The Sun. — 1847-07-13 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. RICHAI ON D.  Thomas E. Ravenshaw and Edward C. Ravenshaw, brothers, residing at Suffield-house, Richmond, and described on the charge sheet as gentlemen, were brought before Sir J. Baker, Bart., Sir Thomas Reeve, Knight, and Mr. E. Penryn, to answer the following serious charges : Daniel Hunt, a police-constable, of the V division, stated that a quarter before one o'clock that morning he was on duty on Richmond-hill, when he saw two gentlemen coming; one of them whom he bad since ascertained to be the defendant Thomas Ravensham, climbed up a lamp post, broke the glass with his fist, and extinguished the light. He followed them to the next lamp post, when the other defendant, Edward Ravenshaw, got up that, and extinguished its light also. He then took them both into custody. He secured the defendant Thomas, but his brother got away. On the way to the station witness met with Sergeant Edwards, who assisted him in conveying the defendant Thomas to the station. He was very violent all the way. His brother Edward met them in Church-lane, and witness took him again into custody. He went very quietly. Defendant Thomas struck witness after he had got into the station, and drew from his pocket a large Spanish clasp knife, which he brandished about, and swore that he would run into any policeman that came near him. Witness and the other policeman had great difficulty in disarming the defendant of this murderous weapon, the blade of which was more than six inches in length, and when opened fixed with a spring. Sergeant Edwards stated that hearing a noise on Richmond-hill he went up and found the defendant Thomas struggling with the last witness. Recognizing the defendant, he begged him to go quietly, but he said he would not for all the police in Richmond. At the bottom of the hill he became exceedingly violent, and they fell down together. He then said, "If he could get at his knife he would rip his out, there was not such a set of in the world as the police of Richmond." Defendant went on pretty quietly till he got to Long-lane, a narrow passage with two high walls, when he tried to knock his head against the wall, saying, " I'll knock your brains out against the wall." They struggled and fell several times, thence through Church-passage and George-street, to the station. The defendant resisted violently, and witness was so exhausted by being repeatedly thrown that he could hardly drag the defendant into the station. The defendant was not drunk, but he had been drinking. He saw the defendant brandish the knife in the station-house, and assisted in taking it from him. Police-constable Fullbrook, 235 V, proved that the defendant Thomas Ravenshaw, when in the stationhouse deliberately jumped up from his seat, and struck him a tremendous blow on the eye. George Smith, an inspector of lamps, proved that four lamps were broken that night. Mr. PENRYN, the chairman, said there were no less than three offences against the defendants—viz., breaking the street lamps, extinguishing the lights, and assaulting the police. With respect to the last charge, that affected the defendant, Thomas Ravenshaw, only, and he must say, that he had never had to adjudicate upon a more ruffianly and violent outrage. had it not been that Dr. Julius had declared that he was not master of his own actions when excited, by reason of an affection of the heart, he should have sent him for trial; as it was, he would pay 51. for the assault. 21. for extinguishing the lamp, and 17s. 6d. damages and costs. The other defendant would pay 21. for extinguishing the light, and 7s. 6d. costs.—The fines were paid.