The Sun. — 1862-09-24 (London, England)

CLERKEN WELL.—MURDEROITS ATTACK UPON POLICE CONSTABLES.—Patrick Cain and a female with whom he cohabited were brought up, charged with committing a murderous assault upon two police constables while in the execution of their duty. 'Wm. Chambers, police-constable 163 E, said at half-past 12 o'clock that morning he was on duty in llean-street, Holborn, when he was informed that a row was taking place outside the Cheshire Cheese Tavern, in that street. On going there he found 30 or 40 men and women, mostly thieves and prostitutes of the lowest description. There was a great disturbance, and he requested several of them to go away, whereupon the male prisoner came up, pulled off his coat, and making use of a disgusting expression, exclaimed, " I'll give you a dressing." Two others then came up and deliberately struck him. The male prisoner striking him a very severe blow in the stomach, he endeav_ ured to keep him and others off, but was most roughly handled. Another constable then came to his aid, but was met with a violent blow. Witness endeavoured to take the prisoner into custody, when another man knocked him down, and the prisoner kicked him, and five or six then pulled the prisoner from him. The mob then set on his brother officer, and he was forced down, the prisoner being on him; he (witness) then felt a number of heavy blows on his head, and on looking round found the female prisoner with a closed knife in her hand, with which she had struck him, and he bled greatly. At that time several other constables came up, and both prisoners, after a desperate resistance, were got to the station. He had since been totally unfit for duty. Mr. John Wakeling, who appeared on behalf of the prisoners, severely cross-examined the officer, but did not shake his testimony. _  John Sullivan. 159 E, stated that, bearing the disturbance, he went to the assistance of his brother officer, whom he found to be severely illtreated. He (witness) had scarcely got up, however, when the prisoner, who was behaving like a madman, struck him a violent blow on the nose with his fist. He then took him into custody, when, putting his leg behind me, he threw him over, and he (witness) falling on the ground, injured his shoulder and arm so severely that he had scarcely been able to use it since. They struggled again some moments, when the woman attacked him, striking him several blows on the head with some blunt instrument, which he afterwards found to be a closed knife, which was taken from her. Had it not been for the assistance of other constables who came up, the result would have been even more serious.  Police-constable, 47 S, said he had known the male prisoner eight or nine years. He had been convicted several times for assaults and other offences, including burglary ; and the female had had six 'months from that court. The male prisoner had been heard to say that he was determined to be hung for the police. Mr. Wakeling, for the prisoners, contended that the officers had greatly ill-treated them without sufficient provocation. Mr. D'Eyncourt said there was a very serious charge of a similar nature before him the day before, in which several constables were injured; and owing therefore to the alarming increase of such outrages, he had determined to have the offenders punished severely. He must therefore commit both prisoners to take their trial. The prisoners were then removed.