The Express. — 1868-12-18 (London, England)

GREENWICH. OUTRAGEOUS ASSAULT AND ROMBERT. Clunks Bole, William Patterson, "Mena Larking, Thomas Lewis, Joseph Woodrojfe, George haumkrs, and Beery Bemis, young men varyingu in age from 17 to 22 years, were thaiged with assaulting and robbing Stephen Cbecaeman, on the highway. at Sydeuham. Mr. Brookes attended for the prisoners. The prosecutor, who was severely bruised about the face, is • contractor to the Lewisham District Board of Works for the removal of dust and ashes, and the prisoners are itinerant collectors of dust. Three of them had been summoned for the illegal collection of dust, and on Monday last the prisoners and two others met the pro. becutor at Sydenham, and threatened to murder him. Patterson then put his hand upon him, and he was pulled down and violently assaulted by the whole of the It was then suggested that they should take prism It a book in which he was accustomed to enter the names and addressee of persons found illegally removing dust and ashes in the district, and Larking put his foot on his neck, while Kemp felt in the prosecutor's pocket and took from it a purse containing four half-sovereigns and a sixpence. On going away with this the prosecutor got up and endeavoured to prevent him, when Kemp struck him • violent blow on the eye and knocked him down, afterwards jumping up into • cart and dnving off, the other prisoners making their escape in different directions. Information was given to the police, and in the course of the day the whole of the prisoners were apprehended, Lewis remarking when arrested and informed of the charge, "All right; I shall now be all right for Dome Christmas pudding.' Mr. Cutchey, accountant, of Greshamstreet, City, residing near the spot where the outrage took place, described the prosecutor as ha been felled like an ox by Kemp, who, he said, took somet ing from prosecutor's pocket, and drove away. Mr. Brookes addressed the magistrate on behalf of the prisoners • and said, although he could not justify the assault, yet a robbery was not intended in the first instance, and asked his worship to deal with the case. Mr. Maude said the case was of too serious • character for him to dispose of in that court. Not may had • most violent outrage bra committed, but a robbery had taken place, and it was a question for a superior tribunal to decide whether the whole of the prisons, in in such assault, were not legally liable to t for the robbery which had beau commit by one of their number. The whole of the primers were then committed for trial at the Old Bailey serious.  Rule= IN Tal STZFXr.—Yestorday afternoon, about halt-past 3, a fearful suicide was committed at the corner of Crimmoit-street, Bermondsey. It seems that a man named John Bourchier, apparently about gi years of age, bad been given into custody by his him& for • previous attempt at self-destruetioa. Al the constable was conveying him to the potiro-station he darted from his side, and Woes the constable could ovutako him, he hat drown • largo knife, which he had ociaossisid beneath his °oat, and inEcted a terrible gee in his throat. Bo severe was the wound that he died almost immediately. The body wam removed to time disitdissai to await an inquiet.