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

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.  BOW-STREET.—Mary Ann Evans, the keeper of a coffee-house and brothel in Wych-street, 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 Danes, with the churchwardens and overseers of the parish, attended to 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 to Mrs. Evans' service, at 42, Wychstreet, 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 see the ladies living there, while others brought ladies with them. She was in the habit of supplying coffee to the arties, and showing them into rooms. At about two o'clock yesterday morning two gentlemen came to the house, and they got drinking with the defendants. Witness saw Mrs. Evans take up one of the halfsovereigns which the gentlemen put down for gin, and no change was given back at any time. 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 rher 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 head 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 the 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 stippress 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 recognisance 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. Moose was then ordered to find sureties in the same amount to keep the peace for six months. The defendants were both committed to prison in default. A coal dealer, named Hubert, living in the Adelphi, was summoned for having sent out a quantity of coals without a weighing machine. The defendant was convicted and fined 51., his worship having mitigated the penalty to one half. Mr. Henry has received an intimation from Mr. Sheriff Croll that 25 chaldrons of coke would be placed at his disposal (for the use of the deserving poor), at the works of the Central Gas Company, on Bow-common. We, believe it is the intention of his worship to have the coke (about 300 sacks) carted to some convenient spot in the neighbourhood of the court.