The Warwickshire Herald. — 1885-03-28 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SINGULAR CHARGE OF ANNOYANCE. William G. Burney, 37, desci ibt-d as a gentleman, was charged at the Wi stutinster Police-court on Saturday with being drunk and annoying Lady Scott by knecking at the door of her house in Cadeganplace, Ch.lsea. Counsel in opening the case stated that it was the pthrittri duty of Lady Scott to prosecute the prisoner, who was her own brother. For years she had been terrified by his annoyance and threats, and she was now compelled to seek protection in a court of justice. She had, in fact, been persecuted for 20 years, and had frequently paid citrus of money to send the prisoner out or the country. As far back as WI the man forced his way into Lady Scott's house at Southsea, where she was with her dying child. The prisoner was most violent, and had suffered a term of imprisonment for shooting a man.—The magistrate said he could not take evidence of this fact.—Lady Lena l.icett, a widow, was then celled, and deposed that on the previous afternoon, when she had returned front a drive with her children,the prisoner came and ham. mered at the front door. He also rang the bk. violently and rels atedly. lie rang with tire hand and used the knocker with the other. The witne.B put the chain up, and ping to the window, saw the defendant on the steps. She sent the servants for the police and Colonel Hand ca' e. A great crowd col. lected. She was very much frightened, as she had been so often threatened with violence. By the magistrate: The defendant had been in England only abut three weeks. All the time he had been abroad she had threatening letters from him. She had paid him money to go abroad and keep away. In one letter the prisoner said he would come to the house and murder her. .11e also said that he would "swing " for her.—A policeman deposed that he saw the prisoner, who was drunk, on Lady Scott's doorstep. He made a great disturbance, and there was a very large crowd. He refused to go away, and said that he world see Lady Scott. Dr. Sebright said he met the prisoner at 1 o'clock in the afternoon outside a solicitor's office. The witness, who knew him through shipping him off to America at the expense of Lady Scott, asked him what he wanted. The prisoner, after other conversation, said, "One of us shall go under that wheel," pointing to a vehicle in the street. He put his hand to the side of his pocket, and said, "I wish I had my pistol with me, I would settle you this moment. ' The witness went-away in a cab with Colonel Hand. In the evening, about six o'clock, they called on Lady Scott. The prisoner was there and wa. very drunk.—Colonel John Sydney Hand stated that he noticed a crowd round Lady Scott's house. The prisoner was standing on the steps knocking violently, while Lady Scott and her daughter were in terror, and beckoning to him from the dining-room window. He told the prisoner that he considered his conduct disgraceful and cowardly. To his knowledge Lady Scott had done a great deal for her brather during the last 20 years. He WU violent in his manner and offered to fight—The prisoner raid he calgd on his sister to offer "an explanation" before going out to Egypt, his passage being paid there by Captain Finlay, his brother-in-law. If the magistrate would allow him his liberty, he would at once go the steamer.—The prisoner was remandeti.