Gudgeon

South Eastern Gazette, 11 December, 1860.

Assault with Intent to Rob at Hunton.

Alfred Cheesman was indicted for assaulting William Parker, with intent to rob him, at Hunton, on the 18th October. Mr. F. J. Smith was for the prosecution, and Mr. Addison defended the prisoner.

The prosecutor, a labourer living at Hunton, said that on the above evening he was returning home with some beer from the "Gudgeon" beer-home. He met the prisoner, who asked him what he had got in his pot. Prosecutor told him it was some beer for his wife’s supper. Prisoner then asked for a drink. Prosecutor said he could not give him any, when prisoner said "I'm ----- if I don't have some." He then took away the pot from prosecutor, and put his hand into the latter’s pocket, but a constable who was near came up, and prisoner was taken into custody.

P.C. Richards, K.C.C., said that hearing the prosecutor call out that he was being robbed, he went to the place where he had seen the prosecutor and prisoner struggling. He found prisoner in the ditch trying to get away. Witness took him into custody, when he bit witness’s fingers, and took out a knife, and said the first one who laid his hand on him he would "knife" him.

By Mr. Addison:— The knife was shut. The prisoner was drunk.

Mr. Addison, in defence, urged that the prisoner had been drinking in the house, and merely wished the prosecutor to give him some beer, having no intention of committing a felony.

His Lordship left it to the jury to say whether, under all the circumstances, they were of opinion that the prisoner had assaulted the prosecutor, with the serious intent alleged against him in the indictment.

The jury acquitted the prisoner.