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From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 2 July 1864.
Brutal Assault by a Greenwich Publican, his Son, and Potman.
On Tuesday, Mr. Stevens, landlord of the "Portland Hotel," London street,
Greenwich, William Francis, potman at the same place, and Mr. Henry Stevens,
appeared before Mr. Traill, in answer to summonses, charging them with having
assaulted a young man named Thomas Clinker, of Blackheath Hill.
The complainant said:- On the night of Monday, the 21st of June, about 12
o'clock I went into the "Portland Hotel," and was served with a glass of ale.
When I came in I had a little fancy dog in my arms, and my companion, who also
came in, and another. While drinking the ale, a young woman in front of the bar
admired the dog I had very much, and asked me to let her look at it. I complied
with her request; and whilst Mr. Daziell, a gentleman connected with the
Greenwich Theater, was showing me some photographs representing the characters
he had appeared in, I heard a scuffling, and turning round, saw Mr. Stevens and
the young woman scuffling on the floor. I made the observation to him that he
was treating her rather harshly, when he called me a ------ monkey, and a
villain. The dog which I let the young woman hold, having escaped from her
possession, I went out to look for it, and brought P.C. 109R, back with me for
the purpose of demanding the dog, which I had been told, was thrown over the
bar. The dog could not be found, and the police constable had left, when I told
Mr. Stevens he had been the means of losing a very valuable dog, on saying
which, he came around the bar and said he would not allow such characters as me
in his house, and ejected me from it, striking me in the face, causing two black
eyes, and kicking me. The two other defendants then came to his assistance, and
pursued me out into the middle of the road, where they knocked me down and
struck me several times. The dog lost, I recovered through the means of using a
hand bill, offering 10s. reward; and it was brought to my house by Mr. Soames,
coachman.
In cross examination, he denied drinking with any prostitutes while in the
defendants house; and stated that with his father, they had been residents for
37 years on Black Heath Hill.
John Mears, a man living in Frenches' Fields, Deptford, said that at 5
minutes past 12 on the night in question, seeing Mr. Stephen's house open he
went in, and called for a glass of ale. A gentleman performing an engagement at
the New Theatre was showing him some pictures, when he heard a noise, and
turning around, saw Mr. Stevens endeavoring to turn a prostitute out of the
house. He hard the complainant say:- "You have been the means of losing a
valuable dog." to which Mr. Stevens made answer:- "Your dog's not here, you
----- monkey; if you don't go out, I'll put you out." The complaint said he
believed his dog was in the house, when Mr. Stevens struck him in the face, and
pushed him out into the street, where the three defendants, together with Mr.
Stephen's youngest son, who was not summoned, knocked him down in the road.
Mr. Stevens:- It is all false.
The magistrate:- Don't say that. For the present his statement is
uncontradicted, and I am bound therefore to believe it is true. Do you wish to
ask the witness any questions?
Mr. Henry Stevens (to witness):- Did not the complainant threaten to break
every bone in my father's body;?
Witness:- No, he did not.
A Voice:- That's false.
The magistrate:- Let that person whoever he is, stand forward. Mr. A. Taler
of High Street, Deptford, in obedience to the summons presented himself.
The magistrate:- Are you a witness in this case?
No.
The magistrate:- Then sit down if you please, and speak when I call upon you
to do so, but not before.
The potman, William Francis, in defense said that seeing the complainant
striking Mr. Stevens, he went to his assistance, when he also received several
blows.
Thomas Prober, a young man living at one, Woodlands Place, East Greenwich,
was also brought forward as a witness for the complainant. He said that on
Monday night that he went to the Play, and like the two proceeding witnesses
could not resist having a glass of ale. On hearing the complainant had lost his
dog, he went down the town to look for it; but not being successful, returned in
time to witness the three defendants punching his friend indiscriminately in the
road opposite the theatre.
For the defense, Mr. George Bunter, of 7, Blissett Street, Greenwich, was
called; and he spoke to having seen the complaints strike Mr. Steven's twice on
the forehead and chin in his house; but when he came out he saw the complainant
lying on the ground.
Mr. Traill:
How did he get there?
Witness:- I don't know.
Mr. Traill:- Did he knock himself down?
Witness:- I don't know; I am quite sure I did not do it. (Laughed)
Mr. Traill:- You are giving your evidence in a manner that reflects very
little credit on the defendant or yourself. Stand down.
Mr. Henry Marksworthy, of Evelyn Street, Deptford, said:- I saw the
complainant drinking with a prostitute at the "Portland Hotel;" and shortly
afterwards saw Mr. Stevens turn the woman out on account of her beastly
discourse. The complainant and his witness Mr. Mears interfered, and attempted
to rescue her from being ejected. The complainant afterwards returned and
pretended to look for his dog; and in being put out of the house, he struck Mr.
Stevens under the eye and on the chin. Mr. Henry Stevens seeing his father been
ill used, went to his assistance. I remained in the house.
The magistrate:- Then you did not see what took place outside? How do you
know Mr. Stevens was being ill used, or are you only conjecturing it?
Witness:- It's very natural that a son would attempt to take his father's
part.
Mr. Traill:- So it is; but perhaps you did not see whether the son took more
than his father's parts?
Witnessed said he did not say, not being present.
Another witness said he was at the "Portland Hotel" on the night of the
disturbance; and swore that he saw the complainant, with two friends, come in,
when they were joined by two loose Women, who addressed them in very familiar
terms.
The magistrates at this point interfered, and ask the witness whether any
gentleman was not liable to be addressed by women he had never seen before, in
vulgar expressions such as "my dear."
The witness admitted the correctness of his worships remark, and his
examination was preceded with after giving a long account, he concluded by
saying. "I saw the complainant lying on the road, with his head near the curb,
but cannot say who struck him miss."
Mr. Traill:- Then, in reality you saw now assault?
Witness said he did not, and was ordered to stand down.
The youngest son of Mr. Stevens here entered the witness box to be examined;
but as the complainant asserted that he also had a hand in the assault, and
would have been summoned could his name have been obtained, Mr. Traill said the
best thing he could do would be to retire.
The magistrate addressing the defendants, said he was bound to say they had
used more than justifiable violence to the complainant; but he considered it
would be the best plan to send them for trial at the sessions, if the
complainant so wished it.
Mr. Stevens said he should not have the least objection, and the summons was
adjourned until Friday, for the complaint to make up his mind on the matter.
Yesterday, (Friday,) the three defendants, John Stevens, William Francis, and
Henry Stevens, attended by a solicitor, were again placed at the bar, where no
additional evidence was adduced, save that of the complainant, who briefly
recapitulated his statements, as above, adding thereto, that on Tuesday last,
the day on which the summons was heard, on passing the "Portland Hotel," Mr.
John Stevens called him a lying witness, and other names.
The solicitors said he should be able to prove that the complainant was the
companion of prostitutes, and had brought the assault on himself.
Mr. Traill:- Then who had better produce witnesses to that effect. None being
forthcoming, Mr. Traill held the defendants were guilty of a common assault, and
ordered them each to pay a fine and £5.
Intimation of appeal was given.
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