Southeastern Gazette, 22 March 1853.

PETTY SESSIONS.

Friday. (Before J. Saddington, Esq. Mayor, R. Oakes and C. Spencer, Esqrs.)

Assault with Intent.

George Douglas, sergeant in the 69th regiment, was charged with a felonious assault on the wife of Corporal Collingham, of the same regiment.

The complainant, Mrs Sarah Collingham, who is but 19 years old, stated that Douglas had called on Monday, at her lodgings, in Wakefield-street, to desire her to wait upon an officer’s lady, who wanted her children nursed. She accordingly went with him, and entered into an agreement with the lady, in Harmer-street, and when she left the sergeant was waiting to go with her to the "Fountain Inn," to see her sister. He treated her there to a glass of rum, and in the evening, at five o’clock, called again at her lodgings, when; wishing to get rid of him, she walked out as far as the "Prince Regent," Peppercroft-street, where they had more rum, and, being in a room alone, the sergeant locked the door, and assaulted her in the manner complained of. She screamed, but no one came to her aid, and as soon as she could get away she went and informed her husband. On cross-examination the prosecutrix made several important admissions; that she had changed her dress in the sergeant’s presence before going to Harmer-street, and that in the course of the day she had drunk, at his expense, a glass of gin, two glasses of rum, and three glasses of rum and water; that she had gone up stairs with him at the "Prince Regent," thinking; no harm, as he was a friend and was present at her wedding;" and that, after the offence, they had walked arm-in-arm down Peppercroft-street.

The Bench were of opinion that both parties had been intoxicated, and guilty of great impropriety; but the charge before them could not be sustained. They therefore dismissed the case.