The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-08-22 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

BURGLARY.—On Tuesday Benjamin Cotterall and John.
Bailey were charged and committed for trial for attempt-
ing to enter a house in Barber-street, at night-time, with
intent to commit a robbery.

SMUGGLING. —On Wednesday, William Thomas, a
seaman belonging to the Roscommon steamer, was fined
in the mitigated penalty of £25 for smuggling a gallon of
whiskey. In default of payment he was committed to
gaol for three months.
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A POLICE-OFFICER.—On
Tuesday, a complaint was heard at the Police-court against
officer 266 (Reck). The complainant was Joseph Gagan,
the well-known comic singer, at Ward's Star Hotel, in
Williamson-square, who appeared with his face shockingly
injured. All the officers on duty in the district in which
the assault took place were summoned. The complainant
said that he was going past St. John's Market, about half-
past one or two o'clock on Saturday morning, in company
with a friend. They were walking arm in arm, and saw
three policemen standing. The complainant and his
friend passed off the flags to avoid the policemen. His
friend's trousers were split. He said to the officers they
might have allowed them some part of the footwalk, when
the officers made some remarks on the torn trousers. He
replied that it-cost the public rates to maintain the force
for protection, but they were the first to insult them.
The police then asked them something about watches.
They further asked them if they had anything to lose.
His friend turned back and said something to the officers,
which he did not hear. The officers knocked his friend
down. He immediately went back when he saw him
down, and said he must have him home. An officer then
struck him with his left hand. He struck him right for-
ward in the face, then across the leg ; and followed him
round the street striking him. The other officers were
present, and he appealed to them to take the officer away.
He did not hear them say anything ; they did not inter-
fere at all, either to protect or injure him. As soon as the
officer struck him he made the best of his way from him,
when he struck him again with his stick, which caused
him to cry that his eye was knocked out. He lost his
sight immediately after the blow.—Mr. Rushton directed
266 to be taken into custody. The prisoner was then re-
manded till the following morning, when he was commit-
ted for trial.

SURRENDER OF A CONFEDERATE SECRETARY OF A
LIVERPOOL CLUB.—On Friday, Edward Murphy was
placed at the bar of the Police-court, charged with trea-
sonable conspiracy. He is is a young, slight-built man,
and formerly was secretary to several burial sociaties. On
the bench with Mr. Rushton sat James Aikin and William
Earle, Esqrs. Mr. Lowndes, solicitor, appeared as pro-
secutor. He said that some time ago the police searched
the prisoner's house, and found different papers relating to
confederate clubs ; and that on Thursday, night last the
prisoner went to Rose-hill Station, and inquired whether
there was any charge against him. He was there detained,
and it was intended to prosecute him, but he (Mr. L.) was
not prepared to go into the entire facts of the case, and
therefore requested a remand till Monday. Part of the
evidence was, however, taken. We may premise that
O'Brien, who was lately committed with Cuddy, lodged in
the house kept by Murphy, and that it was on O'Brien's
account that the house was searched.—lnspector Burrell
said that about ten o'clock on Thursday night, the pri-
soner came to the station named, and applied for a gun
and a book, which had been taken from his house. He
gave his name and his address (16, Rover-street). To a
question afterwards put by Superintendent Abraham, the
prisoner admitted that he was secretary to a club, and he
was sent to the main bridewell. On the way he denied
that he was secretary to all the clubs, and said if the gun
was not restored he would have to pay for it. In court,
when he heard this evidence, he denied that he had ever
said he was secretary to a club. It appeared that in his
house, besides the gun and book, the broken blade of a
pike was found in an upper room. The book was pro-
duced. It was a roll-book, containing the names of the
members of the club. Mr. Rushton said he considered it
a fortunate thing for the inhabitants of Liverpool that it
was found.—The prisoner was then remanded until
Monday.