The Sun. — 1841-01-05 (London, England)

ULTS.—Michael Shaughnessy and his brother John, two athletic Irish labourers, were charged with having committed several savage and unprovoked assaults, and with having so severely injured Police Constable Peat, G 1"5, and a man named Ge evidence, that, shortly before 12 o'clock on Saturday night, the complainant Mayhew that their lives are placed in danger. Ttrg appeared la}.lew, f, rom the was passing through Tabernacle-row, City-road, when he met the two prisoners, the first of whom exclaimed, Here's a b—y Englishmen," and Instantly knocked him down. Both of them then kicked him about the  body in the most brutal manner ; and upon his raising the cry •f " Police," one of the prisoners called out, " Kick him in the mouth." His head had fallen  between two scrapers, and the prisoner Michael, in making a kick at his mouth, struck one of the scrapers with such force, that it snapt in twain, and the sharp end penetrated his (Mayhew's) forehead, inflicting a deep wound. A cousiderabx crowd having by this time assembled, the prisoners made off ; but, after they had fled a short distance, the policeman Peat attempted to seize one of them, upon which the other knocked him down. He got up again with the blood streaming down his face, and having drawn his staff he pursued them into an adjoining court, but the moment he reached them the prisoner Michael wrested the staff from his hand, and felled him to the ground, where he lay sense less. The prisoners then kicked and trampled upon him ; after which they struck out right and left among the crowd, and speedily opened a path into the street. The prisoner Michael led the way, flourishing the policeman's truncheon, and knocking down every one he met, amongst whom Police-constable, G 187 sustained severe injuries. Several other officers at length reached the spot, and after a desperate conflict, the prisoners were overpowered, and conveyed to the station-house.  The poor man Mayhew was brought forward in a state of dreadful suffering. He stated that he had never before seen the prisoners until the moment when they attacked hint ; and he did not offer the slightest provocation, but was walking quietly along with his hands in his pockets. He had been attended by a surgeon, who found that besides the wound in his head two of his ribs had been broken, and he feared sonic internal vessel had been ruptured, as he had been spitting blood ever since. Mr. BROUGHTON strongly recommended the poor fellow to get into the hospital without loss of time. Inspector Robinson stated that the constable Peat had also ruptured a blood-vessel, and his head been beat about in the most shocking manner. Ile was in a very dangerous state, and had been several times visited by the police surgeons, but the latter had not had sufficient time to ascertain the extent of his injuries. Police constable G, 187, said that he saw Peat that morning, when he was in great agony, and unable to move in his bed. 1110111,1 S Carnell, a respectable looking young man, said that lie sar the policeman, Peat, struck down with the truncheon, and it was the general belief that he was killed by the blow. Between thirty and forty persons were present, who.n the prisoners immediately afterwards attacked with such irresistible fury, that they drove all before them, and knocked down +al trampled upon several. Witness was one of those who were knocked down. 1 nspector Robinson stated that several other persons who had been assaulted were in attendance. Mr. Baoucirros said that it was unnecessary to trouble them at present, as he had heard quite sufficient to convince him that a more atrocious outrage could scarcely be committed. In answer to the charge the prisoner, John Shaughnessy, declared that the complainant Mayhew commenced the affray by attempting to kick to pieces a jug which he was carrying ; and the other prisoner accused the police of having bribed the witnesses to appear against them. The MAGISTRATE said that he should remand them to await theissue of the policeman's injuries, and if they terminated fatally the charge against them would be that of murder. Whatever might be the result they would be sent before a Jury, the utmost punishment he could inflict being quite inadequate to such aggravated offences.—The prisoners were remanded for a week.