The Express. — 1846-09-08 (London, England)

AFFAIR. Yesterday, John Freeman, ginger-beer maker, of Cottage-place, Little Chelsea,' and John Shears, bricklayer, of Chelsea-grove, were charged with having assaulted Mr. Langley Brackenbury, a retired military officer.—Mr. Brackenbury stated that on the evening of Friday, the 28th of August, about half-past nine o'clock, he was at Little Chelsea, when he heard the cries of a girl at a short distance from him. He immediately went to the spot and found a young girl, the daughter of witness's laundress, in the hands of a fellow of the name of Barnes, one of the overseers of Kensington, against whom he should bring an action, who was dragging her along the ground, u was stated, to a slaughter-house to kill her. There was a crowd about, who called the girl a —, and there was a great deal of bad language used about her. Witness interfered to prevent her being ill-used, when he was much beaten and ill-wed by the crowd. Witness called " Murder," and " Police," but on a policeman coming up, witness was given into custody and taken to the stationhouse in Milman's-row, Chelsea, where he was detained for half-an-hour, and then liberated and told he might go home. —lnspector Morgan here informed the magistrate that he knew something about the case, which was one in which the parochial offlmn of Kensington had much interested themselves, bat the particulars of which had never been set right before the public.—By Mr. Paynter : The girl came to witness's house about half-put 7 o'clock that night, and he had seen her part of the way home. She was the daughter of  his laundress. He went to see her safe home heelless she had been much annoyed, on going home from his house, by persons for her going there. He left her at the corner of Park-plaoe, Little Chelsea, which was about forty yards from her home. Did not know why he did not go all the way with her. Knew no rearm why the mob should attack her. Thought the defendant Shears was there, sad bis witness would swear to Freeman. Mr. Paynter esLI hispplared to him en extraordinary affair, but he 'opposed hip abould soon get to some explanation of it. Martha Hellman deposed that she lived at No. 4, Cottage-place, Little Chelsea, and washed for Mr. Brackenbury. On the evening in question she sent her daughter to the complainant's house. Saw her daughter about twenty minutes before ten o'clock the same night, trying to get away horn Martin, the Kensington beadle, beadle, who had hold of her, and threw her down. The complainant interfered, and she saw the defendant Freeman strike complainant en the chest. Did not see Shears there. The complainant and her daughter were pelted with brickbats and stones by the mob. Complainant went is the station-house. By Mr. Paynter : Her daughter went to complainant's house at halfpast nine o'clock that evening. If any one bad stated it was half-psat seven o'clock, it was wrong. Witness could walk there and back in ten minutes, and supposed her daughter could. The houses were half a mile distant. Her daughter was fourteen years of age. She was brought home by Martin, the beadle.—Both defendants positively denied having touched the complainant, and Freeman called a witness, named Evans, who swore most positively that Freeman did not go out of his doorway.—Mr. Pavnter said the manner in which the evidence was given in support of the summonses showed there was something left in the back ground. The ev.dence of the mother of the girl was also so contradictory, that be could place no reliance on it ; and as Freeman's witness swore positively that her son did not strike a blow, he should dismiss the summonses.—Freeman said he wished to ask if Mr. Brackenbury had a right to carry a great bottle-axe with him about the street.—Mr Paynter said he might do so, but he must not use it, or intimidate persons with it —The parties then left the court.