The Sun. — 1855-10-09 (London, England)

THAMES.  SAVAGE ASSAULT ON A POLICE INSPECTOR.—Winia9II Dutton, a powerful man, a coal porter, was brought before Mr. Yardley, on a warrant granted by his colleague, Mr. Ingham, charged with committing a violent assault on Mr. Ralph Field Thomas, an inspector of the Thames police.  It appeared from the evidence that on the 19th of August last the inspector was in the King's Arms public-house, at the corner of Stepney-causeway and Brook. street, Ratcliff, partaking of a pint of ale with a friend, when the prisoner and several relatives, who were in the private compartment in front of the bar, commenced quarrelling with a woman of the town, named Margaret Cavanagh, and one of the prisoner's friends threw a quart pot at her, Which came over to that compartment where the inspector was standing, and narrowly missed his head. The prisoner, his mother, sister, and two men, named Lawrence and Jeremiah Costigan, whose sister is married to the prisoner, joined in the quarrel with Cavanagh, who was savagely beaten byseveral of the party. She galled out murder and police, and Inspector Thomas went to her assistance. One of the Costigans said "Who are you?" to which the inspector replied "lam an inspector of police." He was immediately struck between the two eyes by Jeremiah Costigan, and the effects of the blow were two black eyes and a bloody nose. Inspector Thomas was then attacked by the Costigans and Dalton, while the females of the party called out let the smash him. The inspector escaped from the house almost exhausted and bleeding profusely ; and while looking around for assistance, Dalton came behind him and struck him such a violent blow on the jaw with his clenched fist, that the inspector could not eat anything but soft food and fluids for a fortnight afterwards, and has not yet entirely recovered from the effects of the brutal treatment he received on the occasion. About half an hour after the last blow was given Inspector Thomas apprehended the prisoner, and ho was leading him to the station-house, when three women came behind the inspector, dragged him away from his prisoner, and threw him on the ground. Daltoa then made his escape ; and a warrant having been granted for his apprehension, he was met with last night by Timothy Cox, No. 127 K, who took him into custody. He offered Cox a bribe of 2/. to set him at large, and the bribe having been rejected, he made a violent resistance before he was secured. Jeremiah Costigan was fined 51. for the assault on the woman Cavanagh, which he paid ; and was sentenced to one mouth's imprisonment, without the option of paying a fine, for assaulting Thomas Law ; and Costigan was fined 405., which he paid. These convictions took place the day after the assaults on the Inspector and Cavanagh.  Satisfactory evidence was given that the Inspector was kicked, beaten, and trampled upon. The prisoner called his mother and brother-in-law. Jeremiah Costigan, who said Margaret Cavanagh began the row, and they were not aware Mr. Thomas was an officer. •  In answer to a question by the Magistrate, the In• spector said he wore his uniform coat at the time. Mr. Yardley fined the prisoner Dalton 51., which ha immediately paid.