The Sun. — 1845-12-19 (London, England)

GREENWOOD—Did you not consider that was cheating the toll-keeper. Witress said as he had not passed through it, he did not. He might have driven through the gate if he liked, for there was nobody there that time of night. Witness proceeded to say that without any provocation the prisoner knocked him down, rolled him in the mire, tore his hair, and called him bad names. Witness cried murder and police, and policeman 396 came to his assistance. The prisoner denied having attacked the complainant in the first instance, and said he had promised to give him 2s. M. GREENWOOD told the prisoner that, even supposing what he asserted was true that the complainant had promised 2s. instead of ls.—he might have summoned him, instead of treating him in so brutal a manner. He would sentence him to 14 days imprisonment. John Harold was charged with being an accomplice in robbing and assaulting John Webb, a gentleman residing at 18, Goswell-streot. The prisoner, who is a thick-set able fellow, was at once recognised by Inspector Thatcher, as a distinguished member of a class of vagabonds called " vsmpers," fellows who go about from one public-house to another inciting or challenging " flats' to fight, and when they fight robbing them. Mr. Webb had received a sum of money from the Treasury, and was at nine o'clock on that morning driven to the Blue Coat Boy tavern, in the City-rosd, by a cabman named Dame. He was standing at the bar there taking some refreshment, when the prisoner came in; the prosecutor, in a jocular mood, asked several present to toss with him, and did gamble a little. The prisoner perceiving Mr. Webb to be in a generous humour, made a very distressing statement, assuring him that his wife and two children were in great misery, that he lived by selling fowls, but had not now a penny to go to market with. The prosecutor compassionated his sad condition, and gave Lim is. Soon after, the prisoner, perceiving Mr. Webb to be very merry, proposed that they should adjourn into the taproom and toss. The prosecutor went accordingly, and soon after a crowd of the prisoner's associates, to the number of about twenty, collected. It was then proposed by ono of them that Mr. Webb should fight the best man in the room for half a sovereign. Mr. Webb agreed, and a man named Mason accepted the challenge. The prosecutor had in his right-hand pocket 28Z in gold of which fact the prisoner was aware, for Mr. Webb had pulled it out in paying the cab man and in staking the bet, which was clepositea in the hands of one of the party, the prisoner, who seemed so needy a few minutes before, staking the halfsovereign for Mason. Tho pugilists " set too," arid were sparring, when one of the party (Mr. Webb could not say that it was the prisoner) came behind him and dealt him such a blow as felled him. He was no sooner down than the prisoner rushed upon him, and thrust his lea hand into the prosecutor's pocket ; the prosecutor seized his hand ; one of the party told the prisoner to " mug" him (beat him on the head), and the prisoner pummelled him accordingly. Mr. Webb's right eye was invisible, and the parts about it greatly inflamed slr. Webb cried out " Will you see a man robbed ?" but no help came. A poor painter named Massey, who was at the bar. hearing the prosecutor's cries, peeped in, saw what was going on, and ran for a constable. When the conitabl came, the door of the tap-room was fastened on the inside ; but having at length obtain. d admission, he cap tured the prisoner, vs ho exclaimed " that it was all over. Mr. Webb had been robbed of three sovereigns, and wat suffering great pain from the contusion on the upper par: of his head. The prisoner cross-examined some of the witnesse. with great coolness and adroitness. Mr. COMBE commended the poor painter highly for his conduct; and, after giving the usual caution to the prisoner, said he would send him for trial. I'he prisoner thereupon became very indecorous in his conduct, lolling about the duck and jeering the spec talons in the body of the Court.—lle was fully committed for trial. Mr. Ambridge, a surgeon, residing in White Lior street, Clerken well, was placed in the dock on a charg of passing two brass medals to an unfortunate girl xspresenting them as half-sovereigns. The charge was not read aloud, and the prosecutrix did not appear.-He was discharged. It was not asked why the prosecutrix did not attend, nor was any other question put.