The Sun. — 1847-11-23 (London, England)

ASSAULT ON A POLICE CONSTABLE AT DAGENHAM. DAGENHAM, SATURDAY.--11113 village and the surrounding neighbourhood have, during the last few days, again been the scene of outrages of the gravest description, and unfortunately a poor policeman of the K division has become the victim of the lawless gang frequenting this part of the county of Essex. The spot selected for these outrages is within a few yards of the field where the policeman Clark was 30 brutally murdered in June, 1846, and about the most desolate and secluded part of the county. It appears that on Saturday, the 6th instant, a man named George Edwards, a labourer, living at Dagenham, was brought before the Ilford Bench of Magistrates, charged by Police-constable Brown with stealing a glass belonging to Mr.. Green, the landlord of the White Hart, at Dagenham. He took him into custody, but Mr. Green declining to come forward and prosecute, the magistrates discharged him. On leaving Ilford the prisoner threatened to serve Brown out the first time he saw him. Brown took no notice of the threat, and at nine o'clock the same night went on duty, his beat being along the green lanes round the village of Dagenham. About l 1 o'clock at night, he went into the Robin Hood beer-shop, in Woodlane, which is only a short distance from the spot where Clarke was murdered, to assist the landlord in clearing the house, and among the men present was George Edwards. Having got the men out of the house, Brown was proceeding on his beat, when he was felled to the ground, as it is supposed, with a blow from a stick. He got up again, when he was again knocked down by a violent blow on the nose, and fell into a ditch. He managed to scramble out, and drew his staff calling out for assistance, but was a third time knocked to the ground, and whilst lying down was most brutally kicked and knocked about. His cries for help attracted the notice of the landlord of the Robin Hood, who on going out found the poor fellow lying by the side of a ditch, weltering in blood. On being carried into the house he was found to be perfectly insensible, his face was covered with blood and scarcely a feature discernable. On the blood being washed away his nose was found to be completely smashed, and his head, face, and chest covered with contusions. Information of the outrage was forwarded to the station at Ilford, and Inspector Proctor, with Mr. Allison, surgeon, immediately pro • ceeded to Dagenham. For three or four days after the poor fellow remained in a totally unconscious state, but at length was able to inform Acting-Sergeant Crawford that Edwards was the man who had so cruelly assaulted him. On the 11th Edwards was apprehended, and on the following day was taken before Octavius Masheter, Esq., one of the magistrates for the county of Essex. On Saturday the prisoner was brought up before William Cotton, Esq, and a full bench of magistrates, at Ilford. On being placed at the bar, The Chairman said the magistrates of course would allow another remand. The prisoner, a thick set fellow, habited in a smock frock, wished to know if the magistrates would not take bail. The Chairman.—Most decidedly not. Mr. Masheter said he understood that if ever the poor fellow recovered he would from the nature of the injuries he had received, be totally disabled from duty as a police constable any more.