The Sun. — 1868-01-02 (London, England)

WESTMINSTER.  A DRUNKEN R trFFr AN.— John Purchase, a stablekeeper, was charged on a warrant with assaulting Mary Ann Maudry and Frederick George Knight. The warrant was issued in disobedience of summons.  Prosecutor Knight, who lives at 30, Bessboro'place, said—Last Monday fortnight, about half-past one, the defendant came and asked for 14Ibs. of coals ; witness's partner, Maudry, said she would not serve him, and he then said he would well knock witness's pen down his throat if he came to the door. He then struck witness and used filthy language, and when Mrs. Maudry came and requested him to deist he struck her also. Mrs. Maudry said the prisoner told the people outside not to deal at the shop, said it was a bad house, and called witness a filthy name, when she went for the police.  Emanuel Davis, 234 B, warrant officer, said the prisoner and was last night,described a:eAmlpr .a company w Burgessi t ho then thewarrant, to prisoner's prosecutor, whom he took to identify, he went • soner's room and read the warrant. Prisoner said he would not go, and ordered prosecutor out of his room, following the order up by striking him over,witness on the nose, making it bleed ; he kicked and refused to go, and had to be dragged by force, and when they got to the station door he caught hold of an old gentleman that was passing, struck him with both fists, and knocked him fiat on his back ; he was drank and resisted very much, besides using very bad language. Prisoner had nothing to say to the first assault, but to the second pleaded drunkenness, and that he ordered Knight out of his room. Mr. Arnold said his conduct throughout the whole transaction was most atrocious, and sentenced him to two months' hard labour, at the expiration of that time to find a surety in £lO to keep the peace for six months.  vided a California herring for his supper. He abused her and threatened her, and said if she did not obtain a California herring for his supper he would kill her. She said she had no money for food, and he took up a table and struck her with it. She fell, and he threw the table on the top of her. Her screams and the cries of murder from the inmates brought Police-constable Clarke, 154 K, to the spot, and as he approached the house he saw the prisoner throw his wife from the door into the street. She fell and was insensible for some time afterwards.  Patrick Rogers, a boy, said that the complainant was his grandmother, and that he saw the assault on her.  • Timothy Gix, a police-sergeant, 45 K, and one of the strongest and heaviest men in the police ft said the prisoner was a violent and dangerous man, and had ruined one police-constable and disabled others. The prisoner once knocked down six policemen in succession, and as he approached him (Cox) he struck him on the head with his truncheon. His stick flew into pieces with the blow. The prisoner was not injured.  The prisoner growled out in a coarse Munster brogue that his wife refused to give hiin any supper, and the police would not leave him alone.  Mr. Benson said the police had suffered from the acts of the prisoner, and that he had been severely punished. Those punishments had no effect. He wai not going to punish the prisoner for former offences, but for the brutal assalt on his wife last night. He sentenced the prisoner to three months' imprisonment and hard labour, and to find sureties to keep the peace to his wife and all her Majesty's subjects for six months after the expiration of his sentence. The bail required would be the prisoner in his own personal recognisance in the sum of £5O, and two substantial householders in £25 each.  The prisoner, who is likely to undergo nine months' imprisonment, was then removed from the dock, threatening vengeance against his wife and the police.