The Express. — 1862-10-16 (London, England)

BOW-STREET.  Edward JPOrath, • man of low stature, bat stoutly built, and apparently of great physical power, was charged with assaulting a lady and robbing her of • reticule containing amongst other articles a gold pencil cue and si. 4s. in money in the open street sod in the broad day. Mrs. Gordon, the prosecutrix, stated that she was the wife of Mr. Crord9o, • clerk, residing at Twickenham. At about half-put 3 o'clock on the 10th Instant she was passing through Long-acre, carrying upon her arm • reticule suspended by a steel chain and containing W. 4s. in money, a gold pencil cue, and some other articles She had just made some purchases at a shop, and bad taken the money to pay for them from that reticule. The prisoner suddenly rushed upon her, gave her • tremendous blow in the aide, and snatched the reticule from her with such violence that the steel chain was snapped. He made off with the reticule. Surprised by the suddenness of the attack, and staggered by the force of the blow, she had some difficulty in keeping her feet. As soon as she could recover herself she ran after him, and kept up the pursuit for some distance, but be bad considerably the start of her, and she lost sight of him amongst the intricate alleys in the neighbourhood of Drury-lane. She at once gave informs tiou to the police. Sergeant Ackrill, of the F division, said that from the description given by the prosecutrix he suspected the prisoner, for whom be bad been searching ever since. On Taeaday night be saw the prisoner in Drury-lane. The moment the prisoner caught sight of him (Ackrill) he bolted. Witness pursued him, and after a long chase ran him into a house iu Shire-lane and took him. The prisoner was well known to the police, and bad been several times convicted. The prisoner—Much of what has been said is not correct. Mr. Henry—Much of it? The prisoner—l was not there at all, and I have been getting au honest living lately. The prisoner's mother, who was in the body of the court, here set up a most terrible howling, mixed with declarations that her son was a very good boy, and the sole support of herself and five children. The officers of the court were about to remove her, but permitted her to remain on her promise to be quiet for the rest of the examination. . . .  Mr. Henry said it she wished to make any statement she must come forward to the witness-box ; but she declined the offer and remained below. The prisoner said Mrs. Gordon was mistaken as to his identity. Xfikrill said that Mrs. Gordon identified the prisoner out of six or seven men at the station-house. The prisoner was committed for trial, in spite of his earnest entreaty that the magistrate should dui with the ease, on which condition he would plead guilty. As the magistrate would not do this, he adhered to the plea of not guilty. As Mrs. Gordon was leaving the court the prisoner's mother commenced abusing and threatening her. Mr. Henry directed the °dicers to see Mrs. Gordon safely out of the woman's reach. Luke Moidsey, aged 23, a boot-clover, was brought before Mr. Henry, charged with having in his possession • pelt of pistols, supposed for the pitiless of committing suicide. At about 11 o'clock on Tuesday night Policeman Whittingtoa, F 36, and CLOD, F 112, were on duty in Cravenstreet, Strand, when they saw the prisoner walking up and down the street in a manner which seemed to them suspicious. After watching him for some time they stopped him, and found that he had two loaded pistols in his breast pocket. As he could give no satisfactory account of them, theconstables suspected that he was engaged in some unlawful purpose, and they took him into custody. On the way to the station he said that he wu not a thief, but that be got the pistols for the purpose of destroying himself. The prisoner, who appeared to be suffering from great emotion, said that he was separated from his wife in consequence of their frequent quarrels. They were unable to live happily together. He was unable to bear the separa. tic's from his wife and child, sod ha had fallen into a state of despondency. In that condition be had made up his ailed to destroy himself, and had purchased the pistols and leaded them for that purpose. Hut before wine them he resolved to make another attempt to be reconciled to his wife. He had seen her, and she had agreed to live with him again, and he hail therefore abandoned the intention of suicide. . . .  The prisoner's father aime forward and said that the prisoner was a very good workman, and could earn 30s. to 355. a week. He might live very happily with his wife but for bad temper. Mr. Henry—Whose fault do you think it is! The Father—There ore faults on both aides. Why, even my wife and I, after being together so many years, have • wool sometimes, but it's over in a minute, and we are as good friends as ever. Mr. Henry—That is the sensible way. It is • pity these young people can't do the same. The prisoner—l had been drinking to drown grief. Mr. Henry—&h, that is the evil. You should meet troubles with firmness and sobriety, and not fly to the drink, which unsettles your nerves, and leads to despondency. The prieoner's wife, a very decent-looking young woman, with • fine child in her arms, came forward, weeping bitterly, and said she was very sorry for what had happened. She hoped that the magistrate would not send her husband to prison. She had no notion be contemplated suicide. She would go hack to live with him, and try to make him happy. Mr. Henry hoped she would do so. It greatly depended on her. He was • man of very excitable feelings, and had not the courage to bear trouble without flying to drink. But it greatly depended on her to make him happy. What was the obstacle to their reconciliation ? The wife—He want' to make out it was more my fault than his. Mr. Henry said that ought not to stand in the way, and liberated the prisoner on his father's security for 201. for 12 months.