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				<div style="font-family:serif;"><i>Old Bailey Proceedings Online</i> (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 8.0, 22 September 2023), November 1910, trial of                                                                                     BRADY, Ernest (t19101115-25).<hr/><h2>ERNEST BRADY, Breaking Peace &gt; wounding, 15th November 1910. </h2>                                                            <p>                                                                                                      BRADY, Ernest                                                            , assaulting                                                                                                 Joseph Home, thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.               </p>               <p>Mr. Stanley R. Crawford prosecuted; Mr. Cassels defended.</p>               <p>                  <span style="font-size: 80%;">                                                                                             JOSEPH HORNE                  </span>, compositor. I was in Fleet Street on September 24. I bought a book, changing a sixpence to go to the underground convenience. After that I remember no more till I came to in the hospital. I had had a little drink. I did not know prisoner.</p>               <p>Cross-examined. I was not in work at the time, but was going to start on the following Monday. I was in hospital six weeks and am still an out-patient.</p>               <p>                  <span style="font-size: 80%;">                                                                                             FREDERICK STEEL                  </span>, reporter, "Daily News." I was at the corner of Ludgate Circus. There were three or four men there evidently having some dispute, but not loudly. Home was the worse for liquor, not far from being helplessly drunk. In the argument he had his right hand out as if offering to shake hands with somebody. I saw prisoner then strike out with his left hand; he did not get a full blow; he then struck again and stepped back to get a clear swing and with his right hand he delivered a smashing blow which caught prosecutor under the chin, causing him to fall on the flat of his back. A constable came from the centre of the Circus and said to prisoner, "Wait a minute, mister," and then went to see to the injured man. Prisoner was quite sober, but very excited and seemed annoyed.</p>               <p>                  <span style="font-size: 80%;">                                                                                             EDGAR STERLING                  </span>, 27, Swan Street, Borough. I was standing on the urinal at Ludgate Circus when I saw prisoner and prosecutor standing face to face and five or six people standing round. I thought it was a Saturday night affair and took very little notice at first. Prosecutor had had a drink or two, but I have seen worse. I had occasion to turn round to see if my wife was coming from London Bridge and saw prisoner strike Home with his fist closed, on his left jaw, I think. The blow knocked him down. I spoke to prisoner. He said, "He was going to strike me first." I said, "Anybody could hit a man in drink. He said, "I am sorry; I did not mean to hit him like that; he has been interfering with people all the evening." I did not see Home interfere with him.</p>               <p>Police-constable <span style="font-size: 80%;">WILLIAM CHATFIELD</span>, 113 City Police. I saw prisoner strike Home twice, not hard blows; he then struck him hard and Home fell backwards on his head. I went across and saw that the man was seriously hurt, I said to Brady, "Why did you do</p>                              <p>that?" He said, "He was interfering with a friend of mine." Brady was taken to the station by another constable and I took Home to the hospital, where he was detained. Home said, "He struck me first."</p>               <p>Dr. <span style="font-size: 80%;">FRANK FORTESCUE LAIDLAW</span>, House Surgeon, St. Bartholomew's Hospital. I saw Home upon his admission. He was suffering from moderately severe concussion. He had a contusion on the back of his head. There was a little bleeding; he was unconscious and vomited copiously. That is a sign of concussion of the brain. He remained unconscious about 12 hours. I attended him till October 1, when he was still suffering from what I should call a certain amount of cerebral irritation following on the concussion.</p>               <p>Dr. <span style="font-size: 80%;">DOBBINS</span>, House Surgeon, St. Bartholomew's. On October 1 I took over the duties of last witness. Home was then suffering from the effects of the concussion.</p>               <p>(Defence.)</p>               <p>                  <span style="font-size: 80%;">                                                                                             ERNEST BRADY                  </span> (prisoner, on oath). I am a timber merchant's clerk. I have never been in any trouble before. On Saturday, September 24 I was going to the Tivoli. At Ludgate Circus I was accosted by a loafer sort of fellow, who asked me for a few coppers. I gave him a few and he was telling me he had walked here and walked there when prosecutor came and stood by me and mumbled something. I took no notice of what he said. I think Horne made an attempt to strike me; he caught my shoulder. I immediately struck him; he fell on the back of his head and I was taken into custody.</p>               <p>Cross-examined. I do not know what the mumbling was. I took no notice of the man as I did not know him and he was in a drunken condition. He put up his hand to strike me; he missed my face and caught my shoulder. I do not know whether it was with his fist or palm. The blow only raised my anger. He did not attempt to shake hands with me. I knocked him down without thinking.</p>               <p>                  <span style="font-size: 80%;">                                                                                             WILLIAMS JAMES MACKINTOSH                  </span>, manager, Bartley Bros., 16, Devonshire Street, E.C., prisoner's employers gave prisoner an excellent character.</p>               <p>Verdict,                                           Guilty.</p>               <p>                                                                                 Prisoner was released on his own recognisances in £5 to come up for judgment if called upon. (Prosecutor also received from prisoner £5 compensation.)</p>            </div>
				
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