24 AUGUST 1839, Page 7

Two men of the London Police, stationed at Birmingham, have

been charged this week, before the Magistrates of that town with an assault on an unoffending person in the neighbourhood of Holloway Head. This is the current version of the atfidr-

" For some months past the Chartists have been in the Habit, on Sunday morning, of meeting on the above ground for the purpose of reading the news- papers. Indeed, the object of the parties at first was to hear Stepbens's sermons read, to which the working classes formerly at ladled great importinice. Since, and for some time before the late riots, nearly all the intelligent men connected with the meetings had abandoned them ; and they gradually dwindled down to some few dozen of persons who walked lip to I lie ground for amuse- ment and recreation. On Sunday morning, the Magistrates directed Mr. May, Stiperintendent of Police, to send a body of his men to take possession of the ground, and prevent any meeting taking place. They accordingly went, to the number of between thirty and forty, and stationed themselves on and about the Some twenty or thirty men and boys collected in groups about the ground; there being at no time more than a dozen together, when the Police began to disperse them, and in doing so used considerable violence. Two re- spectable working. men, George Jones and William Withers, were passing near the place on business totally unconnected with anv meeting, wheu they were pursued by several Policemen, and Jones was knockeifduwu by the blow of a stall', and when down, beaten in a very crawl manner by the party. Several respectable persons having witnessed, not only this unprovoked assault, but the great severity with which many others had been treated, resolved on causing an inquiry to be instituted; and summonses were accordingly obtained on Monday against a Policeman named Newman, 67 A, and Sergeant Charter, 18 A. The ease came ou for bearing on Wednesday morning, before Charles Shaw and Thomas Clarke, Esqrs. The ease excited great interest, and the room was crowded by many of the most respectable inhabitants. Mr. George Edmonds attended for Jones; who stated, that he, in company with Withers, on Sunday morning last, about ten minutes past eleven o'clock, was going through Sande Lane upon business ; they were walking by themselves, and had no connexiou what- ever with any other persons. They saw some Policemen coming alter them; upon which they became terrified, and ran. One or the Policemen threw his stalf after him, which struck him oil the head and knocked him down. Beflime he could get up, the party of Policemen came up to him, and while he was on the ground he was beaten most severely. Ile cried out to them, ' Lord have mercy on me !' to which one of them replied ' Get up you —, and 1 will give von mercy.' Ile could not say which of the Policemen made use of the words, but he was positive one of them made use of the expressions. lle knew Sergeant Charter to have been one of the omen. Ile had nut said or done any thing to cause the attack."

Police Inspector Rea contradicted Jones's testimony as regarded Charter. His statement was confirmed in other respects. The Ma- gistrates decided that the charge had been proved against Newman ; who was accordingly reprimanded and fined 40s. Charter was not con- victed. Mr. Shaw--a Tory—warned the Police against the use of violence in the discharge of their duty.