The Express. — 1853-02-17 (London, England)

THE POLICE COURTS. BOW-STREET. I Mary Ann Evans, the keeper of a coffee-house in Wychstreet, Strand, and Matthew Moore, her paramour, were placed at the bar before Mr. Henry, charged upon a warrant with violently assaulting and beating Jane Power, a servant-girl in their employ. Mr. Isaacson, the vestry-clerk of St. Clement Dane with the churchwardensand overseers of the parish, attended t watch the case, with the view of founding an indictment against the defendants, upon the evidence elicited, for keeping a brothel. The prosecutrix, a young Irish girl under 20, stated that she went into Mrs. Evans's service, at 42,Wych-street, about a week ago. She was to be paid according to her chances," receiving what might be given her by the gentlemen who visited the house—some of whom came to ace the ladies living there, whilst others brought ladies with them. She was in the habit of supplying coffee to the parties, and showing them into rooms. At shout 2 o'clock yesterday morning two gentlemen came to the house, and they got drinking with the defendants. Witness saw Mn. Evans take up one of the half-sovereigns which the gentlemen nut down for some gin, and no change was given back at any time. The male defendant said they were friends of hie, and 'misted him in thieving. Mrs. Evans desired her to go to bed, but she and another servant both stopped up. They all went out and came in again at about six o'clock, when her master (Moore), finding that she had not gone to bed, commenced beating her in a shameful manner—knocking. her about the face and head, and preventing her from going out of the room. At that' time her mistress tried to prevent his beating her. They were both drunk. At length she got into the street, where a mob had assembled. She told the police what had happened, and was advised to apply for a warrant, but after going back to the house her mistress (Evans) laid hold of her by the hair of her bead and dragged her about the room, beating and kicking her all the while until her cries of murder brought people to her assistance. It was evident that the witness (who was taken to the hospital) had been severely bruised and beaten; and a little girl, who ran into the house on hearing the screams, confirmed her statement as to the assaults committed by Evans.  Mr. Henry fined each of the defendants 51., or two months' imprisonment in default. Evans, producing a box full of sovereigns, paid her fine immediately ; upon which, Mr. Isaacson, on behalf of the parish, applied to have the woman held to bail, to answer an indictment at the sessions. There was every desire on the part of the parochial authorities to suppress these horrible dens of infamy, but it was usually a matter of difficulty to get the requisite evidence to enable them to do so.  Mr. Henry, considering the statement of the witness Power to be conclusive on this point, ordered the woman to find two sureties of 201. each, and enter into her own recognixances in 401. to appear at the sessions. A tradesman residing at the back of the house occupied by the defendants, and who, with his neighbours, were kept in a constant state of alarm by the disturbances going on in their place, stated that the male defendant had threatened "to do for him, at any cost, within six months," for interfering with the affray ; and as he was a dangerous person, witness wished to have him bound over to keep the peace towards him. Moore was then ordered to find sureties in the tame amount to keep the peace for six months. The defendants were both committed to prisob in default.  A coal-dealer, named Hubert, living in the Adelphi, was summoned for having sent oat a quantity of coals without a weighing machine. The defendant was convicted and fined 61., his worship having mitigated the penalty to one-half. Mr. Henry has received an intimation from Mr. Sheriff CroU, that 26 chaldrons of coke would be placed at his disposal (for the use of the deserving poor), at the works of the Central Has Company, on Bow-common.