The Sun. — 1867-12-31 (London, England)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.  MURDEROUS ATTACK ON A CONSTABLE.—Thomas Hamilton, a chairmaker, residing at No. IA, Upper Rathbone-place, was charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt with being disorderly and violently assaulting Policeconstable Walter Grigsby, 66 E, by striking him on the head with a hatchet.  Grigsby said—About 3 o'clock this morning I was on duty in Upper R.athbone-place and saw the prisoner standing at his door abusing his wife, who was in the street. The wife said she had been in the street all night, apd was afraid to go in doors. She asked me if I would protect her, and I said I would. I spoke to the prisoner, and tried .to get them to go in together. The prisoner went in doors, and again came out into the street, and began again making use of very bad language. I told him that I should lock him up, and went up to him to take him into custo'iy, when I received a blow from a hatchet which came on the briM of my helmet and cut it through, and cut my forehead just over the left temple. lie then dropped the hatchet and ran away through the passage into the yard. I then broke the door open and pulled him out and took him to the station and had my head dressed. Mr. Tyrwhitt—llid he say anything to you?  Grigsby—He was offended with me for interferfering with him, and said be would kill his wife if he was hanged for it. Had it not been for the hatchet taking a slanting direction I should have been seriously injured.  Alexander Sim, of Frances-street, TottenhamcoUrt-road, said—l was returning home this morning from a ball, when I heard a disturbance in Upper Rathbone-place. The prisoner was using bad language towards his wife from the firstfloor window. The prisoner then came down to the door and went in again, and came to the door a second time, and struck at the constable with something, but I cannot say what-with; saying something at the Bathe time, but I was not near enough to hear what. The prisoner's wife was in the street at the time. The constable told me that the prisoner hal struck him with a hatchet, and the constable had blood running down his face. I afterwards saw the hatchet in the constable's hand.  Thomas Austin, residing in the same house, said, I live in the same house as the prisoner. Some persons in the house told me that they had heard the prisoner say that he would have his wife's life if he was hanged for it. The prisoner made a great disturbance, and my wife was confined while it was going on. My wife's nurse heard the prisoner threaten to kill his wife. I saw nothing of the assault, but thought it to be my duty to come forward and state what I have done.  Mr. Tyrwhitt—You have done quite right. Mr. Charles P. Sk.rimshere, assistant to Dr. Ross, 1, Hart-street, Bloomsbury, the medical officer of the E division of Police, said—l was called this morning to the police station to see the constable, and found he had a wound two inches in length on the left temple, and it was such a wound as might have been inflicted with the hatchet produced. I attended to the wound, which was not a very deep one.  Mr. Tyrwhitt—Do you, prisoner, wish to say anything? You can do so or not, just as you please, but what you say will be taken down and may be used in evidence against you. Prisoner—Thepoliceman hit me first, and knocked me down twice before I struck him.  Mr. Tyrwhitt—Did you do so? Grigsby—No, sir. I knocked him down after he struck me.  Committed for trial.