So-
01,ia‘ and a female friend were enjoying the beau-•
ties of • a moonlight evening, and walking back
'xiards and forwards on the pavement belore her
fat, is door, when. Mrs. Houston, who was
stalling at her own door, called out, " I
see there are as . well as Gentiles."
Miss Sophia went in,, and informed her, mamma
how her cat's had been offended bribe gross language
of Mrs. Houston.. Mts.Mendnza, with great p; optic.
ty, advised her daughter noLto pay attention to such
vulgar low.brecl people, but rather to come into the
house out of their way. This advice was follow ed, soon
after wards theywere alarmed by a load knocking; and
on Mrs. Mencliyas opening the door, she perceived
the defendant, Henry Houston, who, inlinguage
not.the most polished,, accused the prosecutrix of
having abused his 'wife. Of that accusation Mrs.
Mendota denied the truth, and desired the de-,
fendant would go away, as -she . did not wish for
aff„,,conversation with him. She attempted to shut
the door, but wax, prevented by .the defendaut's
'putting his ~ft3at
.against it. At this time, Mrs,
Houston and D‘iyies; the. cither defendants, Cl.llllO
up,. and Mrs. Houston: called on her husband to
pull Mrs. Mendoza out of the house, and Miss So-
phia,coming up to the •assistance of, her mother;
was attacked by Mrs. Houstcn), who knocked . her
down, tell upon, tier, and whilst on the ground, bit
her thumb. Mrs. Mendoza going to her daughter's.
assistance, -Mr: Houston attacked her, and a gene.
rat scale ensued.

The defence set up was' that Mrs. Mendoza gave
the first abuse and Miss Sophia the first bloW, and
several ;witnesses were called to prove these facia.
The Chairman, T. Oateskill, Esq. re-stated .the
evidence to the Jury, and alter particularly calling
their attention to, .and lamenting • the centraditaory
testimony of the witnesses, observed, it, was fur
theta to say which sido'they thought
..most worthy

of credit. . • . .
The Jury retired a considerable time, and on
their return into Court they acquitted Davies, and
found a verdiEt of Guilty against Houston and his
wile.
The Court then proceeded' to fine each of /the de-
fendants one shilling, which they iaid, and were
discharged.