The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

707.   CHARLES SAVAGE(21) and   ELIZABETH THATCHER(18) , Robbery with violence on   George Northcroft, and stealing 1s. 5d. and a silver watch and chain.

MESSRS. POLAND and PARTRIDGE Prosecuted; MR. LAWLESS defended Savage.

  GEORGE NORTHCROFT (Policeman V 265). On 9th June, about 10 minutes to 12 p.m., I was in plain clothes, off duty, in Trinity Road—I was crossing some waste land, and had three flowerpots in my hand—I

saw the two prisoners lying down—Savage knocked me down with his fist, the woman took my watch and chain and money—after the man knocked me down, he took me by the throat and tried to throttle me —he hurt me—after the woman took my watch, chain, and money, she looked in my face and said "It is a b——copper"—she then scratched my face—I was knocked about and became unconscious—when I came to I went to the station, and I was on the sick list for two or three days.

Cross-examined by MR. LAWLESS. I only saw one lying on the ground, when they got up I saw two—I saw two on the ground—I spoke first and said "Halloa here"—this was not a large piece of waste ground; I had room to pass round them, they were lying across the footway—I did not say "Get up and go away"—I did not ask the man if he would fight, I swear that—I said "Halloa here," and he knocked me down; I had no fight with him; I did not resist, he was not hurt—he was arrested the same night—there was no mark of violence on him that I know of, no mark on his mouth, no bleeding of the nose, no swelling of his lip—the prisoners Were lying quietly enough, I did not know if they were asleep or not—I was going to pass round them when I spoke—I was within five yards of them—I had not passed them.

Cross-examined by Thatcher, You put your hand in my pocket; when I was struck you both fell on me, and you took my watch and chain—you left a portion of my chain in my pocket.

Re-examined. When I was attacked the three flower pots I was carrying dropped on the ground—I don't know how long I was unconscious.

  EDWARD REANY (Police Sergeant V 23). About 11.45 on this night the prosecutor left the station, carrying these three flower pots, to go home —he returned about 12.45 with his face scratched and disfigured; I hardly recognised him—he complained to me, and in consequence the prisoners were arrested.

Cross-examined by MR. LAWLESS. Inspector Spooner took the charge in my presence—I believe Savage pointed out his lip to the inspector, and said "My lip is swollen and hurt"—I know nothing against Savage.

  GEORGE BABBAGE (Policeman V 437). At 1 o'clock on the morning of 10th June, I arrested Savage, at 8, Derby Road, Wimbledon—I said "I shall take you into custody for being concerned with a woman in assaulting and robbing Police-constable Northcroft"—he said nothing— I took him to the station; the charge was read over to him; he said he was lying down on this ground, and the constable came along, and said "Halloa there, what are you doing? you had better be off;" he said 'Can you fight?" I said "No."

Cross-examined by MR. LAWLESS. The other prisoner was there at the time; they were both standing in the dock together—the female was charged first, I believe.

  MOLES ALLEN (Policeman V 73). A little after 1 o'clock on this morning I arrested the woman at her home at Mitcham—I told her I should take her into custody for being concerned in violently assaulting Police-constable Northcroft, and robbing him of his watch—she said "I know nothing about it"—she was taken to the station, and the charge read to her—she said "I will tell you the truth; Charlie was lying down on the ground drunk, and the man came along, and said ' What are you

doing here?' he struck Charlie in the mouth; he got up; they had a fight, and I came away."

  OTHAR WINDSOR BERRY . I am divisional surgeon of police at Wimbledon—I saw the prosecutor at the station about 1 on this morning—his face was bruised and swollen; the left eye actually closed from a blow—there was a wound from a quarter to half an inch long over his left eye, and abrasions on the cheek and upper lip from scratches—the throat was swollen, with marks of pressure on it—he is still off duty, and has been under my care since that time.

Cross-examined by MR. LAWLESS. I was called to examine him about 1 o'clock—my attention was not called to Savage; I did not see him there then.

SPOONER (Police Inspector V). I was in charge of this station at Wimbledon when the prisoners were brought in—when the charge was read over to them, Savage pointed to the prosecutor, and stated that he was struck in the mouth by him first—I examined the place he pointed out, and saw no mark or swelling whatever, and I told him so—I went to the waste piece of ground, and saw there the geraniums on the ground smashed, and a quantity of blood in three places.

Cross-examined by MR. LAWLESS. The doctor was not at the station when the prisoners were charged; he had come and gone—the prisoners were not apprehended till three hours afterwards.

Thatcher's statement before the Magistrate. "Charlie was lying down as he had had too much drink; the prosecutor came up with flowers in his arm, he put them down, held up his fist, and hit Savage, and I left them fighting."

  EDWARD REANY (Re-examined by the JURY). The prosecutor had a watch and chain, I did not see it previously to his leaving the station; he had the flower-pots in front of him—I saw the small portion of the chain when he came back to the station after he was assaulted.

INSPECTOR SPOONER This small piece of the chain was found in the prosecutor's pocket—4s. 6d. was found on the male prisoner.

NOT GUILTY