The Sun. — 1853-08-24 (London, England)

SOUTHWARK.—A. SECOND CANNoN.—Yesterday Daniel Driscoll, a strong-built, powerful-looking fellow, who is a complete terror to the police in this district, having been several times in custody, and recently suffered six months: imprisonment for assaults on the police, was brought before Mr. Combe, charged with committing a brutal attack on John Avery, who is unfit for duty in consequence. The prisoner had a severe wound on his head, which, together with his shirt and waistcoat, was covered with blood. The complainant stated, that on Sunday morning, between one and two o'clock, he was on duty in Vinestreet, Tooley-street, a place inhabited by the most disorderly description of Irish, when he saw the prisoner making use of bad language in the middle of the street. He told him to go home and not disturb the neighbourhood, when he made use of dreadful threats towards him. Knowing him to be a desperate character he was about to turn away for assistance when the prisoner suddenly struck him two blows, the first of which nearly stunned him, and the second knocked him down insensible. Witness produced a certificate from Mr. Odling, the divisional surgeon, showing that he had several contusions on his legs and body, and was unfit for duty. In answer to Mr. Combe, witness said he neither provoked the prisoner nor struck him, but merely told him to go home. Sergeant Hart, 26 M, stated that shortly after 1 o'clock on Sunday morning, he was passing Vine-street with another constable in private clothes. He saw the last witness fall down, and the prisoner grasping him by the collar, and beating and kicking him. When they arrived, the complainant was insensible. Witness and the constable who accompanied him seized hold of the prisoner and directed other constables to pick 65 M up, and carry him to the surgeon's. They got the prisoner half way to the station-house, when an immense mob collected, and endeavoured to rescue him. Within 100 yards of the latter place he believed that some of the constables were compelled to use their truncheons, but not until then. To secure the prisoner they were obliged to strap his legs, and so violent was he towards the officers who assisted in securing him, that in self-defence they used their truncheons.  Rowe, 110 IVI, said he was with last witness in private clothes at the time mentioned, and on seeing Avery fall he went to his assistance. While doing so, the prisoner's mother came up and seized him by the hair. He, however, got away from her and laid hold of her son, and while he was getting the handcuffs out to secure him, the prisoner kicked him and behaved so violently that he was compelled to strike him with them. That was after witness was knocked against the waterbutt. He did not see any other person strike prisoner, but he was so violent that some of the constables might, for their own safety, have used a truncheon.  _ . It was here stated that there were six or seven constables near the station-house, endeavouring to get the prisoner there, but they were surrounded by a number of Irish, who threw stones, and attempted to interfere with the police in the execution of their duty. Mr. Combo said, that there appeared to have been sufficient constables to convey the prisoner to the station-house without using such violence. Inspector Branford informed his worship that the pri• soner was a very powerful man, and had only recently been eat of prison, where he had undergone six months' hard labour for a simi.ar offence. He was, in fact, a second Cannon, who was ti aasported for nearly murdering Dwyer, a constable of the P division. Mr. Combe said, the prisoner had met with a good deal of ill-usage somewhere, both from the constables' truncheons and the handcuffs, or he should most cer tainly have committed him for trial. He should, however sentence him to two months' hard labour at Wandsworth.  The prisoner, who seemed agreeably surprised at his worship's lenity, thanked him, and laughingly leaped out of the dock.