The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1840-01-17 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

VIOLENT ASSAULT ON A POLICE-OFFICER. A very powerful looking man named Alexander M' Keown, was placed at the bar charged with having assaulted policeofficer 19. Mr. Davenport appeared for the prisoner. This case was brought before Mr. Rushton on Monday, but the officer, it was stated, was so much injured that he could not attend. The left eye of the prisoner also was, on Monday, completely closed up from the effects of a violent blow. The hearing was, in consequence of the absence of the officer, postponed till Tuesday. The officer (No. 519) sat in one of the boxes. His ancle was so severely injured that he could not place his foot to the ground. He stated, that on Sunday morning, shortly after one o'clock, he heard a cry of murder, accompanied by a great noise, in one of the alleys near the Custom-house. As he was proceeding to the spot he heard the rattles springing. When he arrived, he found a great and very disorderly crowd. Police-officer Sayle was doing his best to hold a man who brandished a poker, and the prisoner was assisting this individual who appeared to direct his thrusts against a woman. He (witness) seized the man who had the poker, and having taken it from him was holding him in custody. The other officer was endeavouring to quell the disturbance, and was also knocking for more assistance. Suddenly the prisoner rushed upon him, (witness,) struck him a violent blow, rescued from him the man who was in his custody, and then threw him forcibly, head foremost, into a cellar, whereby lie was so stunned, and his ancle so severely injured, that he was for some time unable to run. While the prisoner was scuffling with him for the release of the prisoner, a woman went up to him (the prisoner) .and struck him on his eye with a pound weight, which had caused the injury perceptible on the prisoner's face. Several stones were thrown previously to this, and one of them struck police-officer Sayle on the arm. He (witness) was compelled to go home in a car, and had also been under the necessity of having a car to come down to the court that morning. The above statement coincided with what had been deposed by the witnesses on the preceding day. It then appeared from the evidence of one of the neighbours, a decent looking female, that there was a general fight and disturbance among some parties who had just come out of the public-house, and that the officers were endeavouring to restore peace when the prisoner and the man with the poker assaulted them. One of the women, who had previously taken part in the affray, struck the prisoner with a pound weight, and closed up his  eve. Mr. Davenport said, that the facts were that the prisoner was passing a public-house, kept by a perserrtnamned M`Girk, in. Crooked-lane, when he heard .a disturbance. As Mrs. M'Clirk knew him, she called upon him to protect her from the refractory individuals who were quitting the house. He interfered ; but he denied that he had assaulted the officer, or had any intention of doing so. Mr. Davenport called a' witness, named John .M`Cormick, who stated that he was at Mrs. M`Girk's house on Sunday morning, at one o'clock. There was some disturbance, and presently he heard a boy in the street shouting murder. He went out to see what was the matter, when he saw the policeman with a man in his custody. He saw the other officer take hold of the man; amid the prisoner went up and requested .him to let the man go. He had some pattering" with the officer, but witness did not see him strike him, or hurt him in any way. A woman went up to the prisoner, and struck him with a pound weight. Mr. Rushton said the assault was very clearly proved,,,for they could very. easily divine what " pattering with the officer" meant. The prisoner had rendered himself liable to a fine of £5, and if. he had been in circumstances to enable him to pay it, he would have fined him to that amount. The officers had a very perilous duty to perform, and they must be protected. The prisoner was fined £2 and costs, or, in default of payment, he was to be imprisoned 21 days.. •