Southeastern Gazette, 13 September 1853.

CITY PETTY SESSIONS. Wednesday.

(Before Alderman Clements, Captain Burton, and G. Drawbridge, S. Steele, J. L. Levy, and W. Manclark, Esqrs.)

Assaulting a Police Constable.

William Wadey was charged with assaulting his wife, and also with having inflicted a violent assault on a police constable.

The wife of defendant not appearing, the last-mentioned charge was gone into. From the statement of the witnesses it appeared that the defendant was returning through this city with his wife late on Saturday night, when he wished to go into the "Queen Charlotte" public-house to procure some gin. This his wife endeavoured to prevent his doing, when defendant, who was intoxicated, struck her a blow in the face. The policeman, seeing the assault, persuaded the defendant not to molest his wife, and threatened if he again did so he would take him to the station-house. This appeared to cause him considerable annoyance, and on the defendant attempting to strike the policeman he attempted to take him into custody, when the defendant threw the constable, causing a serious injury to his leg.

Mr. Deana, who was passing at the time, said he heard the policeman say his leg was broken, and he immediately carried him to a surgeon’s. From what he saw of the affray he should say the defendant had no intention to throw the constable neither did he see him strike him.

Mr Smith, saddler, also gave similar evidence, and stated that the assault only occupied a very few minutes.

Mr. Beavan, surgeon, handed in a certificate, which stated that the constable had sustained a dislocation of the knee-joint, and, in answer to the questions from the bench, said it would be fully six weeks before he could again resume his duties.

The Bench remanded the prisoner for a week to give time to ascertain the condition of the policeman, agreeing to accept bail for his appearance on Wednesday next.