The Express. — 1862-11-19 (London, England)

SURREY SESSIONS.  OLD 00 URT. (Before l'hornsa Mao, Ext.)  John Overton, 30, a respeotable looking man, was indicted for unlawfully cutting and wounding Alfred Levy. In the second count the charge was, wounding and inflicting actual bodily injury ; and in the third count the prisoner was charged with a common assault. Mr. Jones conducted the prosecution, and the prisoner was defended by Mr. Oppenheim, instructed by Mr. Neale. The prosecutor, who seemed to have been seriousittii jured, raid that on the 17th nit. be was in the Canter Arms Tavern, Royal-road, Kennington.park, with severe other persons, when the prisoner, who was a perfect stranger to him, came in, and while they were drinking commenced larking with them, and attempted to cut the rims off their hats. At length the prisoner left the house, and • few minutes afterwards the prosecutor and his friends were on their way home. The prisoner then came running up to them, and walked by their side without saying anything. One of the prosecutor's friends left them and went into his own house, and the prosecutor and a Mr. Tatton went on—the prisoner continuing by their side until he reached his own door, at which he knocked and immediately turned round and struck the prosecutor a violent blow in the mouth, and he then seized him by the beard sod cut him through the right buttock. The prosecutor called out and closed with him, when they both fell, the prisoner undermost. While on the ground the prisoner made several attempts to cut the prosecutor on the face with the knife which he had in his right hand, but failing in those attempts he lowered his hand and inflicted a severe cut on the back of the prosecutor's left thigh. After which the prosecutor succeeded in seizing the prisoner's hand, which he retained until a constable arrived, when he gave him into custody. The prosecutor was then conveyed home, when a surgeon was sent for, who sewed up the wounds, and he remained confined to his bed a fortnight. Mr. Thomas Tattoo corroborated his testimony. Police-constable 391 P said he took the prisoner into custody when he saw the prosecutor straggling with him, calling out, "For God's sake take this man away, or he'll murder me." Witness took the knife produced from the prisoner, and on the way to the station-house he said it was a very had job, as he knew he did it, and that if witneu had been served the same he would have done it, as there had been three to one upon him. The parties were all the wags for liquor. Mr. William Franklin Boyce, surgeon, residing in Lentmore-street, Walworth, said he was called to attend the prosecutor, when he found an incised wound across the right buttock four and a half inches in length, two inches deep. and two inches wide ; and on the posterior part of the left thigh there was another severe wound, four and • half inches in length, and nearly an inch in depth. He had no doubt that both wounds might have been canned by each a knife as that produced. The prosecutor was confined to his bed for fourteen days in consequence of those injuriee. Mr. Oppenheim addressed the jury at some length, and called witnesses, who gave the prisoner a good character, but the jury found him Guilty. The Deputy Chairman concurred in the verdict, making some severe remarks as to the one of the knife, and seutenoed the prisoner to twelve months' hard labour in Wandsworth House of Correction.